How to choose the right GPS navigator for your car

Today, a car GPS navigator can easily be replaced with an application on a phone, but some drivers continue to use such devices.

They remain in demand, for example, where Internet navigators simply cannot work. We have selected the best models, and also studied their pros, cons and features.

What is a GPS navigator for a car and how does it work

Today, smartphones with navigation applications are used as GPS navigators in cars. And this is logical: phones are always at hand and can not only plot a route, but also recommend alternative routes, warn about current speed limits, pay for fuel and much more.

The only problem is that such navigation applications usually require an Internet connection to work, and the maps themselves are downloaded online. The devices we are talking about in this article usually do not need the Internet, so they are often used by travelers or residents of remote regions with poor mobile coverage.

This is because a GPS navigator in a car is a regular radio frequency signal receiver. More precisely, several (at least four, but ideally more) signals from navigation satellites in near-earth orbit. All satellites operate synchronously, and based on the difference in signal from them, the navigator, using simple calculations, determines the coordinates and positions itself on the map.

Depending on the embedded algorithms, the device can access different groups of GPS satellites. They have several competitors, but they are much less common and do not cover the entire surface of the Earth.

Route guidance (as well as their construction) is carried out «offline» using pre-installed maps that are released and supported by several large companies. And all the additional functionality is already «layered» on the basic algorithms — for example, information about traffic jams, road works or cameras may require access to the Internet (via a built-in SIM card) or via a phone (the navigator can use its resources via an application or connection to an access point).

What else to pay attention to when choosing a navigator for your car

The basic parameters when choosing a modern navigator are simple: it should support current maps and work quickly. Additional functions like speed cameras are also useful, but there are less obvious nuances that are worth taking into account:

1. A warning about cameras is useful, but do not forget that the navigator data is most often simply “sewn” into the maps and is updated only with them. This means that you should not rely on them 100 percent. This is only an auxiliary function.
2. Ease of attachment. It is important that it allows you to easily remove the device and at the same time securely fix the navigator during the trip.
3. Screen size and brightness. They need to be selected individually, based on the characteristics of vision, susceptibility to light and the configuration of the windshield (too compact models can fit well into the ergonomics, but be unreadable, and large ones can obstruct the view).
4. Night mode. Firstly, it is better if it exists at all — the screen will not blind you in the dark. Secondly, it is important that the navigator not only changes the design theme to dark, but also allows you to reduce the brightness automatically. This makes it much more convenient to use the device.
5. Charger connector. If you plan to hide the wiring under the trim, it is more practical to lay one of the standard USB connectors. This way you will not have to remove the interior panels again when replacing the navigator. In addition, the wire (if it is long enough) can be used, if necessary, to power other devices, such as a recorder or radar detector.

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