The GPS Advisor

Many people are thinking that it may be good idea to add an in-dash or portable GPS unit to their vehicle. Everyone has a different reason for considering an automobile GPS…some are tired of getting lost, others have a business where they must do a lot of deliveries.

Whatever your reason, with today’s vast array of automobile GPS devices, you have plenty of selection and great options for adding GPS to your driving experience. My friend is a real estate agent, and just started using a GPS to direct him to his home showings…saving countless hours of time manually mapping out directions beforehand.

One word of caution: Although these units add convenience to your driving, they can be another dangerous distraction - like cell phones have become. It is a good idea to pull over before entering data into your gps unit…or you can let the passenger do the navigating while you keep you eyes on the road.

Factory In-dash GPS Units Are the Pricey Option

Every time I go car shopping, I am amazed at the high premium that auto manufacturers charge to add the GPS “package” to your new car. We are talking thousands of dollars in most cases. I always think it is a better idea to save your cash (unless you have it to burn) and augment your car with an after-market portable GPS system.

I am seeing a trend with some manufacturers where built-in GPS systems are becoming a standard option, but this is usually with the premium cars. Today’s factory-installed GPS systems usually operate off of a DVD system and use one DVD to hold all of the maps for the United States.

Expect to pay over $1000 for these in-dash GPS units, however, they are usually nicely integrated with other functions of your car. BMW and Acura have pioneered the way for in-dash GPS, although other manufacturers are working to tie in real-time traffic, weather reports, and road accident reports. It won’t be long before all new cars come standard with some GPS functionality.

Portable GPS Units Are the Economical Way to Go

My real estate friend is using a portable GPS, which has been great fun. He drives and hands the GPS around to different people in the car as needed. Although these units are not as sleek and integrated as in-dash GPS receivers, they provide solid functionality and ultimate flexibility for a much lower price.

I really like the ability to move these GPS devices from car-to-car, meaning you can buy one unit and share between cars as needed. The portable GPS units generally have a smaller screen and less advanced features, but they get the job done beautifully.

Recommended Product Lines

If you are looking for less expensive portable GPS units for your car, we would suggest taking a look at the Garmin Nuvi series or the Magellan Maestro series. Both of these manufacturers have great reputations for quality and the units themselves feature easy-to-use interfaces, color maps, and hard drive map storage.You can also get versions with voice-guided directions.

More to come as we dive deeper into the features of portable GPS units for automobiles. Stay tuned!

Verdict: Excellent Subscription Dog Location Device

We think the Zoombak GPS Pet Locator is a user-friendly and cost-effective way of tracking your dog by leveraging GPS technology and the cellular phone network.

You will have to pay a small montly subscription fee -but for that price, you get simplicity, vast range capability, and great 24×7 customer service.

The Zoombak GPS has proven to be a dependable and accurate way to track the mysterious whereabouts of your dog anywhere there is cellular coverage at any time of the day.

The Zoombak GPS System - Simple and Elegant Design

The tiny Zoombak locator is 2.87″ x 1.69″ x .0.82″ (L x W x H) and weighs only 2.5 ounces and is water-resistant (not sure about swimming with your dog here). Zoombak recommends the product for dogs over 15 lbs, so it may be a little big for your tiny lap dog.

The built-in long-life battery gives you power for of up to 5 days on standby or up to 150 location requests before recharging is needed. The charging unit is included.

Zoombak requires a monthly service plan starting at $9.99/month with a minimum service term required. Of course, activation and use of Zoombak locators are subject to Zoombak’s customer agreement, plans, terms and conditions - as well as signing over your first born (just kidding).

Cellular Meets GPS in Zoombak

We love how Zoombak uses Assisted Global Positioning System (A-GPS), that brings together both satellite and cellular technologies. Technical jargon aside, this provides a more precise and reliable way to determine the location of your Zoombak Locator…which should be attached to your dog (or teenager, if needed).

The relatively small, lightweight, and water-resistant locator attaches comfortably to your dog’s collar with a durable and secure Zoombak pouch (included with the unit). If your dog leaves or is taken from the safety zone you have created, e.g., your backyard, you can be promptly notified by text and/or email.

You can then pinpoint your dog¿s real-time location on-demand via Zoombak.com or through their live, toll-free customer care - which is available 24/7. Additionally, you can determine your dog’s location in real time using our continuous tracking option which provides your pet’s location every 5 minutes for up to an hour.

Get GPS-based Internet Access to Your Dog…Really!

To track your dog, you can simply log on to Zoombak.com to view a map of your dog’s current location, as well as his path taken since leaving home. This is wonderful, assuming you have an Internet connection or a computer nearby.

With the subscription, you get unlimited on-demand location requests, an easy-to-use website, and a 24/7 toll-free phone number for live customer care. This number is used for location support as well, which will provide you with the peace of mind you are looking for in pet safety.

We think that the simplicity and long range capability of this cellular-based GPS dog tracking system is great for someone looking for a turnkey solution and who doesn’t mind a small subscription for that peace of mind.

Does my Dog Need a GPS Tracking System?

Some people are “blessed” with a dog that likes to explore the planet without you. When I was a boy, I had a beautiful Siberian husky named Copper that would make it a point to dig out of the yard every single morning to explore her world.

No one told me that Siberian’s were born to run, and had little regard for staying where their owners want them to be. Each morning, I would get on my bike and ride for miles to find Copper.

Today - because of dog GPS tracking systems - there is no need to guess where your adventurous dog may be roaming. Read the rest of this entry »

Verdict: “Best Entry-Level GPS Running Watch”

If your budget is limited (to about 100 bucks) and you want to add GPS functionality to your workouts or training regimen, look no further than the Garmin Forerunner 101 GPS running watch.

Having survived my 25 year running career with a handy digital watch, I was amazed to see what Garmin has packed into this wrist-top GPS running computer.

I like the simplicity and basic functions of this virtual training partner as well as the very low entry price, unless you want to hook it up to your PC - then go with the next step up. Read the rest of this entry »

Verdict: “Excellent Entry-level GPS Wrist Watch”

The Garmin Foretrex 101 GPS wrist watch is a new addition to the Foretrex 201 line, but in a more economical package with great features.

We are quite amazed at the sheer number of features that Garmin has packed into this fairly compact unit. After may years of carrying around a general handheld GPS unit, this is a refreshing alternative.

Heavy-Duty Features in a Little Package

Garmin claims that the Foretrex 101 has the same features at the Foretrex 201, but at a more economical price point, including PC interface capabilities for downloading waypoints, tracks and routes, and operation on two AAA batteries. Read the rest of this entry »

Verdict: “Excellent High-Powered GPS Running Watch”

The Garmin Forerunner 305 is a high-end GPS runners watch that is ideal for serious athletes and trail runners looking for serious backcountry adventures.

Garmin never disappoints when it comes to GPS features and this unit is no exception. This is the GPS running watch I would buy today (if price were not a factor), because of it’s extensive features, sleek design, and Garmin reliability & performance. Read the rest of this entry »

Having come back from a devastating form of cancer, I can attest to the need to use any means to help you stay focused and on track for your recovery program.

A GPS wrist watch can be an invaluable training tool for charting your progress and providing inspiration on the long road of recovery. In the haze of recovery, you may miss out on the satisfaction of your progress, unless you track how you are doing.

The positive benefits of seeing your progress can help catapult you to the next step of your recovery. From there, it is just a process of stepping back up the ladder to your full recovered state. I think that a GPS watch could be very helpful, as it can automatically collect data during your daily walks (and I believe my daily walks played a huge factor in my recovery). Read the rest of this entry »

Amazing Features to Jump-Start Your Training

GPS watches are the newest “must-have” training devices in the world of outdoor athletics and multi-sport adventures. Both professional and amateur athletes embracing the GPS technology of the pros to make their athletic pursuits more enjoyable and survivable.

As an amateur triathlete, I am very excited about the possiblities of using a GPS watch to help me get through the long training sessions as well as the sometimes grueling races.

The explosion of the GPS watch market has happened because elite athletes, as well as amateur multi-sport athletes are buying them to improve training and race day performance. Read the rest of this entry »

Verdict: “The Cadillac of Bicycle GPS Computers”

The Garmin Edge 705 Bicycle GPS system has all the features that anyone could possibly want…and then some. Although expensive, you can use this GPS system as your personal fitness trainer, route planner, and graphical proof that you have conquered all the those hills.

The Garmin Edge 750 is truly the Cadillac of the cycling GPS category. This unit is the big brother of the popular Garmin Edge 605 and sports amazing GPS navigation functionality, turn-by-turn directions and very advanced route planning and ride data save capabilities. Read the rest of this entry »

Verdict: Solid Personal Trainer and Cycling Computer Combined

The Garmin Edge 305 is a very good “middle of the road” cycling computer with extensive and very customizable fitness training capabilities. We really like the combination of features and ease of use for a relatively good price.

All of the the Garmin Edge GPS computers are (in our opinion) the best little lightweight and sleek GPS-enabled cycling computers on the market.

When visiting my favorite outdoor store (REI, of course!), I head to the GPS counter to see if anything new has come out and to play with the Garmin GPS units. Although the picture of the Edge 305 looks pretty large on this page, they are much smaller in person - about the size of an ipod. Read the rest of this entry »