The best way to select a GPS Receiver (4)
Key Functions of GPS
A. The Display Screen
* Color screens can be helpful, specially in maritime environments. You will want that lump on the display to quickly distinguish in between land mass and water depth. Other outdoor enthusiasts discover that less-expensive grayscale (black-and-white) screens are just as suitable.
* Big screens are ideal for automobile navigation, and for some may be the deciding aspect when selecting a GPS unit. But at times significantly less is more-a display screen as well cluttered with an excess of info may be a dangerous distraction.
* Illumination Backcountry hikers often appear for illumination selections. Can it be study inside a variety of light circumstances? Does it light up for nighttime or low-light use?
How’s your eyesight? Select a display form and size which is effortlessly readable.
Antenna Configurations
Each kind and style of antenna has its pros and cons-determining which operates greatest for the planned adventures really should be the deciding aspect.
* Quad helix: A quadrifilar helix antenna is one of the most frequent in today’s types. It’s typically regarded the ideal for use beneath tree cover. (Consider of an eggbeater, whose spiral blade configuration is capable of creating greater splatter coverage than say, a wooden spoon.)
* Flat patch: When you often hike or travel in open country, look at this common, less-expensive alternative towards the quad helix. It performs just as very well, provided the antennas have the exact same aperture.
Far more on Antennas
While using the addition of your high-sensitivity processor chip, these kinds of because the SiRF Star III, the efficiency of the GPS product (regardless of antenna form) is going to be considerably enhanced. This chip can resolve even extremely weak satellite signals, and will outperform other styles beneath heavy tree cover.
Within the meantime, maintain in thoughts a basic rule of thumb: a physically bigger GPS receiver is most likely to have higher-quality reception below forest canopy than a far more compact device, primarily mainly because the greater gadgets usually use a quad helix antenna.
You’ll find other antenna issues to look at as properly:
* Built-in antennas are much less most likely to break off or get damaged throughout normal use.
* External antennas are a smaller amount protected, but they can be re-positioned and manipulated to enhance a receiver’s pickup in some situations.
* Optional plug-in antennas are excellent whenever you wish to use your GPS in the car or boat. They enable your GPS to pick up signals even if you’re seated beneath a metal roof or hunkered down below decks and those satellite signals can’t get by way of.