In this day and age driving can be a stressful experience at the best of times - traffic, complicated one-way systems, confusing road signs, and never ending roadworks, just some of the everyday obstacles that the modern driver has to deal with. In a familiar town or on a route you know well it's ok, but in an unfamilar town, city or country it's a different story. Now consider other factors like driving in the dark or the pouring rain, it takes all your concentration just to drive the car, let alone work out where you're going and keeping an eye out for road signs. There is an answer, and it will mean no more getting lost, no more stopping to read a map and no more arguments about whether you should turn left or right!

Not so long ago, in-car navigation systems were merely science fiction, today however they are very much reality and the detail and accuracy are astounding. There are various types available, the more detailed ones give you turn by turn instructions visually and audibly, many will plan different routes either through the city or the countryside determining the route with the least mileage or the quickest time. You can program them to avoid toll roads or find scenic routes, point out places of interest like petrol stations and restaurants, or receive local traffic information to divert you around traffic or roadworks.

The systems use what's called GPS (Global Positioning system) designed and run by the U.S. Department of Defense. There are 24 satellites orbiting the earth constantly beaming down information, signals from 3 of these satellites are required to pinpoint your location, the coded signals are processed by your navigation system every second. This is extremely accurate and can determine your exact location to within a few metres. Since some factors can interfere with the signals reaching your car (tall buildings for instance) there are 2 other components to a navigation system - a gyroscope and a speed sensor. The gyroscope helps maintain tracking information through turns and twists, and the speed sensor keeps track of your speed, together they fill in the gaps when the signal is lost. Location information is then superimposed onto maps stored on a CD or DVD in your system.

Navigation systems consist of a processing unit with a CD or DVD drive, and a visual display. Some are all-in-one units which slide into your dash in place of your car stereo (they provide radio and cd playback facilities aswell as navigation). Others have a main unit which is fitted in a separate location such as your boot, and link to a screen which is mounted on your dashboard.

Navigation is the ideal motoring companion, whether you're going on holiday and want to drive through the countryside passing points of interest along the way, or you just have an appointment and aren't sure where the building is. Either way you'll never get lost again and always arrive relaxed and on time.

We stock a wide range of navigation systems, why not come and see for yourself how they can revolutionise your driving experience.