These days when you get into your car, you probably take an extra step that maybe a few years ago you didn't: typing your destination in your GPS system.
Many of us in South Florida would be lost without the step-by-step directions, but sometimes our GPS’s can send us the wrong way.
It happened to Carlos Ramos when he was traveling a bit further than what his GPS was used to.
"I put in the address and sure enough I am driving to it and when I get there I cannot find the law office," said Ramos. He ended up at a church, 13 miles south of the law office he had intended to drive to.
"Like 10 minutes before I called them to verify the address," said Ramos. "I entered it again and I was right there, it kept telling me I was right there."
GPS systems receive signals from a network of satellites and with a combination of ground equipment, it tells drivers where they are and how to get to where they are going. Depending on the model, they are updated every few months to about once a year, so if new roads are added or construction work is active in between the updates, drivers may end up getting lost. Bad satellite signals can also play a role and in cars there's the issue of outdated systems.
"The software or the copyright on the disc is a year older or more than when the vehicle arrives at the dealership," says Mike Chang, Director of Services and parts at Acura of Pembroke Pines.
GPS systems don’t always match the year of the car.
NBC Miami looked at the GPS copyright date on a 2007 Acura and saw it contained a 2006 GPS system.
"The manufacturer has to order those items from the vendors, they usually order about six to nine months ahead and the built time and the shipping time for the new vehicle to the dealership is usually about 15 to 30 days so that gives you about a year time frame of the older version in the vehicle," says Chang.
If you have a navigation system in your car, pop out the DVD usually located in the trunk or under the driver or passenger seat.
Take a look at the year printed next to the version number. If you have a newer car you might have to take it into the dealer.
"The newer versions are the hard disc drives those are little bit more complicated we would need scan two and things like that to update the software," says Chang.
If your navigation system uses Google, those maps are constantly updating.
Apple devices have several apps you can download that are equivalent to the mounted GPS systems. Garmin navigation systems can just over $100 up to a few hundred dollars, but the Garmin U.S.A. app can be purchased for $39.99.
The TomTom navigation app offering HD Traffic can be purchased for $49.99. Navigon's highest rated GPS app can be purchased for $59.99 and Magellan RoadMate can be purchased for $39.99 You can visit Garmin, TomTom, Navigon and Magellan's websites to find out more about the apps offered for your phones.
