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This page covers devices for car GPS systems. These differ from the handheld GPS units used for hiking, camping and geocaching. Car GPS systems have much larger screens, voice given directions, highway and city maps. Car GPS systems are larger and heavier than the handheld units, and most aren't known for their long battery life. However, all aftermarket car GPS systems are somewhat portable, as some are marketed as crossover devices. These automotive GPS units are thin enough to be placed in your pocket. Therefore, you can walk on any city sidewalk and have directions at your disposal.

	TomTom USB Car Charger for TomTom GPS Units List Price: $19.99 Sale Price: $7.99 Used From: $9.99 Average Rating:
	CHARGER, USB CAR CHARGER, FOR ALL

	Garmin Car Power Adapter/Charger for nuvis Sale Price: $0.01 Average Rating:
	Garmin Nuvi Cigarette Car Charger Do you run out of battery power when you need your Garmin Nuvi 200w PDA the most? Dont run out of battery on your Garmin Nuvi 200w simply use this in car cigarette charger in your vehicle cigarette lighter socket...

	Garmin nüvi 265W/265WT 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic List Price: $219.99 Sale Price: Too low to display Used From: $128.99 Average Rating:

	Garmin nüvi 1350/1350T 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic List Price: $399.99 Sale Price: Too low to display Used From: $124.99 Average Rating:
	The widescreen nüvi 1350T adds free traffic alerts to the nüvi 1350. In addition, this ultra-thin GPS has preloaded maps for North America or Europe, announces streets by name, guides you to the proper lane for navigation, offers pedestrian navigation options and calculates a more fuel-efficient route with ecoRoute...

	Garmin Portable Friction Mount List Price: $39.99 Sale Price: $17.91 Used From: $20.00 Average Rating:
	Keep your nüvi in place with this portable friction mount. It'll keep everything in plain sight when you need it and out of the way when you don't. Place the mount on any stable surface, and adjust the position of your GPS to your liking...

	Garmin nüvi 265/265T 3.5-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic List Price: $329.99 Sale Price: $118.00 Used From: $94.95 Average Rating:
	Packed with features at a price that fits any budget, nüvi 265T takes you there with preloaded maps and turn-by-turn directions that call out streets by name. It adds lifetime traffic and hands-free calling to the popular nüvi 255, simplifying life on the go...

	TomTom XXL 540S 5-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator List Price: $199.00 Sale Price: Too low to display Average Rating:
	The TomTom XXL 540S is complete navigation in a XXL widescreen device. Switch on and it's ready right out of the box. Spoken turn-by-turn instructions, including street names, will guide you to any address in the U...

	ChargerCity® Exclusive Vehicle Power Cable car charger for Garmin Nuvi 600 610 655 660 675 685 GPS. Item includes ChargerCity Manufacture Direct Replacement Warranty Sale Price: $8.61 Average Rating:
	ChargerCity Car Charger Power Adapter for Garmin Nuvi GPS w/Wide connector

	Garmin nüvi Vehicle Power Cable List Price: $23.42 Sale Price: $11.48 Used From: $12.50 Average Rating:
	With the Garmin 010-10723-06 Cigarette Lighter for the Nuvi 300/350/310/360 you can save your battery. Just plug it into any standard cigarette lighter receptacle to power or recharge the internal battery of your Garmin Nuvi 300, 350, 310 and 360.

	Zoombak ZMBK200 Advanced GPS Car and Family Locator List Price: $249.99 Sale Price: $126.16 Average Rating:
	The Zoombak uses a combination of GPS satellite and cellular technologies to more precisely and reliably determine the location of your car or loved ones at any time or place. Zoombak's Advanced GPS Car & Family Locator will help you locate your car, and your loved ones in it, and help bring them home safely...

If you find reviews about older GPS systems, it's important to remember that some favorably reviewed car GPS systems are technologically obsolete, although they can still be bought at retailers.

How GPS works:

GPS which stands for (Global Positioning System) is a navigation technology that provides accurate time and location data by using 24 NAVSTAR (Navigation Satellite Timing and Ranging) satellites. Every satellite completes an orbit of the Earth once every 12 hours. They are positioned at an altitude that allows them to cover the same ground once every 24 hours.

These satellites carry an extremely accurate atomic clock and transmits both its position and a time signal, which then can be picked up by a car GPS system. Since a GPS unit can receive data from multiple satellites, and since each satellite provides information that is appropriate to its own location and distance. The GPS unit performs the necessary calculations and arrives at a position fix accurate to within about 15 feet.

Handheld GPS vs. Car GPS System

GPS receivers for the outdoor adventure market and for the auto market are two different units, although some can do both functions. Outdoor oriented GPS units are made to withstand the elements. Many are rubberized, withstand vibrations and are water-resistant. Handheld GPS units are also meant to be lightweight and are easier to hold with only one hand. They have smaller screens than car GPS systems do, and the screen isn't always in color. Handheld GPS receivers also much better on battery life.

Car GPS systems are portable, but I don't believe you would want to take them on camping trips. They aren't water-resistant and because of the large screen, they are somewhat heavier than a handheld GPS. The bigger screen also drains battery life much quicker. Most car GPS systems can be plugged into the cars cigarette lighter. Car GPS systems come with highway, city maps and give voice directions. Handheld models sometimes only come with the most basic maps, some are in color and some don't come with any maps at all. Car GPS systems also come with a windshield or dash mount, while handheld GPS units are carried loosely.

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