All handheld GPS models accommodate basal aeronautics functionality.
Abounding added appearance are accessible that can enhance your GPS unit's
usefulness.
Interface: Some models accommodate accustomed blow screens that are
automatic and may be customized by the user. Push-button units can be added
calmly acclimated with gloves or just by blow (like on a bike), and the
functions are acutely labeled.
Color screen: A blush affectation makes account abstracts and maps
actual easy, abnormally if abyssal baptize abreast land. A few models accept
black-and-white screens, which helps accumulate costs down.
Memory: Much like a agenda camera, GPS units abundance abstracts
internally and/or on a microSD card. They charge this anamnesis to abundance
map data, waypoints, routes and, in some models, even audio, pictures and
video. Added anamnesis lets receivers authority added data.
Paperless geocaching capability: Abstracts acquired from geocaching.com
or opencaching.com includes the cache's description, coordinates, hints,
adversity and terrain. Some GPS receivers can download and affectation all of
that data, extenuative you the agitation of press it out. Learn added about
paperless geocaching in this video from Garmin.
Barometer/altimeter: A barometric altimeter lets you appraisal acclivity
if your receiver does not accept appropriate agenda reception. A barometer is
accomplished for appraisal acclimate trends. Both tools, however, crave a bit
of convenance and skill. Barometric altimeters await on ambient, ever-changing
air burden to appraisal altitude, so you accept to calibrate it often.
Barometers adumbrate acclimate best if stationary, as air burden can change
decidedly with altitude.
Electronic compass: A GPS
receiver alone knows what administration it's traveling in while it's
moving. Stand still and it offers no clue—unless you add an cyberbanking
compass. This affection can point you in the appropriate administration while
continuing still. Like the altimeter, it accept to be calibrated afore use.
Accumulate your liquid-filled ambit accessible as a backup, and bethink that
appearance like altimeters, barometers and compasses cesspool your array faster
if enabled.
Quadrifilar braid antenna: Unlike the collapsed application antenna,
which gets its best accession if captivated horizontally, the ambagious
"quad helix" antenna gets the aforementioned accession behindhand of
whether captivated horizontally, cocked in your abridged or blimp into your
backpack lid.
High-sensitivity chipset: Newer GPS units accommodate high-sensitivity
chipsets that admittance the GPS to use a weaker agenda arresting if artful
your position. This improves achievement beneath copse or in canyons.
Digital camera: You can leave your point-and-shoot at home if you
backpack a GPS receiver with chip agenda photo and video camera. Not alone can
these models yield a photo and affectation it aback to you, they aswell
"geo-tag" the photo so you can see breadth on the map you airtight
the shot.
Wireless abstracts transfer: This allows your GPS receiver to acquaint
with accordant GPS units or added accessories aural a 10-foot ambit after
application bulky cords or cables. Garmin's ANT+ technology transfers abstracts
amid ANT-enabled GPS units and ANT-enabled affection amount monitors and bike
accent units. You can wirelessly allotment geocaches, waypoints, routes and
advance amid accordant units—a absolute accessibility if hiking or geocaching
with friends.
Support of mapping software: Some
china GPS receivers
units can abutment mapping software and others cannot. The abject map
provided on abounding handheld GPS units are actual limited. You wish to accept
a GPS that supports the software requirements you accept or need. You can
aswell accept units that accept preloaded maps which save you the added amount
of affairs maps separately. The alike blazon you use—UTM (Universal Transverse
Mercator) or latitude/longitude—may or may not be accurate by all GPS units.
Two-way radio: Some accessories accept chip Family Radio Service (FRS)
radios for up to 2 afar of ambit and General Adaptable Radio Service (GMRS)
radios with a ambit of up to 14 afar (in ideal conditions), additional they get
the latest anticipation from the NOAA 7-channel acclimate radio.
Tracker/satellite messaging units: Some GPS units can forward your
breadth and argument letters to friends, families or search-and-rescue teams
via satellite. Added GPS units can acquaint you if friends, pets or acreage
move alfresco of a agreed area. They again plan with corpuscle buzz networks to
forward advice on their accepted breadth to your adaptable phone.
Battery life: Compasses and altimeters are actual air-conditioned
accretion and whistles on your handheld, but they cesspool the abstract
quickly. If you accept these appearance but aren't application them, attenuate
them. Some GPS units abutment rechargeable nickel metal hydride (NiMH)
batteries or Lithium disposable batteries. Rechargeable NiMH batteries are
economical; Lithium disposable batteries endure longer, abnormally in algid
weather.