GPS in the car

Satellite navigation in a car a few years ago seemed like a complete abstraction in Poland. Now any average driver can get it.

There are many technologies available in the market as well as detailed maps.

Technological innovations spread rapidly and become cheaper quickly - the best example is the computer market. Just a few years ago satellite navigation was installed only in expensive cars, and in Poland its functionality had already dropped to zero, because there were no suitable maps. Now everything has changed, maybe almost everything. Navigation systems that are standard on car manufacturers are still expensive. However, drivers who want to have them come to the aid of, among other things, manufacturers of handheld computers. These mini computers make a career out of being laptops or mp3 players. You can buy a pocket computer with a built-in GPS module for only PLN 2. The second amount, however, will have to be spent on the corresponding cards. A decent sat-nav kit in a car that works thanks to a pocket computer can be easily bought for PLN XNUMX. zloty. For professional stationary kits with many sensors and a large screen (similar to the factory ones), we will pay from 6 to 10 thousand. zloty.

Something for everyone

When looking for a navigation system for your car, you should first clarify your own needs. If we do not spend many hours behind the wheel, and at the same time lead an active lifestyle and are familiar with computers, then we may well reach for a handheld-based set. We will buy a complete set that works thanks to the popular Acer n35 handheld for less than PLN 2. For a more extensive set based on the ideal PDA HP iPaq hx4700, you need to pay more than PLN 5. Another thing is that almost 2 thousand PLN of this amount is the cost of buying cards: Poland and Europe. However, we will use the PDA not only in the car, but also at work and at home. It can serve us both as a portable computer and as an mp3 player. Moreover, the internal GPS modules allow you to enjoy the benefits of navigation outside the car, for example, when fishing, hunting or hiking in the mountains.

For lovers

Simple navigation devices are the best solution for people who are not very computer science savvy, who also travel a lot and only care about good car navigation. Flagship products in this category include TomTom and Garmin sets. We will buy the latest product TomTom Go700 for about 3,8k. PLN (depending on the distributor and store from PLN 3,5 to 4 thousand), and for the Garmin StreetPilot c320 kit we will pay about PLN 3,2 thousand. zloty. Together with these sets we will receive a complete set of maps - both Poland and Europe. TomTom or Garmin devices are very easy to use. However, unlike In fact, PDAs will only be useful in the car. As a standard, thanks to bluetooth technology, we can use such a device simultaneously with a hands-free kit (provided that our phone also has bluetooth). After purchase, the device is almost immediately ready for use; we still need to install the software on handhelds.

Demanding drivers can purchase professional kits that are fully integrated with the vehicle, such as the GPS TabletPC. Having spent from 7,5 to 10 thousand PLN, he will receive a set with a large display that works, for example, with an odometer and a car speedometer. These devices are able to accurately determine our position based on data from the car, even in the event of a “missing” satellite (in a tunnel or in a forest). The large display not only simplifies navigation, but can also be used as a TV (thanks to the TV tuner).

The Devil in Detail

The decision to choose the right navigation system cannot be taken lightly. And don't just look at the price. Daniel Tomala from one of the companies selling navigation in Poznań categorically does not recommend cheap Chinese devices. This is especially true for the CCP. The savings may be obvious because "no name" hardware will almost certainly not work with commercially available cards. Navigation without maps is useless. When buying a system, you should also pay attention to the possibility of updating maps. As a rule, an annual renewal of a license with an update costs from 30 to even 100 zł (depending on whether we are only interested in Poland or all of Europe).