Comparison of GPS Navigation Systems - Reviewing the Reviews
Comparison of GPS navigation systems is critical to making the right decision about your GPS purchase. There has been an explosion of new GPS models from long-time GPS makers Garmin, Magellan, and Lowrance as well as from new makers like Cobra. After a while the various models eventually start to all look alike.
You can find reviews of handheld GPS units all over the Internet and it is clear that there are two major manufacturers of handheld GPS units - Garmin and Magellan. These two makers of handheld GPS units have been around for many years and they produce models of all levels of functionality. We will look at Garmin first, and then Magellan.
Garmin - A Top Rated Handheld GPS Maker
When it comes to handheld GPS units, Garmin is one of the most respected names in the industry. They make several handheld GPS units, but also GPS receivers and aviation GPS units used for aircraft navigation. The company was formed in 1989, and they have proved quite innovative in their GPS navigation products. The first products they created were for the aviation industry - instrument panel mounted systems for aircraft navigation. Garmin was first to make an IFR non-precision approach certified GPS, which allows an airplane to land at an airport in bad weather.
Garmin's experience with aviation GPS technology and their vast knowledge of GPS navigation systems has been incorporated into their line of top rated handheld GPS receivers. Their eTrex line of handheld GPS units are very popular - each model has unique features targeted to a certain group of activities. The eTrex model is a bright-yellow, low-cost GPS for outdoor activities like camping or fishing (yes, it's waterproof!). The "eTrex Camo" model is actually camoflauged for hunting and fishing. It even has a built-in calendar with the best times to hunt and fish. The eTrex Venture model is for general purpose travel - you can download points of interest like restaurants, services, and other navaids. The eTrex Legend model has 8MB of memory for downloading detailed maps of trails or streets. The eTrex Summit model is perfect for outdoor navigation such as orienteering. This model does not have any map detail, but includes a barometric altimeter, an electronic compass, and sighting marks for getting a bearing. The eTrex Vista builds onto the Summit model by adding detailed maps and more memory.
The Garmin GPSMAP 60C and GPSMAP 60CS are two models in the GPSMAP line of products that are worth reviewing. They are perfect for "geocaching", the treasure-hunting sport that includes GPS navigation. These models have a special geocaching navigation mode that helps you home in on the cache. You can also view notes about a geocache waypoint while you are navigating towards it. When you reach the geocache, the unit will automatically put an entry into the calendar and optionally show you the next closest cache.
Magellan handheld GPS navigation
Another very popular company for handheld GPS navigation is the Magellan Corporation, a subsidiary of the Thales Companies. They were founded in 1986, and have also emerged as a top rated handheld GPS maker. The Magellan brand of products is the consumer side of the Thales Navigation company.
As for handheld GPS systems, Magellan produces two main lines of products - the eXplorist series and the Meridian series.
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