| Portable GPS navigational devices have grown so | | | | conductive properties of your tool or skin register |
| popular in the gadget market. It can give you high | | | | the input from where the touchscreen would |
| levels of mobility while carrying most if not all the | | | | respond to. |
| features of on-board GPS devices found in car | | | | LCD Touchscreen |
| dashboards - and much more. | | | | LCD screens make use of liquid crystal |
| As a user or reseller, you can take full advantage | | | | sandwiched in between glass panels. Electrical |
| by learning all its features as well as familiarizing | | | | current passes through the liquid crystal forming |
| yourself from the basic portable GPS hardware | | | | light filters that respond when you make gestures |
| phrases you need to know. Equipped with this | | | | on the surface with your fingers or a stylus. |
| knowledge, you can make use of all the benefits | | | | Stylus |
| and features of handheld GPS devices - whether | | | | This is basically a tool used to write on a |
| it's for your own use or as a selling point for your | | | | touchscreen, which you can easily replace with |
| business. | | | | the tip of your fingernails. |
| Portable GPS Hardware Phrases | | | | Lithium Battery |
| The following describes some of the basic | | | | Lithium is a silvery metallic element used in |
| hardware-related phrases that you need to know | | | | batteries like Lithium-Ion or Lithium-Polymer |
| as a device user or as a qualified reseller. | | | | batteries that can enable your portable GPS units |
| Processor | | | | to run for hours while on the go. |
| Just like a computer, the heart of your portable | | | | 3.5mm Input |
| GPS unit is its processor module. The processor | | | | Portable GPS units are usually equipped with a |
| receives and calculates satellite signals to | | | | 3.5mm stereo plug audio cable input to hook up |
| determine your exact location and display it on a | | | | audio devices or your PC's soundcard to your |
| map. | | | | GPS unit. |
| Chipset | | | | Microphone |
| If the processor is the heart of your handheld | | | | Some newer models of handheld GPS devices are |
| GPS unit, the chipset is the mind that makes your | | | | equipped with voice recognition capabilities, allowing |
| processor work. These sensitive chips can | | | | you to voice out commands through a built-in or |
| improve the accuracy and consistency of your | | | | external microphone.mini USB Jack |
| device. With good chip sets, your unit can process | | | | Standard data connections for your handheld GPS |
| satellite signals even if your location is quite | | | | units as well as other similar devices like PDAs |
| inaccessible or with several obstructions. | | | | make use of the mini USB jack format. You can |
| SDRAM | | | | use this to install software as well as transfer |
| This term means Synchronous Dynamic Access | | | | data to and from your portable GPS unit. |
| Memory. This may sound Greek to you but the | | | | AV In Port |
| better and higher your SDRAM's capacity is, the | | | | Your handheld GPS unit has built-in entertainment |
| faster your portable GPS unit's computing | | | | features such as MP3 or multimedia players which |
| capacity will be. | | | | you can hook up to external sources and devices |
| SD Card | | | | using an AV Port. |
| The navigational and mapping software used for | | | | FM Transmitter |
| your handheld GPS units is delivered through and | | | | Portable GPS units can let you connect with an |
| SD memory card. You can also use this to | | | | external media player, phone or PDA and use the |
| transfer data like audio and video files from your | | | | speakers of your car stereo to listen to music or |
| PC and other devices to your portable GPS unit. | | | | talk to someone on the phone hands-free using a |
| GPS Antenna | | | | built-in FM transmitter. |
| A GPS antenna receives, transmits and amplifies | | | | Signal Channel |
| the GPS signals to and from your portable | | | | Your handheld GPS navigation device rely on |
| navigational device for processing by the receiver. | | | | multiple satellite signals to lock in your position by |
| Resistive Touchscreen | | | | triangulation method. Each individual satellite signal |
| Touchscreen technologies began with a resistive | | | | is linked to your handheld unit through a signal |
| format, which works if you apply a pressure on | | | | channel. Typical units have up to 20 channels |
| the surface using a stylus or your fingernails. The | | | | available while later models have even more. |
| screen is made up of layers which push against | | | | There are several other hardware innovations |
| each other when you apply pressure to register | | | | coming up with newer and more advanced |
| an input. | | | | portable GPS units. As a user or an entrepreneur, |
| Capacitive Touchscreen | | | | you can learn a great deal about this hardware |
| A capacitive touchscreen on the other hand has a | | | | information which can help you get the most out |
| glass screen on the surface where you can make | | | | of portable GPS units - which can be very useful |
| gestures such as swiping, pinching or sliding. The | | | | and profitable as well. |