Youve heard that new sport, geocaching, is fun. Or, youre tired of taking lost on your travels. Welcome to the 21st century. Global Postioning System (GPS) has been around long enough that prices are reasonable and the technology is user-friendly. With myriad brands and models, how to choose?

If you want a GPS for both hiking and driving use, then a handheld unit would be the way to go. Some handhelds even have accessories to allow them to be installed in an automobile. But dont rule out a PDA. More on that in a moment. For driving only, there are GPS receivers made just for vehicle use.

Handheld GPS receivers are either mapping or non--mapping. A basic, non--mapping unit may often cost less than $100 US and usually has/displays the following:

Location
Compass heading
Elevation above sea level
Accurate instant
Satellite location and signal strength
The ability to calculate distance traveled
The ability to record your pathway as a set of waypoints
The ability to navigate routes
The ability to retrace your steps


Handheld mapping receivers do all the above plus have the ability to display maps. The maps are either pre--loaded or uploaded from your PC. Prices are reasonable for mapping units, starting at around $150 US.

Paper maps are strongly recommended whether youre using a mapping receiver or not. Paper maps do not require batteries and most likely wont go defective. Also, a paper map gives you a "big picture" view of your situation -- something lacking on the small screen of a GPS.

I mentioned earlier your considering a PDA with GPS capability. A PDA is bulkier and the battery life is usually shorter, but if youre using a PDA anyway, then there are several ways to turn a PDA into a GPS. Some PDAs accept a GPS "sleeve." That is a device that the PDA nestles into. Another choice is one of Garmins PDAs. Garmin is probably the most popular GPS maker and they have one PDA/GPS that is Palm--based and one that is Pocket PC--based.

Prices for automotive GPS initial at around $250 US. These provide turn--by--turn guidance. Spend a little more than that and you get voice guidance. These are larger than handhelds in order to accommodate a screen large enough to be seen while driving. They are powered by the cars electrical system and because of this, they may only be used in a vehicle.

Many automobile manufacturers now offer built-in GPS receivers as an option. Because they are built-in, the big advantages are security and aesthetics. They are quite a bit more expensive than add-on units and commonly have fewer options. Ive also heard some stories of all the people having a hard time grasping map updates.

A PDA/GPS is a grand alternative for automotive make use of . Its screen is about the size of an automotive unit, so seeing the display is not a problem. They can also be powered by the car, eliminating battery worries. The Garmin PDAs mentioned above both come with the hardware and software for automotive use.

If youre hiking, a basic handheld unit (without maps) will be fine since youll always have paper maps with you anyway (you will, wont you?). An advantage to a handheld mapping unit is that they usually have more advanced features than the basic units. For driving, you have the choice of a handheld, in--car dedicated, or PDA. The handheld does have limited usefulness in a car, as it does not provide turn--by--turn guidance. For a more detailed look at how to choose a GPS, go to http://www.maps-gps-info.com/htcgp.html