| Although GPS units come in all shapes and | | | | some of the very high-end models. Some |
| sizes and are targeted for various different | | | | advanced features will include voice |
| activities, they all serve the same basic | | | | prompting for turns, trip routing and |
| functionality; to tell you where you are in | | | | re-routing when you find yourself off the |
| the world. GPS is an acronym for Global | | | | beaten path, advanced detailed mapping |
| Positioning System. A GPS receiver passively | | | | software built-in, mounting hardware for |
| receives signals from the currently 24 | | | | vehicles, motorcycles, and bicycles. Vehicle |
| military GPS satellites in space. In order | | | | GPS units are changing the way we plan our |
| for the GPS receiver to accurately pinpoint | | | | trips every day. |
| your location, it must receive a signal from | | | | |
| three different satellites, so that it can | | | | Marine GPS units are specialized GPS units, |
| triangulate its exact location. | | | | specifically designed for use in boating |
| | | | scenarios. These units are going to have |
| GPS units come in many different styles, each | | | | specialized software built in for |
| designed to meet a specific requirement. | | | | cartography, open water route planning, and |
| Model types include handheld GPS units, | | | | navigation at sea. Some marine GPS units are |
| vehicle GPS units, marine GPS units, and | | | | equipped additional features such as |
| sports and fitness GPS units. Let's take a | | | | fish-finders, and depth-finders, for |
| look at the different types to determine what | | | | recreational and professional fishermen |
| might be the best choice for you. | | | | alike. Marine GPS units will be waterproof |
| | | | and often come with hardware for mounting to |
| Handheld GPS units are small and lightweight | | | | your boat, open air cabin, or enclosed. These |
| units, primarily designed for the outdoor | | | | marine GPS units will typical cost you |
| enthusiast. These units can be used by | | | | somewhere between $150 and up. |
| camping and hiking enthusiasts, hunters, | | | | |
| skiers, and mountaineers, and anyone else | | | | Sports and fitness GPS units are the smallest |
| that needs to know where they are while out | | | | and lightest units of all the GPS categories |
| and about. Handheld GPS units can range in | | | | discussed in this article. These units are |
| price for under $100 for basic entry model | | | | typically wrist mounted, or use a strap to |
| units, to over $500.00 for some of the more | | | | mount on your arm or leg. Often times these |
| advanced GPS units. Some of the features that | | | | types of GPS units will contain special |
| will increase the price of these units | | | | features to assist you with your fitness |
| include; color displays, preloaded mapping | | | | goals, such as distance calculations for |
| software, trip computers, water resistance, | | | | runners, built-pedometers, built-in |
| extra sensitive receiver chips for finding | | | | heart-rate monitors, and goal tracking |
| positioning within heavy foliage and deep | | | | software. The price range for these units |
| canyons. Be sure to carefully evaluate your | | | | starts around $100 and can increase |
| individual requirements before purchasing a | | | | significantly based on the additional |
| handheld GPS unit. | | | | features required. |
| | | | |
| Vehicle GPS units are usually mounted inside | | | | There many different types of GPS units |
| your vehicle and are primarily designed for | | | | available on the market to fit your specific |
| anyone on the road; truckers, traveling sales | | | | requirements. Take some time and do as much |
| representatives, bicyclist, etc. These units | | | | research as you can to find the unit that |
| will excel at giving you your exact street | | | | best fits your own personal needs. One thing |
| location, helping you plan your trips, and | | | | is certain; there will most certainly be a |
| even giving you turn-by-turn driving | | | | GPS unit on the market that will meet all |
| instructions. Vehicle GPS units will range in | | | | your requirements. |
| price from close to $200 to over $1000.00 for | | | | |