Where and What is the best GPS to buy?

What is the purpose of purchasing the GPS device?

a) Only car navigation, to walk in the street and have a guide; 
b) To use as car navigation, but use the GPS functions such as recording tracks; 
c) I want to use in bikes / bicycles 
d) I want to use for hiking in areas without signaling, such as forests;

I chose only: car navigation, to walk in the street and have a guide

If you chose this topic because it does not need a GPS device with all the resources available.What you need is a browser.

Remember that the most important of all are the maps and update them. A GPS navigator with map is outdated almost as bad as a GPS navigator without a map. Ask or search the amount of available updates for streets, points of interest (radar [important], malls, hospitals, etc.) and bugs in the application.

Many of the devices that we see out there selling, are basically a Pocket PC as amended, with built-in GPS and navigation software installed, such as Destinator or TomTom for example. Based on that, check the GPS chipset that has the device to determine its ability to capture satellites. The better the signal, the better the accuracy of your unit during the shipping process.

Manufacturers are increasingly concerned about adding more features, making a generic device (mp3 player, camera, fm radio, etc.), rather than a decent browser.

Today, the most advanced chipsets market system have more than 20 channels for reception of signals between the marks and I quote (chipsets, not brand personal navigation devices):

• Sirf Star III (Sirf Star 3);
• NemeriX;
• QinetiQ;
• XTrac;

Another important point is whether the GPS navigator has support for external antenna jack.These antennas improve and gain much in receiving signals and the vast majority is provided through connectors MMCX or MCX.

Finally, I quote a few of the experiences I've ever had, and would like to make it clear that I am not a tendency to buy one because I do not have any relationship with any supplier.

Garmin Line:

All navigators from Garmin, have a codename called NUVI. I will highlight some pros and cons:

Pros:

• Very strong brand in the Americas and has a huge range of maps available, many of them paid and do not come in appliances;
• It has navigation and voice control in several languages, including Portuguese Brazil and Portugal, English, German and Spanish;
• Support system FM Traffic, available in the U.S. and Canada, where routes are calculated based on live information of traffic;
• Cost and scalability of memory;

Cons:

• Maps native to Brazil are very bad. Although they can be replaced by maps of the project TrackSource that are free, under the User to download maps, and other software to upgrade the GPS
• Manufacturer's warranty in Brazil is weak;

Among the models of the Garmin Nuvi, I was able to experiment with models 260W, 255W and 760. The difference between 260W and 255W is basically the FM transmitter and the possibility of coupling of external antenna. For the 760, the screen is bigger and able to play MP3 music.You can make a comparison of features directly from the Garmin website: https: / / buy.garmin.com / shop / shop.do? CID = 134

All 3 browsers, I tried walking in the U.S., Canada and Brazil. In the U.S. and Canada map coverage was fantastic. Here in Brazil, I downloaded the maps of the project TrackSource and installed the device. The results were great.

Tom Tom Line:

The Tom Tom is very strong in Europe and also has a large presence in the Americas. Began operation in Brazil and the quality of the maps is very good and the speed of updates, too.What strikes me is the Tom Tom navigation system.

Pros:

• Quality navigation interface, as already mentioned above;
• Update maps;
• Affordable, even if purchased outside of Brazil - came to see with USD 100.00 at BestBuy;

Cons:

• Prices of maps is a little salty, depending on the country you want to buy;
• Any update on GPS depends on the TOM TOM software, which is often a problem;
• The menu system could be a little easier, some screens you need to get in 5 or 6 pages to configure what you need;

Line Tom Tom, I have had the opportunity to use the TomTom One XL and TomTom Go 720. I can not say directly the difference, but I really liked both, especially by the lighting control offering. According to the brightness of the car, it automatically sets the brightness of the screen. Moreover, the warning system of points of interest is very efficient, especially if you want to be notified of radars near your location.

I managed to change the voice of both devices, I can easily use the voice of Austin Power, however, prefer to leave the female voice. The voice of the guy who is there seems to a radio announcer and gives sleep, hehe.

Line MIO - Guia Quatro Rodas

My brother bought a MIO C220 and I ended up putting in my car to take the test. The navigation system seemed to Destinator, which particularly fond of. I looked in the specification and saw that the chipset is the Sirf Star III with a 400Mhz Samsung processor.Very good ...

I found it interesting the system update that is available and very easy to install, an accompanying CD.

Pros:

• Quality very good map for the city of Sao Paulo - I do not know about the neighboring cities and other states. Any reader can provide this information in more detail;
• Allows day to night mode, which changes the map colors for better viewing;
• Warranty and technical support included in the purchase;
• Includes input for external memory card;
• It updates of POIs and maps;

Cons:

• Price a little salty, compared with the other devices mentioned here;
• Although the chipset is a Sirf Star III, has no input for external antenna;
• Speakers distort the sound a bit, depending on the volume set;
• Manual does not have many details of the physical characteristics of the device; 
  

Airis Line:

This line I found interesting for the simplicity that are offered updates of maps and points of interest to the GPS User.

I tested two models, totally different: the T620, which is a pocket pc running the application and the T945 that has a 4.3''screen and, far greater than the T620. All models of the Airis run under Windows Mobile and it is possible through software to change the navigation system if you want to and have knowledge to do so.

Pros:

• Ease of updating the maps and points of interest, through a piece of software which can be obtained by contacting the Airis;
• Possibility of connecting external antenna MMCX connector (T620);
• It has integrated MP3 player, and photo viewer;
• Sirf Star III Chipset;

Cons:

• Navigation system was not to my liking, despite offering a navigation system in 3D. I was a little lost with the coordinates provided by the voice and the browser warnings;
• Manual is very simple and does not provide sufficient information for making a decision on the device;

Chose: To use as car navigation, but use the GPS functions such as recording tracks

Well, if you came here you probably want something more sophisticated. As I explained, you can not call the only GPS car navigation system. I will not develop again this theory again, but I can see clearly notice the difference of a GPS device, a type 276C, with a Nuvi 255W.

I suggest you take a week in the forum TrackSource project before you begin your contract to purchase the unit. A tip: search before asking!

After the last forum TrackSource will see that there is a project, free and supported by hundreds of people who give of their time, walking the streets, recording the tracklogs (you can store all the coordinates of a path), then compiling in the form of maps. These maps are available for users of Garmin devices, free of charge and cover the same is very good, almost all of Brazil, including the covering of the highways.

I personally do not know of another brand of GPS (GPS itself), other than the Garmin. If you know, and temcerteza that can replace all of its functions as well as the Garmin, I write, I will be glad to publish.

Anyway ... what you should look for is on Chartplotters (https: / / buy.garmin.com / shop / shop.do? cID = 148). I personally have tested a 276C in the car, using a map of rodaviário TrackSource and within a boat, using a sea map. Besides the quality of signal reception, the unit for me was a show that part in all aspects and what impressed me most was the speed screen update, even walking at high speed.