1. There are four main types of Global Positioning System (GPS): the car navigation system, the marine system, a portable outdoor unit and a PDA-GPS hybrid. Having a GPS unit fitted to your car can save you both time and money by getting you to your destination via the most direct route.

2. GPS technology uses a satellite and computer link, a sender-receiver equipped with a screen, a power supply, a system for attaching it to the car and software on CD-ROM.

3. If you have a poor sense of direction, having your car fitted with a GPS unit means you’ll get directions as you go so you won’t have to stop your car to check a printed street directory. And it will advise you when a direction change is needed.

4. Firstly, decide what functions you want the GPS unit to perform. For example, if you’re trying to find your way from point A to point B, then spoken instructions are considered to be essential. Otherwise you have to stop and check the screen.

5. A GPS unit can provide the locations of hotels, restaurants, service stations, caravan parks, boat ramps and tourist sites.

6. GPS units give a detailed street map of town centres, but tall buildings can interfere with the unit’s accuracy, so be aware of this.

7. While GPS units are readily available from electronics specialists and the major department stores, they are still quite expensive. Weigh up whether the cost is worth it for you, depending on your needs. If you can wait a while, the price may drop considerably.

8. In Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, there are still gaps in the maps’ accuracy outside major cities, so make sure the system is going to do the job you want it to before you buy one.
 

From: 10,001 Time Saving Ideas