Considering a PDA GPS: Buying the Right GPS Receiver

The first question to ask yourself in buying the correct GPS Receiver is what your primary purpose in owning one is. If the primary purpose is onboard navigation on a fast moving vehicle, such as a car or an airplane, then a PDA GPS receiver may not be the best solution for you. In these cases what you need is a large-screen display with position indicators. The PDA GPS, however, may be more useful as a navigation tool on a cruise, on a walk or perhaps as a targeting aid for regional aid programs and military or exploring personnel. It can also serve as a backup navigation aid for any purpose.

There are many uses for handheld GPS receivers, including the tracking of the actual receiver itself. In fact many portable phones also double as GPS receivers, though because of their screen size, the use of a phone as a navigational aid is somewhat limited. Handhelds that are both a GPS receiver, phone and have a PDA-size screen would seem to be an ideal tool. In fact, this is a growing trend in PDA GPS.

Choosing the Right Unit

To fit within the genre, these devices must be handheld. However, there are certain PDA GPS receivers that include the navigational capability as part of general capability, and there are those that are custom manufactured primarily for positioning purposes. Many of these custom PDA GPS receivers are also rugged in construction, and designed to withstand traveling by backpack. Some even make the claim to be waterproof.

Within the shell, the PDA GPS receiver typically has a standard “pocket PC” set of electronics and processors, a GPS processing system and a precise clock. On top of the basic computer hardware, the PDA GPS must come with a variety of software that is designed to take the information from the GPS processor and covert it to map coordinates. One of the major concerns with mapping software is maintaining its accuracy. The mapping process takes the GPS position and then locates your PDA GPS unit onto some physical location, such as a street.

One important note to make here is that streets, locations and roads frequently change. This is why it is important to make sure that whatever PDA GPS you purchase, it can be updated easily with facilities (PC hookup, memory card or RF link typically) that you already have. There are a large number of GPS processor chips on the market that may be put into a given PDA GPS receiver. Each of the GPS processor chips will have a number of channels (satellites) that it can connect to and as a result, update speed and accuracy. Most of these are more than accurate for everyday use and are often more accurate than the average person needs.

In looking at all of these facilities of PDA GPS receivers, and recalling that they may still have some novelty value to the average consumer as well, the decision is not easily made as to what the right unit is for you. In the end, unless you are in the military, an explorer or service provider on an uncharted continent, a PDA GPS receiver is a luxury and the choice should be made by personal preference and not by usability.

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