Depending on the use to which it will give the GPS, we must take into consideration the benefits offered by different models. There are mobile computers, naval and air use. For navigation in 4×4 the most commonly used are portable and intended for marine use (base), the latter have a fixed installation and, most importantly, the screen is larger, are used in any competition navigation.
Here we will cite the different features offered by global positioning devices to facilitate the election. Our recommendations in the guidelines for navigation 4×4.
Memory storage of track points:
This factor is important because as a rule, as memory is depleted will erase the first items to go the last recording, so we could not return to the starting point. There are devices that record 1,000 points and more than 2,000 (the choice of each point made by the leading established parameters, considering the change of direction, that is, for example if the path is deflected by 20 degrees or more, the device estimates should record it, so in two runs with the same distance, one with lots of corners and the second a line, the first store will spend more memory because many more points). In 4×4, when long runs, the more points of track, the better.
There are terminals that provide the ability to record up to 10 tracks in its memory, which is useful if we exhaust the points of the active track, they do compress the data.
Routes:
The most basic GPS will take memory for a route of 30 waypoints, which I think is insufficient for our activity. It is interesting to have storage for at least 2 routes of 50 waypoints.
Waypoints:
It’s also good to have memory to store waypoints, the GPS media can store up to 500 points, enough to operate comfortably.
Screen size:
Although we make do with what we have, the bigger the screen the better, as it will facilitate a glance viewing of the information we want, well, bigger, more data available in the same presentation. The? Does not go? screens, are the color
Outdoor antenna:
One issue that we had not yet tried is the? Coverage? terminals need to process and provide the information, since the data they send satellites by electromagnetic waves, we need to have an antenna. The laptops have an internal, others external, usually. The receiving sensitivity makes portable lose some coverage simply by passing through a forest (not usual), so the more sophisticated offer the ability to attach an external antenna, which will ensure not losing the signal.
Food:
It is essential that you not miss the food to your browser to guide us, so we must consider the system that we use, the base are usually connected to the car battery and battery-operated laptops, some come with the possibility connection to the cigarette lighter, which is very advisable to ensure the functioning and not rely on disposable batteries.
Cartography:
Another benefit to consider when choosing is the possibility of introducing mapping. There are people for and against this option, obviously expensive price.
Depending on the area of the world, mapping (provided by the manufacturer exclusively), has more or less detail, for example, the U.S. is very complete. That of Spain does not facilitate the situation of the tracks, but the roads, towns, cities, gas stations, restaurants, etc., which in any way we can know, for example, where is the nearest gas station, with the utility involved.
Further details:
The GPS is not only used to indicate a position or guide you to a point, also provides a bounty of useful information, the more complete, more data we get, we will cite some of them, since they offer the basic to the most sophisticated:
- Altitude: Height at which we find ourselves.
- Rumbo: Facilitates course correction to reach the destination
- Date and Time: Time is more accurate than can be achieved as an atomic clock is provided from the satellite.
- Time of sunrise and sunset
- Current speed
- Distance to reach the destination. Interesting, because if it means that decreases going well and if it increases, is that we are astray.
- Route processor: This application offers data such as maximum and minimum speed, time moving, time stopped, distance traveled, etc..
- Hours appropriate pair of hunting and fishing.
- Moon phase and position of the sun