by: Zeeman Haus
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Word Count: 535

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Your GPS receiver is your eyes and map on the road. Without it you'd be flying blind or trying to fold a roadmap while going 75 miles per hour down the road- a task even a Japanese Origami expert wouldn't attempt. So having one that functions properly is important.

What has your receiver done for you other than be a faithful and reliable friend to you when you were driving? Unlike your mother in law, your GPS doesn't nag you about the best way to go or make you stop for a bathroom break when you're on a schedule. No your GPS has been pretty good to you. Now it's time you were good back to it.

Temperature plays a factor in GPS performance. Not in the short term mind you, but in the long term way. Cold will literally freeze your display, so temperatures under freeing should be avoided. Prolonged expose to heat is just as bad for different reasons, circuitry. A GPS will overheat given enough time in the sun and heat. So take your little buddy with you if you're going to be away from the car for any long periods of time.

Keeping your GPS relatively dust free is a good idea. Dust causes all kinds of problems with electronics. It's true that most GPS receivers are not vented and lack a cooling fan, however, even a small layer of dust can insulate your unit and cause overheating. Plus, it looks better.

Cleaning your screen with a special screen cleaning kit is probably your best bet. Think about this: would you use steel wool on your new LCD TV? No? Then why use a paper towel on your small LCD screen in your car. Scratches are worse than dust when it comes to obstructing your view of the map and forces you to take a longer look at your GPS when you're glancing over.

Lack of computer updates affects performance. You will have to update maps, software and drivers for your GPS on a regular basis. I know every six months is a regular basis, but try every month and before you take any long trips, okay? The software updates will keep your GPS receiver communicating with the satellites more efficiently and will also recalibrate your unit so you don't have to worry about driving through someone's azaleas.

Where you mount your GPS is important too. You don't want to mount it to a door window, obviously, but there are lots of options where your windscreen is concerned. Mount it as close to the cigarette lighter, pardon me, auxiliary power port, as possible. This will keep your GPS from getting tangled in people's feet and causing the cord tip to break.

We should take care of our GPS as much as possible and it will take care of us. The fact is, 99% of the time, when there is a GPS error, it is due to not updating or maintaining our GPS receiver. Updating should start right out of the box and continue throughout usage. While you're online, download a Darth Vader voice or something too, those are fun.

About the Author

Zeeman Haus enjoys writing articles online on a variety of subjects. You can check out his latest website on Garmin GPS Accessories which showcases reviews of some of the top accessories for your Garmin GPS system.

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