Tech is improving our quality of life almost in every aspect. It’s great when people find ways to put technology to good use and aid their everyday battles.
For example, one of those really helpful devices is the GPS. You can buy a smart GPS watch for kids if you want to track their movement and health and keep them safe, track your weight loss and fitness goals with a fitness tracker, get a hiking GPS watch equipped with an altimeter and other relevant parameters if you are a hiking enthusiast and more.
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What is a GPS Device?
Locating people or points of interest you’d wish to visit is a very easy thing with the help of a GPS. A GPS or a global positioning system is an integral part of many tracking devices.
As stated by NASA, GPS devices are able to locate your exact position in real-time by utilizing Earth’s network of satellites to pinpoint your location and trajectory.
What Kinds of GPS Devices Exist?
To know which type of GPS locator is the best for you, depending on your needs, you also need to know that there are different technologies present on the market, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
But, currently there are 3 main types of GPS devices:
- GPS devices with GPRS or 3G connection
- LPWAN GPS Locators (Sigfox)
- Bluetooth-enabled GPS devices
Just like mobile phones, they require a SIM card in order to relay network data and signals, so depending on your carrier the cost of using your phone’s GPS for example may be higher or lower, or may or may not increase at all when you go abroad. as we said, it depends.
Some devices are data dependent, such as current smartphones, and others work by sending SMS to report the position of the device i.e. person.
This technology allows the transmission of a large amount of f data in a shorter time period since satellites have a high bandwidth rate. This allows, for example, to show the vehicle’s route in more detail or send additional vehicle data, provided you have a GPS device set up and installed that is able to collect that information.
Most Popular GPS Devices
What kind of GPS devices are people using the most when it comes to their personal needs?
Let’s cover some of the most popular GPS devices in several categories that are making people’s lives that much easier and safer.
Car Trackers and Car GPS
With the use of a car GPS, you will have an easy time locating your car in case it gets stolen or you’re visiting a foreign country and don’t know the place around that much.
A lot of people are using GPS services (usually on their phone) when driving around a new town, going to the shopping mall, or mostly when on a trip. A lot of companies also install GPS trackers to their company vehicles. However, depending on your needs, you can either get a car tracker or just a dedicated car GPS to help you navigate.
Best car trackers:
- Americaloc GL300W Mini Portable GPS Tracker
- Spytec GL300 Mini GPS Tracker
- Spytec STI GL300MA GPS Tracker
- Bouncie GPS Tracker
Best car GPS:
- Garmin DriveSmart 51 NA LMT-S
- Garmin Speak
- Pioneer AVIC-8201NEX
Kids GPS Smart Watches
GPS smartwatches for kids are mostly used to track their movement and keep them safe. There is no doubt about the usefulness of these devices that allow us to improve the safety of our little ones, not just for our peace of mind but theirs too. Each parent will be able to set up their child’s privacy and security level on the smartwatch and connect it to a parent’s smartphone for data collection.
Depending on the model you choose, you can expect to find more or fewer functions on your kid’s watch. But usually, apart from standard watch features such as alarms, stopwatch, calendar, countdown, they include other features like:
- Location (GPS enabled)
- Calls
- Sleep Monitor
- Movement History
- Steps
- Camera
So, besides watches, there are smart bracelets too. A GPS bracelet only allows us to be aware of the location of the person who wears it (it is intended mainly for children but it can find particularly good use with older people too) while smartwatches simply offer more functionalities such as calls, camera, alarms, a screen with information, etc.
The only advantage of a smart bracelet is that they have larger battery life and are easier to use, although the screen is smaller.
The Best GPS watches for kids:
- TickTalk 3 Smartwatch
- Gizmopal 2
- DokiWatch
- Owl Cole Smartwatch
- Verizon GizmoWatch 2
GPS Devices for Hiking and Trekking
If you are a lover of outdoor adventures and activities looking to buy the best mountain GPS for trekking and hiking you have come to the right place.
Whether you’re walking along a famous trail or in the middle of one of your adventure trips, these modern devices will help you in many situations. Facilitating ecotourism and outdoor activities in addition to making trekking a safer practice, a hiking GPS device is a must.
With a hiking GPS you will keep an eye on your location at all times, weather changes, the distance that remains until you reach your destination, altitude and more.
To ensure the best experience on your outdoor adventures you will need to buy a quality device. To do this, we have prepared a list with the best mountain GPS for hiking and trekking.
Popular GPS trackers for hiking:
- Garmin eTrex 20X
- Garmin e Trex 30X
- Garmin Oregon 600t
- Garmin Oregon 700
- Garmin inReach Explorer+
Fitness Trackers
Now, it’s important to note that there are fitness trackers without GPS and many other models like the Fitbit Charge 4, Garmin Forerunner 245, or Samsung Galaxy watch Active 2 that support GPS.
A fitness tracker can be useful for anyone who’s starting a fitness plan and wants a tech piece to help them stay on track and lead a more active lifestyle while also being held accountable via notifications when they don’t stick to the plan. Fitness trackers come at different sizes and prices. Do your research before you buy one so that you actually get something that suits your individual needs. Or just refer to this article.
Some are only good at counting steps and can’t even provide an accurate heart rate. Others are waterproof and allow you to swim, while others can display weekly challenges and store progress stats.
Best fitness trackers with GPS:
- Garmin Forerunner 245 Music
- Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2
- Apple Watch Series 6
- Fitbit Charge 4
- Garmin Vivosport
GPS Trackers and Collars for Pets
For that good boyo in your front yard, or that cuddly cat purring in your lap. GPS collars are one of the newest creations to improve the relationship between the owner and the pet.
Like many GPS, what pet trackers actually do is helping you pin point your pet’s location. For a pet tracker to work, it must be linked to a mobile phone, where the owner can keep track of his pet’s route and movement.
Also, depending on the model, you will need to insert a SIM card into it. This has its advantages and drawbacks. On one hand, the tracker will allow you to locate a missing pet easily by utilizing the cell towers in your area, but on the other hand, if there is poor coverage in the area, you will have trouble locating your pet while the added monthly expense for data consumption ( although minimum) will stay. The alternative is a collar that works via radio waves.
In any case, you’ll sleep much better knowing that your animal will have a hard time getting lost even if he strays away from your house in the middle of the night. In addition, this will give your pet more freedom of movement, thanks to how easy it is to monitor it and find it if he gets lost. On the other hand, it will help you to recover it if it is stolen and the best part: you won’t need to tie your dog on a leash when you take it for a walk.
Best GPS trackers for pets:
- Fi Smart Dog Collar
- Whistle GO Explore
- Tractive (for cats)
Conclusion
With the countless types of GPS devices on the market nowadays, you can count on them to improve your quality of life by making certain tasks easier or just use them to give yourself some peace of mind and increased security.
What GPS device are you relying on the most currently?
