Audio & Electronics

The Fastest Way From Here to There — GPS Navigation Systems

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Isn't satellite technology wonderful? Originally developed for the Department of Defense, it has given us civilians 500-channel television, wireless phones and, finally, in-car navigation systems. These handy GPS "nav" systems have become standard fare in many luxury vehicles and are readily available as options on many mainstream cars. GPS stands for Global Positioning System, a system of nearly 30 satellites orbiting Earth, which can provide your precise time and location anywhere, anytime and under any atmospheric condition.

Navigation systems are for more than just finding your way in unfamiliar environs. They can be a significant time saver by helping you avoid congested traffic. They can help you find a gas station whenever you run low, a restaurant when you're hungry or another "point of interest" (POI) that you might otherwise miss while driving.

Typically, nav systems are installed at the factory, at a price tag of $1,500-$2,500 (or higher if the nav system is part of a larger option package). While you wouldn't choose a car for its nav system alone, there are differences to the nav systems between makes, and sometimes even different models, so you really should test-drive a car that has one if you're thinking of purchasing the nav system as an option. There are also "aftermarket" navigation systems that cost far less, but it is almost always more complicated to install aftermarket products, so take that into consideration. We'll cover some of the best of both types.

Here are some questions to consider when purchasing any GPS navigation system:

1. Screen appearance. How big is the screen? Is it in color? Is there glare? How is the resolution? Can it be read in direct sunlight? Is it clearly readable from both the driver and passenger seats?

2. What kind of "real estate" does it consume? Most manufacturers build the nav system into the "center stack" — the midsection of the dashboard where most of the controls (A/C, audio, etc.) are located. Usually, at least some of the audio and climate controls are incorporated into the navigation unit, which could potentially make it more difficult to use these basic systems. Increasingly, though, auto manufacturers are finding more logical and space-efficient ways of integrating these controls. Still, you often have to forgo the convenience of an in-dash CD changer if you opt for a nav system. A few cars have nav displays that pop up from the top of the dash to save valuable center stack space. The Chrysler Pacifica offers a nav system in the gauge cluster — a unique solution that we feel lets you keep your eyes on the road where they belong.

3. Touchscreen, joystick or dial? Although some people may find joysticks and dials faster to manipulate, the Edmunds.com editors prefer the touchscreen for its straightforward interface.

4. Is it DVD-based? At least 80 percent of today's nav systems are DVD-based, replacing the earlier CD-based versions that required you to change CDs for different areas of the country. If you're buying a used car, in particular, be aware of the differences.

5. How do you update the mapping information? While major highways rarely change, local roads do so more often. What do you need to do to get the latest map in your car? Will you need to visit the dealer, or contact the navigation company directly? Check the nav system's manual to be sure.

6. Is your home area covered in the map? This is crucial if you live well outside a major metropolitan area.

7. How easy is it to use? This is the critical question, since there are vast differences depending on personal preference. Take it for a "test-drive." How long does it take you to punch in your destination? Most nav software narrows down the options as you type new letters, eventually offering you a small menu of choices and making inputting much quicker. How long does it take for the unit to locate you on its map, to react to your commands, to map your route? Is it too slow?

8. What features do its mapping capabilities have? Does it automatically show you places like gas stations, restaurants, ATMs and other points of interest (POI), or do you need to request that information? How easily can you store locations (your home address, for example) for use on the next trip? Does it give you the option to use highways or local roads? Does it have 3-D capability (often called "bird's-eye view"), which can be easier to read than a 2-D map? If you're buying an SUV, does the nav system have an off-road mode that gives latitude, longitude and altitude readings? What else can it do?

9. How well does it establish a signal? Again, this differs from system to system. Like a cell phone, nav systems can "drop" your signal. Will it hold your vehicle's position as you go through a tunnel (traditionally the bane of satellite-based systems)?

10. How does its automatic rerouting capability work? Let's say your planned route on the highway suddenly looks like a parking lot, and you decide to take the side roads. Or you make a wrong turn. Does the system quickly give you an alternate route to your destination, or does it keep giving you irrelevant voice prompts?

11. Can the voice guidance be clearly heard? Voice prompts should tell you, turn by turn, how to get to your destination, and come through the vehicle speakers. Are the voice commands clear enough to hear on a busy highway? Can you easily adjust the volume?

Aftermarket Systems
Let's say you don't have $2 grand to drop on a factory-installed nav system. There are excellent alternatives in the aftermarket arena (anything installed after the vehicle leaves the factory). Some of the same software that powers the factory-installed systems are now making their way into aftermarket products that cost far less. First, though, you must choose between a stand-alone system and a PDA-based system. Note that stand-alone systems usually have bigger screens.

Stand-alone systems are usually housed in boxes that sit on the dashboard instead of being installed in it, though some can be mounted from the windshield.

Garmin is a recommended brand. Its Street Pilot 2620 ($838-$1,500) comes preprogrammed with base maps for major roadways and interstates and detailed street-level maps for North America.

The Magellan Roadmate 700 is a retail, portable version of the Hertz NeverLost system found in many of its rental cars. It operates in several languages and can be transferred between cars. The Roadmate 700 ($900-$1,300) comes preloaded with street-level maps of the entire U.S. and Canada.

TomTom, which also makes navigation software for PDA-based GPS devices, has a well-regarded all-in-one navigator for $600-$800 called the TomTom Go. The TomTom Go comes with maps of the major U.S. roadways and a CD that contains comprehensive street-level maps and points of interest for all 50 states. You can upload that CD data by state or region via a mini-USB port on the device. Until recently, the need to upload street level was common to all nav units, but is disappearing quickly as storage capacity increases in the nav units. In the meantime, the Go will save you money and is considered an excellent buy.

PDA-based systems are a relatively low-cost option for navigation. They attach to your PDA itself, unless they are Bluetooth-based (more about that later). If you already have a PDA that you are comfortable using (or you plan on getting one), this might be a great option for you.

PDA navigation units include a GPS receiver and antenna, and the map information appears on the PDA's screen. The GPS software needs to be installed on your PDA, and maps must be uploaded from an included CD-ROM. You must use a stylus, of course, to enter your destinations and commands. (We strongly suggest you park your car before doing so.)

There are GPS units for every kind of PDA and laptop, including SmartPhone, Linux and Clie, but we'll just mention a few available for the most common operating systems, Palm and Pocket PC.

If you have a Palm-based PDA, take a look at the Garmin iQue 3600 ($430-$550), a PDA with a built-in GPS receiver. To activate the navigation mode, you just flip up a small GPS antenna from the unit's rear. Though battery life is short (do buy the car charger) and the unit is a bit large for a PDA, it still gets good reviews in its price category.

If you have an iPaq Pocket PC, try the Navman GPS 3450 ($150-$315) or the TravRoute CoPilot Live Pocket PC4 ($349 from www.alk.com). Version PC5, with Bluetooth, will be available soon.

If you have, or are planning on getting, a Bluetooth-enabled PDA, try a Navman Bluetooth GPS Receiver (model 4460 for Palm, $330; model 4410 for Pocket PC, $320). The Navman mounts on the windshield, making it easier to get a signal and relieving your dashboard of what is normally an ugly box. Also look at the Pharos Pocket GPS Navigator with Bluetooth ($339). Because these units are wireless, you can put your PDA anywhere — you can choose to mount it, or not. How can Bluetooth help you with GPS? First, any time you need to update or change software or maps on your GPS unit, it can be done wirelessly. Second, you may be able to search and input addresses from your PC's personal address book.

If you're considering a stand-alone or PDA system, the questions above still apply, but here are a few more:

1. Where will it attach to your car? This is a safety issue. Stand-alone systems must be positioned out of the path of airbags and typically sit on the dash or attach to the windshield. This means your view of the road might be blocked. Moreover, in an accident, these units can get knocked around the cabin, potentially acting as dangerous "missiles."

2. How will it attach? Suction cups, mounting screws … there is a variety of ways to install these units, some less complicated and permanent than others. Check out the installation instructions before making a purchase.

3. Can it get a good signal from that location? This could be tricky and require some adjusting.

4. What other accessories are required to make it work well? One of your best bets for buying an aftermarket nav system is to first do your research at a Web site specializing in GPS, such as The GPS Store, which features both a general and automotive-specific GPS guide. The PDA Buyer's Guide site has unbiased product reviews and an excellent page on how to evaluate GPS solutions for your PDA.

What's Coming Down the Road
In the near future, we'll see several technologies become more widespread. Bluetooth is one of them. Many GPS receivers are starting to feature WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System), which alerts you to slow traffic flow, road construction and accidents, then provides the best route. Finally, we will see GPS units integrating more closely with other functions, such as audio, video and climate controls.

A good example of all this integration is the Acura RL, which does all of the above, and then some. In this car, the XM Satellite Radio links up with the navigation system to provide real-time traffic reports and automatic rerouting around traffic jams. The Acura's nav system also receives messages about recalls and scheduled maintenance. As if that weren't enough, the system uses GPS information from the navigation system and a solar sensor inside the car to determine where the sun is and adjusts air flow and temperature accordingly. It even responds to your voice commands, so that if you want to find the nearest gas station, for example, you literally just ask for it. In a way, this makes the GPS navigation system the high-tech command console for the entire car.

Hmm… sounds a lot like something you'd find in space, doesn't it?

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