Renting a dedicated GPS is still useful for remote hiking, marine navigation, and professional tasks. Book early, confirm maps and accuracy needs, test the unit at home, and ensure everyone uses the same coordinate format.
The Garmin StreetPilot c330 was a compact mid-2000s car GPS that provided basic offline turn-by-turn navigation using GPS plus WAAS. Today it still works as a dedicated offline navigator, but lacks live traffic, frequent map updates, and manufacturer support - making smartphones and modern devices the better choice for most drivers.
A look back at the Garmin GPSMAP 376c: a 2006 handheld color chartplotter with satellite weather and optional sonar, and how modern chartplotters have evolved.
A modern overview of how auto GPS works: satellites, trilateration, device roles, accuracy improvements, and what GPS can and cannot do.