Figure 55: Routing to a POI

From this screen, the POI can be saved to the favorites, or begin navigating by tapping on "Go".

8. Multi-Stop Routing

Figure 56: Creating a Multi-Stop Route

LG's LN740 allows you to create a multi-stop trip, adding stops one at a time until all the planned stops have been added to the trip roster.

Once all the stops have been added, the list can then be re-ordered based on distance by tapping on the "Distance" button.

9. Traffic

LG's LN740 has real-time traffic capabilities and includes a free 90-day traffic subscription. LG's traffic service is actually provided by NAVTEQ, and has coverage in about 50 U.S. cities.

Integrating real-time traffic information with GPS routing is a powerful combination, as it potentially allows drivers to avoid traffic delays by routing around problem areas along your route. For example, if the GPS detects a traffic alert that there is an accident along the planned route, it can either alert the driver to the problem (along with an estimate of how long the delay will be), and offer to choose a different route that avoids the traffic problem. The LN740 even provides a setting to automatically re-route around traffic problems.

Figure 57: Enable Automatic Re-Routing Around Traffic

The LN740 even provides a setting to automatically re-route around traffic problems.

Figure 58: LG's Traffic Antenna

Unfortunately, the LN740's TMC (Traffic Message Channel) antenna isn't integrated into the windshield mount or cigarette lighter power adapter, as is it is on many other GPS models. Instead, LG's GPS makes use of a separate antenna that must be attached to the windshield, creating additional wiring clutter in the windshield.

10. GPS Signal Strength: SiRF's Mighty StarIII

One of the most exciting developments in GPS over the past year has been the wide-spread adoption of SiRF's high performance 20-channel receiver, dubbed SiRF StarIII.

This chipset is extremely sensitive and able to maintain solid signal reception even when driving in challenging situations, such as dense urban environments (behind tall buildings), bridges, and canyons. In fact, in my testing I was able to get a strong signal even indoors. The integration of SiRF's chipsets into the latest generation of in-car navigation systems has been a watershed event for GPS manufacturers and made GPS navigation significantly more reliable.

Prior to SiRF, line-of-sight to the sky was required to receive GPS signals, resulting in less than optimal GPS performance in many situations. SiRF's chipset has ushered in a new era of GPS performance, allowing signals to be acquired quickly and maintained while driving. Make sure to check that any new GPS you buy uses SiRF's chipset. I'm always amazed that people continue to buy GPS devices that are old and outdated and sometimes even cost more than the newer devices with SiRF chipsets -- even from the same manufacturer.

Despite the enormous success of SiRF's chips, there has been a recent shift away from SiRF, as manufacturers continue to search for ways to cut costs. I'm pleased to see LG has used the more expensive (and highly effective) SiRF StarIII GPS receiver on the LN740.

11. LG's Excellent Routing Engine Performance

One of the most critical components of any turn-by-turn GPS navigation system is the routing engine. Not surprisingly, it's also one of the most difficult and complex aspects for the manufacturer to get right (and it's the aspect of GPS navigation that is least well understood by consumers), as there are so many variables to consider.