In-dash car navigation systems are used to give directions from one place to another. Most units have other features Bluetooth capabilities and A/V jacks. Some vehicles come factory equipped with in-dash car navigation systems. Others are stand-alone and must be purchased separately. In either case, knowing important facts about the unit will help you to get the most use out of it.
Types
There are some in-dash navigation units that are solo units, meaning they consist of only the navigation system. More common are the multiple function units, which include a stereo, CD player and DVD player. As a safety feature, many of these restrict the use of the DVD player to times when the vehicle is stopped.
Installation
Installing an in-dash navigation system is best left to the professionals. These systems must be connected to a ground, a power source, the vehicle speed sensor and the parking brake. One special consideration for these units is that removing the entire dash and/or driver seat is necessary to install the hideaway box.
Size
The size of the in-dash car navigation system depends on the type of car you drive. Cars with single DIN slots or standard size slots will use a smaller in dash system that slides into the dash when not in use. The screen on these units is 6 1/2 to 7 inches. However, foreign cars and cars with double DIN slots, which are 4 inches tall, use navigation systems that sit flush into the dash. The screen on this type is 6 1/2 inches.
Benefits
In-dash car navigation systems feature real time traffic information. This information includes accident reports, traffic jams, road closings, road conditions and construction information. Many of these systems will recommend an alternate route when any of these obstacles are noted. The system may also provide you with directions to the nearest points of interest, including hotels and restaurants, if needed.
Considerations
Most units use a memory chip and processor. The bigger the memory, the more routes and music you can store in the unit. The faster the processor, the faster you will get route updates and other information necessary while driving. As of February 2009, a 2GB NAND flash memory is considered top of the line and a one second per pass processor speed is considered fast. The benefit to a large memory and fast processor is that if you store a route on disc and have to reroute your trip while driving, you won't have to reinsert the disc or pull over to wait for directions.
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