Is Satellite Navigation More Environmentally Friendly?

GPS systems are no longer a simple navigation system, they developed a number features which enable them to be more eco-friendly. This may sound quite an unusual concept, would the sat nav simply get you to a location on a shorter route and hence use less fuel?

The most modern sat nav will use clear and precise traffic-jam warnings so that the driver can avoid burning more fuel with the engine idling whilst sitting in traffic. Of course, you may have to drive extensively to avoid traffic jams which means that traffic warnings are superfluous. However, the intention is there. Getting lost burns unnecessary fuel, which is exactly why mobile phone accessories like battery chargers were so important. The TomTom Go Live 1000 is arguably the best GPS system currently on the market. This model is available at £280.00. At such a price, one may expect it to have tonnes of frivolous features which make accessibility seem nigh-on impossible. But don't be fooled by the high price tag, yes the Go Live 1000 does have plenty of features, but primarily it concentrates on the navigation essentials. It has precise commands that will make most journeys stress free and more energy efficient.

Because let's face it, the first sat navs that appeared on the market were pretty dire, advising you to turn left at the next right and go straight at the fork road. Satellite navigation was once crazed frenetic products that seemed to want your car to burn as much petrol as possible. The TomTom Go Live 1000 is quick, being able to lock on to satellites almost instantly. The TomTom is one of the most accessible sat navs on the market, it's menu is easy to navigate through. The days of getting lost in a Car hire abroad are over, no more asking a dishevelled local with a crazed look in his eye for directions; sat navs are efficient in more ways than one.

A Guide to the Best Sat Navs

Principally sat navs are designed to get you from A to B, simple. However, like most gadgetry, modern sat navs are now loaded with heaps of features and capabilities, including internet connection. Here are two products that prove sat navs are much more than simple navigation systems.

The Garmin sat nav 3790T is as sleek and stylish as the best smarthphones. This alluring product makes other sat navs look like Fisher Price toys. The Garmin is just 9mm thick and finished with glass and alloy. With a retail price of £330.00, the 3790T isn't cheap, so what justifies such a high-price tag? The product is a direct response to the development of GPS apps seen on smarthphone; essentially this sat nav is a smarthphone. Best of all, this sat nav is quick and locks on to satellites nearly instantly. The sat nav is surprisingly accessible, with a practical menu and plenty of short-cuts to features.

The TomTom Go Live 1000 has been hailed as the best sat nav on the market. This model is available at £280.00. At such a price, one may expect it to have tonnes of frivolous features which make accessibility seem nigh-on impossible. However, despite the abundance of features on the Go Live 1000, it makes navigation it's essentials its main priority. There are little accompaniments that tarnish its capabilities. The TomTom has ported its UI to the same Webkit back-end that results in the iPad's speedy browser. The model also possesses an impeccable HD Traffic service which works out where jams are by tracking the signals of mobile phones. TomTom are working on a sat nav with Parking sensors capabilities.If all this isn't enough to convince you to purchase a TomTom, then maybe the voice of Brian Blessed will incite you. He is the latest celebrity to add his tone to the TomTom catalogue.

HGV Sat-Navs - Considerations For Buyers

Vehicles everywhere are equipped with satellite navigation systems, putting the minds of drivers at ease. No more do motorists have to squint at faded, obscure road signs and fear making a wrong turn into some utterly foreign territory. Cumbersome maps and atlases are things of the past; their necessity greatly reduced by Sat-Nav systems. These systems arent just for the common driver, however, as heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers also benefit from their use. What should an HGV driver consider when buying a Sat-Nav?

One of the first things to consider when buying a Sat-Nav for an HGV is the kinds of features found on devices made by different companies. HGV drivers need to take factors into account that are unique to their driving situation such as bridge heights and changing weights as goods are delivered. Some HGV Sat-Nav providers do not provide this information to the driver, so it is important to do some research and find ones that alert drivers to bridge clearances and allow for differing weights so that accurate times and gas mileage can be determined. Read online forums to find out which providers maintain pleasant customer service experiences, because as sophisticated and advanced as they are, Sat-Navs are bound to face hiccups now and then.

Another consideration that might be easily forgotten is that base-mapping varies from region to region. Although the quality of mapping has improved recently, data ownership is still contested between public and commercial entities; therefore, some road details may be out of date or slightly inaccurate. You may have to do some homework to find out which Sat-Nav providers work well in different counties and municipalities.

If you are an independent HGV driver or are looking at possible employment for a certain hauler, find out if there is a problem in using Sat-Navs. Some haulers discourage their use or prohibit it completely because of safety and economic concerns. It would obviously not be prudent to spend money on a device and pay for a service that you are unable to use. This has been less of a problem lately as haulers have experienced the benefits of Sat-Nav such as more efficient route planning and management of fleets.

Just as you would when buying any product and service, you will want to do some research into the reliability and availability of various providers and devices of HGV Sat-Nav. Find out which ones work best and in a number of areas and if they are allowed by a particular hauling company. You can then buy the right one to guide you around the country.

Now Try : Truck Sat Nav

The Disadvantages Of A Sat Nav

It is now odd to find a UK driver that doesn't own a sat nav, their popularity shot up when the prices dropped some years ago. The units represent a quick and easy way to find exactly where you want to go. They are pretty much faultless and are idiot proof, being easy to operate. Are they a contributing factor to the dumbing down of the UK populous? It's like we are being spoon fed everything these days, making our brains redundant.

I like to keep my brain active on a daily basis and I have therefore completely shunned thesat nav, instead I prefer to use a map to get where I want to go, it's a lot cheaper and adds interest to the journey. I always wonder if the people that rely on sat navs would be able to cope if they got lost and their beloved little grey box ran out of battery, I highly doubt it.

Another option that's not a complete cop out would be to use thevehicle tracking system in your car or alternatively, the interactive maps on your smart phone to determine your location and find your way using that method. You are able to see your physical location on a map but you don't have a patronizing voice reading out instructions.

If you are feeling particularly rustic you could even go onto the AA website and print out a list of directions from that. Unless you are trying to locate a remote village in the outer Hebredies, road signage and a dash of common sense should be enough to see you on your way.

There are alternatives to usinggarmin sat nav devices, even if this means using your poor old brain a bit.

The Beauty of Sat Nav

Thank you GPS! After being initially sceptical, I have been completely won over by them. Many people joke that many drivers who own GPS have no clue how to actually use them! This is just one of the reasons why I was unconvinced. Now I found it hard to see myself going anywhere without GPS; especially after the last weekend's events. On Saturday evening I found myself completely lost, which doesn't usually bother me to be honest, but as time marched on I became more and more anxious. You see, I was on the verge of missing my father's surprise birthday party.

Stupidly I wasn't prepared. I had never made the drive to my parents, I used to rely on trains; stupid I know with British Rail's timekeeping. So I found myself in Reading, I was supposed to be in Kent! I was agitated, which is not good when you're behind a steering wheel. The signal on my phone was nonexistent, and my AA map had been the thing that had got me into this mess in the first place! Out of the corner of my eye I saw the bright neon lights of a supermarket, sat nav immediately came to mind. I pulled off the motorway and nipped in to buy one. I arrived just in time to see the look on my father's face.

This urban myth that sat navs are impossible to use, from my experience, is unfounded. I just switched the device on, typed in where I was going and it gave me clear understandable directions; it was as easy as that. I've became so attached to my sat nav I've named it Barbara. I'm not one to be caught up in new technology but I'm beginning to have a change of heart. What other car accessories have I yet to discover? Such is my poor sense of direction it could be time to invest in a vehicle tracking system!

Save Money and Time With a Satellite Navigation System

Just as hands free car kits have done sat nav systems are set to revolutionise the way we travel and do business. In the past you would have to carry a ton of maps around with you whenever you travelled around. But with the new wave of sat nav systems this in no longer a requirement. Not only will a sat nav keep on course to your given direction it will also plot your entire route.

Clearly there is an advantage in a sat nav system that you are not required to plan the journey yourself. This difference is most notable when it comes to delivery drivers who often drive vans. Due to the diversity of locations delivery drivers find themselves in it can never be possible to know exactly where they are going. This is where a sat nav system becomes invaluable because it is able to significantly reduce delivery time. Clearly this avoids the need for the driver to plan the route him or herself thus saving valuable time on deliveries.

The American powered Global Positioning System (GPS) is currently the only positioning system in the marketplace today. There will be competition from Europe in 2012 with the launch of the Galileo system. There are also positioning systems from China (COMPASS) and Russia (GLONASS) under development. Although there will be no affect to current systems which will all be compatible with the new positioning systems.

Using a network of satellites equipped with atomic clocks the system is able to locate the position of a device in relation to the globe. The satellites send a message containing the time, orbital position and health of the satellite down to earth. To interpret the message there needs to be a satellite navigation receiver in your device which can then display the position to the end user.