To this point, this book has largely treated AWSs as a single unit category.Of course, that is not the case and there are enormous differences infunctionality and capability between basic and advanced models. The generalrule that ‘you get what you pay for’ holds true for AWSs aswell as for most other products, but in any price category some systemsare better than others and it pays to check availableproducts carefully against the requirements outlined in the previous chapterto ensure the best fit.

The number, range and rate at which new models are introduced make itimpossible for any printed work to provide up-to-date details or reviews ofevery AWS currently available on the market. This chapter outlines typicalsystem specifications within various budget categories. When used with theprioritized assessments of functionality from the previous chapter, itshould provide pointers to the main brands, products and suppliers.

What products are available?

The five product and budget categories shown in Table 3.1 wereintroduced in the previous chapter. Most systems fit comfortably within oneof these price /performance bands: note that prices quoted are indicativeonly (at 2012 levels) and exclude local sales taxes, value added tax,delivery costs and optional fittings.