Protecting Your GPS from Malfunction and Damage
1. Take Care of the Screen
One of the most common issues that many consumers find with their GPS is that the screen is not working like it once did. They either find that the touch screen is not as sensitive as it had been, or that the screen has lost it’s luster or brightness. There is an easy way to avoid these issues.
Screen protectors are fairly inexpensive, and will keep the oil and dirt from your fingers away from the screen. Over time, this oil and dirt will wear out both the GPS screen and touch receptors under the screen.
2. Take Care of the Processor
Whenever the GPS is on, the processor with continue to work. The processor will cause the GPS to be in constant contact with the GPS satellites, and will attempt to take the information from those satellites and turn it into useful information like maps.
The harder a processor has to work, the faster it will wear out. If you are using the GPS to guide you around while walking, turn the until off once you enter a building. Your GPS unit will not connect with the satellites if you are in a building. The harder the unit has to search for satellites, the more wear and tear your processor will be exposed to.
3. Take Care of the Battery
The battery inside your GPS unit is very touchy. It can be very sensitive to any kind of power surge that it is exposed to. In some cases, power surges can also travel through the battery into the core of the GPS unit.
The biggest mistake that people make with their GPS units is to have them plugged into the outlet when they turn the car on. This can do significant damage to both the battery and the GPS unit itself.
When you start your car, a slight power surge goes through all of the outlets in your car. In most cases, this surge is about 15% – 20% higher then your GPS needs to power up. These surges slowly start wearing out the battery. As the battery weakens, these surges continue on into the processor of your GPS unit. Plug the GPS in after you start your car.
4. Take Care of the Unit
Never, never, never leave the GPS unit in your car when you are not in the car. During the summer months, the inside of your car can reach temperatures over 120 degrees. In the winter time, some areas will bring the internal temperature of your car below the freezing point. These temperatures can reek havoc on your GPS unit. Buy a case for your GPS and take it with you.
I want to take a moment to clear up a question that will come up after reading this. If your GPS is mounted in your dashboard from the factory, you do not have to worry about this. These units are specifically made for the cold and heat. Also, dashboards are designed to protect any device that is stored inside them.
5. Learn How to Say “GPS”
While this will not cause your GPS unit to last longer, it is a pet peeve of mine. GPS stands for Global Positioning System. Do not refer to your GPS as a GPS system. In truth you are calling it a Global Positioning System System.
I hope that these tips end up saving you stress and money. I have heard of too many people that have had to pay for costly repairs or that have had to buy new GPS units because of mistakes that could have been avoided.
