GPS Handheld Buyer's Guide
GPS Handheld's come in a variety of models depending on the function you require.

Basic Models (No Mapping Support)
Garmin and Magellan offer a basic range. These are ideal if you want to go for walks in the woods, forest, fell walking or hiking, or even just want to find your way back to the car! Basic models don't come with any type of map (or base map for that matter). Once you have a GPS Signal, and start walking they will create a breadcrumb trail on screen from where you started walking from, to where you complete your journey. You can along the way set various waypoints which are positions where you may find a tricky rock climb, or perhaps an interesting plant or tree, or a great view. Along the journey you can save waypoints to later return to these using GPS as a navigation tool. You can also save your complete journey (or track) when you get to the destination or end point of your walk. Another feature is to use the track back feature commonly found in these GPS Receivers to allow you to see where the breadcrumb trail is and where you are in relation to your start position, so you can follow your way back on the same path, or deviate but still return to your starting point and not get lost.

These basic models include GPS's like the Garmin eTrex, eTrex Summit, eTrex Legend and Garmin Geko 101, 201. Most will come with a compass, but be warned, it's not like a regular compass. It requires line of sight to the sky and for you to have a GPS signal. It then sees the latitude and longitude co-ordinates of where you started and where you currently are, and can then plot a position on the compass and say you are traveling East or West. You have to be moving for it to do this and within GPS satellite range, which isn't always ideal. If you want a more thorough compass then you will need to look at purchasing a model with an electronic compass like the Garmin eTrex Visa, or Garmin GPSMap76S. Some of the basic models also come with an altitude meter, but again this is used in conjunction with GPS and isn't all that accurate. If you want a proper altitude reading you will again need to look at upgrading to the Garmin eTrex Vista or GPSMap76S or to other models that have an electronic compass and barometer built in.

	Garmin Geko 101	Garmin Geko 201	Garmin Geko 301
Garmin eTrex	Garmin eTrex Summit		Garmin eTrex Venture	Garmin eTrex Camo

Magellan eXplorist 100	Magellan eXplorist 200	Magellan eXplorist 300	Magellan SporTrak
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Advanced Models (With Mapping Support)
Advanced models include all of the features that a basic one does, but they also include support for mapping. By default the GPS will come with a base map This is a map of the country that you purchased the GPS in. It's not overly accurate, but will include major roads, so you can see if you are close to a major road. To gain full support of a mapping GPS Receiver, you need to purchase mapping software. Garmin and Magellan lock you to their own cartography (maps). With Garmin you will need to purchase a MapSource CD, and for Magellan a MapSend or DataSend CD. These are extra and can cost nearly as much as a GPS Receiver, but will give you full support for minor and major roads. Be warned that you cannot use this as a navigation tool, e.g. I want to get from Exeter Street to Wolburn Street, give me navigation directions. Sorry, it just won't work that way. If you are looking for this sort of GPS then you really need a proper Street Navigation GPS. The exception to this rule is the GPSMap60C/60CS as these will give you full navigation directons (but without voice!).

Garmin eTrex Vista	Garmin GPSMap76	Garmin GPSMap76S	Magellan Meridian Range
Magellan SporTrak Range	Garmin GPSMap60C	Garmin GPSMap60CS	Garmin eTrex Legend
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Enhanced Models (with Electronic Compass/Barometer)
The Enhanced models usually contain all the features of the basic GPS, and in most cases the same features of the Advanced models, but also provide you with a proper compass that does not require GPS support, and when you hold the GPS still gradually move around, it will act like a normal compass changing your position as you move. The Barometric Altimeter also is a lot more accurate, you do have to calibrate both of these, but once done accuracy is usually much better than what you will find on a basic model.

Garmin eTrex Summit	Garmin eTrex Vista	Garmin GPSMap76	Garmin GPSMap76S
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Street Navigation GPS (without Voice)
Garmin now have the GPSMap60C and GPSMap60CS available which with all intense purposes is an advanced model, you can take it out with you walking in the woods or forest, but it will also give you the same quality routing as a Street Pilot but will not give you voice support. If you require voice support, see below.

	Garmin GPSMap60C	Garmin GPSMap60CS
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Street Navigation GPS (with Voice)
If you are looking for an on-the-dash Street Navigation GPS, then you really need to look at the Garmin Street Pilot range, or the Magellan RoadMate range. Other manufacturers also include the Navman iCN range, and TomTom Go . These all offer full colour maps of at least Great Britain, and some offer support across Europe or North America. These will allow you to enter a street name in a town, and navigate to another location with turn by turn voice and on-screen directions and will re-route you if you take the wrong turning, or even if you start driving a different route because of a road block.

Garmin Quest	Navman iCN635	TomTom GO	Garmin Street Pilot III Deluxe
Magellan RoadMate	Garmin Street Pilot 2610	Garmin Street Pilot 2620	Garmin Street Pilot 2650
AvMap GeoSat
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