GPS buyer's guide

By Derek Fung and John R. Delaney on 06 November 2009

Prices for GPS devices and apps have come down in the last year and many of us are looking at jumping on the bandwagon. We take a look at how it works, why you should (or shouldn't) buy a GPS, as well as key features to look out for.

1. Is GPS navigation right for me?
2. Types of GPS
 3. Features to look for
4. How GPS mapping works

Is GPS navigation right for me?

(Square Web 2.0 Style Icon Set 1 image by Maggie Molloy, Royalty free)

Over the last few years, we at CNET Australia have fielded a lot of questions from you, our readers, as well friends and family, about GPS navigators. Australia is now definitely riding the GPS tidal wave, which has already engulfed Europe and North America. But before you make the leap, let's have a look at the pros and cons of ditching the Melway because, let's be frank, satellite navigation isn't for everyone.

Price
The GPS market has matured and evolved remarkably in the last couple of years. Factory or third-party in-dash units for cars cost north of AU$1000. Brand name portable navigation units have RRPs that start from around AU$250, while there are a wide variety of options available to those with GPS-equipped mobile phones. Most of these options are still more expensive than a capital city road map from UBD, Gregory's or Melway/Sydway/Brisway, which will only set you back between AU$15 and AU$45.

What a GPS won't do
Some people purchase a GPS unit thinking that it will unlock the secrets of city navigation — show them hitherto unknown backstreets to avoid choke points, and road blocks — and come away profoundly disappointed. Pit a GPS navigator against an experienced city driver and 99 times out of a 100, the city driver will win.

That's because GPS devices will route via either the shortest path or through as many main roads as possible — or a combination thereof — without taking into account things like traffic lights, traffic restrictions, speed humps, difficult to perform turns and short turning bays. Thanks to the roll out of the Suna traffic messaging network across major capital cities many mid-range and above models now come standard with the ability to either route around traffic or alert the driver of any possible traffic delays.

Satellite navigators also struggle in the crowded concrete catacombs of the CBD, as well as in heavily wooded areas. That's because they rely on a strong satellite signal to pinpoint your position on the planet, so in these conditions GPS devices often get confused or lose track of your position completely. This is especially true of many mobile phones — we're looking at you iPhone — that moonlight as GPS units.

Plus points
Having said all that, sat nav is useful for a great many of us. For example, if you and your partner have no sense of direction, and the latest argument about directions has brought you to the brink of breaking up then a GPS may be your ticket to relationship bliss. Many weekend escapees from the big smoke find shelling out for a form of GPS preferable to scabbing yet another tourist map from the NRMA or RAC.

Frequent interstate business travellers, for whom hiring a car is more cost efficient than catching a taxi everywhere, will also appreciate the ghost in the shell guiding them around. And those who drive for a living — like field service and delivery personnel, taxi drivers and travelling salesmen — have been early adopters of GPS technology.

Topics: buying, navigation, system, shopping, maps, gps, location, route, travel, driving, in-car, guide, directions

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Comments (17)

  • Racy commented on 09/11/2009 17:56 Report abuse

    Forgot to mention, No sim card required for the NavNGo software, so no data calls. All free!

  • Racy commented on 09/11/2009 17:51 Report abuse

    I use a Samsung Omnia, I purchased NavNGo software on Ebay for $40.
    The software was easy to install, a little slow to pick up satellite when first turned on but very good once acquired.Spoken St. names,red light, fixed camera, & overspeed warnings. To date I have only used it around Adelaide. Very Happy & have ditched my in car unit.

  • Ted commented on 04/11/2009 21:44 Report abuse

    What about Handhelds ? Not a single one included. I have used a MerCol for years and find its features far out do the "in car ones".

  • Michael commented on 02/11/2009 12:31 Report abuse

    I've been considering picking up a new phone with a GPS receiver built in for quite some time now.

    However, I've noticed that most, if not all mobile phones use aGPS, meaning they connect to your 3G phone provider as well as the satellites to get a faster lock-on. What I'm not entirely clear on and what I want to know though, is that does this cost you data use? Will your telco actually charge you or deduct from your data usage if you attempt to use the GPS, and if so, is there a way to turn off aGPS and use standard GPS? Yeah it'll be slower but at least you aren't paying for it.

    Anyone know the answer to this?

  • Wolf commented on 28/05/2008 12:16 Report abuse

    I use the Asus r2h as my gps in the car, 7" screen, media player, bluetooth e.t.c.. and cheaper than any in car system on the market.

  • canberra_photographer commented on 21/05/2008 22:37 Report abuse

    Wow, brand name one should set you back no more than $400-450? I got mine 6 months ago for just $289. Harvey Norman may have one thing on the price tag, but know the code words and you get it for another.

  • Blah commented on 21/05/2008 19:18 Report abuse

    I think it must be noted before even considering looking at GPS models, what you are going to do with it. It is actually illegal (at least in NZ) to have an active display in the view of a car driver. Hope Cnet editors emphasise this in reviews.

  • C commented on 04/05/2008 10:32 Report abuse

    I've used both the Nokia 6110 Navigator phone and CoPilot 7 around Sydney. Nokia 6110 is much more accurate and gives more helpful instructions. CoPilot is so bad that if often can't be relied upon - it will often make mistakes or take you on a very bad route. CoPilot also doesn't know about many blocked streets etc over 10 years old. CoPilot often advises to turn after the turn.

  • moggten commented on 15/03/2008 20:09 Report abuse

    I own 2 tomtom 910'sI have had 1 9 months and 1 18 months both will not hold charge more than 1 hour and because of wear in the cradle wont charge on car charger

  • mark commented on 15/03/2008 04:20 Report abuse

    You can always get maps from open street map, or use shonky maps (google for them!). Better than the commercial offerings for the most part, and priced at $0 by volunteer effort.

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