Garmin GPS

The name Garmin stands synonymous to global navigation satellite system and GPS is the current system with full function using over 2 dozen satellites to determine the receivers’ position. Garmin GPS, the world’s most popular and pioneering maker of GPS receivers and tracking systems that are cheap, can be mounted inside a car or hand held.

Garmin is derived from first three letters of its two founders Garry Burrell and Min Kao. The founders with visionary zeal set out as businessmen under unexpected situations in the year 1989 got a big boost when Delta Rocket II put a series of satellites for GPS services heralding the era of handheld GPS device.

If you are unsure as to what is GPS (global positioning system), here it is in brief. GPS is a navigation system assisted by cluster of interconnected satellites which was earlier open only to airplanes. The GPS unit has undergone several evolutionary changes with the earliest one only capable of sending and receiving signals from satellites but still primitive requiring map to be preloaded, screens monochrome, so anyone could assumed why they were just navigational instruments for army during the Gulf war of 1991.

Enter the modern world of portable GPS. If the earlier pieces used to be rather electronic bulky instruments the present day software driven gadgets are more advanced in features, signal strength, and more than anything else aesthetics. The first glimpse was in the “iQue” which was a marriage between PDA and GPS plus it did not require a PC to load maps.

eTrex GPS

The latest fad from Garmin GPS is a life style product which does much more than all its predecessors did. There are quite a few variants and improvement to this but the best by far. If you are looking for something exciting while still being helpful in a no man’s land then this is it. It shows 500 icons/way points, saves 10 previous tracks and logs for retracing, over 100 map data with several simplified positional formats, 12 parallel receivers that access as many satellites, a weather forecaster, accurate to the last 15 meters and faster than 0.1 knot and a ton more of recreational features.

GPS accessories add a dash of utility to the otherwise just navigational equipments. First of all, you will want PC/power interface cable, then you have bike mounts & car mounts, sound & handsfree, cases and car mounts etc.

Visit garmin.com to locate a discount store; browse for user reviews before you decide on a model. Buying one at a sale isn’t a bad idea.