Among the most popular gizmos in the consumer electronics market today are the portable or handheld GPS devices. With their huge range of applications, they can be very useful and can help you in a variety of circumstances, whether you're looking for driving directions, trying to navigate your way through a hiking trip, find a perfect fishing spot or anything else.

Before you get started though it's important to get a good idea for how accurate these handheld devices can be, so you know how reliable and credible their information is.

It's hard to say exactly how accurate a portable GPS will be, but a good estimate is usually between 5 meters on the low end and 15 meters on the high end. This can be affected by conditions as described below, and various other factors as well. Between the major manufacturers, such as TomTom, Garmin and Magellan, it's tough to say if any one of them is decidedly more accurate than the other.

All have built extremely positive reputations for themselves based around their accuracy, and all should be consistent and trustworthy. While none of them is necessarily more accurate than the other, you should still purchase one that is designated for the specific usages you had in mind, whether that's help on the golf course, straight navigation while driving, fishing excursions and so on.

How Can GPS Accuracy Be Disrupted?

It is possible for your GPS accuracy to get interfered with, and there are several different culprits at work. One of the most common is simple atmospheric interference, including clouds and storm systems. Another problem can be a physical obstruction such as a densely wooded area, high mountains or even a cityscape. Another potential problem with GPS accuracy is when it receives multiple signals and has to figure out which one it's focusing on. Finally, simply producing a very cheap, mass-made GPS can deteriorate the quality of the parts included, reducing accuracy along the way.

However, all of these problems today have been greatly reduced from what they were even a few years ago. GPS devices now have a variety of correcting systems and tools that can help to counteract these problems. These include internal calculations, multi-channel receivers, the ability to lock onto their signal source and also services such as assisted GPS and differential GPS which make use of earth based routing systems such as cell phone towers to help relay information. Plus, even the discount GPS that are available today have higher quality equipment and components than they had years ago improving accuracy no matter how much you end up paying.

Ultimately, you should rest easy knowing that your handheld GPS is extremely accurate and is very reliable and consistent. The accuracy disruptions described above have been greatly reduced, and you will be able to see fantastic results for near any application, regardless of which brand or model that you end up choosing. All of the top brands, including the likes of Garmin, Magellan and TomTom have reliable and accurate systems in place that can help you accomplish anything you're setting out to do.