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The world of GPS navigation can be confusing at first but we hope we can guide you through the maze. Here are a few basics to get you started:

What is a Sat Nav ?

Sat nav is short for satellite navigation. It is a system you can use to give you directions when you are on the move. It is a machine that talks to you as you go along and tells you exactly where and when to take a turning, ensuring (hopefully) that you never get lost again.

Global Positioning Satellite (GPS)

Sat navs are often called GPS systems because they use the Global Positioning Satellites which orbit the earth. The sat nav sees the position of the orbiting satellites and locates its position on the surface of the earth. Calculating longitude, latitude and altitude, the position is laid over a digital road map which accurately reveals your driving position to within a few metres.

The built-in software can also work out the easiest route between any two points on the map and can combine average road speeds and other data, if necessary, to advise you on arrival times and road conditions on route.

FM Transmitter

Built into some sat nav units, the FM Transmitter converts the sat nav instructions and other content such as MP3 music into a radio signal, so that music and sound are played through the car speakers, via your car radio.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is the name of the technology, used with mobile phones, that enables hands–free calling.

Some sat nav units are also enabled for Bluetooth and can be paired with a mobile phone. If you have one of these units you can use the sat nav speaker to make and receive hands–free calls while on the move – helping to keep you safe and legal.

Internal Battery

Keeps your unit powered up when you turn off the ignition.

Internal Hard Drive

Stores all the map data you use from each journey, as well as points of interest and addresses.

MP3 Player

Built into some units, this enables you to play MP3 files through your sat nav unit.

Screens

Most Sat navs have touch screens, giving you a quick and easy way to navigate – simply touch the screen to enter a destination, view your route, and change settings, for example to zoom in.

The size of the screen depends on the type of sat nav you choose:

If you decide on a portable unit then you have a choice of two sizes: usually 3.5 ” or 4.3″ diagonally.
If you decide to have a unit built in to your dash board then you could have a larger built-in screen or a motorised one that flips out when activated.

Single or Double DIN

In-dash Screens, where the screen is built into the front panel of the sat nav unit, are called either single or double DIN, where the DIN is the size of the audio slot into which the unit is fitted.

Single DIN (single stereo slot size is approximately 52×179mm).
Double DIN (double stereo slot size is approximately 104×179 mm).

Motorised pop-out screens are often used in single DIN units. Screens usually measure on average 7″ and often have touch screen facility. They are hidden within the main body of the unit, but flip–out when activated.

Which Sat Nav To Choose?

There are three main types of sat nav to choose from: Portable, in-dash or smartphone and we can help you find the right one for your lifestyle.

Portable Sat Nav

This device is ready for use straight from the box and is transferable to another vehicle and you can swap it from vehicle to vehicle. You fit it to your windscreen or dash board with a mounting bracket. Portable sat navs mainly come in two screen sizes: usually 3.5″ or 4.3″ measured diagonally.

You power the sat nav through your vehicle`s cigarette lighter, although with some models you can buy a charging unit to use at home.

You key in your destination using full postcode, part of an address or a point of interest and it speaks to you with turn-by-turn directions as you drive.

Motorcycle users can buy a specially designed sat nav which is waterproof and more durable.

In-Dash Sat Nav

This device is hard-wired into the car and incorporates either a motorised pop-out or built-in screen.

An in-dash sat nav has a GPS receiver, normally placed on the dash board in order for the unit to pick up the satellite’s signal.

It also gives you the functionality of a normal car CD player, and you may choose additional functions like MP3 connectivity.

Smartphone Sat Nav

This is sat nav software that you load on to your compatible GPS-enabled smartphone in order to use the handset as a sat nav. You can then hold the sat nav in your hand or fix it into the car with a suitable holder.

You’re ready then to navigate on foot or in the car and it comes complete with street level mapping. You can synchronise with your phone’s address book, calculate the fastest or shortest route, get turn-by-turn directions and even text ahead to say you’re on your way.

Mapping

When you buy a sat nav the mapping information is built into the software in the unit.

Mapping Levels

There are different levels of mapping that you can buy:

Street Level Mapping – gives you access to roads in your chosen Country, including motorways, major roads and minor roads.

European Street Level Mapping – gives you access to roads in the European countries specified, including motorways, major roads, minor roads and city centres.

European Major Roads Mapping – gives you access to motorways and major roads only in the European countries specified. Minor roads and city centres cannot be accessed.

Mapping Updates

Your sat nav will have mapping data supplied with it and this will not run out or expire. However, around 15% of the road network changes annually so, although you can keep on using your maps for as long as you want, there is definitely a benefit in updating them periodically.

The two main suppliers of mapping software in Europe, Teleatlas and Navteq, both update their data quarterly.

Update services are also available in the USA and full details will be provided with your product.

Route Planning

A sat nav is quick, easy and fun to use and is designed to get you going with a few clicks. You key in your destination, using the touch screen, wait a few seconds for the mapping software to create your route and off you go.

Pre-Planning

Or, you can use your sat nav to search and plan your route beforehand. If the sat nav is portable you could do this in the comfort of your home.

The fastest and most accurate way of locating your destination is to key in a post code or part of an address.

Points of Interest

You can also key in or select a Point of Interest (POI). POIs alert you to local services such as gas stations, hotels, restaurants, cash-points, cinemas etc. during your journey. You can set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs.

In the event of an accident or breakdown, on some units, provided you have a compatible mobile phone connected via hands–free/Bluetooth, you can locate the nearest hospital, garage, police station or phone for an emergency service.

You can also plan your route based on a combination of features. For example the desired arrival time, points of interest database, and fastest, shortest or avoidance route planning. You can make it as easy or complicated as you wish.

You can have fun on your vacation by searching for the nearest theme park, National Trust home or zoo for example. If you know the name of the tourist attraction just type it in the name.

Safety On The Move

Sat navs have a number of features to help you to get to your destination safely:

Live Traffic Information

You can set some sat nav units to receive and display live traffic updates to help avoid congestion, jams and accidents – some units provide this for free, and others require a subscription service.

Dynamic Routing

This offers you an alternative route when an incident or hazard has been identified. A useful time saver.

Speed Camera Locations

Ask for a sat nav where the camera data has been pre-loaded with the location of known fixed speed detectors sites. As you drive along you will be warned when a camera is imminent.

Potential Hazards

Some sat navs can warn you of accident black spots, schools and other potential hazards and it can alert you if you have exceeded the road’s speed limit.

Emergency Assistance

In the event of an accident, on some devices, you can access safety and emergency service numbers, directions to the nearest hospital and car repair services and more.

Track Your Own Car

Some sat navs can keep track of your own car when you park so that you never lose it again. This is perfect for unfamiliar spots and crowded places. The sat nav automatically marks your position when you remove it from the windscreen mount, so you can navigate with the sat nav on foot and then find your way back to your vehicle.

Handsfree Calls

With some devices you can now make hands–free calls from your Bluetooth mobile phone via the speaker of the unit – helping to keep you safe and legal.

Synchronise With Your Phone

If you have a smartphone you can now transform it into a fully featured sat nav, making navigation even more portable. Simply load the navigation software and mapping data into your GPS-enabled smartphone and you’re ready to navigate on foot or in the car.

You can synchronise with your phone’s address book, calculate the fastest or shortest route, get turn-by-turn directions and then send a text to let people know that you’re on your way.

You can access additional content such as traffic updates, hotel rates, weather and more. The easy to use sat nav software will automatically install and connect to your phone; all you need to do is get on with your journey.

On our world-wide site (linked below) you will the widest range of products and some very good prices too, you can often get a demonstration in your local store but usually buying online gives you the best price and the best choice.

http://www.gpsnavigation-store.com

Sat nav theft is a worry for anyone who owns the latest GPS device, and with summer just around the corner police forces nationally are warning sat nav users to be extra cautious. It is expected, in the approaching summer months, that thieves will exploit vehicles venturing out with sat nav`s, and other expensive in-car gadgets.

Why Is Sat Nav Theft Increasing?

Portable sat nav units could not be easier to use; they are simple to install, and mount on to a car windshield in seconds. Sat nav users can simply plug in, switch on, and enjoy the simplicity of a touch screen, intuitive interface, and seamless navigation.

Unfortunately, it is for this reason why sat nav units are so susceptible to theft. They no longer need to be an in-build permanent fixture, and so their portability means they can be simply removed by an opportunist thief, just as quickly as the owner installed them.

The affordability of current satellite navigation systems also makes this valuable commodity very desirable. Recent government statistics revealed that over 2.2 million vehicles now have satellite navigation units fitted. Subsequently, thieves won`t think twice about damaging a vehicle if it means they can sell the goods, and make a lot of profit.

What Can You Do To Deter Thieves From Stealing Your Sat Nav System?

It is not always convenient to take all of your valuable items with you when you leave your vehicle, but simply placing them in your glove compartment, or under your seat is not enough. “According to recent police reports; plug-in leads, sat nav mounting brackets, and even fixture marks on the window screen can provoke thieves to break in a vehicle, they know all the usual hiding places.” Comments Mr Bowes, Product Manager at GlobalPositioningSystems.co.uk

Vehicle security leaders; Stoplock and Pacsafe have recently turned their attention to sat nav theft, and have launched new anti-theft solutions that aim to beat this growing crime. The impressive feature about both of these solutions is that they enable users to leave their sat nav`s behind, whilst also giving users the peace of mind that they will not be returning to a smashed side window.

Stoplock`s Strongbox is a small, but very tough metal safe that can be anchored to any fixed point inside a vehicle. The Strongbox is secured using a steel cable that locks inside the safe itself.

Pacsafe`s Travelsafe is more like a drawstring bag with a high security laminated construction. The bag is made of stainless steel wire mesh, sandwiched between durable weather resistant nylon. Its stainless steel drawstring and brass padlock ensures maximum sat nav security.

Ultimately, if you do leave your sat nav unit behind in your vehicle, it is important to securely hide them away. Anybody who leaves even a slight indication that a sat nav has been left inside a vehicle has an increased chance of a break in. A lock-away safe, which can both hide valuable items away, and prevent thieves from stealing them should they happen to find the safe, is a great solution.

Safes like the Strongbox and the Travelsafe can also hold any valuables that could be tempting to an opportunist thief; a wallet, iPod, or PDA, for example. At around £40 for the Strongbox, and £25 for the Travelsafe, solutions like these are much cheaper, and a lot less painful than losing your expensive sat nav, or having to replace a smashed window.

With sat nav theft becoming increasingly frequent, Tracey Simpson has written this article to help readers, and owners of GPS units to understand the importance of anti-theft sat nav solutions. Please visit: http://www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk/pacsafe-travel-safe-description.html (Pacsafe Travel Safe) and http://www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk/saxon-stoplock-strongbox-description.htm (StopLock Strongbox) to read more about how these anti-theft solutions can help keep your sat nav`s safe.

Mio Sat Nav is just one of the many manufacturers of GPS satellite navigation and speed cameras. If you are interested in purchasing a Mio Sat Nav system or any GPS Sat Nav you should know what you are looking for. There are many types of Sat Nav systems from hand held, mobile phone systems, to car GPS systems.

Mio Sat Nav produces several hand held units, including the Mio A201. The Mio A201 has an integrated GPS with a pocket PC. This way you are able to work online as well as get directions to wherever you may be heading. You can use the system in your car or just walk around a city to use the GPS function to find your way. Another hand held model is the Mio P350, which is again a pocket PC with a GPS function for getting you directions when you most need them.

The Mio C250 DigiWalker is another of the Mio line. This GPS system has UK Maps and MRE. It is a portable satellite navigation system to help you get through the city. It is an easy to use system with a face screen to provide you with the maps of the UK. It can fit in your pocket with ease or you may even place it in your car. It has a quick route calculation as well as speed camera warnings so you can avoid those pesky tickets.

Mio Sat Nav will find you with some of the most useful technology regarding directions and speed camera detection for a great price. You can find a Mio Sat Nav system from 70 pounds to more than 140 pounds depending on the types of maps and system you would like included. To know whether the Mio Sat Nav system is for you, you will want to compare these systems with other Sat Nav systems available.

Written by Antonious Lamston. Find more information on mio sat nav.

There are many satnav European products available on the market; products are intended to assist you with navigation. Many features the navigation systems come with are touch screen control, up to five million points of interest, 36 different languages, a multi-destination itinerary. Since the late 1980’s, Euronav has been making navigation easier for tens of thousands of leisure and professional mariners around the world with its seaPro navigation software.

Most products comes equipped with preloaded street maps, including POI database hotels, restaurants, fuel, school zones, safety cameras and much more. A touch screen makes for easy scrolling and in 2D or 3D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. On one hand, pedestrian navigation systems seem to have the potential to provide useful mobile assistance in the unknown environments. On the other hand, the ever-present availability of the assistance might have the side effect that users do not make an effort to acquire spatial knowledge because such knowledge is not necessary any longer for reaching the destination.

There a systems available which include pedestrian mode, this is used on foot and navigates as smoothly in historical streets. You may choose the type of car that you are driving at that moment, the route you prefer to take and even the type of road that you choose.

There is an in-car fitted navigation and entertainment system which brings leading consumer navigation technology to the automotive aftermarket, taking this system to new levels. It displays cutting edge 3D street level navigation, DVD and MP3 playback or game console on the front and optional rear-seat displays. The specifications include UK street level maps which are preloaded, back on track automatic re-routing, remote control, packed with user preference features, multimedia features, optional connections for your iPod, camera or CD, RDS FM/AM radio, colour screen, a built in amplifier and much more.

Written by Antonious Lamston. Find more information on sat nav europe.

Mio GPS satellite navigational (Sat Nav) products are a leader in their field. They offer software packages that can allot you guided confidence anywhere you may find yourself in 22 different countries. 17 different languages of instructions are available and their technology is increasing everyday.

With other brands, you may encounter the cumbersome element of having to change mapping software everytime you enter a new country. Mio has a multi-country integrated mapping system with a cross-borde navigational feature that allows you to plan your entire trip in one go.

The Mio C320 comes in a black-bodied unit with widescreen viewing. This Sat Nav system includes full street-level European coverage. The latest Mio V3.3 software shines in radiant color schemes and offers
high-detailed 3D imaging.

Want even more features? The Mio C520T has all the features of the C320 and a lot more. The C520T from Mio comes to you with Traffic Message Channel (TMC) technology. This means that you will get new route recommendations each time a traffic jam or accident lies in your near future. Hands-free phone calling with Bluetooth wireless technology is included with the C520T. This means that the unit switches from your electronic Sat Nav guide into a wireless phone when you receive a call. Smart and safe, the C520T from Mio gets you where you need to go.

The Mio H610 is a fantastically compact unit that marries the latest Sat Nav technology with the features of MP3 and a high-resolution video player. On foot or in a car, you will never be lost again with the Mi H610. The rerouting feature quickly offers new routes in the case of jams or accidents. The H610 also speaks 16 different exotic languages of your choosing making it an educator as well as an entertainer.

Explore the entire range of models available from Mio. Whichever you choose, you are sure to impressed with the various features of convenience and the exceptionally engineered technology included.

The Talex Sat Nav w/ Speed Camera Detector is a wonderful invention that helps level the playing field in the game of travelers rights. Speed traps are all over the place. Motorists have a hard time peacefully driving from one location to the next without encountering such traps in the form of red light cameras that capture their information without them even knowing it. The human eye cannot see far enough into the distance to detect these speed cameras, but the Talex Sat Nav GPS with speed camera detection can.

Fixed, mobile or red light cameras are all detected well in advance, affording motorists the luxury of avoidance. The savings in traffic fines and increased insurance rates easily offsets the entire purchase price of the units. The government will relentlessly continue its electronic entrapment techniques that unrighteously steal money from the pockets of unsuspecting motorists. Fight back and retain your money with a Talex GPS/Speed Camera detection unit.All Talex units come stock with the latest Navigon Mobile Navigator 6 software. Intricately detailed European mapping packages are combined with TMC data which instantly reroutes you to your destination in the event of traffic jams or accidents. Other features are available, unit dependent, such as widescreen viewing, street-level guides, MP3 playing and high-resolution video players.

Talex is a leader in GPS Sat Nav technology products and they stand up for your right to travel without being consistently hassled by entrapment-based procedures regularly practiced by the authorities. Stop being hindered from your right to roam. Talex has you covered with great products like speed camera detectors and TMC technology. Wherever you travel, you can do so with the additional edge granted to you by these fine products. Enter the high-tech realm of Talex today.

Written by Cynthia Kramer. Find more information on
Talex Speed Camera Detector
as well as GPS Sat Nav Review

The one thing that remains when going out and choosing the right satellite navigation system is choosing the right one. With the help of the following satellite navigation review, it should help you decide on the best and most well-suited system for you.

Sat nav systems are increasing in popularity, in addition it is becoming more affordable, whichever way you look at it. Now with the help of this satellite navigation review, you will be able to look at all the systems that are available to you. In this satellite navigation review you will know the things to look at when you decide to buy one and a few ups and downs will also be mentioned in this sat nav review.

There are about three categories, and first, there are those that are dedicated and these fall under the ‘transferable categories’. The main function of these systems is that their function is to navigate. Nowadays, they are appearing with newer features like hard drives used for storing music.

Now there are the systems that use personal digital assistant or PDA. They are in some cases more expensive than a transferable device.

Finally, the Smartphone can be turned into an in-the-car navigation system. They can be expensive, but the advantage is that these can be more portable than any of the other options mentioned above.

It is important that you remember that cars come out with heated widescreen, glass that is heat-reflective and elements that can thaw ice in winter. These can disrupt the sat signals from loading onto the device. In this case you need an external antenna fitted to your car.

People that have produced these systems have agreements, and this means that you will not ever pay. However, others will charge you subscription charges after a certain period.

Written by Clark Amerson. Find the latest Sat Nav Review or find out more information on a Satellite Navigation Review.

Sat Nav is a two element system that has a display unit and a GPS data receiver. GPS navigational satellites send signals to the reciever and send that information to the display unit. The various satellites detect the signals sent about and the GPS unit is then able to pinpoint it`s exact location on the planet. Many different features are incorporated into the unit including maps and showing where the car is on the map.

Sat Nav is a tool to help you get to your destination by displaying a map also allowing you to prepare for your vacation ahead of time. It will guide you and point you in the direction you should be heading. The GPS system can pinpoint your location if you are lost. Nowere systems have abilities to adjust the route in the slight chance that you get off track.

Their are many other benefits to sat nav besides directions. Newer systems act similar to phone books and most times can give the address to the business or residence you are trying to find. If you travel to different regions the GPS unit will be able to load the different maps of the place your are visiting.

Have you ever been stuck in gridlocked traffic getting nowhere fast? Well Sat Nav is able to warn you of possible road blocks, traffic jams, accidents, road work and any other road hazard that may have happened en route to your destination.

Another great benefit about the GPS Sat Nav is that it can tell you the weather and what to expect in the forecast for your travels. Your vacation will never have to have an unexpected snowstorm again. You will always be prepared for whatever is coming your way. Yet another reason why GPS Sat Nav would benefit any person or family.

Introduction

Satellite navigation isn`t rocket science once you know how. Satellite Navigation was originally designed for military applications. The first satellite navigation system was Transit, a system deployed by the US military in the 1960s. For these reasons, a satellite navigation system is an essential asset for any aspiring military power. However due to the growing use of satellite navigation e.g. marine use, engineering use and the ever growing in car sat use the growth of satellite navigation for everyday applications is set to continue.

Accuracy

In general, the more satellites used the greater the positioning accuracy. Numerous errors can degrade the accuracy of a positioning. Therefore, the accuracy of the navigation solution depends on how the receiver compensates for the different error sources. This is largely dependent on how the manufacturers of satellite navigation systems implement the relevant decoding on their receivers. Most publicly available receivers have an accuracy if about 5-10 metres. However in built up areas where the signals from the satellites can be corrupted the accuracy can be a little worse. Given the military put the system in place you can be their accuracy will be a lot better than that seen by the public.

Position

Satellite navigation receivers reduce errors by using combinations of signals from multiple satellites and multiple correlators, and then using techniques such as Kalman filtering to combine the noisy, partial, and constantly changing data into a single estimate for position, time, and velocity. Three and four satellites are the minimum needed to determine positions on the surface of the Earth and above it. This is done from a global network of reference stations on the ground, whose positions are known to within centimetres. The best known is called differential satellite navigation, which uses a fixed receiver in a known position as a reference. GPS receivers, which use differential GPS, can have an accuracy error of less than 1 metre and even down to a few centimetres. This type of receiver is now commonly used in many civil engineering works.

How the public benefit from satellite navigation (Sat nav)

The explosion of sat nav usage is due to the low sat nav costs and how practical they are, especially if you are driving alone and you have no one to help map read. With more and more motorists venturing abroad in their cars the sat nav is an indispensable device to help them navigate around foreign countries. The latest sat nav systems also incorporate Traffic Congestion warnings and then work out an alternative route, with voice instructions, to help avoid a lengthy delay in traffic.

Conclusion

Satellite navigation is increasingly becoming a vital component of aircraft, ships and cars and Europe is concerned about relying entirely on the US system. The clearest of these is the fact that satellite navigation will become a fully redundant service for civil aviation users in the event of a satellite or system failure.

Paul Haughney is an avid car driver covering 1,000`s of miles each year. He is also a converted Sat Nav user and also has an online resource for garmin nuvi.

GPS navigation devices from Garmin are well-known. The brand has already created its own distinct identity in this sphere. More recently, the company has directed its endeavours towards the sat nav devices that can be used in cars. The designs of these devices are slick and sophisticated. The screens are large and clear. The quality of the in-built loud speakers leaves little more to be desired. And the features are excellent, to say the least.

One could take the example of the Garmin Nuvi 310 for instance. This sat nav device comes with sophisticated capabilities for route allocation between a number of destinations. Consequently, it is ideal for frequent travelers and globe-trotters. This device can be installed in cars. On quite a few instances, this device goes a long way in ensuring a safe journey for many people.

Generally speaking, many of the Garmin 310 sat nav devices come with wide screens, one touch controls, FM modulators, Bluetooth connectivity, pre-installed speed cameras and street level maps of different places. FM modulators are great for channelling audio through the speakers of the cars in which the sat nav devices are installed. A user can use these gadgets to navigate efficiently to exact addresses. In addition, one could also find recently visited destinations, towns, cities, and special POIs (points of interest) – quite easily and without any hassles.

The text to speech option in many of these Garmin sat nav devices is equally amazing.. The instructions are detailed and come with a personal touch. The confusion in finding junctions and roads in busy cities and small towns can now be done away with.

The best part is that most of these innovative gadgets are easy to use. One need not be tech-savvy to make the most of many of the features and functionalities that are on offer.

Garmin Nuvi 310 Sat Nav
Alice Erin is an Expert Author. He has written good quality articles on Cordless Phones Have a look at Sat Nav Devices