Many car owners are investing in GPS systems – Global Positioning System – to help them get from one place to another. These devices, such as the popular Garmin, uses satellite signals to trace the path from start to finish. The GPS system was actually developed by the Department of Defense in the United States and not only can it help you trace your route from start to finish, GPS can also display maps that show whole city blocks. In addition to directions, a good GPS will show you three dimension position information that includes the time, what the traffic conditions are where you are traveling, how fast you are going, whether or not there are backups, and other information the model you use may provide.

When the Department of Defense released GPS systems to the general public they were installed in experimental Japanese cars. Most new vehicles now come equipped with a GPS system in their upper end packages. If your vehicle does not come equipped with a GPS and you are interested in having one, you can purchase the system and have it installed at your local electronics store. It should come with mapping software that is updated via satellite and it will show you the streets wherever you are traveling accurately.

Most GPS systems that come installed in your vehicle have a street value of anywhere from $350 to $1000. They include pre-loaded maps, door-to-door navigation, voice guided directions, and do not need a personal computer to function. Cheaper units that work with your personal computers or with PDA devices range between $100 and $300. You can even get GPS cards that work in your mobile phone for about the same price, and they have low power consumption and external active antennas and high sensitive receivers attached. Smart phones and other current wireless devices have started to come with built-in GPS systems.

The GPS navigation systems are usually shipped with the mounting kit so that you can install it easily in your vehicle. By using the vehicle mount, you can turn the GPS screen towards you while you are driving, making it easier for you to use without having to stop driving. You will find that the more expensive the model of GPS system you purchase the more functions it will offer you, such as voice guidance. If you do a lot of driving -for work or for pleasure – a GPS system is a worthwhile investment that can save you time and money when you are on the road.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Older, bulkier handheld GPS receivers are being replaced with a smaller pocket-sized GPS units. The construction of GPS receivers has changed phenomenally. To keep from getting lost in the wilderness, the demand for handheld GPS tracking systems by cross-country skiers, bikers and hikers has increased. Though some may not use a GPS receiver on a regular basis, they do like to have one handy in the event of an emergency. These smaller portable GPS units are inexpensive enough to easily have on hand. The global GPS software tracking system can hone in on your gps receiver and give your location based on things like elevation and combinations of other factors in your vicinity with near pinpoint accuracy. This lets you traverse almost any terrain with the help of your handheld GPS unit. Along with the ability to assist you in pinpointing your global location, the pocket-sized GPS unit has the advantage of being small enough to easily fit in a suitcase or backpack without taking up much room. Travelers and campers will find that the portable GPS receiver is simplicity itself to use. Different models will vary according to the GPS software and database installed. To facilitate the enjoyment of the interactive GPS unit, all the models have the basic instructions on the display screen. Most handheld GPS models come with instructions that will enable you to hear the information put out as well as read it on the screen.

How can a handheld GPS receiver help you?

The activation of GPS voice and tracking options is one of the best ways to get the most out of the handheld portable GPS unit in assisting through voice so you can locate your global position. A friendly voice will lead you to where you want to go. Giving you a sense of security in stressful times is one of the benefits of GPS voice guidance. When you want and need to keep yourself and your family safe, using a portable GPS tracking receiver is a big help as you will be able to find where you are and what is nearby in the event you need help. As voice activated portable GPS guidance systems become more readily available, many businesses use them to track their fleets and emergency personnel, like firefighters and paramedics use them in various ways. Even your cell phone could have a GPS tracking ship installed so when you call 911, your global position can be used to find you if you aren’t sure of your location. There is the option of a number of different features with the high tech handheld GPS services available.

Portable GPS features may include:

Availability of additional GPS software

Map database

Voice activated GPS

Waas technology

Reflectionless screen

Theft prevention functions

Option for personalized screen icons

MP3 capability

What does a portable GPS offer?

The particular handheld GPS receiver you choose is personal and will depend on the type of gps software and gps mapping programs best suit your needs. The size of the receiver, its weight and the antenna are things that can affect the mobile GPS unit. What you want or need in these areas will determine what options will come with your choice of model. If you opt for the smaller, cell phone sized unit, you know the viewing screen will likewise be small. Be sure that you select a portable GPS receiver that has mapping capabilities, updateable software and the ability to download from your computer. You will also want to make sure that the unit you are considering is waterproof or water-resistant and it should also be shock resistant just in case it is subjected to being dropped. Asking the right questions will assist you in making sure you get the handheld GPS receiver that will fill your wants and needs and, at the same time, fit your budget. Some PDAs are being made with GPS antennas and some maps and GPS software are now available so your PDA is more functional than ever before. The PDA units are not nearly as rugged, though they do provide you with very good basics for GPS navigation whether you are in a car, SUV or on foot.

What it really comes down to is that the handheld GPS receiver that best suits your needs is entirely up to you. To make it easier on your budget in the long run, it is best to decide what is the absolute maximum you can spend on a portable GPS unit and buy the one with the most features, whether you can use them right away or not, that you can afford with your budget. This way, you won’t find yourself buying a new one very soon because you need more features. It is better to start with a bit more than you need at the time and already have what you need later than to have something that you ‘outgrow’ almost before you get it home.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

A handheld GPS unit not only saves you a lot of time but also makes your commuting process easier and simpler than usual. These devices guide your way to unfamiliar destinations without much hassles.

I have been using a portable GPS device for a couple of years now and believe you me, traveling has been way more pleasurable than what it used to be. No one likes to be lost and asking directions can be quite annoying at times. And printing pages after pages of maps can be an arduous task. A GPS navigation unit is probably the best answer to all such problems.

These gadgets are incredible devices that offer you a wide array of ways in order to get the best of them. Below we will discuss how best you can use these devices.

* Driving: A GPS unit can be used in cars for an enhanced driving experience. The mapping software incorporated in the device helps you steer your way to a desired destination and back and that too by leading you through the fastest routes. These devices contribute towards efficient travelling by choosing the shortest routes and notify you of the current traffic conditions of roads you are driving on. Another interesting feature of these GPS units is that they come with a number of ‘points of interest’. These gadgets are designed to inform you about gas stations, restrooms and the like while you are approaching them. Now that sounds good, doesn’t it?
* Boating: other than cars, a portable GPS device can also be used while boating. These devices help to point different stops like, fishing spots, great scenic view, and favorite landing points etc. and later in case you want to get back to these points, your GPS navigator will guide your way back to your desired spot.
* In airplanes: GPS gadgets are also used while flying commercial airplanes. In this case, a GPS device helps you determine the distance from your destination, your current location, how high you are flying and at what speed.
* Tourism and vacations: in case you are going to a new unfamiliar place for your vacation, your GPS device can prove to be a great help as it can locate places of special interest, to mark places that you may like to return to and also to find local restaurants.
* Biking: regardless of the fact whether you are a casual or a serious biker, a portable GPS unit can be a great way to track your progress. It can record the distance you have travelled, your halt time, average speed, current speed etc.

There are several ways to use a GPS navigation device, abovementioned are just a few. There are various kinds of GPS devices with varied features that are found on the market. It is advisable that you do your necessary research and then purchase a device that will suit your needs the best.

So, to conclude, now that you have a fair idea about what GPS devices are and how to use them, feel free to go ahead and get your brand new portable GPS unit today and enjoy all that it has to offer.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Did you know that you can download GPS maps without paying a single dime?

When you purchase a GPS unit as a navigation aid, your unit would come pre-loaded with a free GPS map. The thing about the pre-loaded map is that they’re mostly incomplete in details which could be useful to you on your trip. That’s why you’ll prefer to find out extra maps and there are a lot of places you will be able to go to online which would offer you a free-of-cost GPS map simply by clicking on a simple download link.

When you perform a Google search for “free GPS map”, you will be able to find a lot of places online that let you download a free-of-cost GPS map. Actually, not just one you can download a lot of GPS maps. You will be able to choose and pick out which maps you would like to download and then all you have got to do is upload them from your computer to your GPS receiver. Typically, the GPS unit will be accompanied by the electric cord required to do this and it’s really rather simple.

When you’re going to a particular address, you’ll have to have an elaborated map of that location so that you are able to receive exact and dependable directions to navigate your trip with minimal problems. Finding a free-of-cost GPS map of this location could be done easily by simply performing a web search and then you download the map straightaway to your hard drive.

Pre-loaded maps which accompany your GPS unit – apart from usually deficient in details – typically don’t include several points of interest that could make your journey simpler. If you’re on a long journey and find that you have to stop somewhere for the night, having the points of interest which include hotels in the region could be a huge benefit and save you a lot of time driving around searching for a place to stay!

Although there are a lot of software programs which you will be able to purchase to load GPS maps into your unit, why do that when you will be able to obtain a free-of-cost GPS map straight from the net? You can choose and pick out which maps you require and it’s all free of charge. What could be better than that?

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

The sky is the limit when it comes to mapping and navigation devices that can get you where you need to go accurately. But there are so many types to choose from that it’s often difficult to know where to start when considering the prospect of buying your own. Some people like in-dash systems straight from the dealership because most often they come with an entertainment center and a larger display screen, while others prefer one built in later because it has the same features, but it allows more flexibility in options. Then there are those who prefer portable GPS systems because they can be moved from car to car and can be link to other devices. In this article we will look at the latter system and its brands and models to see why its sales are on the rise.

Portable GPS Systems Offer Flexibility

If you decide to take on a portable device versus the built-in unit, there are definite benefits you can take advantage of. For example, if you own more than one vehicle, owning one of the many great portable GPS systems on the market gives you the option of switching between your cars making it possible to feel that you have more than one device. Of course, this is not possible for a unit that has been built in to your dashboard, so this is something to consider when deciding which to purchase.

In addition, these devices often allow you to download additional software meant to enhance your navigational experience. Whether you’re download mapping software, or some new product that will help your device work with another device, you can easily do this with the portable unit.

Devices for Your Car

Now that we’ve looked at the benefits of these mobile units, let’s look at one in particular that has a great reputation in the market for doing its job well. The Garmin StreetPilot c330 is highly recommended by reviewers and customers because of its detailed 2D and 3D street maps, huge directory with points of interest (POI) such as restaurants, ATMs, motels and fuel stops, and its easy to understand turn-by-turn directions.

For Your Motorcycle

While most units were created to work with cars, there are some on the market like the TomTom Rider Portable that are meant for those who ride motorcycles. This device in particular is more tough and durable than any car unit, but still puts out the same level of accuracy. In addition, it offers a 3.5″ color touch screen and is “plug and play” so that you don’t have to install any software to make it work. But what’s best on this device is the anti-glare coating and visor that prevents the Sun from being a problem, and Bluetooth features.

What If I Want to Trek Outdoors?

The benefits of having a navigation device can exceed your car as many have found when using handheld devices while outdoors. Handheld devices are portable GPS systems that are a little smaller and allow you to take them with you as you trek through trails or ride on a boat. Because they are mobile devices, they can be considered portable, however, they go beyond the function of navigating in the car.

For example, the Magellan SportTrack is a great option for people who enjoy camping overnight, or for a week, with the intention of hiking, mountain biking, or even hunting. This device offers nine large navigation displays so that you can keep track of several of your hiking routes at the same time. In addition, it stores up to 500 waypoints and 2,000 track points in the device so that you can go back to look at previous routes – and it even gives pointers on where you might find hunting game or fish.

On the other hand, the Garmin Forerunner is a device that lets you track your navigational routes as you walk, jog, or run; but being a fitness unit, that’s just the beginning of its features. This unit, which is actually a wristwatch, can keep track of your time and distance while running laps, as well as your cycling speeds, heart rate, and more. And it stores all of your information each time you exercise so that you an easily store it and compare from day to day, making it one of the most useful workout portable GPS systems available.

If you’re into flexibility and mobility with your navigation experience, the portable GPS systems are definitely the way to go. And many are so affordable that you simply can’t pass them up. So look into portable GPS systems for your next major purchase. They will make sure you never get lost on a trip again.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

GPS handheld devices are one of the most awesome technological innovations in the modern age. They vary in size, weight and features, but they are used for one main purpose: to calculate ground position and velocity. This is done through receivers that intercept signals from the earth-orbiting satellites.

The Global Positioning System navigation system is able to provide an object’s location through precise measurement of the distance from its location on the surface of the earth to the satellites orbiting earth. The Global Positioning System traces its original use to the US military.

To date, GPS devices have found many useful applications that just about everybody – from outdoor sports enthusiasts to motorists, to parents who need to track the whereabouts of their kids, to scientists, to ordinary people who want to find stars or galaxies using backyard telescopes equipped with this tracking technology. Want to have peace of mind in tracking not just your kids but also your dog? A handheld device to pinpoint the exact location of your pooch now also exists.

Indeed, GPS handheld tracking devices have come of age and provide many creative uses ranging from simple to sophisticated. The revolutionary product technologies you probably just saw in futuristic or sci-fi/action movies decades back are now lording it over other gadgets in the present age. They are utilized by industries, by sports buffs, or average individuals who find a tracking system an indispensable tool to track people and/or animals, or cars and public establishments.

The list goes on as far as innovations utilizing GPS technology are concerned. Nowadays, you will find smart phones with these positioning capabilities. There are also watches that come real handy for serious golfers, trekkers, or those who simply love the thrill of the great outdoors and would want handy navigational tools.

If you are among these avid sportsmen or outdoor explorers, it may interest you to know that there are highly functional handheld navigators in the market today which work doubly faster than ordinary GPS receivers. Some types are capable of storing huge data and various kinds of maps. Some of the features of an upgraded GPS handheld device are a color display with touch screen function, voice prompt and built-in maps.

Positioning technology may be incorporated as part of your personal effects, like your watch. In most instances, GPS devices are installed in the car. Many people have also added global positioning technology to their laptop and with the use of software, can easily track how far they are from the place they want to go to.

From all indications, GPS handheld devices are a boon not just for sports enthusiasts who want to be on top of their game but also for professionals who want to track the exact position of heavenly bodies or other spots on the earth’s surface, motorists who want to get traffic status and bypass the bottleneck, or worried parents who need to know the exact location of their kids or missing pets. Learn more about finding the best GPS Handheld at the GPS Handheld Guide web site.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Global Positioning System is a navigational device which is very helpful in finding out the road ways or routes to a particular destination. Satellites have to support them by transmitting signals to the earth. Software is already installed within the system with a lot of required information. It is also used for various other applications. This article is going to give you a short list of those practical applications.

• You can use hand held GPS system to find out where your children with the help of some special services provided.

• You can also check where the elder members of the family are if they go alone to a strange place.

• You can easily find out the widely popular points of interests like campsites, restaurants, petrol bunks, hospitals, parking areas, tourists spots etc.

• Sometimes you may need some road side assistance when you are in some emergency. You can get help easily from your GPS device just with a simple touch of a button. You will get complete details about where you are with your car with address.

• You can reinstall your GPS software by updating the data. It is simple to have a visual magazine or book collection of your most favourite hot spots. You may not get those details from your travel guide.

• It is easy to find out your pet using a collar if it goes astray, with the support of the GPS device.

• This device offers you various short cuts to reach your destinations faster.

• It is easy to track your things like laptops, bags, mobile phone when you travel along with them.

• You can trace out your friends or relatives when stand in the midst of big crowd or gatherings by having a GPS system.

When your device struggle to get signals from the satellite due to poor performance of the GPS receiver, you may suffer. But when you get a right device, you can escape from those risks as the high end navigation devices have come with effective GPS receiver. So make sure that you buy a branded and powerful GPS device.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Global Positioning Systems have taken the world by storm. Those who use a navigation system rely upon its accurate directional services. Magellan GPS is one of the more popular brands of navigation products and can be bought at just about any electronics store.

GPS utilizes the government’s network of satellites that consistently circle the earth, providing timely and accurate logistical information. It was designed in the late 1970’s by the US Department of Defense to be used as a reliable navigational tool for the military. However today, it has become main-stream, finding its way to consumers through a variety of suitable systems. Global positioning system receivers are hand-held units that fit into the palm of your hand. These portable systems have the ability to connect to the global positioning satellites which, through a series of calculations based on longitude and latitude can instantly and accurately pinpoint the user’s location. The screen of the receiver will then illustrate a map of the area, including landmarks, terrains, roads, and places your location relative to these points of reference. Those who travel and enjoy outdoor activities like camping and hiking have found the Magellan GPS receivers to be very useful in providing accurate navigation and ensuring safety.

Lots of people prefer to use the Magellan navigation system as a hand-held device, where others prefer to use it as a navigational device that they mount in their vehicles. It uses a destination address supplied by the driver to efficiently navigate the driving route. Also, if your vehicle is stolen, it can be effectively tracked by the signals sent by the Magellan GPS.

The prices vary depending on the number of features offered by each system. You can also find lots of information online detailing the different global positionig systems, including price, features, and user reviews. Make sure you take the time to research any GPS before you purchase.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

The entire GPS system is an integrated system of 24 satellites that orbit the earth and through the navigational process of triangulation can pinpoint a local anywhere on earth where a GPS product is searching for a signal. A couple of years ago, the government allowed for the creation and everyday use of the system for retail GPS devices.

Technology insiders all predict that GPS products will become just as common and such a day to day utility as cell phones are now. In a few years, GPS systems will be incorporated into just about everything and make it incredible hard to loose things; be it cars, dogs, or kids. GPS products and navigation systems can replace all the maps in your car and ensure that you get to your destination on time and with all of your kids in toe.

Many GPS products come bundled with mapping software and can give you driving directions, show you different routes to avoid road work, and can help you find your way through a foreign city. In the process of actually driving somewhere, many GPS devices can verbally direct you to the neighboring gas stations, restaurants, and other points of interest in a step by step manner.

Most GPS units have varying levels of sensitivity. There are positioning technologies that allow common people to find way around and are generally non-military like. The other category of GPS is military specific with much more detailed tracking and mapping capabilities. The military grade GPS can scan the photograph from a satellite or read a newspaper headline. This amount of precise military positioning will eventually be in the hands of the general public, much like standard GPS did in the beginning.

The typical parts of GPS are the grouping of satellite positioned around the world in a synchronous orbit, the ground monitoring and relay equipment, and the end user GPS products used in cars, boats, and construction related equipment. The satellites are in low earth orbit and broadcast signals to the average person’s GPS product or hand held GPS device. The ground control network continually monitors the satellites and the quality of the signals being captured and calculated. The consumer’s GPS products are designed to receive signals from the overhead satellites and a computer built into the GPS system stored locally.

Today’s cars, vans, and trucks come with a variety of GPS related products and services built into the dash. Most people have heard of On Star and other emergency related GPS products that add security to those who drive a lot or with little children. The mobile-based GPS units provide a unique offering in that they span between safety and entertainment features.

GPS products can entertaining just by listening to the foreign accent of the narrator, they can also become can leave home without units to aid in safety for family or business travel. GPS products calculate and display the position and speed of the user and determine where they are and how fast they are moving at any time at any location across the world. This makes GPS products worth weight in gold for automobiles. For rental cars and managers of fleet vehicles, GPS systems and related tracking technology has meant a big increase in efficiency and predictability of deliveries.

There are many accessories available for GPS products and navigation systems. Systems with voice output are a great help as they do not create the slightest distraction for the driver. Everybody could use one and everybody can use one, because you really do not need any special skill to drive a car with a GPS product or navigation system installed.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Looking for a change in your road travel experience? Need guidance getting from one location to another seeing as though you are “directionally-challenged?” Want to throw away that paper map once and for all? You can do all of these things and more by simply taking control of your navigation experience with a handy gadget created with this purpose in mind. Lot’s of other people before you have falling victim to the peer pressure, only to be happy that they did. So what are you waiting for? It’s time for you to learn the four reasons why we all need GPS systems.

Safety and Convenience

One of the most cited reasons why we all need GPS systems is the safety and convenience they provide. Whether you’re traveling across the country, or across your city, it is good to have the added assistance of an accurate, always predictable, electronic device to help guide you on your journey. By getting your hands on one of these units, you never have to worry about pulling out your paper map again, as the virtual map gives you up-to-date information on where you’re traveling in 2D or 3D viewing options. When was the last time a paper map did this for you? With this type of device in your corner, you get a convenient driving experience with the added assurance that you and your children a safely traveling from point A to point B.

Never Get Lost

If you very often point left when you’re speaking the word “right” then it is possible that you are directionally challenged. But that is okay, because one of the reasons why we all need GPS systems is that these handy devices are never confused and can guide you across the country when you can’t guide yourself out of a paper bag. A navigation system in particular is perfect for those needing turn-by-turn instructions to their location – the entire way. The way it works is very simple. Once you enter the “to and from” locations, the device simply will guide you by voicing instructions like “in 500 feet, turn right.” Once you get to the point of needing to turn, the system will voice the words “turn right.” With this type of hands-on instruction in your corner, you simply can’t go wrong. Just make sure when the system tells you to turn right, you turn right.

Finding Businesses and Other Addresses is a Breeze

Another one of the reasons why we all need GPS systems is the POI (point of interest) database that allows you to locate businesses and other addresses by simply scrolling through listings that may be over a million deep. So let’s say for instance, you want to dine at a specific restaurant in your area, but when you get there, you find out it is closed for remodeling. At first, you’re disappointed, that is until you remember that your friend had gone to another great restaurant and had been trying to convince you to go for a long time. You want to call your friend for directions, but he is traveling overseas and can’t be reached. Instead of giving up on this tasty experience, you can visit your POI database to find a listing for the restaurant. After you’ve found it, you simply map out directions, have the system’s navigation guide you, and enjoy the best dining of your life.

That’s definitely one of the benefits of these databases, but many devices take their POI feature even further to offer some variation of proximity alerts, which let you know when you’re within a certain distance of a POI – especially if one is a school zone or safety camera. It will let you know to slow down in time with both visual and audio alerts, then rest when you can regain your normal speed.

Download Great Software

One of the reasons why we all need GPS systems is that, in addition to getting to take advantage of all of the extras that come with most systems, you can also download more great stuff. There are websites all over the Internet that offer free software for better mapping options, more detailed navigation features, and even programs that allow you to share your road trip experiences with others.

Found enough reasons why we all need GPS systems in our lives? If this list isn’t enough for you, there are many more where that came from. But if you think about it, the benefits listed here can definitely improve your quality of travel many times over. So think about this when you’re looking for more reasons why we all need GPS systems. You’ll find that if you just think about it, you already have every reason you need.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

The sky is the limit when it comes to mapping and navigation devices that can get you where you need to go accurately. But there are so many types to choose from that it’s often difficult to know where to start when considering the prospect of buying your own. Some people like in-dash systems straight from the dealership because most often they come with an entertainment center and a larger display screen, while others prefer one built in later because it has the same features, but it allows more flexibility in options. Then there are those who prefer portable GPS systems because they can be moved from car to car and can be link to other devices. In this article we will look at the latter system and its brands and models to see why its sales are on the rise.

Portable GPS Systems Offer Flexibility

If you decide to take on a portable device versus the built-in unit, there are definite benefits you can take advantage of. For example, if you own more than one vehicle, owning one of the many great portable GPS systems on the market gives you the option of switching between your cars making it possible to feel that you have more than one device. Of course, this is not possible for a unit that has been built in to your dashboard, so this is something to consider when deciding which to purchase.

In addition, these devices often allow you to download additional software meant to enhance your navigational experience. Whether you’re download mapping software, or some new product that will help your device work with another device, you can easily do this with the portable unit.

Devices for Your Car

Now that we’ve looked at the benefits of these mobile units, let’s look at one in particular that has a great reputation in the market for doing its job well. The Garmin StreetPilot c330 is highly recommended by reviewers and customers because of its detailed 2D and 3D street maps, huge directory with points of interest (POI) such as restaurants, ATMs, motels and fuel stops, and its easy to understand turn-by-turn directions.

For Your Motorcycle

While most units were created to work with cars, there are some on the market like the TomTom Rider Portable that are meant for those who ride motorcycles. This device in particular is more tough and durable than any car unit, but still puts out the same level of accuracy. In addition, it offers a 3.5″ color touch screen and is “plug and play” so that you don’t have to install any software to make it work. But what’s best on this device is the anti-glare coating and visor that prevents the Sun from being a problem, and Bluetooth features.

What If I Want to Trek Outdoors?

The benefits of having a navigation device can exceed your car as many have found when using handheld devices while outdoors. Handheld devices are portable GPS systems that are a little smaller and allow you to take them with you as you trek through trails or ride on a boat. Because they are mobile devices, they can be considered portable, however, they go beyond the function of navigating in the car.

For example, the Magellan SportTrack is a great option for people who enjoy camping overnight, or for a week, with the intention of hiking, mountain biking, or even hunting. This device offers nine large navigation displays so that you can keep track of several of your hiking routes at the same time. In addition, it stores up to 500 waypoints and 2,000 track points in the device so that you can go back to look at previous routes – and it even gives pointers on where you might find hunting game or fish.

On the other hand, the Garmin Forerunner is a device that lets you track your navigational routes as you walk, jog, or run; but being a fitness unit, that’s just the beginning of its features. This unit, which is actually a wristwatch, can keep track of your time and distance while running laps, as well as your cycling speeds, heart rate, and more. And it stores all of your information each time you exercise so that you an easily store it and compare from day to day, making it one of the most useful workout portable GPS systems available.

If you’re into flexibility and mobility with your navigation experience, the portable GPS systems are definitely the way to go. And many are so affordable that you simply can’t pass them up. So look into portable GPS systems for your next major purchase. They will make sure you never get lost on a trip again.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Did you know that you can download GPS software packages without paying a single dime?

Quite surprisingly, you will be able to find free-of-cost Global Positioning System software package on the net which could make your mobile phone or personal digital assistant into a GPS tracking device or navigation aid. Naturally, you’ll have to have a GPS receiver in or on your vehicle which the software would be able to read and then send the data to your PC or PDA. The software assists you find a vehicle or provide you directions to get to a place.

With a few of the free GPS software, you will also be able to record and watch your moves in detail on Google Earth or Google Maps. You will even be able to use the free service for live tracking using Google Earth or Google Maps. Downloading the GPS software and also use of the website, is absolutely free-of-cost (and there are no future plans to charge as this either). The web server in addition holds all the information you have ever recorded and submitted, so you will be able to always return and view your old recorded information at any time.

Some of the most common free GPS software programs include:

3-D Tracking, Amaze, Cetus GPS, Earthcomber, Easy GPS, Garmap, GPS Babel, GPS Track Maker, Trail Browser

And that is only a few. You will be able to find all kinds of these free GPS software programs in several different places. Employ the search engines.

As you go to download free GPS software, make sure you know what you’re getting as several of these free-of-cost offers come with restrictions and provisions for use. Similar to any other freeware programs, the programs could be a reduced version of the complete product that’s available for purchase. Occasionally the free product has limited functionality with features not enabled, other products are evaluation version and are disabled after a mentioned time (hours or days or use).

Using free GPS software you will be able to download programs which let you to recall and show aerial photographs, topographic maps and USGS landmarks. There are programs available which let you import scanned pictures and add latitude and longitude points and other additional data. With these downloads you will be able to have a valuable navigation assistant, position database handler, and GPS information converter.

Free GPS software programs are available for everyone, so simply look around and locate one which you like. Try it out and try to extract complete advantage of everything it has got to offer.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

What is an Automobile GPS System?
I am sure you don’t need me to tell you what automobile GPS systems are, but if you are reading this and you are not quite sure, then I will just tell you that they are electronic devices that know where you are.

Potential for Car Journeys
The clever thing is, that they know where you are in relation to other places. As soon as you know where you are, and where you want to go, then a whole raft of possible uses for automobile GPS systems suddenly becomes open to you for your car journeys.

Where Am I?
The main component of the system is a reliable method of determining your current position. This is based on satellite navigation and the device needs to get a ‘fix’ on your position from at least 4 different satellites out of the 31 (2008) in orbit above the Earth. This is so that it can effectively know where you are, both horizontally and vertically on the surface of the Earth. The electronics for this are fairly well established these days since the US military developed the GPS system for its own use. GPS navigation became officially available to the public in 1996 (wikipedia), and since then, the use of automotive GPS systems have blossomed. In the early days, the accuracy allowed by the US military was limited to a less-accurate version of the military’s then current system. Now, however, accuracy has been improved and positions are often able to be determined within a 6 metre radius, depending on the receiving technology, the local terrain and a clear line-of-sight view to the satellites.

Where Are You?
A position for the automotive GPS system in your car is not much good without a map of the area, so that the device knows where it is in relation to other places. The map is probably the next most important part of the system. Any route from A to B must be reduced internally to a series of co-ordinate points describing all possible ways you might arrive at that destination. Each place where the road or highway changes direction or forks, must have an absolute co-ordinate associated with it. The smaller the distance between these points, the better and more accurate the map inside the unit will be. Knowing this, you can understand how a really good software map is essential, and why new updated maps are necessary to take into account new and improved features along all your potential journeys.

Show Me Where I Am.
Once the position in relation to other places is determined, the unit needs to be able to output the information in a way that is immediately understandable to the motorist. Traditionally this is done through a small flat screen as part of the unit’s construction and sometimes also via text-to-speech spoken output through a loudspeaker.

Where I Want To Go.
An output that is clear, and easily understood is essential, but so too is an input, so that the start and destination of the journey may be entered into the automotive GPS system. The main ways this is done, is through a touch screen interface, using buttons and text boxes to describe your destination. However, major manufacturers have also developed speech recognition systems capable of being used as input to the unit, and now other smaller manufacturers are following suit. This is likely to become the primary input method in the future, as it allows the driver to operate the unit and still safely keep both his hands on the driving wheel.

Conclusion.
Now that I have described the main components of an automotive GPS system, you can understand how all the different makes and models available on the market have these four main core functions. Manufacturers add value and make models different, by building into their systems other inputs or outputs, extra features, better more accurate maps, quicker acquisition of satellite positional ‘fixes’, points of interest, etc. The solution to determining which automotive GPS system to buy, is nothing more than deciding which extra features you require for your driving needs. These needs can be found out by analysing how you are going to use the GPS system that you will buy, however, sometimes deciding which make and model is really best for you, can be the most difficult part of the buying process.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Global Positioning Systems, or GPS, are fast becoming one of the most in-demand technologies of the past few years. Formerly used only by the military, GPS are now common in cars and trucks. The system uses orbital satellites that send microwave signals to the GPS receivers, which translate that information into its location.

GPS device use has significantly increased in the fields of realty, sales and delivery service. There’s little use for bulky, awkward maps and atlases when one can merely enter an address into their GPS and have the device direct them to their destination. It can even tell you how long it will take to arrive at your goal! Parents can track their children, police can locate stolen cars and hikers will never lose their way thanks to the GPS. There have been many instances of people stranded in snowstorms or other natural disasters who were rescued thanks to the GPS devices in their cell phones.

GPS have recreational uses, too. Geocaching, the modern-day form of letter-boxing, uses GPS to hide items in obscure places for other geocachers to find using hints and coordinates. Once the cache is found the searchers take the item that’s in the cache and leave one of their own. Geocaching is increasing in popularity, with many websites springing up and flourishing, thanks to the availability of GPS devices.

Owning a GPS used to be quite costly but prices now range from less than $100 or as much as $500 depending on the brand you decide to buy. The most popular models provide verbal directions to the destination that’s been programmed into it. One of the advantages of such a device is safer driving.

There are four types of GPS devices available now, the most basic being hand help without mapping. These are usually the size of your tv remote control and have a small two inch screen that can be a bit difficult to read sometimes because of its size. They are less expensive than other kinds of GPS and easy to learn to use. They don’t, however, have a map database so you would need to know how to read and plot map coordinates.

The other hand held GPS has mapping, that is, it has a base map and is capable of downloading a variety of different maps. Their size and light weight make them ideal for hikers or bicyclists but they do require batteries.

Vehicle Mount GPS are used not only in cars and trucks but also in boats, planes and just about anywhere you need to install such a device. They’re small but easier to read than the handheld systems and they use the vehicle’s battery for power. The main disadvantage to a vehicle mounted GPS is lack of portability.

Finally, you can install a GPS into your PDA or laptop by purchasing an antenna and software. This means you have the advantages of GPS navigation with more memory at your disposal than in the handheld versions. The screen is larger and easier to read, too.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

The games GPS gadgets offer may seem primitive at first glance. While cell phones and computer games have embraced new technology and offered thousands of options, what can you really do with GPS systems? There are some of the run-of-the-mill offerings like Poker or Sudoku, but the idea behind GPS games is to get families into the great outdoors, racing against other families in a thrilling competition. They call this “geocaching” or sometimes “geodashing,” which has become one of the uses for GPS navigation systems that is a lot of fun.

At Gpsgames, you can find some of the funniest games GPS has to put forward. For instance, “Shutter Spot” is a game where players take pictures and other players are challenged to find that exact location where the photographer was standing to take the shot. “GeoPoker” takes the usual assembling of a card hand and adds a twist: players must first find and move a container holding a GeoPoker log to earn their virtual playing cards! “GeoGolf” has you moving from waypoint to waypoint to get your score. Then there is “Minute War,” which is like Capture the Flag, and other exciting, interactive navigator maps games like “Geodashing” and “Geocaching.”

If you have ever watched “The Amazing Race,” then you’ve got the concept of the increasingly popular Geocaching games GPS has to play. Teams or individuals will receive sets of coordinates and will race from waypoint to waypoint, performing different tasks at each location and competing for prizes. In their ventures, seekers often find hidden containers with inexpensive toys, keepsakes or items and log books; they then replace the item with something new and record their name in the log. To find hosting in your area, check out Geocaching to see if one of the 673,265 geocaches can be found near you.

Social networking has also reached the world of GPS devices. In addition to participating in some of the games GPS has to play, like “geocaching” and “geodashing,” you can also share your experiences of particular locations with others. At Mscape, you can access games, music, images, text, videos, animations, narratives and games that are embedded in your location! You can then create your own mediascape or modify an existing one as well! To access these amazing interactive navigator maps, you’ll just visit the site, download the free software, connect your GPS to your PC, copy the player and starter mediascape onto your navigation device, start the player and head outside to play!

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Many car owners are investing in GPS systems – Global Positioning System – to help them get from one place to another. These devices, such as the popular Garmin, uses satellite signals to trace the path from start to finish. The GPS system was actually developed by the Department of Defense in the United States and not only can it help you trace your route from start to finish, GPS can also display maps that show whole city blocks. In addition to directions, a good GPS will show you three dimension position information that includes the time, what the traffic conditions are where you are traveling, how fast you are going, whether or not there are backups, and other information the model you use may provide.

When the Department of Defense released GPS systems to the general public they were installed in experimental Japanese cars. Most new vehicles now come equipped with a GPS system in their upper end packages. If your vehicle does not come equipped with a GPS and you are interested in having one, you can purchase the system and have it installed at your local electronics store. It should come with mapping software that is updated via satellite and it will show you the streets wherever you are traveling accurately.

Most GPS systems that come installed in your vehicle have a street value of anywhere from $350 to $1000. They include pre-loaded maps, door-to-door navigation, voice guided directions, and do not need a personal computer to function. Cheaper units that work with your personal computers or with PDA devices range between $100 and $300. You can even get GPS cards that work in your mobile phone for about the same price, and they have low power consumption and external active antennas and high sensitive receivers attached. Smart phones and other current wireless devices have started to come with built-in GPS systems.

The GPS navigation systems are usually shipped with the mounting kit so that you can install it easily in your vehicle. By using the vehicle mount, you can turn the GPS screen towards you while you are driving, making it easier for you to use without having to stop driving. You will find that the more expensive the model of GPS system you purchase the more functions it will offer you, such as voice guidance. If you do a lot of driving -for work or for pleasure – a GPS system is a worthwhile investment that can save you time and money when you are on the road.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Many car owners are investing in GPS systems – Global Positioning System – to help them get from one place to another. These devices, such as the popular Garmin, uses satellite signals to trace the path from start to finish. The GPS system was actually developed by the Department of Defense in the United States and not only can it help you trace your route from start to finish, GPS can also display maps that show whole city blocks. In addition to directions, a good GPS will show you three dimension position information that includes the time, what the traffic conditions are where you are traveling, how fast you are going, whether or not there are backups, and other information the model you use may provide.

When the Department of Defense released GPS systems to the general public they were installed in experimental Japanese cars. Most new vehicles now come equipped with a GPS system in their upper end packages. If your vehicle does not come equipped with a GPS and you are interested in having one, you can purchase the system and have it installed at your local electronics store. It should come with mapping software that is updated via satellite and it will show you the streets wherever you are traveling accurately.

Most GPS systems that come installed in your vehicle have a street value of anywhere from $350 to $1000. They include pre-loaded maps, door-to-door navigation, voice guided directions, and do not need a personal computer to function. Cheaper units that work with your personal computers or with PDA devices range between $100 and $300. You can even get GPS cards that work in your mobile phone for about the same price, and they have low power consumption and external active antennas and high sensitive receivers attached. Smart phones and other current wireless devices have started to come with built-in GPS systems.

The GPS navigation systems are usually shipped with the mounting kit so that you can install it easily in your vehicle. By using the vehicle mount, you can turn the GPS screen towards you while you are driving, making it easier for you to use without having to stop driving. You will find that the more expensive the model of GPS system you purchase the more functions it will offer you, such as voice guidance. If you do a lot of driving -for work or for pleasure – a GPS system is a worthwhile investment that can save you time and money when you are on the road.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

A Handheld GPS unit gives you a Portable GPS pocket-sized global tracking system so you won’t get lost

Older, bulkier handheld GPS receivers are being replaced with a smaller pocket-sized GPS units. The construction of GPS receivers has changed phenomenally. To keep from getting lost in the wilderness, the demand for handheld GPS tracking systems by cross-country skiers, bikers and hikers has increased. Though some may not use a GPS receiver on a regular basis, they do like to have one handy in the event of an emergency. These smaller portable GPS units are inexpensive enough to easily have on hand. The global GPS software tracking system can hone in on your gps receiver and give your location based on things like elevation and combinations of other factors in your vicinity with near pinpoint accuracy. This lets you traverse almost any terrain with the help of your handheld GPS unit. Along with the ability to assist you in pinpointing your global location, the pocket-sized GPS unit has the advantage of being small enough to easily fit in a suitcase or backpack without taking up much room. Travelers and campers will find that the portable GPS receiver is simplicity itself to use. Different models will vary according to the GPS software and database installed. To facilitate the enjoyment of the interactive GPS unit, all the models have the basic instructions on the display screen. Most handheld GPS models come with instructions that will enable you to hear the information put out as well as read it on the screen.

How can a handheld GPS receiver help you?

The activation of GPS voice and tracking options is one of the best ways to get the most out of the handheld portable GPS unit in assisting through voice so you can locate your global position. A friendly voice will lead you to where you want to go. Giving you a sense of security in stressful times is one of the benefits of GPS voice guidance. When you want and need to keep yourself and your family safe, using a portable GPS tracking receiver is a big help as you will be able to find where you are and what is nearby in the event you need help. As voice activated portable GPS guidance systems become more readily available, many businesses use them to track their fleets and emergency personnel, like firefighters and paramedics use them in various ways. Even your cell phone could have a GPS tracking ship installed so when you call 911, your global position can be used to find you if you aren’t sure of your location. There is the option of a number of different features with the high tech handheld GPS services available.

Portable GPS features may include:

Availability of additional GPS software

Map database

Voice activated GPS

Waas technology

Reflectionless screen

Theft prevention functions

Option for personalized screen icons

MP3 capability

What does a portable GPS offer?

The particular handheld GPS receiver you choose is personal and will depend on the type of gps software and gps mapping programs best suit your needs. The size of the receiver, its weight and the antenna are things that can affect the mobile GPS unit. What you want or need in these areas will determine what options will come with your choice of model. If you opt for the smaller, cell phone sized unit, you know the viewing screen will likewise be small. Be sure that you select a portable GPS receiver that has mapping capabilities, updateable software and the ability to download from your computer. You will also want to make sure that the unit you are considering is waterproof or water-resistant and it should also be shock resistant just in case it is subjected to being dropped. Asking the right questions will assist you in making sure you get the handheld GPS receiver that will fill your wants and needs and, at the same time, fit your budget. Some PDAs are being made with GPS antennas and some maps and GPS software are now available so your PDA is more functional than ever before. The PDA units are not nearly as rugged, though they do provide you with very good basics for GPS navigation whether you are in a car, SUV or on foot.

What it really comes down to is that the handheld GPS receiver that best suits your needs is entirely up to you. To make it easier on your budget in the long run, it is best to decide what is the absolute maximum you can spend on a portable GPS unit and buy the one with the most features, whether you can use them right away or not, that you can afford with your budget. This way, you won’t find yourself buying a new one very soon because you need more features. It is better to start with a bit more than you need at the time and already have what you need later than to have something that you ‘outgrow’ almost before you get it home.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

A handheld GPS unit not only saves you a lot of time but also makes your commuting process easier and simpler than usual. These devices guide your way to unfamiliar destinations without much hassles.

I have been using a portable GPS device for a couple of years now and believe you me, traveling has been way more pleasurable than what it used to be. No one likes to be lost and asking directions can be quite annoying at times. And printing pages after pages of maps can be an arduous task. A GPS navigation unit is probably the best answer to all such problems.

These gadgets are incredible devices that offer you a wide array of ways in order to get the best of them. Below we will discuss how best you can use these devices.

* Driving: A GPS unit can be used in cars for an enhanced driving experience. The mapping software incorporated in the device helps you steer your way to a desired destination and back and that too by leading you through the fastest routes. These devices contribute towards efficient travelling by choosing the shortest routes and notify you of the current traffic conditions of roads you are driving on. Another interesting feature of these GPS units is that they come with a number of ‘points of interest’. These gadgets are designed to inform you about gas stations, restrooms and the like while you are approaching them. Now that sounds good, doesn’t it?
* Boating: other than cars, a portable GPS device can also be used while boating. These devices help to point different stops like, fishing spots, great scenic view, and favorite landing points etc. and later in case you want to get back to these points, your GPS navigator will guide your way back to your desired spot.
* In airplanes: GPS gadgets are also used while flying commercial airplanes. In this case, a GPS device helps you determine the distance from your destination, your current location, how high you are flying and at what speed.
* Tourism and vacations: in case you are going to a new unfamiliar place for your vacation, your GPS device can prove to be a great help as it can locate places of special interest, to mark places that you may like to return to and also to find local restaurants.
* Biking: regardless of the fact whether you are a casual or a serious biker, a portable GPS unit can be a great way to track your progress. It can record the distance you have travelled, your halt time, average speed, current speed etc.

There are several ways to use a GPS navigation device, abovementioned are just a few. There are various kinds of GPS devices with varied features that are found on the market. It is advisable that you do your necessary research and then purchase a device that will suit your needs the best.

So, to conclude, now that you have a fair idea about what GPS devices are and how to use them, feel free to go ahead and get your brand new portable GPS unit today and enjoy all that it has to offer.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Motorola is leading the GPS technology field, with Motorola cellular GPS phone. Motorola has integrated their GPS technology with the technology of cell phone to enable you to directly receive GPS signals to your Motorola phone so long as your vehicle is fitted with a GPS navigation device or a vehicle tracking GPS system. Most of the other GPS devices are not equipped with screens facilitating navigation aids that you need everyday. That is the reason why your Motorola cellular GPS phone can prove to be a great asset.

Cellular phones fitted with GPS technology are not common. Motorola is keen to ensure the GPS friendly attribute for all its new equipment and to make all its phones necessarily equipped with the newest systems of GPS. It is very easy for you to acquire this best friend in the form of Motorola cellular GPS phone. You just have to download software from the disk to your phone and your Motorola cellular GPS phone is ready to receive the GPS signals.

There are 27 GPS dedicated satellites orbiting the Earth at all times. You just have to input a destination in the GPS device and it will send a signal to one of these satellites which are specifically GPS dedicated. When this signal is received by the satellite, it will locate the GPS device and send back another signal to it. Immediately thereafter, you can receive directions to your destination from your Motorola cellular GPS phone. You can trace your vehicle even though you are not sitting in it. That is what GPS technology does for you.

Isn’t this a great theft deterrent? You can even use GPS to track your vehicle when your teen driver or somebody else has possession of your car. Even if the GPS system you have has no LCD screen, your Motorola cellular GPS phone can put the system to work to its maximum capacity.

You must take full advantage of the advancement made in various fields of GPS cell phone technology by turning your cell phone into a multi-tasking GPS tracking device. Why not ensure the safety and security of your vehicle using your every day cell phone GPS device? You can always rest assured that your property is safe. All cell phone makers are waking up to the advantages of new aspects of GPS cellular advancements. Your Motorola cellular GPS phone can prove to be a great tool for you to work with, at the same time, ensuring your peace of mind all the way.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Are you wondering whether you should spend your money on a car GPS system that is built right into the dashboard of your car instead of a portable device that sticks to you dashboard? Well you’re in the right place to determine not only what the benefits are of purchasing a built-in unit, but also which ones are most popular on the market today.

Built-In vs. Portable

The question many people have when they consider purchasing a car GPS system is whether they should go with built-in or portable. The answer differs depending on the consumer’s needs, so let’s go over some pros and cons that you might want to consider when thinking about purchasing either one.

Portable is … Portable – Many consumers love the idea that they can take their portable units out of their cars and move them to another car if necessary. This is one major selling point for the portable unit. You simply attach it to your dashboard when you’re using it, and remove it when you’re done. The second bonus of a device being portable is that if you want to upload mapping or navigation software, you can do it easily via its USB port.

Portable Units Don’t Offer Large HD Space – One bonus you will find with built-in units that you won’t see in most portable devices is the large hard drive. Some built-in units come with as much hard drive space as a PC, which means you can store a lot of information on your system. If this is important to you then you will want to look past the portable units.

Built-In Units Offer More Extras – One reason that customers enjoy built-in car GPS systems is their features – the main one being a bigger screen. While most portable units have smaller 3.5-inch screens, some built-in units can have screens as large as 7.5 inches allowing you to get a better view of the maps and text directions. In addition, many systems come with a DVD player or other entertainment features that you cannot get with the smaller portable unit.

Built-Ins Make Cars More Vulnerable – In an age where breaking into cars is as easy as breaking into your own bedroom, many consumers are leery about placing permanent systems into their vehicles because burglars can look right in and see what they want. The one plus of the system being built in is that it will be hard for them to take it out without effort, but this means you won’t be able to remove it to secure your device and vehicle if necessary – a luxury you get with the portable device.

The Best Devices

There are a handful of car GPS devices that top the list as those you would want to have placed in your vehicle. Let’s look at them more closely:

Pioneer AVIC-Z2 – This is a system that reviewers love because it is considered to be the ultimate in HDD navigation. It has a huge hard drive – 30 GB – which can easily rival many PCs on the market. But many more features follow this one great asset. For example, its processing speed is astounding, being able to deliver mapping and navigation information to you rapidly. Also, it offers a huge Tele Atlas that has over 12 million points of interest (POI) so that you can find a business or other public location without having to know the address. Some other features of this car GPS system include a huge music library, a large 7-inch screen, DVD playback, 3D landmark icons, point addressing, traffic flow lanes, iPod controls, Bluetooth compatibility, text-to-speech technology, and turn-by-turn voice instruction.

Panasonic Strada CN-NVD905U – Similar to the Pioneer device mentioned above, this one also offers a 7-inch screen and DVD player. In addition, it has an easy-to-understand LCD display as well as touchscreen control with audio. You can enjoy a picture as sharp as your television set so that you can not only see great map images, but also enjoy your movies, making this device one that makes being in your car as comfortable as being in your home.

When you’re ready to get out and buy your built-in car GPS it is important to consider a few more things. One is that many systems are available with the purchase of a new car, so before you spend money buying a new system for your car, consider whether you could save by having one come with a new car you are thinking of purchasing. These car GPS systems are a little bit pricier than most portable units, so you have to make sure that you will get the most out of your purchase.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Marine GPS software is available for all types of GPS units, handheld and portable as well as the large stationary ones. There is a number of PC chartplotter systems software for your computer. You must have a compatible GPS before you can transmit any messages through the marine GPS units. Most current GPS receivers with PC communications will work using a virtual serial port, like a USB GPS unit with serial drivers is supported. Wind, depth and compass are displayed in real time. With a GPS connected to your PC, it will display the speed, current position, heading and other important information. As soon as new data arrives, the chart repositions itself and a new window pops up. An unlimited number of waypoints and routes can be created to help the navigator.

Another new software for marine GPS is the ultimate in fish finding. With this latest in fish finding software, you can see large areas of the bottom of the lake or ocean or wherever you happen to be searching for fish. You see nearly every detail as you glide by areas that might contain your hidden prey. Upgrades, through the website and you have two options for viewing the bottom floor of the water you are on. There is a built-in map for most of the Untied States coastal lines to help you track exactly where you are along the coast. It will also give you information on where you can dock your boat when needed. As many sailors know, when you are boating on the water, things are always shifting and to stay on top of the whole thing, you need to use a ‘real-time’ sonar to help you know what’s going on and it even gives you regular sonar updates. There is also a ‘freeze frame’ option to allow you to ‘freeze’ an image so that you can see what is going on in the picture far below you.

Another place to go to get software for your marine GPS is the Internet and shareware companies. These are companies that allow you to purchase the software at a low price because they are sharing it with several hundred other people at the same time. There are websites that carry shareware for your GPS navigation system and especially for the marine GPS units. Some of them are for chart building and navigational printouts. One says you can download the software onto your GPS and then plug it into a printer and print of a small book of charts that will help you when you are lost. This is a good idea, but having the GPS work for you is a better idea, so downloading the software that will help you when you are lost directly onto the GPS marine unit is a better idea.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Are you looking to find what are considered to be the best navigation, mapping, or tracking devices on the market? Well, you’ve reached the right place. In this article, we will explore units that have graced Top 10 GPS Systems lists for the past few years. This way, you will have an idea of which units can deliver the type of quality and accuracy you hope to have.

Top Devices

The following devices have made one or more top 10 GPS systems lists and are viewed as accurate and reliable when it comes to the service they offer. Let’s take a closer look at them:

TomTom GO 510 – This device is seen as a top pick because it offers multi-destination routing. It comes in handy for those who travel on business on a regular basis and need to visit more than one location in a city they are unfamiliar with. By adding “via points” in the system, you can plug in a number of destinations; then each time you reach a new one, the device will automatically map out the next destination. This way, you don’t have to manage a number of addresses. Some other features you get with this device include a 4-inch easy-to-read screen, automatic light sensor, hands-free calling, and real-time traffic and weather updates.

Garmin StreetPilot 2820 – Also a multi-destination routing device, this unit comes with text-to-speech technology, which provides directions to locations through voice instructions that name the streets you need to turn on. Also, it offers MP3 entertainment options, preloaded maps of North America, XM Nav Trafic or FM traffic reports, turn-by-turn navigation, and durability for the outdoors.

Magellan RoadMate 2200T – This makes the list of top 10 GPS systems because of its multitude of features, include a trip planner menu, 2D and 3D maps of the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, turn-by-turn navigation instruction, and multi destination routing options.

GPSNanny WalkAbout – This small device was created as a way to track your children’s whereabouts when they are away from you. It is the size of a closed flip phone and can fit easily in a book bag or use. It comes with software that you install onto your computer and allows you to track where your child is traveling in real time by looking at a virtual map. You get to set parameters on a “geo-fence” so that you will be immediately alerted if your child goes into a prohibited area, and it even comes with an emergency button that lets your child notify you if he or she senses impending danger.

TomTom One – This device makes the lists as one of the top 10 GPS systems because it is very accurate and costs very little compared to other devices. Priced at around $200, it gives you a user-friendly touchscreen, clear color maps, and fantastic mapping directions that are always reliable.

Computrace – This system often gets recognized because it is keeping track of what many consider their prized possession – their computer. Whether you own a laptop or PC, you can simply install this software onto it and allow it to plant a virtual bug that will let you determine its whereabouts via their websites at anytime and from anywhere in the world. If your computer gets stolen, their Recovery Team will work with law enforcement to get your system back. And if it is not recovered in 30 days, you will be reimbursed 90 percent of the value of your computer.

Garmin Nuvi 660 – This device makes almost every list that ranks the top 10 GPS systems. This is because it has so much to offer. For example, it offers multi-destination routing, hands-free calling, turn-by-turn navigation, preloaded 2D and 3D maps, a language translator, travel guide, huge POI database, MP3 player, FM TMC traffic receiver, and much more behind a large sunlight-readable color display. It’s hard not to love a unit with this many features.

Garmin Forerunner – Another favorite of reviewers and customers alike is the Forerunner, a fitness watch that offers GPS navigation. It keeps track of your time, distance, cycling speeds, heart rates, and more. And when you’re done jogging around town, it tells you how to get home.

When looking for great devices it is good to know which have made such an impact that they are seen among the top 10 GPS sytems. Those on this list are definitely making a difference in the lives of those who own them. So venture out and view more top 10 GPS systems lists to see what you can find. You never know; your perfect unit may be listed on one of them.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Cell phones are evolving almost daily. Just a few years ago they couldn’t do much more than make phone calls. Nowadays many of them are literally mini personal computers. One of the more useful features of modern cell phones is GPS Navigation.

GPS navigation is a very sophisticated and accurate way of finding your way around. GPS which is an acronym for Global Positioning Systems is a system that makes use of dozens of satellites that are continually orbiting the earth.

Cell phones were initially equipped with GPS chips because of the need of emergency operators to be able to find victims who call 911. If you call 911 from your home, the operator instantly knows where you are and they can rush the police, fire, or ambulance to your aid before you even tell them your location. Unfortunately, when people call 911 on their mobile phones, the operaters didn’t get that information. GPS chips were added to phones to help solve this problem.Cell phone makers quickly realized that they could use the GPS chip that is already installed in the phones for another very useful application.

GPS navigation devices have become extremely popular in vehicles these days. Once upon a time, only top of the line luxury cars were equipped with GPS navigation. Then came the increasingly popular portable GPS navigation devices. The cellphone designers discovered that with a bit of a software upgrade, many GPS enabled phones could be programmed to function just like these portable GPS navigation devices.

The result is that we now have cell phones that users can input their desired destination into. The cell phone will then navigate for the user in a pleasant voice on a turn by turn basis. The technology really is quite amazing. It’s just another very practical use for a cell phone. Maybe we shouldn’t even be calling them phones anymore. A more accurate description would probably be mini computers that you can make phone calls with.

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If you own a mobile device that is Bluetooth-enabled, you can turn this device into a fully functional portable navigation system by using a Bluetooth GPS receiver. Your device can then access the receiver wirelessly to determine your location. With the right navigation software, you can receive turn-by-turn voice and visual prompts on your phone, PDA, or laptop.

A Bluetooth GPS receiver is a small box, often no larger than an MP3 player, that can be placed anywhere that has a clear view of the sky. The receiver automatically connects wirelessly to your mobile device. Some receivers include navigation software, but most can be used just as easily with software like Google maps or Bing maps. To use your device with the receiver, you can put it wherever you have the best visibility and screen access.

You should note that the maps included with any GPS system require a great deal of memory. If you are planning to use the receiver with a PDA, you should consider looking for one that offers a storage card for an expansion slot to store the maps. Otherwise, you will probably want to invest in a large memory card.

When comparing receivers, be sure to look at battery life and included accessories.

With a price tag of under $100, a Bluetooth GPS receiver is a small investment, and could be a great gift for anyone with a Bluetooth-enabled device that does not have GPS functionality. In fact, at this low price you might consider using a receiver instead of paying a monthly fee for the service built into your device.

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The Wall Street Journal today, June 10, 2009, reports that TomTom will be producing navigation software and a car kit for the Apple iPhone. The software will be available from Apple’s iTunes App Store. This announcement caused a 17% increase in TomTom shares. TomTom is a Netherlands based business. Apparently, investors saw this as an opportunity for TomTom to increase its sales against the category leader Garmin.

However, to me this brings about another issue. First, you have to purchase the navigation software for the iPhone and then if you want to use it in the car where it can be charged while in use, you must buy the hardware kit. Who has seen anything that is produced for the iPhone being that cheap? Especially since You have two companies here that have to make profit from it as it is a collaborative effort. Also, the article doesn’t say whether software will work on the new 3g s phones that Apple announced this week.

OK, what’s my point with all this? Wouldn’t it be cheaper to purchase a dedicated GPS navigation system for the car? I feel that GPS navigation systems for phones are not as effective and not as easy to use as those in a portable GPS unit. They also, don’t have all the options that a Gamin GPS would have. There’s a safety factor too. I don’t see the Apple’s screen being as visible in the car as a portable GPS. I guess it depends on where you mount it. Phone navigation systems have never impressed me.

I know that this announcement moves the iPhone one step closer to being the “everything” phone. This is the exact position that Apple and ATT want. But, I don’t see where it will be very convenient in a car to have to mount your iPhone, watch your iPhone and answer your iPhone in the car. I don’t see a lot of success in profits for this software/hardware collaboration, but I have been wrong before. These products are due to be launched this summer. No specific date was given.

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I took a look at some of the online offers for free GPS software and found, like many “free” offers there were often limits and provisos involved. Often the freeware is a scaled–down version of purchasable products. Sometimes the free product has restricted functionality with features disabled, other products are trial–based and are disabled after a certain time (hours or days or use).

An example of limited free GPS software can be found at GPS Utility. The downloadable freeware is limited 100 waypoints and 500 track points. (There are 65,000 of each in the registered version of their program.) The free program gives you a good opportunity to try before you buy, and this is the benefit of most free programs.

There are online sites that list various free GPS software and describe how to use the programs after you download them. Often individuals who have used the programs themselves develop the sites. These are great because they give you an unbiased interpretation of the benefits and disadvantages of the programs before you use them.

Using free GPS software you can download programs that allow you to retrieve and display aerial photos, topographical maps, USGS landmarks. There are programs available that allow you import scanned images and add latitude and longitude points and other data.

Free GPS software downloads are available for PDA units that are capable of communication with GPS receivers. With these downloads you can have a useful navigation assistant, location database manager, and GPS data converter.

Programs to manage GPS waypoint and route files are available for both PC and Mac users. The waypoints and route files can be saved or converted to various formats used by other mapping programs.

If you need to transfer information to and from your GPS receiver and your home computer or laptop there are several free programs that allow you to do so. There are also programs that allow Garmin GPS receivers to “talk” to one another.

Many of the programs listed here are directed at the hiking/trekker community, but there are also free programs available for auto GPS systems and marine navigational systems. I found a couple of marine navigation programs that allow you to download nautical charts and plotters.

There are free GPS software programs that allow you to download street maps that might not be included in your auto–navigation system. If you intend downloading in–vehicle software, make sure that it has audio capacity, an essential safety factor for motorists. One such program offers data for several countries with voice guidance in twelve languages.

Free GPS software is also available for downloading to your cell phone. This is mostly tracking software and can be phone specific. You might want to check with your carrier before downloading anything to your cell phone to make sure that it does not incur extra charges.

As satellites are constantly moving, it is helpful to know the optimal time for data collection in your area. There is free GPS software that includes an almanac to let you know the availability of satellites at any given time.

Some of the free GPS software is brand specific. Programs designed for a Garmin receiver may not work for a Magellan, so check out the specifications carefully, especially if you intend purchasing a registered version after your trial period. Other software works with most brands.

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Before you purchase your GPS navigation system, you may want to be aware that some GPS software is more compatible than others. While Magellan and Navignon have perfectly fine products, there isn’t as much widespread support.

For instance, there are a number of free navigator maps and tour guide downloads for Garmin and TomTom that just aren’t offered for other manufacturers. Additionally, Mapquest and Google Maps both allow you the ability to map out directions on your PC and send them to your GPS device, yet only if you have a Garmin (for Mapquest or Google) or a TomTom (Google Maps only).

One thing you can do with the software on your GPS is speed up the satellite lock. You’ll want to do this when you first get your device or when you’ve moved to a new location. When you first turn on your GPS navigation device, your unit will need to read the positioning of the other satellites in the sky in relation to your current position.

The most efficient way to receive this information is to leave GPS navigation systems on under an open sky for 20 minutes, without moving them around. Additionally, when you’ve traveled over 100 miles and you turn your car on, you may want to hit the “new location” button on the satellite screen menu to speed up the satellite acquisition.

Let’s face it, many customers purchase their 910 Tomtom or their Garmin GPSMAP 276c just for the “Points of Interest” feature. How many times have you been driving somewhere and suddenly your stomach is rumbling out of control. Do you settle for that greasy spoon you just passed or try to hold out for a Wendy’s drive-thru? With the navigator maps, you can view all of the restaurants near your current location or even type in the name of the restaurant you prefer for the nearest location!

The lower quality GPS software comes with 750,000 points of interest, while the higher quality devices come with something like 6 million. To be sure you have the most up-to-date list of places in your area, you can visit Poiusa or Poifriend and download information to your GPS for free.

While your GPS software comes with perfectly fine navigator maps, some people find they aren’t satiated. Free and legal Garmin-compatible maps are posted online, which include highway and high-quality topographical maps. Garmin will also send you a free disc of their MapSource maps, which allows you the ability to plan your trips on your computer, note your favorite locations and send the information to your GPS navigation device.

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Using GPS software with Your GPS tracking receiver for all Global Positioning Needs

A GPS tracking receiver would be incomplete without some sort of GPS software. Without the software, the GPS receiving unit could not effectively translate the GPS data and information it receives. The GPS software also enables the unit to display the data in an easy to read format. Most GPS manufacturers develop their software on site rather than outsourcing the application to other vendors. The GPS software for your particular GPS receiver will allow your receiver to access the appropriate mapping data for your GPS unit and will create a user friendly interface for your interaction. Through this simple interface, you can plan trips and obtain directions. Each GPS system has its own unique line of features and selling points. Many GPS tracking software vendors offer free demos of their products online. Through these websites and previews, you can test the various functions of different GPS software solutions and compare their route planning and guidance features. It is also a good way to see which systems offer the easiest interface for you to use.

Through SDR technology, GPS software produces a digital signal that is transformed into a programmable microprocessor. Most modern GPS units, including handheld receivers, are fast and powerful mini computers that offer a great deal of memory capabilities. Modern GPS tracking abilities are amazing. The GPS software can use information like the present speed, as well as the signal level, to determine the best routing solution for your needs. If you are in a ravine, for example, the GPS unit will not only recognize where you are, it will track several possible paths for your departure, allowing you to choose the easiest route.

What Kind of GPS Navigation units are there?

The possibilities for using GPS tracking software is virtually endless, but the primary use today is for vehicle navigation. Many newer vehicles are available with a built in GPS navigation system or a GPS unit can be installed in your car. There are also portable GPS navigation systems that can easily be moved from one vehicle to another, as well as handheld units. Whatever type of vehicle GPS navigation you have, it will be extremely helpful in driving. A car GPS unit will not just give directions to a particular location; it can also locate you and plan the best route to your destination based on your location. GPS software can also plan alternate routes if there are roads blocked or traffic problems. Many GPS navigation systems will even plan quick reroutes if you miss a turn along the way. Another benefit of installing a vehicle GPS tracking system is that it works as an ideal vehicle retriever. Within minutes, the GPS software on your computer or laptop can locate and track your car. If your car is ever stolen, the GPS unit can aid in a quick recovery.

Other GPS Tracking Uses

GPS tracking software is not just used in vehicles. It is also popular with businesses for tracking their fleets and by many parents, as well as pet owners, for child and pet tracking. GPS tracking is also popular with fishermen and boaters for nautical and fish tracking. Cell phone tracking is common as well.

GPS Tracking Software for Businesses

GPS tracking systems have changed greatly in recent years. Businesses can now see exactly how their vehicles are being used. GPS tracking software can be used with trucks, taxis, buses, trailers, or even packages. These GPS systems offer great tracking range and have granted a lot of control to managers of fleet operations. Many large fleet operations suffer unnecessary losses because of wasted gas and unneeded labor. GPS management of these vehicles can identify troublesome areas and help to eliminate waste. GPS tracking devices can also keep the controller aware of any changes in routes or late deliveries. Businesses have seen many benefits from advancements in GPS tracking technology.

What are Benefits of using GPS Tracking Software?

A laptop and an easy to use GPS software program are all you need for a convenient and reliable navigation system that can go anywhere. There are no monthly fees and you can use your GPS navigation system wherever you go, with batteries, AC power, or even with DC power in the car. Your GPS tracking software will allow you to plan all your trips, both business and pleasure, with easy to follow routes and to the minute destinations GPS software can also track all your driving records, including mileage, locations you have traveled to, and even the speed of your vehicle.

Free GPS Software

There are a number of websites that offer free downloads of GPS tracking software. These trial programs are a great way to find the GPS software program that is best for you. With the easy to follow instructions, you can use the free GPS software to obtain aerial views of your destination or graphical maps. You can also find important landmarks and businesses along your route or even import travel data from another source, including points of longitude and latitude. Some free GPS software solutions will allow you to import external images as well, usually through a scanner.

Owners of handheld PDA units can also find free GPS software downloads that can be used with their device for an easy portable navigation solution. This type of software typically consists of a converter that allows the PDA to communicate with GPS receivers and a database manager for various locations. There are also numerous types of programs that allow users to transfer data from GPS receivers and computer devices, including PCs, laptops, and handhelds. Mapping software and street level GPS navigation software is widely available online as well in various free downloads.

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Global Positioning System (GPS) are used to determine the location of anything via satellite signals. Usually the military, army, navy, aviation, air force, marine, and consumer product applications use GPS devices to track down people, objects, or anything else you can imagine. They have been around since the 1960’s developed and used by the department of defense. In recent years GPS devices have become much more affordable, smaller, and easily accessible. This has brought forth a huge market place for consumers who want to know their exact location instantly.

In order to function properly GPS units need a satellite, ground control, and the user equipment. The satellites travel in groups if five and follow one of five orbital paths around Earth to endure a user always has four to eight satellites to pick up a signal at anytime. The satellites only take 12 hours to orbit the Earth, so in a typical day any given satellite should pass by twice.

Currently there are hundreds of GPS units on the market. So how do you know which is most appropriate for you? Look at your specific needs and requirements. Do you want to go fishing, use it for driving, go hiking, etc.? Each situation entails buying a different GPS unit. Do you research to see which meets your specific needs before you go out and buy your new global positioning system.

There are tons of accessories out for GPS products such as cases, mapping software, storage units, chargers, direct receivers, window mounts, car mounts, screen protectors, PC interface cables, vehicle DC power adapters, and much more. These accessories are available for use in boats, cars, and handheld GPS units. There are many great stores to shop on the web for GPS accessories, just search around.

An important accessory to have is an updated version of the software so you can be aware of new streets, roads, homes, commercial buildings, etc. You do not want to have an inaccurate GPS device leading you down the wrong path. They are made to guide you and keep you updated on mapping directions. Now newer models have automatic updates to their software to give real time information, including current traffic conditions and the optimal route to take.

It is also illegal to have the window mount for your GPS in some states, so always check your states laws to avoid an unnecessary ticket. A substitution for the window mount would be the car mount. You can also install the GPS into your dashboard in place of your radio. This tends to be more expensive than purchasing a simple GPS unit.

Remember that GPS units are relatively new and will be constantly updated and made superior to previous models. Always make sure you know what features are necessary and those that are luxuries when purchasing your GPS unit. This will save you the hassle of having to return it and buying a new one.

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My job involves lot of traveling in different cities so I was looking for a quality portable GPS car navigation system. It was a practical thing to do to get a GPS car navigation system easy to carry wherever I travel.

Most of the portable GPS car navigation systems have functional features like voice narrations to guide you where you need to go, and its worth if you invest some time to find out precisely what extra features you might need.

There are few models which will inform you which lane should be taken to help you make turns in streets with heavy traffic more easily. This can become very handy when you travel in a densely populated city like Chicago.

When thinking on the features of portable GPS navigation system, that you might need, it’s important to know if you’ll really need that feature or it’s just an additional bonus.

What to consider:

GPS Unit Size:

Portable pocket sized units have small sizes of screen. If you need a screen that is large it will not be practically portable so ascertain as to how you are going to use it.

GPS Unit Price

When you buy technical gadget the price is always at the top of your mind. As you know you will get the worth you are paying. Buy a low cost unit and you will end up with frustration as it works only half the time.

My sister-in-law spent $180 on GPS unit with no brand name and after first usage while traveling across the state, it permanently stopped working.

Consider these major features:

Announcement of Street name: check if the voice narration announces the street name or it only tells next street?

Destination time: does it calculate how much time you will take to reach your destination? This is an important feature when you have to choose the nearest destination from many choices.

Rerouting automatically: If you take a wrong route, does your portable gps car navigation system reroute you?

You’ll find different types of models when buying a portable gps car navigation system. All you need to figure out is what options you should select, and then select the unit which have these features and test it physically at the store itself before buying it. You can also find quality units from the internet.

Like most technology, you will observe that in near future, more GPS car navigation systems with new and innovative features with lower prices will be available.

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For any driver travelling some distance, GPS navigation systems are essential and can save both time and money. Many people will think “I don’t need one of them, I never get lost”, nevertheless at the price that you or I could pick one of these up for these days, it’s common sense to purchase one for even the occasional drive to a new location.

The GPS systems that are available today offer a lot more than just the map info that many people assume. Since GPS systems have arrived, the technological advancements have added such benefits as locating hotels and restaurants, and notifying the driver of speed cameras nearby. Furthermore, they constantly update with a detailed map of the area, with details of nearby facilities like hospitals; which is a feature that can be highly advantageous in an emergency situation.

The majority of vehicle manufacturers are capable of providing the car buyer with a built-in GPS system. These systems are able to advise the necessary authority of the vehicle location in scenarios where the vehicles’ airbag is deployed, and also when the car has been reported by the owner as stolen.

The detail that many GPS systems can provide in terms of road maps and directions is incredible. Even when abroad, the relevant software is available for you to be able to use your GPS there. The software is regularly available via the internet for the GPS user to download instantly, and to benefit from in almost, if not all countries.

So let’s take a look at some of the most useful and “must-have” options with a GPS device:

- A good viewing screen is vital as it obviously displays all of the data that you will need to see. Make sure it will be clearly visible and easy to understand whilst driving, and all information is displayed in a simple easy-to-follow manner.

- Consider selecting a GPS product that is easy to use, so that you do not need to fiddle around with the setup whilst in the car, but instead can set up what you need in a few seconds.

- Purchase a device that has good mapping software, which will display detailed streets and information on facilities. Ensure that it can also be updated online so all information can remain current.

- A voice enabled system is highly important, as it allows the driver to find their destination without taking their eyes off the road to constantly check their position on the GPS.

For those that do not have a GPS device, you may still decline the need for such a product; however for those that own one, i’m certain that they will never again be without one. They are practical to keep in your vehicle and provide good-quality information when required. They can save you time when travelling to a location and vehicle costs such as petrol whilst doing so. Take a look around at the GPS devices available to find out more detailed information, and to browse the deals that can be found. With the range of equipment available, finding one to meet your requirements should be relatively effortless.

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With gas prices going higher and higher, all of us are trying different way and means to reach where we are going as economically as possible. Surely, in such a situation you must know about a technology that is fixed on your dashboard – the GPS car navigation. But may be you do not know that buying GPS navigation system of your own can be both confusing and costly. This article might help you in selecting a unit that fits your budget.

First of all try to understand that the basic concept of GPS car navigation device is: to locate where you are and to guide you how to go where you want to go. To stand upright with the market competition, more and more new features are added in their units by the manufacturers to make you buy their product. Knowing about these features will help you in buying the right system.

Almost all GPS receivers are pre-programmed with different destinations, known as Points of Interest (POIs), which makes the going, where you wish to go, very easy! Touch screen technology is incorporated in this unit so that you can get started with the tip of your finger.

Let’s know who makes GPS car navigation technology.

Many manufacturers make quality products, but the top three brands are: Magellan, Tom Tom, and Garmin. the GPS system you choose should be supported with after sales service if anything goes wrong in future.

Garmin of course, is leading in the industry, with a market share as high as 70%. Garmin offers different types of models at different rate levels. Close to Garmin is TomTom, who also offers many models at competitive rates. Actually Magellan is one of the pioneer companies that offered GPS navigation technology!

Prior to buying a GPS car navigation system yourself, find out a website that can give you information in detail on GPS quality brands in the market and to find the right system for you.

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In the modern business world, operating internationally on a heretofore inconceivable level, finding geographical information that is easy to access, precise, and up to date has become an absolute necessity. In the past, many companies were managed from the world’s superpower economies, like the US, the UK, and Japan, while operating in distant countries, sometimes on the opposite side of the globe. There was less global competition for international companies and there were a lot of sure bets. Recently, however, the number of globally operated companies has expanded exponentially, with companies from China, India, Saudi Arabia, and other emerging nations buying business assets even in the US itself. This new competition has made the globe a volatile marketplace.

Managing companies on the other side of the planet, understanding conditions being experienced by your branches around the world, and getting a solid reading of potential future business opportunities has only gotten easier, however. With the development of three converging technological concepts, it has become possible to tailor interactive maps to the specific needs of these organizations. Three key technologies have made this possible: Global Positioning Systems (enabling the use of GPS Navigation Software), Geographic Information Systems (creating the mapping software used as the basis of so many navigational tools now), and Web Mapping (using GPS mapping software to create up to date maps for a variety of specific purposes).

Geographic information systems have actually been around for centuries. In its most literal form, it simple refers to a map that indicates the importance of certain objects and regions. They actually date back to caveman days, with map paintings on the wall, showing markets, borders, and points of interest. As the world has progressed in complexity, however, so, too, have geographic information systems, providing more elaborate details specific to the particular issues of importance at the time.

With global positioning systems, or GPS, users can pinpoint precise locations across the globe. It can also be used to create maps of amazing and unprecedented accuracy, and locate objects anywhere in the world. For more info about gps navigation software please visit mobiumgps.com Beyond just being able to identify things, web mapping allows us to make sense of this information in real time, providing up to date navigation information that is even able to take into account recent construction and provide on the street views of the destination. This GPS navigation software has revolutionized the way we travel and made accessible areas that were previously avoided.

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Global Positioning System (GPS) is a widely known system that uses satellite signals to trace the location and position of vehicles on earth. Formerly developed by the US Department of Defense, today it is a common feature in mobile devices and cars, which include a GPS navigation system to receive data that maps blocks of a city.

GPS navigation is a special feature providing you with 24-hour three-dimensional position information, including velocity, time, and traffic conditions in the area where your vehicle is located, being capable to go ahead on the road or any other place covered by the satellite-based positioning system.

This technology was first introduced to civilians through experimental Japanese cars. Today, it is a common feature available in GPS-enabled automobiles worldwide, although not all the cars include this unit. However, add in-car GPS Satellite Navigation is as easy as purchasing the hardware and very easy mapping software that provides information at street level accurately.

In-car navigation units have costs ranging from $350 to $1000 on average and include a series of functions such as pre-loaded maps, voice-guided directions, door-to-door navigation, and rechargeable battery. The advantage with these units is that they do not require a PC connection to work.

Although, if you are carrying a laptop or another compatible portable device, such as PDAs. PCMCIA GPS cards enable this feature in your system at a lower price, usually between $100 and $300. PCMCIA units have a lower power consumption and external active antenna with a connector port in addition to its high sensitive receivers.

When it comes to GPS navigation, remember that most smartphones and other wireless devices are also compatible with this technology. In fact, a large number of them include built-in GPS Navigation, although driving and consulting a handset is not as practical as having a GPS unit installed on your car.

New cars often come with GPS navigation units installed by the manufacturer. Other car models, old or new, do not include this benefit, but you can add it by purchasing the unit with your car dealer, at auto parts shops or other stores specialized in computer systems, or conveniently through the Internet.

Purchasing a GPS navigation unit requires a little research to become familiar with the different brands and functionality that each one offers to drivers. Among the top Car GPS navigation systems, the Garmin Nuvi 660 is one of a kind, but also one of the most expensive.

The Garmin Nuvi 660 provides you with all the navigation functions that you may require while driving anywhere in the world, but also PC and mobile device connectivity via Bluetooth, the reason this option is considered a good investment.

Other portable navigation systems are sold at more affordable prices, and depending on the level of mapping and functions their cost vary. Among the most popular GPS navigation units, we can mention the TomTom One, TomTom GO 910, the Magellan RoadMate 2200T, and the HP iPaq rx5900 Travel Companion.

Mentioning separately, the Navman F20 deserves to be noted since it is a very good portable GPS navigation unit, which is also one of the most affordable systems on the market, with prices ranging from $250 to $400 according to a popular online price comparison tool.

This device is also one of the most reliable, intuitive and accurate among others intended for first-time car buyers or people with no previous experience using GPS navigation systems.

There are many other GPS navigation systems and most of them are shipped with a vehicle mount, making it easier to take a peek at the map without the need to stop driving. As prices increase while browsing the different models, you will find that many costly units offer more benefits and durability, including voice guidance.

GPS Navigation is special but not a superfluous investment, if you do not need driving directions, the system is always useful to track wherever you are, find streets names, or avoid a traffic jam while saving you money and time.

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This article will hopefully help you locate the right model for your budget with all the GPS maps and software you need and start saving you money straight away.

Trying to find the right GPS navigation system can be hard. If you are not careful you will quite likely come away paying far to much for more than you need. Or worse, after spending out, 4 months down the line on your way to Bordeaux, you realise that you really should have bought that other model for £25 more. in the cheap GPS sale you had found.

You may very well be looking to upgrade or buy for the first time. Where do you start ? The amount of models available is breathtaking, all with the same ultimate goal. To get you from A to B. Many GPS navigation system features you will see are standard e.g. touch screen menu selection and data entry , pre programmed POI (point of interest) and any number of GPS maps.The problem lies when comparing the satellite navigation models.

The way I started was to think about the types of journeys I do. Business, pleasure, family, short and long. You then made a ranked short list of important things I required, and applied it to what model would make my life easier – and importantly, what will eventually save me time and money. Then applied my budget. In the end I didn’t get the hyped up all singing and dancing model that I was attracted to and came £20 under my budget.

Ideally you should now have an idea of the features of the gps navigation system you are looking for. You will probably want to go online then and have a search about (whilst looking out for those cheap gps sales). You will soon find an entry level model that will cover most of your requirements. Importantly, you will get an idea of the price you might be paying. From then you can change your search criteria to go by price. This will then give you alternative makes and models at a similar level that you can then compare the gps devices.

There are many GPS navigation system manufacturers out there. The most reputed are Garmin, Tom Tom, and Magellan, with great software support and coverage maps. Huge online forums exist for any subsequent help. It is unlikely that you will make a bad decision in terms of quality, when buying from these companies.

Garmin probably supplies the market with the greatest amount of units. Their 27 model on board GPS navigation systems starts from a basic Nuvi 205 to Streetpilot 7200, with retail prices from £120 – £1000 ; and that is just for cars ! Many deals can be had if you shop around.

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The Global Positioning System (GPS) means the GPS receiver. This useful system was developed by the US defense department which later became available to everyone else. It is such a useful device, that people would like to have it while traveling by road but it is certainly no magic so as to give you each and every location and map readymade. Most of Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation devices come with the built-in maps but lot of these maps are not with adequate information and details. In order to overcome this hindrance while you are driving or outside and depending on the maps, you will need to have maps designed by you which will give just the information that you require. These customized maps created with your GPS are reliable as they are carefully designed in accordance with your requirement. You can now map out your travels by using a free software and access to internet of course with the help of a personal computer.

You would certainly like to know how it works. The problem which occurs with the GPS receivers which are equipped mostly with vector graphics which is the ultimate graphic solution is; one, you shall not be able to download maps with high degree of detailing maps. Two, you cannot change the built-in vector maps in your GPS navigation device except a few. There are many demo/presentation softwares available in the market today which will create as well as edit the waypoints, paths, routes, rack logs or simple coordinates.

To get started, first get a map, compile it and send to the GPS receiver. There are several map display software programmes in the market but none of the softwares has all the features required to do it all. Depending on the kind of work and maps you have to do, you may require different softwares. Download the software to make your own maps. You can either get your own paper map or download these from the web sites available.

After starting with getting a map image, calibrate this image, then editing of the image is required; if you would like to delete or change the tracks or cut down to fit it into the track log memory of your GPS. You can create streets and trails and also add forests or lakes and points of interest like specific buildings and so on. You must give names and some description as it should be shown on the display. Then you will need to import this map data to the software programme. All this comes with doing some good effort; yes, a lot of searching on internet has to be done in order to find the geographical references of places that you want to show on your map. Either the web sites related to travel or reports and blogs from people. With the help of the ‘pencil tool’ option, you can easily create waypoints on the map. Do not forget to save the information before you proceed further.

Once you have created, compiled, edited and imported the maps, you’ll be required to upload it to your GPS receiver. After taking the final step of transferring the data to GPS, you are all set to begin your journey with the help of these customized maps you made. Some creativity mixed with the features of the software that will help you design the map which will have all the information you have fed it with will bring great results. Don’t worry as you would get step by step tutorial with the software to create the custom GPS maps.

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GPS Navigation Systems are a lot like DVRs (better known as TiVo). People who don’t own them fail to understand why they’re such a big deal, and those who have them can’t live without them.

Today’s automobiles come with a variety of extras, from passenger side air bags to the ubiquitous car alarms. Entertainment options range from high-end speakers and CD players to multiple DVD players. The GPS navigation system, however, forms the bridge between safety and entertainment features. While they’re definitely entertaining, they can also become a must-have safety net in your travels.

GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) navigation systems can replace all the maps in your glove compartment and ensure that you arrive at your destination on time. GPS navigation systems are equipped with mapping software and can give you driving directions, show you alternate routes if you’re stuck in a traffic jam, and can help you negotiate a new city. While you’re on the road, a GPS navigation system can also guide you to the nearest gas stations, restaurants, and other points of interest.

Some GPS navigation systems are built right into a vehicle, while others are handheld devices that mount on your dashboard. Although GPS navigation systems are used by everyone from rescue workers to hikers, if you’re using one for driving, it’s helpful to select one that has voice navigation features. The GPS navigation system will tell you when you’re approaching a point where you need to, for example, turn, and then tell you to make your turn. This allows you to keep your eyes on the road, where they belong.

There are many accessories available for GPS navigation systems. You can, for example, buy software, GPS holders to mount your system to your dashboard or windshield, memory cards, cigarette lighter adapters, antennas, and Bluetooth.

When buying a GPS navigation system, you should consider such factors as screen size and whether you need a color or monochrome system. Color systems, for example, usually provide greater detail and better readability, but also use more power. GPS is sometimes included in handheld computers (PDAs), so if you’re in the market for a PDA, you may consider buying one that includes GPS.

Another factor to consider is the memory capacity of your GPS system. If you’d like more than the basic mapping software, you may want to consider buying a system that has additional memory capacity, such as space for a removable CompactFlash card. It’s a good investment to buy a navigation system that has voice prompts, so you won’t have to look at the screen while you’re driving.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

One of the greatest uses for a pocket pc is for gps navigation. Now all those people who continually get lost can find their way anywhere with the various types of gps navigation software available. No longer will they have the excuse of not wanting to ask for directions. The directions are easily accessible from their palm pilot.

The best pocket pc gps software has a gps receiver with it. This allows you to receive constant updates. Many of the best software products for your ipaq have some other great features, too. Some of these features include detailed maps for roads and streets in the U.S., Canada and Europe. These maps can be downloaded to and from your computer and often allow you to enter personalized information.

Other gps navigation software offers topographical maps, aviation maps and marine maps. For whatever kind of travel you do, there is a gps system for your pocket pc that will work splendidly. You no longer have to worry about being lost hiking in the mountains, flying a small personal aircraft or piloting your own boat.

The best gps software packages have extremely detailed voice guidance to keep your eyes on the road instead of on your pda. This safety feature should impress even the most careful driver.

Having gps navigation software on your pocket pc makes the world a much smaller, safer place to be and a heck of a lot easier to navigate. So, find the best pc pocket gps for you and never get lost again.

Dan Ayala is webmaster and publisher of PDA-Review-Online.com, offering reviews on PDAs, Palm Pilots, Pocket PC’s, software and accessories. PDA Review Online provides free information and recommendations for your online resources that you can download anytime or anywhere.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

An essential part of touring is knowing where you’re going – and if you’re not the type to trust your instincts when you’re on unfamiliar ground, some kind of navigational aid should be a vital part of your equipment. There’s nothing worse than getting lost in the middle of nowhere!

The days having your entire touring group pulling to a halt to gather around a cumbersome folding map are long gone – and it’s satellite navigation, also called global position system (GPS) units that have taken over. They’re lightweight, easy to use and you can have it right there in front of you as you ride. Too easy!

As with most things in life, there is a range of options when it comes to GPS units. From the bare-bones basic to top-shelf with all the bells and whistles. But what will you really need?

Three Styles of GPS

There are three types of GPS that are suitable for use on a motorcycle. For starters, there are the basic hand-held types used by hikers. These offer an easy-to-use interface, and can be linked up to a laptop computer to help you plan your trip. They can also be used while boating and off-roading, if that’s what you’re into.

The downsides to a hiker-style GPS are that the features and menus can be tricky, and you’ll need to sort out a mounting system if you want to keep one eye on the map and the other on the road.

Next up are the motorcycle-specific devices, such as the TomTom RIDER. The RIDER has been designed with motorcyclists in mind – it comes with a specialized mounting that the unit clips into when you need it, and has large touch-screen controls, ideal for plotting your way around, even with thick winter gloves on. The housing has been designed to handle the rigors of life on two wheels, and is weather-proof.

The RIDER also has a cool headset attachment, which rests inside your helmet and can relay spoken commands to the unit via Bluetooth, so you won’t even need to take your hands of the bars – just tell the GPS you want to head “Home” and it’ll plot you a route and lead you there.

The third type of GPS unit that motorcyclists tend to use are the GPS / PDA hybrids, such as a Blackberry with GPS software loaded on. The upsides are that it doubles as a communications device, has a large screen and is highly portable. The downsides… well, let’s just say that if you’re out cruising on a weekday, you probably don’t want the office to be able to email you!

Other Factors to Bear in Mind

Once you’ve decided what kind of GPS you want to look at, there are more factors that you’ll need to consider before making a purchase. Such as, how good is the battery life on the model you want? Can you have it wired into your bike’s electrical system so that it draws power while you’re on the road? Is the GPS accurate enough? Can it be updated?

They’re all good questions – and they’ll all need answering before you fork over your pay check. Good battery life is essential – on a long trip (six hours or more), you’ll need to consider a unit that has exceptional battery life. What could be worse than getting six hours from home, relying on the GPS for directions, only to have the batteries die when you need them the most? If you decide on a cheaper unit with lesser battery life, the lesson here is simple: carry spare batteries! Most handheld GPS units run on 4, 6 or 8 ‘AA’ size batteries, so they’re easy to source and carry.

To avoid the issue of battery life, consider having the GPS hard-wired into your bike’s electrical system. For the most part, GPS units draw very little current, and because the battery is being recharged by the alternator while the bike is running, your battery power will not be compromised.

As for accuracy, most road cruisers won’t need to have a super-accurate GPS. Most units on the market at the moment offer accuracy up to 26 feet. The more accurate models (which use a system called Wide Area Augmentation System) are good for accuracy within a 9-foot radius.

The final, and perhaps most important factor for many riders, is price. How much do you want to spend on a GPS, and how do you get the best bang for your buck?

Starter models, such as the Magellan Roadmate are available from $250. For the better models you can pay anything up to $1400. Widely regarded as the best value for money for motorcyclists is the TomTom RIDER, which retails around $700. It’s got all the features riders need, including door-to-door address route plotting anywhere in the United States – it’s a winner.

Things to Remember:

A GPS system is only as good as the maps it has loaded into its memory – an out of date map on the GPS is as bad as an outdated folding map. Make sure you keep your GPS maps as up to date as possible.

GPS units don’t work well undercover. They rely on being in line-of-sight contact with satellites outside earth’s atmosphere, and anything – including trees – can interfere with the signal. If you spend a lot of time on roads that run through forested areas, it’s worth considering one of the new SiRF Star III Chipset models. They offer superior coverage in leafy areas.

Security for GPS units is an issue – because of their portability, they’re very easy to steal. Make sure yours has a secure place to rest when you stop for lunch.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Even when hikers and geocachers thought the respectable Garmin GPSMAP 60CS couldn’t get any better, it did! The improved GPSMAP 60CSx added a high-sensitivity receiver to track your positioning even under dense canopies or in the deepest canyons. The screen is brighter and easier to read during the day and a storage card enables you to store more detailed map information. With the electronic compass and barometric altimeter, you can traverse land and water.

The Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx retails around $535.70, but can be found for as low as $191.50 at Bestpriceaudiovideo or $339 at Zappos. Compared to the $249 Garmin GPSMAP 60, this upgraded version comes with three important new features. First, the new SiRFSTARIII chip set has received wide acclaim for its ability to beam signals under canopies, around buildings, down into canyons and in typically hard-to-reach places.

Secondly, this new Garmin model has traded in the dated internal memory system for a microSD card slot that can be upgraded instead, giving you unlimited storage capacity and the ability to use any new map software that comes out. Thirdly, the 60CSx comes with an electronic compass and barometric altimeter that the GPSMap 60CS doesn’t even have.

There are many functions for your GPSMAP 60CSx that you’ll find useful in the wilderness or out on the seas. For instance, those on a fitness routine can appreciate the trip computer with odometer, which indicates how long you’ve been stopped, what your moving average is, the total time, your max speed and more.

Mariners can make use of the audible alarms for anchor drag, arrival, off-course indication and waypoint proximity. Hikers can backtrack easily using a 10,000-point automatic track log, with 20 saved tracks. Hunters and fishers can look at built-in celestial tables for the sun and moon, which calculate the optimal time to fish or hunt. Drivers can use the automatic routing GPS systems to help them get from point A to point B.

There aren’t many glitches or problems associated with the GPSMAP 60CSx, but as with any technical gadget, you may occasionally run into something. A few times, your GPS navigation system won’t reach a fix within a few seconds, so you’ll need to turn it off and back on again to reset. Additionally, even though you save the same amount of points in your track log, the newer model will use more memory for some reason.

There was an early altimeter bug that has since been fixed with firmware version 2.7. Sometimes the “find by name” in the points of interest doesn’t work either. Even so, Garmin has been working on improvements and the 60CSx is still one of the most highly rated GPS devices you can buy.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

What is a GPS navigation system & why would I buy it?

Vehicle/car navigation is an inexpensive upgrade to any vehicle. Aftermarket navigation units use the newest technology and mapping software to get you from point “A” to point “B” without error. Also, with today’s technology, you can get this upgrade for far less expensive than the steep price tag that dealerships charge when including factory navigation.

Most aftermarket units can be used for much more than just getting directions. Expandability features allow for numerous upgrades, including: DVD, Mp3, I-pod integration, and Bluetooth, the aftermarket units are well worth the investment.

Navigation Systems Types:

Portable GPS units are just one type of Navigation available. These types of GPS units are mainly made to be suctioned to your windshield and powered from your vehicle’s DC outlet. The best feature of these would be the versatility. You can easily unplug the unit and move from vehicle to vehicle. Some even have built-in batteries to provide you with navigation even without an external power source. A couple sacrifices of portable Navigation include screen size and expandability. Most portable units only have a screen size of around 4 inches and can only be used for navigation.

Another type of navigation system would be the in-dash. In-Dash Navigation units usually include a Touch-Screen Monitor, which puts entering destination addresses at your finger-tip. These systems replace your factory radio, and provide control over your entire audio system. With systems designed to fit both Standard and Oversized Radios it’s possible to find a system for any vehicle. Options such as Bluetooth, IPod Integration, Satellite Radio and TV tuners allow you to outfit your vehicle with all the options at a fraction of the cost that your Dealership would charge.

Some Things to Look For in any Navigation system:

-Points-of-Interests (POI) – The more points of interest loaded into the unit the better the chances of you finding a destination with minimal information.
-Hard-Drive- Maps are pre-loaded onto your unit, updates are as easy as downloading new maps from your PC and loading them onto your NAV Hard Drive via SD Card or DVD. Most Hard-drive NAVs will allow you to Update your POI for your area.
-DVD-ROM – Maps are loaded onto a DVD which must be inserted into the System in
order to you’re the Navigation Feature. New updated DVDs must be purchased as years go on in order to stay current with the growth of your area.

Now Navigation system is affordable no matter what your budget. It’s a small price to pay for all the comforts of a Luxury Vehicle and the Satisfaction of knowing you will never again have to pull over and ask for directions.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Whether you want to visit your favorite deli or take a nice peaceful trip outside the city, your GPS navigator can effectively help you reach your destination faster without needing to sit in traffic for hours. Car GPS navigation systems can help you with maps, turn-by-turn directions and that’s not all, it can also guide you towards multiple points of interest.

The latest GPS navigation systems are equipped with numerous facilities like 3-D maps, traffic alerts, easy touch screen, hands free calling etc. Some models also offer FM transmitters; this makes it easier for you to hear alerts and prompts through your own car stereo. Many navigators come equipped with theft prevention features, Bluetooth, and a couple of other helpful features to aid the driver.

There are many vehicles on the market that come equipped with a GPS navigator, however if your car does not come with a GPS navigator, you can consider buying a separate portable unit for yourself. This portable unit can be mounted on the dashboard or windshield of your car.

Here below are some of the features that you should look for when buying a GPS navigation system:

1. Accurate navigation is the most important feature that your GPS should offer; also, it is advisable to go for a navigator that recalculates routes fast.

2. A GPS screen should be easy to touch as well as read. Also, the displays on your navigator should be very clear and sharp. Preferably, pick a model that can be viewed in different lighting conditions, including daylight.

3. Voice command is offered by a few models, this can be helpful as it allows the driver to operate certain functions solely with voice.

4. If you like to do exploring on foot often, it is wiser to consider a lightweight GPS navigator. Although in most cases the cheaper models tend to be lighter, there are a few premium units that are lightweight and easy to carry.

5. Invest in a GPS navigation system that comes equipped with street-level mapping, updating your mapping software can be done for no extra cost.

6. Aside from the basic features of preloaded maps and driving directions, also look for features like Bluetooth and text-to-speech capability.

7. Additional features to look for would be real-time traffic support, FM transmitters and some new models offer MP3 playback for music on the go.

8. Make sure that the GPS has a long battery life, the longer the better. Although, a GPS unit offering a long battery life can be expensive, it will be worth every penny you spend.

9. Before making a decision make sure that the features the unit offers are in perfect working condition, for example it is very important for the pronunciation and sound of the device to be clear otherwise you would end up looking at the unit more often than the road.

Car GPS navigation systems can make car travel easy and hassle free. You no longer need to crack your brains on deciphering complicated directions and maps; you GPS navigator can help you get to your destination safe and sound.

There are many companies offering top-of-the-line products like TomTom, Magellan, Garmin and many more. With so many options, why not go ahead and choose one that suits your driving needs the best to make traveling easier and so much better.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

The maps, that you generally see with the red dot, at site seeing areas, and shopping malls, showing you-”You Are Standing Here”. That’s exactly what a GPS navigation system is, except that it goes with you wherever you are moving in the world. It’s not just functional on a building or event area. Moreover, it helps you to find and know where you would like to go. You just have to enter the destination you are looking for and it shows you the directions to reach there. Latest models will audibly guide you, and tell you nearby places of interest, gas stations and restaurants and also will get you back on right path when you are going the wrong way.

GPS Navigation System is designed with a series of 28 satellites that are orbiting. Originally it was developed by the defense, but now popularly used by citizens too. If your car has a GPS unit, it receives signals from the satellite that help it to find where you are located. General GPS units are precise only within few yards or meters, but the military and government GPS units are far more accurate. Your GPS unit will instruct you for another location if mapping software is installed, which most people do.

GPS Navigation System units are introduced as standard or add on equipment on new vehicles and cars. They are also found in many cars for rental, usually an extra charge is taken for this. GPS mapping software is the most popular in consumer usage today. If your basic aim in buying a GPS unit is to get you from one place to another through a reliable system of navigation, then this kind of unit is for you. Your dealer can fix it in your car or you can buy one that can be attached to your dashboard. Some attractive features you may choose are voice directions, maps with all the details for your area and any place you know you will be traveling, rerouting in case you get lost or detours.

The GPS is most commonly used by car owners, but it’s not the only kind available. Think of how to use GPS. May be, you do not want GPS unit inside your vehicle. GPS units that can be handheld are right for sportsmen, bikers and hikers.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Gone are the days when the only option you had while traversing unfamiliar roads and terrain was to ask the locals for directions. For you can now use a (global positioning system) GPS-based navigation unit to accomplish the same task without the need to ask local people the directions. A navigation unit for most laymen is a wonder gizmo that will help you to know your position and direct you towards your selected destination.

How does such a navigation unit work?

Well, first simply thank the long and rapid strides technology has taken in many diverse areas. These areas include (i3 conducted) Earth imagery mapping, satellites, GPS-enabled cellphones, and dedicated in-car GPS navigation units.

They also include software (mapping, database, and control), hardware (inertial navigation unit, memory, pocketPCs, and the plethora), database systems, and micro-electronics. You need to also mainly thank the US Department of Defense (DoD) and erstwhile late US President Ronald Reagan.

Coming back, a navigation unit is simply an electronic device that helps you track your route, know your current position, reach a destination, or find how far you are from a specific well-known location. The circuitry in it helps it to locate its position at all times. It works by receiving microwave signals transmitted at certain preset frequencies by a cluster of 32 Navstar-GPS medium Earth orbit US-launched satellites up in the sky.

The signals tell you the coordinates of your (actually that of the navigation unit available with you) current location, wherever in the world you might be, in the air, over the seas, or on land. Moreover, you also have available with your navigation unit a database (in memory) that has already been developed through a process known as mapping.

Using mapping, the database stores the coordinates of all well known locations in nearby areas. Using software to compare your coordinates with those of nearby well known locations, you can also know exactly where your current location is with respect to these well-known landmarks.

Now, a navigation unit (such as the Garmin 2610) is something that you can have built-in into your Lincoln Continental SUV/car dashboard. Alternatively, you can have a navigation unit packaged smartly in your new GPS-enabled Nokia cellphone or simply use a dedicated Garmin etrex navigation unit.

Since everyone carries their cellphone wherever they go it becomes easy for government agencies to locate them. In this way terrorists can be discovered and caught or a criminal’s movements traced, or a person in an emergency can be located and reached in hospital in time. Privacy laws are infringed anyway, but see the advantages of a navigation unit. Its advantages far outweigh the small issue of privacy.

The US DoD it was that launched those 24 GNSS (global navigational satellite system) satellites for military purposes, but President Reagan ordered them later to be also used for civilian use. So, next time you hear the word navigation unit, I am sure you would not bat your eyelid.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

We have a serious problem brewing with GPS navigation systems for automobiles and even motorcycles. There are however problems with this devise as a high tech toy are more serious than you might think. Ask anyone in a metro area who has bought a new car with one of those cool GPS upgrades for their SUV or new sports car. We have had our customers complain (customers of the carwash business, which is my profession). Oh they love the gadget, but they are under whelmed by the lack of data and streets, which are not listed. You see we have been seeing incredible suburban growth in many cities. Places near large DMA metros are a problem out in the middle class suburbs. In many areas such as outside Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Seattle, Portland, Denver, Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Nashville, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Columbus, Cleveland, Baltimore, Jacksonville, Tampa Bay, Miami, Orlando, Atlanta, DC Subs, etc. And in NJ, NC, NV, OH lots of other fast growing growth pockets.

When GPS devises for cars first hit the scenes at the CES and SEMA shows in 1996, they became increasingly more popular, powerful and better data. But like VHS and Beta, Apple and IBM, competition became increasingly greater causing much consolidation in the industry along with patent fights. Much of the technology was former Defense Contractors peddling their wares through subsidiary consumer level companies. But the tight market remained due to the costs. Meanwhile companies like DeLorme and others tried to flood the market with low priced GPS units, which made things even more competitive. And the bugs were not fully out of the system yet. Someday all cars will drive themselves and people can watch TV, do video conferencing and use their transportation as a portable office or entertainment system while they are being driven to the location they have punched into their computer. Some things will have to occur before this is a reality of course. But eventually your dexterity skills to actually pilot a car will be worthless and un-needed.

First the satellites will need to be laser aligned and use multiple satellites to get absolute locations of ground items and vehicles. The cars will need to have additional anti collision devises made up of networked sonar and optic flow sensors. All of which are now available and the technology is getting better and better. Many military applications today will be civilian tomorrow. Just like Radar, Microwave ovens, Nuclear Energy, Cellular Phones, Satellite Communication and Jet Aircraft in Commercial Aviation. The flow of transportation will be brought to the next generation to serve man better.

For the time being the incremental changes in these technologies has hit a slight road block even though Honda, GM, Ford, Mercedes, Daimler Chrysler and Toyota have invested billions in anti-collision and safety devices which they will add comfort and desirable options which they can sell to customers as upgrades. Smart Car Technologies can add Thousands of Dollars to the price of a car and consumers are glad to pay for them. A factory GPS system with display can cost up to $6,000.00 and they sell a lot of them on the higher end cars. It is a high profit item upgrade, although there are some, which only cost $1000. And if you wish to compare these, some are very incredible with many features;

http://www.gpsnuts.com/myGPS/GPS/review%20…he%20review.htm .

There are many companies, which sell after market computer assist items. These companies are doing quite well and the systems work great. The big issue is just because you have a super duper incredible GPS system, does not mean the street you are looking for is even on the map yet. In other words it is like using an old map. If you are a studier of maps like I happen to be, you will see the problem with older maps. Even some companies keep printing old map data year after year without adding in new on ramps, city streets, infrastructure freeway improvements and ring-roads, it is aggravating for those from out of town. Even more aggravating looking for an address or street in a new housing tract, which you can see but the devise insists, does not exist? Then there are problems in areas like Cape Coral, FL and Tehachapi, CA or El Paso, TX and Knoxville, TN where the roads have been scraped and ready to put in or put in but do not connect or have nothing there yet. Of course it is very aggravating to see a road and try to go down it and find it is a dirt road that connects to nothing yet or an entire sub-division that does not exist? Is it a Mirage? If so where is the white Tiger Show?

Jack Dangermond of ESRI had set up entire networks of software makers who developed data for their awesome software products for GPS and GIS needs. Used by government, military, utility companies, transportation companies, private companies with GPS units to sell to the public, First Responders and school districts for buses. After the Dot Com crash those software companies were among some of the survivors, but had significantly cut costs. Thus without the proper data the GPS systems bought by the upper, upper-middle and middle class for their cars were not always good enough to support the price point for the newest technology. This is especially upsetting since the upper, upper-middle and middle class citizens who pay the most taxes live in the suburbs for the most part. The chances of a middle class American; who bought a home during the 3 years last housing boom; not being able to find their house or street on their new GPS devise is a higher probability then them actually finding it. We interviewed one man who bought a new Nissan Sports car.

Who lives in a newer developed area in the higher end Las Vegas, Clark County Suburbs, which only had the main streets on his GPS and had huge blank spots on his device? Some GPS devices allow the user to choose a satellite vendor and data vendor and software, but many of the Factory units do not. People think they are getting something really good and then find they cannot use it to navigate, which would really piss you off considering you may have paid as much as $6,000 for the unit. Even more dangerous is the information we learned from an EMT ambulance driver in Dallas area who told us of looking for streets for 15-20 minutes after battling through suburban gridlock to get to where they thought it might be. 3G cell phone technology may assist for those using cell phones to call in data to the dispatches. For all the training we are doing across this nation for first responders and on-going education of police, fire, Hazmat, etc. it appears that we have forgotten the problems of the system. Any time you build a system to serve humankind you must make it simple and make it work, that should be the first, the very first priority, then you can fix all the other issues.

With that said we interviewed a lady recently one evening who had a hell of a long day working for the Metro Police Departments Central Nervous System. The communications center and dispatch is to what we are referring. Although she was unaware of the problem at the center for bad data or missing data in the system, she could not say how they were able to get the information. Luckily serving a metro area they are probably connected to the planning departments computer, which they should be. And if the police department has the new data and no problem in this case, why have the software vendors not been able to access the data? It is a safety issue if someone with a GPS system pulls out a map and tries to read it while driving in an area they are not familiar with. It is guaranteed that in the history of the automobile in this country more people have been in serious traffic accidents from trying to read maps, than talking on cell phones, although cell phones no doubt a contributing factor in many lesser accidents will eventually pass this figure. Where the streets are, well frankly I cannot understand the need to keep this a secret unless it is the layout of Area 51, Prison, Power plant, Pentagon grounds, Military Bases, etc. If the emergency first responders divisions and contractors would share the data, there might be less accidents and they maybe able to get some assistance from the public being the eyes and ears

http://www.lancewinslow.org/nmwp.shtml

and also perhaps they could in fact use the idea of Smart Virtual Mobile Communities or FlashMob scenarios since budgets are strapped as the National Security “Red-Orange-Yellow-High-Risk-Danger-Days” come with high frequency, more police and first responders are on duty and that costs money. Without significant inflows the coverage of the Grid of a city is in jeopardy of slower response times. Fast response times are the easiest way to keep the peace, everyone, which gets away can cause problems another day and of course in case of International Terrorist Attacks.

It is essential to have the data for these devises and everyone is better served when communication flows. GPS units provide that and the data should be readily available and probably it is best to have the cities using the same formats as first responders and the same data can be used for utilities, consumers, military and even census data or academia studying urban sprawl and growth rates to have infrastructures ready during expansion. Things like water and energy, which has obviously been a major focus here.

There needs to be a nationwide coordinated effort to see that such data is filtered into the private sector, because as it stand the companies have been hammered in the industry and cannot perform the services to bring this stuff to market. Communication is important for government and citizen a like, increased efficiencies in business will save the government money and provide additional tax base and funds on the income of such businesses utilizing such data, as well as save money and time for all the government services discussed above. If we want a screaming economy we ought to be thinking how we can streamline and accelerate the flow of information to increase efficiencies and allow a small portion of the gain from the expanded pie to continue the growth. In other words, we make it easier for the Florist to deliver, the school buses to pick up more kids per hour and the soccer mom to take more kids to practice and still have time left to shop all of which serves man. The digital GIS divide is as important for our economy as the Digital Internet Divide. Kids in sports do less drugs, become more competitive, have higher work ethics and soccer moms can help keep the retail economy going. Every time you ease the flow, more things are possible. The exponential increase in American productivity is needed to offset the time lost in traffic and congestion. GIS-GPS systems can help in any emergency or simply driving around town getting things done to check off one’s list for the day.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

GPS Navigation is the most in thing these days and almost every kind of smart devices are incorporating this software in their newly manufactured models and product line. One of those devices is Smartphones. Smartphones, PDAs and Palmtops are increasingly using the GPS Navigation system in their new range of products. And one such model is the HTC P3300 which has the Tom Tom Navigator 6 application. It comes loaded with the standalone features of GPS Navigation system. The HTC P3300 is one of the first Smartphones that has inbuilt personal mobile navigator.

What is GPS Navigation?

GPS or Global Positioning System that helps you detect the location, speed and direction of any object or vehicle or device that is connected through this system. It is excellent system to track whatever you wish to in order to find out the whereabouts of any thing. Other than tracking it is used to find places in the map and how to reach there or accurate information on the distance, direction etc.

GPS Navigation System in Smartphones

When GPS Navigation has taken the world by storm and every body seems to benefit from this software so much, how can smart devices like Smartphones stay behind? Smartphones are all about making smart people smarter by empowering them with all kinds of software, applications and features of their utility on the go. Now no matter where you go, you can always find your way out with the help of GPS navigation system incorporated Smartphones, PDAs and Palmtops.

Worried of getting lost in unknown places? Forgotten where you parked your car in the multi layer parking lot? Do you need to go to a new place and find out some address? Well worry no more as with GPS Navigation system you can track your route, spot your car and also explore new and unknown places without getting lost.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

The range of options and variety of brands and models can make choosing a GPS system a little confusing. Price is an obvious consideration but so are the built in features and available options, how and where you intend to use your GPS and what kind of directional assistance would be most helpful for your particular needs. When deciding which GPS product is right for you, considering the answers to some of the following questions will help you navigate through the maze of available products and find the right one for your needs.

- Are you looking for basic GPS navigation for you car to help get you around town or something with a few more features that would be helpful on trips?

- Are you looking for a GPS system with more versatility? Perhaps a unit that could be used in a car and/or outdoors hiking, biking or sightseeing?

- Are you looking for a feature packed system that provides spoken navigation and a variety of additional information, traffic and weather, compatibility with Bluetooth devices XM radio and more?

- Are you looking for activity specific GPS capabilities for use during hunting, fishing/marine use, or fitness training?

The following information is offered as a guide to assist you in determining which product is right for you. It is not a review of any specific brand or model. The brands mentioned are only used as examples of the kind of GPS being discussed. Keep in mind as you consider your needs that many GPS systems designed for use in a car can easily be carried in a pocket, purse or pack and used to navigate on foot. And likewise, many handheld products can be mounted in a car, boat, ATV or on a bicycle and when installed with street map software, can be used to navigate on streets and highways.

GPS products with basic capabilities will be able, literally, to get you from point A to point B by utilizing one or more saved “Way points”. These type devices do not offer mapping capability. You can think of way points as pebbles left behind you as you make your way. To return, you move back along your route, collecting the pebbles you left to mark the way. Basic models function in much this way, dropping the “pebbles” for you and pointing the way back to them to lead you home. Examples for use of this type GPS might be saving the location of your parked car at a crowded shopping mall or sports facility when you arrive so you could easily find your way back when you are ready to leave. Or instead of a parked car you might save the location of your campsite and points of interest along a hike and then easily navigate back at the end of the day. Examples of these types of handheld GPS units would include:

- Bushnell’s Backtracker Personal Location Finder

- Garmin eTrex H

- Garmin Foretrex 101 and 201

- Geko 201

- Garmin GPS 60, 72, and 76

Basic automobile GPS navigation requires a bit more sophistication than seen in the previously mentioned handhelds. These products offer pre-loaded maps, color screens, and greater memory capacity and are the types of products you would want to consider for use in a vehicle or for back country hiking, hunting or fishing. Beginning level examples of these products would be:

- Garmin Nuvi 200, 205, 205W

- Magellan Roadmate 1200, 1400,

- Magellan Maestro 3200 series

Moving up a notch consider products like the following handheld units for outdoor activities :

- Garmin eTrex Legend, Venture HC, Vista,

- Garmin GPSMAP 60

- Magellan Triton 200

Moving up to the mid-level you may want to consider products like these for your car:

- Garmin Nuvi 250, 255, 260, 265, 270 series

- Magellan 1412

- Navigon 2000S

And for outdoor handhelds:

- Garmin eTrex Summit HC, Vista HCx, GPSMAP 76S

- Bushnell ONIX200

- Magellan Triton 300

- DeLorme PN-20

Moving up to more advanced products does not mean struggling with products that are difficult to use. Features such as touch screens and spoken turn by turn directions make these automobile GPS products very easy to use. Advanced products provide a greater number of features and a higher level of functionality and versatility. Options such as XM radio, Traffic updates, or other services are included or can be added with some of the more advanced models. Some of these options require the purchase of monthly subscriptions. Examples of these products for your vehicle would be:

- Garmin Nuvi 265WT, 275T, 500, 550, 750, 755T, 760, 765T, 775T, 780, 785T, 855

885T, 5000

- Garmin Zumo 550

- Garmin Streetpilot 7200

- Magellan Maestro series

- Navigon 2200T, 2100MAX, 7200T, 8100T

Advanced handheld GPS models generally offer more internal memory or the ability to add mapping and other content using data storage cards. Mapping data can be downloaded to the card and the card plugged into the device. In this way one device can be used to navigate city streets, inland lakes or coastal areas, or trails in a national park depending on the mapping software installed. These types of handhelds include:

- Garmin Oregon and Colorado series

- Garmin GPSMAP 60Cx, 60CSx, 76Cx, 76 CSx

- Magellan Triton 1500, 2000

- Bushnell ONIX350, ONIX400

- DeLorme PN-40

There is a group of advanced products which should be mentioned separately because they not only offer excellent automobile navigation features but can be used for marine GPS navigation on the water or on a trail as well. These GPS models are referred to as crossover or hybrid GPS units and include the following examples:

- Garmin Nuvi 500, 550

- Garmin GPSMAP 276C, 478C, 620, 640

- Lowrance XOG

Another group of handheld GPS is designed with a specific use or feature in mind. Some specialized handheld models provide basic GPS navigation but are also coupled with enhanced specialized functionality. Others do not offer GPS navigation but use GPS technology to gather data used in activities such as fitness or sports training. Examples include:

- Garmin Astro – Handheld GPS that can also be used to track hunting dogs.

- Garmin Rino – Handheld GPS with 2-way radio capability.

- Timex Ironman – GPS worn on the wrist. Tracks such things as time and distance for running, biking, and swimming fitness training.

- Garmin Edge, Forerunner, and Foretrex – Edge is a Personal Training/Biking calculator using GPS for fitness training. Forerunner and Foretrex are other examples of wrist mounted GPS, Forerunner for fitness training and Foretrex offering basic way point GPS navigation.

This has not been an all encompassing discussion of GPS products but I hope this information will help you understand the differences between some of the more popular models when choosing which is the right GPS for you.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

The world of GPS navigation can be confusing at first but we hope we can guide you through the maze. Here are a few basics to get you started:

What is a Sat Nav?

Sat nav is short for satellite navigation. It is a system you can use to give you directions when you are on the move. It is a machine that talks to you as you go along and tells you exactly where and when to take a turning, ensuring (hopefully) that you never get lost again.

Global Positioning Satellite (GPS)

Sat navs are often called GPS systems because they use the Global Positioning Satellites which orbit the earth. The sat nav sees the position of the orbiting satellites and locates its position on the surface of the earth. Calculating longitude, latitude and altitude, the position is laid over a digital road map which accurately reveals your driving position to within a few metres.

The built-in software can also work out the easiest route between any two points on the map and can combine average road speeds and other data, if necessary, to advise you on arrival times and road conditions on route.

FM Transmitter

Built into some sat nav units, the FM Transmitter converts the sat nav instructions and other content such as MP3 music into a radio signal, so that music and sound are played through the car speakers, via your car radio.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is the name of the technology, used with mobile phones, that enables hands-free calling.

Some sat nav units are also enabled for Bluetooth and can be paired with a mobile phone. If you have one of these units you can use the sat nav speaker to make and receive hands-free calls while on the move – helping to keep you safe and legal.

Internal Battery

Keeps your unit powered up when you turn off the ignition.

Internal Hard Drive

Stores all the map data you use from each journey, as well as points of interest and addresses.

MP3 Player

Built into some units, this enables you to play MP3 files through your sat nav unit.

Screens

Most Sat navs have touch screens, giving you a quick and easy way to navigate – simply touch the screen to enter a destination, view your route, and change settings, for example to zoom in.

The size of the screen depends on the type of sat nav you choose:

If you decide on a portable unit then you have a choice of two sizes: usually 3.5 ” or 4.3″ diagonally.

If you decide to have a unit built in to your dash board then you could have a larger built-in screen or a motorised one that flips out when activated.

Single or Double DIN

In-dash Screens, where the screen is built into the front panel of the sat nav unit, are called either single or double DIN, where the DIN is the size of the audio slot into which the unit is fitted.

Single DIN (single stereo slot size is approximately 52×179mm).

Double DIN (double stereo slot size is approximately 104×179 mm).

Motorised pop-out screens are often used in single DIN units. Screens usually measure on average 7″ and often have touch screen facility. They are hidden within the main body of the unit, but flip-out when activated.

Which Sat Nav To Choose?

There are three main types of sat nav to choose from: Portable, in-dash or smartphone and we can help you find the right one for your lifestyle.

Portable Sat Nav

This device is ready for use straight from the box and is transferable to another vehicle and you can swap it from vehicle to vehicle. You fit it to your windscreen or dash board with a mounting bracket. Portable sat navs mainly come in two screen sizes: usually 3.5″ or 4.3″ measured diagonally.

You power the sat nav through your vehicle’s cigarette lighter, although with some models you can buy a charging unit to use at home. You key in your destination using full postcode, part of an address or a point of interest and it speaks to you with turn-by-turn directions as you drive.

Motorcycle users can buy a specially designed sat nav which is waterproof and more durable.

In-Dash Sat Nav

This device is hard-wired into the car and incorporates either a motorised pop-out or built-in screen. An in-dash sat nav has a GPS receiver, normally placed on the dash board in order for the unit to pick up the satellite’s signal. It also gives you the functionality of a normal car CD player, and you may choose additional functions like MP3 connectivity.

Smartphone Sat Nav

This is sat nav software that you load on to your compatible GPS-enabled smartphone in order to use the handset as a sat nav. You can then hold the sat nav in your hand or fix it into the car with a suitable holder. You’re ready then to navigate on foot or in the car and it comes complete with street level mapping. You can synchronise with your phone’s address book, calculate the fastest or shortest route, get turn-by-turn directions and even text ahead to say you’re on your way.

Mapping

When you buy a sat nav the mapping information is built into the software in the unit.

Mapping Levels

There are different levels of mapping that you can buy:

Street Level Mapping – gives you access to roads in your chosen Country, including motorways, major roads and minor roads. European Street Level Mapping – gives you access to roads in the European countries specified, including motorways, major roads, minor roads and city centres.

European Major Roads Mapping – gives you access to motorways and major roads only in the European countries specified. Minor roads and city centres cannot be accessed.

Mapping Updates

Your sat nav will have mapping data supplied with it and this will not run out or expire. However, around 15% of the road network changes annually so, although you can keep on using your maps for as long as you want, there is definitely a benefit in updating them periodically.

The two main suppliers of mapping software in Europe, Teleatlas and Navteq, both update their data quarterly. Update services are also available in the USA and full details will be provided with your product.

Route Planning

A sat nav is quick, easy and fun to use and is designed to get you going with a few clicks. You key in your destination, using the touch screen, wait a few seconds for the mapping software to create your route and off you go.

Pre-Planning

Or, you can use your sat nav to search and plan your route beforehand. If the sat nav is portable you could do this in the comfort of your home. The fastest and most accurate way of locating your destination is to key in a post code or part of an address.

Points of Interest

You can also key in or select a Point of Interest (POI). POIs alert you to local services such as gas stations, hotels, restaurants, cash-points, cinemas etc. during your journey. You can set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs. In the event of an accident or breakdown, on some units, provided you have a compatible mobile phone connected via hands-free/Bluetooth, you can locate the nearest hospital, garage, police station or phone for an emergency service.

You can also plan your route based on a combination of features. For example the desired arrival time, points of interest database, and fastest, shortest or avoidance route planning. You can make it as easy or complicated as you wish. You can have fun on your vacation by searching for the nearest theme park, National Trust home or zoo for example. If you know the name of the tourist attraction just type it in the name.

Safety On The Move

Sat navs have a number of features to help you to get to your destination safely:

Live Traffic Information

You can set some sat nav units to receive and display live traffic updates to help avoid congestion, jams and accidents – some units provide this for free, and others require a subscription service.

Dynamic Routing

This offers you an alternative route when an incident or hazard has been identified. A useful time saver.

Speed Camera Locations

Ask for a sat nav where the camera data has been pre-loaded with the location of known fixed speed detectors sites. As you drive along you will be warned when a camera is imminent.

Potential Hazards

Some sat navs can warn you of accident black spots, schools and other potential hazards and it can alert you if you have exceeded the road’s speed limit.

Emergency Assistance

In the event of an accident, on some devices, you can access safety and emergency service numbers, directions to the nearest hospital and car repair services and more.

Track Your Own Car

Some sat navs can keep track of your own car when you park so that you never lose it again. This is perfect for unfamiliar spots and crowded places. The sat nav automatically marks your position when you remove it from the windscreen mount, so you can navigate with the sat nav on foot and then find your way back to your vehicle.

Handsfree Calls

With some devices you can now make hands-free calls from your Bluetooth mobile phone via the speaker of the unit – helping to keep you safe and legal.

Synchronise With Your Phone

If you have a smartphone you can now transform it into a fully featured sat nav, making navigation even more portable. Simply load the navigation software and mapping data into your GPS-enabled smartphone and you’re ready to navigate on foot or in the car.

You can synchronise with your phone’s address book, calculate the fastest or shortest route, get turn-by-turn directions and then send a text to let people know that you’re on your way. You can access additional content such as traffic updates, hotel rates, weather and more. The easy to use sat nav software will automatically install and connect to your phone; all you need to do is get on with your journey.

On our world-wide site (linked below) you will the widest range of products and some very good prices too, you can often get a demonstration in your local store but usually buying online gives you the best price and the best choice.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

GPS is basically a global positioning system used to locate a GPS receiver, which will receive in three-dimensional space anywhere you might be on earth. GPS is controlled by 21 active orbiting satellites at almost 12000 miles above the Earth. The GPS navigation system is designed to have multiple tracking satellites at any given point on Earth. Ground control stations and spare satellites complete the full global tracking system.

GPS navigation is probably one of the most astounding inventions to help mankind in so many different applications. An example of GPS you might not have thought of is parcel-tracking delivery by truck, ocean liner guidance systems; airlines right down to hikers to golf cart GPS. The reason GPS navigation is so widely used is because of the very rapid and high degree of accuracy, which can be used in all weather conditions and any time you need it no matter where you are on earth. With the use of transmitted radio signals from satellites your GPS receiver has the ability to find your position within 50 feet (15 m).

GPS software is used to take the information and evaluate the position of the GPS receiver. There is a very basic principle that is used from the gps receivers that is it reads signals from multiple satellites and places at least three positions on the ground taking a barring and draw a line through three points then you’ll know exactly where you are globally positioned. There are a few limitations that may hinder your calculations. First the GPS navigation receiver should have a clear view to the sky in order to receive data. Radio microwave signals travel in straight lines just the same way light waves do. You will find anything solid will block your signal such as a canyon wall or even trees. Any weather conditions like snow or rain will not interfere with a satellite signal.

How does a GPS unit work?

The GPS navigation unit is all based on precise time measurement. All satellites that are used for GPS positioning and tracking have several atomic clocks on board their systems. It all starts with the satellite transmitting exact time radio signals that your GPS receiver will pick up on. The satellite radio signal delivers precise time to information, giving the GPS receiver exact timing when the satellite sent the signal. The GPS navigation unit onboard database computer uses this measurement of time in transit; at the same time the satellite will send a transmission navigation signal and will tell the GPS software their exact position. With this information in your GPS receiver it will calculate the distance from the satellite and give you your GPS navigation system location on a spherical surface, which is known as (map datums). A GPS device then links to more satellites and will complete the same procedure where the three points meet and show where the GPS navigation unit is positioned. By acquiring a signal from a fourth satellite will just refine your global position.

What to look for and a GPS unit

Signal loss:. Canyons and caves at any tall buildings will hinder your readings. You will be able to minimize this if you use a system that continuously monitors multiple satellites at a time

GPS software: check the GPS software and what if any restrictions it may have. Is it good for mapping, is it economical, will the program lasts for more than a couple years.

GPS power supply: how long will the battery last, GPS units draw a lot of power if left on continuously. Check to see if it has an AC adapter input.

GPS/maps/directions: look at the mapping capability and how it is displayed on your GPS unit. Can you upload old mapping from your PC. Will it work if you travel outside your country? Will this mapping system last several years as markets change rapidly.

GPS and durability: check to see and how water resistant the unit is. Also look at the shockproof design to see how rugged it is. Temperature limits have a big impact on GPS units as they don’t work well under extreme temperatures.

GPS navigation can be used in several different areas

There are several different uses that you could use a GPS unit. On the road in a car, hiking the wilderness out in the water or even in the air. All of these areas can be sub categorized to more specific uses depending on your specific GPS needs. Looking for a vehicle tracking GPS realize that these units need to have some reasonable accuracy and be reliable. They must contain road maps detailing areas that you want.

Remember the satellite is only used for transmitting and timing of global positioning informational data and don’t send actual area maps data, that is up to your GPS navigation unit to calculate. There are portable GPS devices that you can quickly install in the vehicle for the same use. You can always acquire a handheld GPS unit and be portable and on the move anywhere you need to be. One more is the Marine GPS, which uses very specific GPS mapping software programs because it needs to use information differently it also should be water resistant to protect itself.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Are you searching for ways to enhance your portable navigator but don’t want to shell out any money in doing so? You’ll be happy to learn that there are tons of options available in GPS navigation software, and a lot of it is free! In this article, we will look as some of these options so that you can upgrade your Garmin, Magellan, TomTom or other great portable or handheld unit without having to spend a dime.

Why Upgrade?

You may be wondering why it might be necessary to find GPS navigation software to help upgrade your device. This is a good question to ask. For many, the reason they want to find additional software is because they bought a device that was a little bit cheaper in price but may have been missing a few maps or other features they wanted. Instead of spending $50 or more for one extra function, they decided to find the software to upgrade on the Internet.

Likewise, some people may have purchased a new device unsure of exactly what they needed until they began using it. After realizing that they want to have a few more features they didn’t want to take it back to the retailer – especially if they bought it online. So instead, they will opt to find software with that they can simply download onto their unit. This way, they can get the features they want, and may be able to do it for free.

Available GPS Navigation Software

Below is a list of some free software that you can look up and simply download to your device. This is just a partial list but it will definitely get you started on the right track.

Earthcomber – This program lets people owning navigation devices – or even Smartphones and Blackberries – specify the types of shops, ATMs, restaurants, hotels and other landmarks they would like their systems to help them navigate to the next time they need directions.

Garmap Win – GPS navigation software was created to work with a Garmin receiver. It has a number of functions once download; some of which include being able to manage waypoints, and routes while also tracking logs. You can also download your track logs to your computer from the receiver and create new waypoints and routes so that you can find your way to specific remote locations on the map, even if you’ve never visited before.

GeoTours – This program comes from the Geovative Solutions website and lets you create tours that contain images, audio and text that are associated with specific geographic locations. Once you create that tour, you can share it on their website with other users. It is to be uses with your Garmin receiver, or your Smartphone, PDA, iPod or Google Earth.

GPSDrive – You can utilize this program as a car, bike, boat, or even plane navigation system on your computer or receiver. You simply download it to your laptop/receiver then find yourself on the zoomable map. The map you find yourself on is auto-selected based on the best resolution of your position.

MapEditor – With this GPS navigation software, you can manipulate the tracks that you’ve generated via the NavSys system and then generate your own street maps for the area that you’ve been driving through.

Navit – This downloadable system comes with a routing engine and uses a modular design with vector maps of various formats to route and render the displayed map. With this program, you can even see more than one map at a time.

Navlet – This system is used for mobile devices such as Smartphones, PDAs, and cell phones and gets its position from an NMEA capable receiver, displaying it on a digital map.

NavSys – This is a combination of a media player and receiver application that you can use in any type of vehicle.

RoadNav – This system is capable of running on a variety of operation systems within your car, including Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. It works by determining the location of your vehicle from a receiver, then plotting the street maps of the area. It also offers turn-by-turn directions to any location you want to travel to within the continental United States.

Still looking for more GPS navigation software? Well don’t stop here. There are plenty of other programs for you to download to your receiver, laptop, or mobile phone free of charge. So get out there and look for the GPS navigation software you need to enhance your travels. Then get out there on the road and have the experience of a lifetime

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Due to the ever increasing demand for the GPS systems, it is no wonder why almost every individual knows about it. We all know that the GPS is space-based and it is a navigation system that consists of ground support and 24 satellites. The military people operate the GPS systems but many civilians are now utilizing it for personal use.

The two types of GPS are the passive or standard positioning service and the other one is the real time or precise positioning service. Before, the military personnel were the only ones using the real time while the passive were used by the civilians but through the efforts of Bill Clinton, the accuracy of the two types is now almost the same. However, the US Defense Department has the right to jam the passive signals when the need arises especially for security reasons.

GPS navigation software is incorporated in the GPS receivers integrated in fighter aircrafts, space shuttles, tankers, bombers, helicopters, tankers, submarines, ships, jeeps, aircrafts, emergency vehicles, cars, and other devices. Through the navigation software, one can determine his or her exact location or even the location of other individuals. There are different kinds of navigation software and you should look into the best software available in the market to make sure that you’re getting the best deal.

You see, GPS navigation software can cost a lot but if you shop around, you can find one that suits your budget and your needs. Shop online now because this is the best place to conduct your search and shopping. Good luck.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.w

The word tractor originated from the Latin word ”trahere,” meaning pull. Today, tractors are used for drawing in, towing or pulling objects that are extremely hard to move. You commonly see a tractor on farms used to push agricultural machineries or trailers that plough or harrow fields.

The first tractors from the 1800s and early 1900s, were powered by steam engines. These tractors were phased out due to the instability of the steam engine that caused explosions, or trapped the driver in a belt driven attachment. The successors were built with an internal combustion engine.

Modern tractors are built with a rollover protection system (ROPS) that protects the operator from being crushed in the event that the vehicle rolls over. It was the New Zealand legislation that first required the ROPS to be built-in to tractors in the 1960s. Before this system was required, many farmers were killed in accidents when the tractors rolled on top of them, crushing them in the process. Usually these accidents happen when tractors were driven along steep slopes.

Technology has found its way into modernizing the tractor. Nowadays, you find Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and on-board computers attached to farm tractors. With the use of advance technology, corporate-scale farms are using a combination of unmanned tractors and manually driven vehicles to plow through fields.

Aside from the standard farm tractors, there are other types of tractors. There are the backhoe tractors used for construction, small demolitions, and light transportation, powering building equipment, digging holes, breaking asphalt and paving roads. Tractors can also be fitted with engineering tools for construction purposes. Road tractors that are often used for freight transfers are also available, and locomotive tractors are used in railway vehicles. Artillery tractors used by the military to tow artillery pieces can also be seen.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Cartography is the art of actually drawing the maps. Provides tracing and drafting services for converting historical archival maps into editable CAD files. Also provide edge matched CAD files that provide continuity in service lines and property lines our services include:

- Map Conversion
- Land Base Creation
- Utility Mapping

Map Conversion:

Map conversions created from old GIS maps or scanned paper maps. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are helpful from several standpoints. At the simplest stage, they have built-in services for production with drawing maps (the cartography part). Their physically powerful point is, however, footage in a database all the information about a map, e.g. names of things and their locations, land ownership, plants, pointers to films, etc.

It is this second feature where we might increase the support of a number of associates and get backing for both parts of the effort. GIS can be consideration of as an ultra-modern corresponding of a map. The make of Geographic Information Systems make baggers into all disciplines and has been used to undertake problems ranging from prioritizing responsive class habitats to formative most favorable real estate locations for new businesses.

Cartography is about the design, production and use of Maps. Many of the static maps obtainable on the Internet have been scanned from paper maps and amassed in a GIF or JPEG system.

Land Base Creation:

Land base is created from Tiger data and other satellite images. As in the past mentioned, Windows CE comes with a mapping wrap up. Pocket AutoRoute is based on the mapping complete by the United States Bureau of the Census for 1990. The TIGER exposure, at a scale of 1:100,000, is in the U.S. community domain. This data place has been extensively developed by commercial developers. Other software developers have used the TIGER data and Global Positioning System (GPS) hardware to enable the consumer a theatrical new development in via portable mapping.

Utility Mapping:

Utility layout is mapped based on land base maps. There are certain industries that are listening carefully on mapmaking. For example, the cartographers generate all things from road maps to globes. They as well work with publishing companies to make maps for the past textbooks. Another type of company that concentrates in cartography is a utility mapping company, such as Drafting Services, provides tracing and drafting services for converting historical archival maps into editable CAD files.

Continued advances in mapping technology stand for the opportunities for careers in cartography are nearly immeasurable. “At this time in attendance are more jobs in this field than there are people to block them,”

This has been provided courtesy of Drafting Simplified – http://www.draftingsimplified.com, provides Cartography – is the study and the construction of maps, Architectural, Mechanical, Civil, CAD and Structural Drafting Services.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

For those shoppers searching high and low for the best global satellite positioning system available, there is no need to look any further than the Garmin Nuvi 265T. This device is superb in its design, lightweight, slender, sleek, attractive, and super portable. The Nuvi 265T is chock full of advantageous features, all of which serve to deliver onto the consumer an unsurpassable user experience. The manufacturers of the Nuvi 265T have gone above and beyond by incorporating entertaining features in addition to practical features in this handy, affordable device.

What It Offers:
• A 333 Mhz Processor for Super Fast Drawing of Maps
• Audible Voice Prompts and Guidance
• Chargeable Battery with long lasting properties
• Customizable Features and Icons
• Digital elevation viewing
• Easy User Interface
• Google Panaramio® Photo Navigation Potential
• Menus and Sub Menus for Super Swift Navigation of Device
• Several Maps Already Loaded on the Device
• Superior Satellite Positioning Acquisition Features via HotFix™ technologies
• Three dimensional base maps and three dimensional building properties
• Time Zone Transitioning Functions
• Traffic Content Offered from MSN
• Where Am I Features™

The Garmin Nuvi 265T gives the user access to information MSN content which provides information about traffic, current fuel prices, local weather, and local movie schedules, all at a tap on the touch screen device. This device is also fully equipped with hands free Bluetooth® technologies so the user of the device can control outbound and inbound calls while driving. A full contact manager makes for easy storage and retrieval of phone numbers and addresses, and the user can speak to callers via the super convenient, and powerful built in microphone incorporated into the super light GPS system.

Three dimensional maps enhance the overall viewing properties of the Garmin Nuvi 265T, and audible voice prompts make navigating to various locations easier than ever before. The user of the Garmin Nuvi 265T gets precise instructions about turns, street names, distances, junctions and more all in real time. While perfect for on the road use, the user of the Garmin Nuvi 265T will also love the entertainment tools supplied by this device; the user gets access to a media player, to a plethora of points of interest information, and the user can also customize the device with unique icons of his or her preference. Calculators and conversion tools are also included to increase the superior functionality of the Nuvi 265T.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

The word trace can have a lot of different meanings. It can mean to copy, as in to trace a drawing. It can mean a trail or be the name of the street. But if you use the word trace in reference to a phone number, then it’s obvious that you want to learn more about the owner of a phone number. But what exactly you’re trying to learn can still be in contention. Specifically, some people may be curious as to what the difference is between a cell phone trace and using GPS satellites to find someone’s exact position.

A cell phone trace is most commonly used as another word for a reverse cell phone lookup. This means that if you have a cell phone number that you’d like to learn more about, you can search using a reverse cell phone lookup and find the name and the address of the phone’s owner. Plus, using a reverse cell phone lookup is simple, straightforward and easy. All you have to do is type in the number and click search.

But cell phone traces don’t use GPS technology, and are in fact very different. Most cell phones in use today are equipped with a GPS, or Global Positioning System, tracking device. Some cell phone companies advertise this feature, and utilize it to provide turn by turn directions and other services. Many people may think that a cell phone trace means using this technology to surreptitiously learn someone’s exact location. But the two actually have nothing to do with each other.

So if you’d like to learn more about a phone number, use a reverse cell phone tracer. And when you do, rest assured that the service you’re using doesn’t have anything to do with GPS satellites at all. That means you can find the information you need without worrying about how that information is provided.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Before making a comparison between Route 66 GPS maps and other maps, let’s first make sure we know these terms.

ROUTE 66, Geographic Information Systems B.V. is a privately held company headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. ROUTE 66 specializes in navigation soft- and hardware products, and has distribution partners throughout Europe and U.S.

TomTom, a Netherlands-based maker of GPS and automotive navigation systems, is a digital mapping and routing company that focuses on car navigation and has now become one of world’s leading navigation solutions providers.

Destinator is a GPS navigation system, currently own by Intrinsyc, running on Windows Embedded CE and some mobile phone operating systems. It has a standard set of features, including turn-by-turn navigation with voice guidance, text-to-speech, pedestrian mode navigation, 2D and 3D views, local search of points of interest, integration with phone applications such as dialer and SMS, support of real-time traffic routing, speed cameras travel guide, and the ability to integrate with SNS and other LBS offerings.

PSMA , short for Power Sources Manufacturers Association, is a not-for-profit multinational power electronics association, incorporated in the state of California.

Sensis Corporation is a global provider of air defense, air traffic control, airline and airport operations management, and data integration and distribution. The company serves a global client base and is actively involved in industry organizations and working groups worldwide, helping to address critical issues and develop innovative, real-world solutions.

Compared with TomTom map, Route 66 map is slower in updating, and it is not as convenient to use as TomTom, e.g. Bluetooth function has to be started manually. But it is more excellent in some other aspects:

1. Detailed street information.

One user in Australia find that Route 66 maps offer much more detailed street information than that of TomTom and Destinator. In his neighborhood, he says, those small streets like Lennon Street in Parkville and Caprice Avenue in Port Melbourne can be found on Route 66 maps, but not on the other two maps. Although Route 66 has to make further efforts in offering much more detailed information in suburban areas, it is so far users’ first choice for detailed street information.

2. User-friendly address entry.

Users don’t have to enter the full name of a certain street. Instead, they just need to enter the first few letters of the street name, and Route 66 would automatically give them a list of street names to choose from. For example, if one wants to find “251 Salmon Street，Port Melbourne”, entering the main information “Sal 251 Melb” would just do.

3. Effective route planning and route management.

Route 66 proves itself to be a match for TomTom in this respect.

4. Fast route re-calculation.

Route 66 map system would get users re-calculate their route when they are no more than 10m off their original route.

5. Convenient phone numbers offered.

When one hits on a certain POI (points-of-interest), Route 66 map would show the company’s phone number. TomTom map does not have this function.

In summary

Route 66, taking advantage of the map sources from PSMA, offers the most detailed map information; TomTom offers wonderful route planning, but the map, drawing on Sensis sources, is not detailed enough; Destinator is detailed enough but is rather poor at route planning.

When choosing a GPS system, we should pay special attention to these three points: detailed map information, route planning quality and search database. Different from other qualities such as convenience to use and multiple functions, these three points are beyond users to make any improvement. Therefore, Route 66 might be an comparatively ideal navigation software.

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The word trace can have a lot of different meanings. It can mean to copy, as in to trace a drawing. It can mean a trail or be the name of the street. But if you use the word trace in reference to a phone number, then it’s obvious that you want to learn more about the owner of a phone number. But what exactly you’re trying to learn can still be in contention. Specifically, some people may be curious as to what the difference is between a cell phone trace and using GPS satellites to find someone’s exact position.

A cell phone trace is most commonly used as another word for a reverse cell phone lookup. This means that if you have a cell phone number that you’d like to learn more about, you can search using a reverse cell phone lookup and find the name and the address of the phone’s owner. Plus, using a reverse cell phone lookup is simple, straightforward and easy. All you have to do is type in the number and click search.

But cell phone traces don’t use GPS technology, and are in fact very different. Most cell phones in use today are equipped with a GPS, or Global Positioning System, tracking device. Some cell phone companies advertise this feature, and utilize it to provide turn by turn directions and other services. Many people may think that a cell phone trace means using this technology to surreptitiously learn someone’s exact location. But the two actually have nothing to do with each other.

So if you’d like to learn more about a phone number, use a reverse cell phone tracer. And when you do, rest assured that the service you’re using doesn’t have anything to do with GPS satellites at all. That means you can find the information you need without worrying about how that information is provided.

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Garmin has improved upon their original 200 series of GPS navigation devices by introducing the Garmin Nuvi 2 x 5 models by adding top of line features to their entry level device. Every new model is loaded with maps of the continental United States, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

Not only did they add these top of the line features but they also made some major improvements with this Garmin Nuvi 205 portable GPS navigator. Let’s get started and start listing all the great improvements.

Improved Interface

This one improvement has many customers jumping for joy. For starters, the new interface displays distance to and direction of your next turn, name of the road you need to turn onto, the estimated time of arrival, your current speed and speed limits. To top it all off, you simply enter in a destination and the Garmin Nuvi 205 portable GPS navigator will take you there with turn by turn voice directions. Now you can pay attention to the road.

Satellite Ephemeris Data Prediction

This hotfix allows the Garmin GPS navigator to remember the position of all satellites it is tracking when the device is turned off. It also calculates their movements so it can predict where they should be the next time you use your Garmin GPS navigator device. This enables the device to locate the satellites much quicker, which allows you to start navigating much faster.

Navigate by Photo

You can use pictures as your navigation guide by downloading pictures to your Garmin Nuvi 205 from Garmin connect photos. This service is provided by Google’s panoramio photo sharing community.

3D Terrain Maps

These maps are shaded and show you when to expect hills, mountains and other natural features. These maps are also viewable using the 2D birds eye view.

Faster 333 Mhz Processor

This faster processor allows for smoother map drawing and vehicle icon motion through turns. This new feature makes for a more enjoyable navigation experience.

Send Addresses Directly To Your GPS device from Google Maps or Mapquest

Hook up your Garmin GPS device to your USB port on your computer. Then search for locations and transfer the addresses directly to your Nuvi 205. This new feature requires a small plug in which you can get at Garmin’s website.

Other new features are an automatic time zone transition and the ability to add dynamic MSN traffic and content with an optional receiver.

As you can see Garmin has made their GPS portable navigation devices even better. These improvements make it very easy for the user to get to their destination in a safe and timely manor. Garmin is one of the leaders in producing top quality GPS products.

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A Growing Force
China, known as the world’s manufacturer, is playing a more and more significant role in producing high tech electronic products as well. In the past, when “made-in-china” was mentioned, some connotative meanings of it were “cheap, low quality, mass production, non high-tech related” etc. Things have taken a sharp turn after Chinese government put forward its strategic national policy of “forcefully developing high tech industries.” Nowadays, Chinese products, which are shipped to all over the world, are not confined to “slippers, clothes, decorations” any more. Among one of the newly-emerged high-tech related products, car GPS from China stands out.

Chinese Auto GPS Industry
Chinese car GPS industry carries one China’s traditional advantage of “low labor cost” and “low raw material cost”. Over the years, electronic industry groups have taken shape in such metropolis as Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Shanghai, which possess convenient transportation. At the same time, Chinese car GPS industries, drawing on rapidly-growing high technology, has the tendency to create its own core technology and form its own brand. Thus, on-the-market China auto GPS can not only guarantee low price but also good quality and up-to-date technology. Some may have been attracted to buy China car GPS solely because of its low price. But when they get their goods, they may be overjoyed with their really “good buy” and their smart choice ever made.

A Smart Choice-China Car GPS
An overwhelming percentage of China auto GPS deals are done online. Greater amount of deals are still to be expected. Under this circumstance, Chinese car GPS online sellers are doing their best to offer those advantageous products to North America, South America, Africa, Western Europe, Middle East,etc. They pay attention to every detail, from their products of guaranteed price and quality, superb after-sales service, first-class technical support to their friendly website interface and humane packaging, shipment and payment methods. Foxsense.com is just one such uprising great company in Shenzhen, focusing itself to become one best China Auto GPS online seller. Anyhow, you should always follow your own sense, and make your own smart choice.

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Handheld GPS devices are becoming more and more popular for walking and hiking enthusiasts everywhere. With so many models available on the market today offering so many various features, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and confused about what you need, and what some of the features even mean.

Two basic questions that many people about using handheld GPS devices are “what are waypoints?” and “what is the distinction between routes and tracks?”. Here is a simple explanation that should give you a good understanding of these terms.

Waypoints are precise geographic locations defined by longitude and latitude. Waypoints can be recorded by your GPS unit by pressing the waypoint record button. Inexpensive portable GPS models have limited capacity and will keep relatively few waypoints; top models can store hundreds of waypoints, and you can even give them names and manage them within your GPS.

A route is a set of waypoints connected by straight-line that guides you where you want to go. You “tell” your GPS unit that you want to navigate from one waypoint to the next, and your GPS shows you the route by drawing a straight line between waypoints. This means your GPS will not tell you there is a bend ahead in trail; it will just guide you in a straight line to your next trail junction or campsite. (Keep in mind, that for automobile navigation, the term “route” has a slightly different meaning.)

A track is a record, created by your GPS, of where you have been. As you go on your hiking expedition, your GPS device records track points and displays what many people describe as a “breadcrumb trail”. The track represents the road, trail, path, etc. that you followed. Curves are formed with short line segments, so the shape of the trail you have taken is more accurate than the straight-line segments representing a route. Tracks lets you easily go back to your starting point.

Some portable GPS models also let you download your track to your computer to create a record of your trip and print it if you wish. As in the case of waypoints, low-end GPS models offer limited track point storage, while high-end models can store thousands of track points.

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Man-made EMI (electromagnetic interference) can also disrupt, or jam, GPS signals. In one well documented case, the entire harbor of Moss Landing, California was unable to receive GPS signals due to unintentional jamming caused by malfunctioning TV antenna preamplifiers.[71][72] Intentional jamming is also possible. Generally, stronger signals can interfere with GPS receivers when they are within radio range, or line of sight. In 2002, a detailed description of how to build a short range GPS L1 C/A jammer was published in the online magazine Phrack.[73]

The U.S. government believes that such jammers were used occasionally during the 2001 war in Afghanistan and the U.S. military claimed to destroy six GPS jammers during the Iraq War, including one that was destroyed ironically with a GPS-guided bomb.[74] Such a jammer is relatively easy to detect and locate, making it an attractive target for anti-radiation missiles. The UK Ministry of Defence tested a jamming system in the UK’s West Country on 7 and 8 June 2007.[75]

Some countries allow the use of GPS repeaters to allow for the reception of GPS signals indoors and in obscured locations, however, under EU and UK laws, the use of these is prohibited as the signals can cause interference to other GPS receivers that may receive data from both GPS satellites and the repeater.

Due to the potential for both natural and man-made noise, numerous techniques continue to be developed to deal with the interference. The first is to not rely on GPS as a sole source. According to John Ruley, “IFR pilots should have a fallback plan in case of a GPS malfunction”.[76] Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM) is a feature now included in some receivers, which is designed to provide a warning to the user if jamming or another problem is detected. The U.S. military has also deployed their Selective Availability / Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) in the Defense Advanced GPS Receiver (DAGR). In demonstration videos, the DAGR is able to detect jamming and maintain its lock on the encrypted GPS signals during interference which causes civilian receivers to lose lock.

Faraday cage :

A Faraday cage or Faraday shield is an enclosure formed by conducting material, or by a mesh of such material. Such an enclosure blocks out external static electrical fields. Faraday cages are named after the English scientist Michael Faraday, who invented them in 1836.[1]

A Faraday cage’s operation depends on the fact that an external static electrical field will cause the electrical charges within the cage’s conducting material to redistribute themselves so as to cancel the field’s effects in the cage’s interior. This phenomenon is used, for example, to protect electronic equipment from lightning strikes and other electrostatic discharges.

To a large degree, Faraday cages also shield the interior from external electromagnetic radiation if the conductor is thick enough and any holes are significantly smaller than the radiation’s wavelength. For example, certain computer forensic test procedures of electronic components or systems that require an environment devoid of electromagnetic interference may be conducted within a screen room. These screen rooms are essentially work areas that are completely enclosed by one or more layers of fine metal mesh or perforated sheet metal. The metal layers are grounded to dissipate any electric currents generated from the external electromagnetic fields, and thus block a large amount of the electromagnetic interference. See also electromagnetic shielding.

Note that the reception of external radio signals, a form of electromagnetic radiation, through an antenna within a cage can be severely reduced or even totally blocked by the cage itself.

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Space weather degrades GPS operation in two ways, direct interference by solar radio burst noise in the same frequency band [65] or by scattering of the GPS radio signal in ionospheric irregularities referred to as scintillation [66]. Both forms of degradation follow the 11 year solar cycle and are a maximum at sunspot maximum although they can occur at anytime. Solar radio bursts are associated with solar flares and their impact can affect reception over the half of the Earth facing the sun. Scintillation occurs most frequently at tropical latitudes where it is a night time phenomenon. It occurs less frequently at high latitudes or mid-latitudes where magnetic storms can lead to scintillation [67]. In addition to producing scintillation, magnetic storms can produce strong ionospheric gradients that degrade the accuracy of SBAS systems.

Space weather :

Space weather is the concept of changing environmental conditions in near-Earth space. It is distinct from the concept of weather within a planetary atmosphere, and deals with phenomena involving ambient plasma, magnetic fields, radiation and other matter in space. “Space weather” often implicitly means the conditions in near-Earth space within the magnetosphere, but it is also studied in interplanetary (and occasionally interstellar) space.[1]

Within our own solar system, space weather is greatly influenced by the speed and density of the solar wind and the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) carried by the solar wind plasma. A variety of physical phenomena are associated with space weather, including geomagnetic storms and substorms, energization of the Van Allen radiation belts, ionospheric disturbances and scintillation, aurora and geomagnetically induced currents at Earth’s surface. Coronal Mass Ejections and their associated shock waves are also important drivers of space weather as they can compress the magnetosphere and trigger geomagnetic storms. Solar Energetic Particles, accelerated by coronal mass ejections or solar flares, are also an important driver of space weather as they can damage electronics onboard spacecraft through induced electric currents,[citation needed] and threaten the life of astronauts.

Space weather exerts a profound influence in several areas related to space exploration and development. Changing geomagnetic conditions can induce changes in atmospheric density causing the rapid degradation of spacecraft altitude in Low Earth orbit. Geomagnetic storms due to increased solar activity can potentially blind sensors aboard spacecraft, or interfere with on-board electronics. An understanding of space environmental conditions is also important in designing shielding and life support systems for manned spacecraft. There is also some concern that geomagnetic storms may also expose conventional aircraft flying at high latitudes to increased amounts of radiation.

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ECEF :

ECEF stands for Earth-Centered, Earth-Fixed, and is a Cartesian coordinate system, and is sometimes known as a “conventional terrestrial” system[1]. It represents positions as an X, Y, and Z coordinate. The point (0,0,0) denotes the mass center of the earth, hence the name Earth-Centered. The z-axis is defined as being parallel to the earth rotational axes, pointing towards north. The x-axis intersects the sphere of the earth at the 0° latitude, 0° longitude. This means the ECEF rotates with the earth around its z-axis. Therefore, coordinates of a point fixed on the surface of the earth do not change, hence the name earth-fixed. Conversion from a WGS84 Datum to ECEF can be used as an intermediate step in converting velocities to the North East Down coordinate system.

Simultaneity :

Simultaneity is the property of two events happening at the same time in at least one reference frame.

The noun Simult means a supernatural coincidence, two or more divinely inspired events that occur at or near the same period of time that are related to each other in both noticeable and unnoticeable characteristics [Latin simul, at the same time; see sem-1 in Indo-European Roots + English -taneous(as in instantaneous).]

* In econometrics, it arises when one or more of the explanatory variables is jointly determined with the dependent variable, typically through an equilibrium mechanism.
* In criminal law, for a criminal violation to be established, it must be shown that there was simultaneity of actus reus and mens rea.
* In mathematics, a system of equations or a set of simultaneous equations share variables; a solution is a set of variable values for which all these equations are satisfied together.
* In music, see: simultaneity (music).
* In modern physics, see: Simultaneous hyperplane or Relativity of simultaneity.
* In marketing, simultaneity is one of the characteristics of a service which differentiates it from a product. It refers to the idea that the production and consumption of a service occur simultaneously, making it impossible to produce and store a service prior to consumption.

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For the GPS satellites, general relativity predicts that the atomic clocks at GPS orbital altitudes will tick more rapidly, by about 45.9 microseconds (μs) per day, because they have a higher gravitational potential than atomic clocks on Earth’s surface.

When combined, the discrepancy is about 38 microseconds per day; a difference of 4.465 parts in 1010.[61] To account for this discrepancy, the frequency standard on board each satellite is given a rate offset prior to launch, making it run slightly slower than the desired frequency on Earth; specifically, at 10.22999999543 MHz instead of 10.23 MHz.[62] Since the atomic clocks on board the GPS satellites are precisely tuned, it makes the system a practical engineering application of the scientific theory of relativity in a real-world environment. Placing atomic clocks on artificial satellites to test Einstein’s general theory was proposed by Friedwardt Winterberg in 1955.

Theory of relativity :

The theory of relativity, or simply relativity, generally refers specifically to two theories of Albert Einstein: special relativity and general relativity. However, the word “relativity” is sometimes used in reference to Galilean invariance.

The term “theory of relativity” was coined by Max Planck in 1908 to emphasize how special relativity (and later, general relativity) uses the principle of relativity.

Special relativity :

Special relativity (SR) (also known as the special theory of relativity or STR) is the physical theory of measurement in inertial frames of reference proposed in 1905 by Albert Einstein (after the considerable and independent contributions of Hendrik Lorentz, Henri Poincaré and others) in the paper “On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies”.[1] It generalizes Galileo’s principle of relativity–that all uniform motion is relative, and that there is no absolute and well-defined state of rest (no privileged reference frames)–from mechanics to all the laws of physics, including both the laws of mechanics and of electrodynamics, whatever they may be.[2] Special relativity incorporates the principle that the speed of light is the same for all inertial observers regardless of the state of motion of the source.[3]

This theory has a wide range of consequences which have been experimentally verified,[4] including counter-intuitive ones such as length contraction, time dilation and relativity of simultaneity, contradicting the classical notion that the duration of the time interval between two events is equal for all observers. (On the other hand, it introduces the space-time interval, which is invariant.) Combined with other laws of physics, the two postulates of special relativity predict the equivalence of matter and energy, as expressed in the mass-energy equivalence formula E = mc2, where c is the speed of light in a vacuum.[5][6] The predictions of special relativity agree well with Newtonian mechanics in their common realm of applicability, specifically in experiments in which all velocities are small compared to the speed of light.

The theory is termed “special” because it applies the principle of relativity only to frames in uniform relative motion.[7] Einstein developed general relativity to apply the principle more generally, that is, to any frame so as to handle general coordinate transformations, and that theory includes the effects of gravity. From the theory of general relativity it follows that special relativity will still apply locally (i.e., to first order) to observers moving on arbitrary trajectories[8], and hence to any relativistic situation where gravity is not a significant factor.

Special relativity reveals that c is not just the velocity of a certain phenomenon, namely the propagation of electromagnetic radiation (light)—but rather a fundamental feature of the way space and time are unified as spacetime. One of the consequences of the theory is that it is impossible for any particle that has rest mass to be accelerated to the speed of light.

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Sagnac effect :

The Sagnac effect (also called Sagnac interference), named after French physicist Georges Sagnac, is a phenomenon encountered in interferometry that is elicited by rotation. The Sagnac effect manifests itself in a setup called ring interferometry. A beam of light is split and the two beams are made to follow a trajectory in opposite directions. To act as a ring the trajectory must enclose an area. On return to the point of entry the light is allowed to exit the apparatus in such a way that an interference pattern is obtained. The position of the interference fringes is dependent on the angular velocity of the setup. This arrangement is also called a Sagnac interferometer.
Usually several mirrors are used, so that the light beams follow a triangular or square trajectory. Fiber optics can also be employed to guide the light. The ring interferometer is located on a platform that can rotate. When the platform is rotating the lines of the interference pattern are displaced as compared to the position of the interference pattern when the platform is not rotating. The amount of displacement is proportional to the angular velocity of the rotating platform. The axis of rotation does not have to be inside the enclosed area.

When the platform is rotating, the point of entry/exit moves during the transit time of the light. So one beam has covered less distance than the other beam. This creates the shift in the interference pattern. Therefore, the interference pattern obtained at each angular velocity of the platform features a different phase-shift particular to that angular velocity.

In the above discussion, the rotation mentioned is rotation with respect to an inertial reference frame. Since this experiment does not involve a relativistic velocity, the same wording is valid both in the context of classical electrodynamics and special relativity.

The Sagnac effect is the electromagnetic counterpart of the mechanics of rotation. A gimbal mounted gyroscope remains pointing in the same direction after spinning up, and thus can be used as the reference for an inertial guidance system. A Sagnac interferometer measures its own angular velocity with respect to the local inertial frame; hence just as a gyroscope it can provide the reference for an inertial guidance system.

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SA errors are actually pseudorandom, generated by a cryptographic algorithm from a classified seed key available only to authorized users (the US military, its allies and a few other users, mostly government) with a special military GPS receiver. Mere possession of the receiver is insufficient; it still needs the tightly controlled daily key.

Before it was turned off on May 1, 2000, typical SA errors were 10 meters (32 ft) horizontally and 30 meters (98 ft) vertically. Because SA affects every GPS receiver in a given area almost equally, a fixed station with an accurately known position can measure the SA error values and transmit them to the local GPS receivers so they may correct their position fixes. This is called Differential GPS or DGPS. DGPS also corrects for several other important sources of GPS errors, particularly ionospheric delay, so it continues to be widely used even though SA has been turned off. The ineffectiveness of SA in the face of widely available DGPS was a common argument for turning off SA, and this was finally done by order of President Clinton in 2000.

Another restriction on GPS, antispoofing, remains on. This encrypts the P-code so that it cannot be mimicked by an enemy transmitter sending false information. Few civilian receivers have ever used the P-code, and the accuracy attainable with the public C/A code is so much better than originally expected (especially with DGPS) that the antispoof policy has relatively little effect on most civilian users. Turning off antispoof would primarily benefit surveyors and some scientists who need extremely precise positions for experiments such as tracking the motion of a tectonic plate.

DGPS services are widely available from both commercial and government sources. The latter include WAAS and the US Coast Guard’s network of LF marine navigation beacons. The accuracy of the corrections depends on the distance between the user and the DGPS receiver. As the distance increases, the errors at the two sites will not correlate as well, resulting in less precise differential corrections.

During the 1990-91 Gulf War, the shortage of military GPS units caused many troops and their families to buy readily available civilian units. This significantly impeded the US military’s own battlefield use of GPS, so the military made the decision to turn off SA for the duration of the war.

In the 1990s, the FAA started pressuring the military to turn off SA permanently. This would save the FAA millions of dollars every year in maintenance of their own radio navigation systems. The amount of error added was “set to zero”[56] at midnight on May 1, 2000 following an announcement by U.S. President Bill Clinton, allowing users access to the error-free L1 signal. Per the directive, the induced error of SA was changed to add no error to the public signals (C/A code). Clinton’s executive order required SA to be set to zero by 2006; it happened in 2000 once the US military developed a new system that provides the ability to deny GPS (and other navigation services) to hostile forces in a specific area of crisis without affecting the rest of the world or its own military systems.[56]

Selective Availability is still a system capability of GPS, and could, in theory, be reintroduced at any time. In practice, in view of the hazards and costs this would induce for US and foreign shipping, it is unlikely to be reintroduced, and various government agencies, including the FAA,[57] have stated that it is not intended to be reintroduced.

One interesting side effect of the Selective Availability hardware is the capability to correct the frequency of the GPS cesium and rubidium atomic clocks to an accuracy of approximately 2 × 10−13 (one in five trillion). This represented a significant improvement over the raw accuracy of the clocks.[citation needed]

On 19 September 2007, the United States Department of Defense announced that future GPS III satellites will not be capable of implementing SA,[58] eventually making the policy permanent.

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The satellite’s atomic clocks experience noise and clock drift errors. The navigation message contains corrections for these errors and estimates of the accuracy of the atomic clock. However, they are based on observations and may not indicate the clock’s current state.

These problems tend to be very small, but may add up to a few meters (10s of feet) of inaccuracy.[55]

For very precise positioning – e.g. in geodesy – these effects can be eliminated by differential GPS: the simultaneous use of two or more receivers at several survey points. In the 1990s when receivers were quite expensive, some methods of quasi-differential GPS were developed, using only one receiver but reoccupation of measuring points. At the TU Vienna the method was named qGPS and adequate software of post processing was developed.

Time to first fix :

Concerning a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, Time To First Fix (TTFF) is a specification detailing the time required for a GPS receiver to acquire satellite signals and navigation data, and calculate a position solution (called a fix).

The TTFF is commonly broken down into three, more specific or “real world” scenarios. As defined in the GPS equipment guide:

* Cold or Factory: The receiver is missing, or has inaccurate estimates of, its position, velocity, the time, or the visibility of any of the GPS satellites. As such, the receiver must systematically search for all possible satellites. After acquiring a satellite signal, the receiver can begin to obtain approximate information on all the other satellites, called the almanac. This almanac is transmitted repeatedly over 12.5 minutes. Almanac data can be received from any of the GPS satellites and is considered valid for up to 180 days. Manufacturers typically claim the factory TTFF to be 15 minutes.

* Warm or Normal: The receiver has estimates of the current time within 20 seconds, the current position within 100 kilometers, its velocity within 25 m/s, and it has valid almanac data. It must acquire each satellite signal and obtain that satellite’s detailed orbital information called ephemeris data. Each satellite broadcasts its ephemeris data every 30 seconds, and is valid for up to four hours.

* Hot or Standby: The receiver has valid time, position, almanac, and ephemeris data, enabling a rapid acquisition of satellite signals. The time required of a receiver in this state to calculate a position fix may also be termed Time to Subsequent Fix (TTSF)

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Multipath effects are much less severe in moving vehicles. When the GPS antenna is moving, the false solutions using reflected signals quickly fail to converge and only the direct signals result in stable solutions.

Choke ring antenna :

A choke ring antenna is a particular form of omnidirectional antenna for use at high frequencies. It consists of a number of conductive concentric cylinders around a central antenna. Due to its delicate construction, it is often enclosed in a protective cover or radome when placed outside and exposed to the elements.

Choke ring antennas are notable for their ability to reject multipath signals from a source. Since the path that a signal takes from a transmitter to receiver can be used to measure the distance between the two, this makes it highly suited for GPS and radar applications. In a GPS ground based receiver, a choke ring antenna can provide millimeter precision measurements[2] for surveying and geological measurement applications.

The choke ring design originated at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

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Ionospheric delay of a microwave signal depends on its frequency. This phenomenon is known as dispersion and can be calculated from measurements of delays for two or more frequency bands, allowing delays at other frequencies to be estimated.[53] Some military and expensive survey-grade civilian receivers calculate atmospheric dispersion from the different delays in the L1 and L2 frequencies, and apply a more precise correction. This can be done in civilian receivers without decrypting the P(Y) signal carried on L2, by tracking the carrier wave instead of the modulated code. To facilitate this on lower cost receivers, a new civilian code signal on L2, called L2C, was added to the Block IIR-M satellites, which was first launched in 2005. It allows a direct comparison of the L1 and L2 signals using the coded signal instead of the carrier wave. (see Atmospheric Effects in “Sources of Errors in GPS”)

The effects of the ionosphere generally change slowly, and can be averaged over time. Those for any particular geographical area can be easily calculated by comparing the GPS-measured position to a known surveyed location. This correction is also valid for other receivers in the same general location. Several systems send this information over radio or other links to allow L1-only receivers to make ionospheric corrections. The ionospheric data are transmitted via satellite in Satellite Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) such as WAAS (available in North America and Hawaii), EGNOS (Europe and Asia) or MSAS (Japan), which transmits it on the GPS frequency using a special pseudo-random noise sequence (PRN), so only one receiver and antenna are required.

Humidity also causes a variable delay, resulting in errors similar to ionospheric delay, but occurring in the troposphere. This effect both is more localized and changes more quickly than ionospheric effects, and is not frequency dependent. These traits make precise measurement and compensation of humidity errors more difficult than ionospheric effects.

Changes in receiver altitude also change the amount of delay, due to the signal passing through less of the atmosphere at higher elevations. Since the GPS receiver computes its approximate altitude, this error is relatively simple to correct, either by applying a function regression or correlating margin of atmospheric error to ambient pressure using a barometric altimeter.

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To measure the delay, the receiver compares the bit sequence received from the satellite with an internally generated version. By comparing the rising and trailing edges of the bit transitions, modern electronics can measure signal offset to within about one percent of a bit pulse width, \frac {0.01} {(1.023 \times 10^6/sec)}, or approximately 10 nanoseconds for the C/A code. Since GPS signals propagate at the speed of light, this represents an error of about 3 meters.

This component of position accuracy can be improved by a factor of 10 using the higher-chiprate P(Y) signal. Assuming the same one percent of bit pulse width accuracy, the high-frequency P(Y) signal results in an accuracy of \frac {(0.01 \times 300,000,000 \ m/sec)} {(10.23 \times 10^6/sec)} or about 30 centimeters.

Speed of light :

In physics, the speed of light (usually denoted c) is a fundamental physical constant, the speed at which light and all electromagnetic radiation travel in a perfect vacuum, which is 299,792,458 metres per second (about 300,000 kilometres per second or 186,000 miles per second). This constant is significant in the understanding and study of relativity, spacetime, astronomy, space travel, and other fields.

For much of human history the nature of light, including whether it was instantaneous or simply travelled very quickly, was unknown. By the 11th century many scientists had suggested that light had a finite speed but it was not until the 17th century that Ole Rømer demonstrated this by observing small differences in the apparent orbital period of Jupiter’s moon Io. Using these observations, Christiaan Huygens estimated the speed of light to be about 220,000 km per second. Since then, scientists have devised more sophisticated techniques to improve the precision of measurement. By the mid-20th century, the speed of light was known to be approximately 299,792 kilometres per second. In 1983, the metre was redefined in the International System of Units (SI) as the distance travelled by light in vacuum in 1⁄299,792,458 of a second. As a result, c is fixed at exactly 299,792,458 metres per second.[1][2]

According to Albert Einstein’s special theory of relativity, c is an important constant connecting space and time in the unified structure of spacetime. As such, it defines the conversion between mass and energy[3] and is an upper bound on the speed at which matter and information can travel.[4][5] It is the speed of travel of all electromagnetic radiation in free space,[6] and is believed to be the speed of gravitational waves.[7][8] In an inertial frame of reference, light in vacuum always travels at c. When light passes through a transparent material, such as glass or air, its speed is reduced; the ratio between c and the speed at which light travels in a material is called the refractive index of the material.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

PDOP is computed as a function of receiver and satellite positions. Consider the unit vectors pointing from the receiver to the satellites. Connecting the tails of these unit vectors forms a tetrahedron. PDOP is sometimes approximated as being inversely proportional to the tetrahedron volume[45]. Also a more detailed description of how to calculate PDOP is given in the section, Geometric dilution of precision computation (DOP).

\ \sigma_R is given by \sigma_R= \sqrt{3^2+5^2+2.5^2+2^2+1^2+0.5^2}\ meters =
6.7 \ meters for the C/A code. The standard deviation of the error in estimated receiver position, \ \sigma_{rc}, is given by \ \sigma_{rc} = \sqrt{PDOP^2 \times \sigma_R^2 + \sigma_{num}^2} = \sqrt{PDOP^2 \times 6.7^2 + 1^2}\ meters for the C/A code. The error diagram to the right shows the inter relationship of indicated receiver position, true receiver position, and the intersection of the four sphere surfaces.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring :

RAIM is the abbreviation for Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring, a technology developed to assess the integrity of Global Positioning System (GPS) signals in a GPS receiver system. It is of special importance in safety-critical GPS applications, such as in aviation or marine navigation.

General Description :

RAIM detects faults with redundant GPS pseudorange measurements. That is, when more satellites are available than needed to produce a position fix, the extra pseudoranges should all be consistent with the computed position. A pseudorange that differs significantly from the expected value (i.e., an outlier) may indicate a fault of the associated satellite or another signal integrity problem (e.g., ionospheric dispersion). Traditional RAIM uses fault detection (FD) only, however newer GPS receivers incorporate Fault Detection and Exclusion (FDE) which enables them to continue to operate in the presence of a GPS failure.

The test statistic used is a function of the pseudorange measurement residual (the difference between the expected measurement and the observed measurement) and the amount of redundancy. The test statistic is compared with a threshold value, which is determined based on the requirements for the probability of false alarm (Pfa) and the probability of missed detection (Pmd)
[edit] RAIM

Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM) provides integrity monitoring of GPS for aviation applications. In order for a GPS receiver to perform RAIM or Fault Detection (FD) function, a minimum of five visible satellites with satisfactory geometry must be visible to it. RAIM has various kind of implementations; one of them performs consistency checks between all position solutions obtained with various subsets of the visible satellites. The receiver provides an alert to the pilot if the consistency checks fail. RAIM availability is an important issue when using such kind of algorithm in safety-critical applications (as the aeronautical ones); in fact, because of geometry and satellite service maintenance, RAIM is not always available at all, meaning that the receiver’s antenna could have sometimes less than five satellites in view. Availability is also a performance indicator of the RAIM algorithm, as it is, basically, a statistical method. Due to this it has a “power of test” which is a measure of the reliability of this test to detect a failure when it happens. This power of test is its availability and it is a function of the geometry of the constellation which is in view and of other environmental conditions. If availability is seen in this way it is clear that it is not an on–off feature meaning that the algorithm could be available but not with the required performance of detecting a failure when it happens. So availability is a performance factor of the algorithm and characterizes each one of the different kinds of RAIM algorithms and methodologies.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

p_i = \sqrt{(x-x_i)^2 + (y-y_i)^2 + (z-z_i)^2}- bc, \;\;\mbox{for} \; i=1,2,3,4. \qquad (1)

When an approximate solution, \left [x^{(k)}, y^{(k)}, z^{(k)}, b^{(k)}\right ] rather than the exact solution, \left [x, y, z, b\right ] is used in equation 1, there is a residual, f_i^{(k)}. Transforming \ p_i to the right hand side of the equation there results,

f_i^{(k)} = \sqrt{(x^{(k)}-x_i)^2 + (y^{(k)}-y_i)^2 + (z^{(k)}-z_i)^2}- b^{(k)}c – p_i, \;\;
\mbox{for} \; i=1,2,3,4. \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad \;\;\;\;\; (2)

A solution will have been found when f_i^{(k)} is zero or sufficiently close to zero for \ i=1,2,3,4.

In order to linearize equation 2, the partial derivatives are computed as

\frac{\partial f_i^{(k)}} {\partial x^{(k)}} = \frac {(x^{(k)} – x_i)} {R_i^{(k)} }, \frac{\partial f_i^{(k)}} {\partial y^{(k)}} = \frac {(y^{(k)}-y_i)} {R_i^{(k)}},
\frac{\partial f_i^{(k)}} {\partial z^{(k)}} = \frac {(z^{(k)} -z_i)} {R_i^{(k)} }, \frac{\partial f_i^{(k)}} {\partial b^{(k)}} = -c \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad \;\;\;(3)

where

R_i^{(k)} = \sqrt{(x^{(k)}-x_i)^2 + (y^{(k)}-y_i)^2 + (z^{(k)}-z_i)^2}.

Linearizing the right hand side of equation 2 about the approximate solution, \left [x^{(k)}, y^{(k)}, z^{(k)}, b^{(k)}\right ] there results

f_i^{(k)} = \frac {(x^{(k)}-x_i)} {R_i^{(k)}} x^{(k)} + \frac {(y^{(k)}-y_i)} {R_i^{(k)}} y^{(k)} + \frac {(z^{(k)}-z_i)} {R_i^{(k)}} z^{(k)} – b^{(k)}c – p_i + \epsilon_i, \;\;
\mbox{for} i=1,2,3,4 \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad(4)

where \ \epsilon_i is the residual due to linearization which is in addition to the residual, f_i^{(k)} , due to an approximate solution.

In order to drive f_i^{(k+1)} closer to zero choose the values \left [x^{(k+1)}, y^{(k+1)}, z^{(k+1)}, b^{(k+1)}\right ] such that

– f_i^{(k)} = \frac {(x^{(k)}-x_i)} {p_i} (x^{(k+1)}- x^{(k)}) + \frac {(y^{(k)}-y_i)} {p_i} (y^{(k+1)}- y^{(k)})\;+
\frac {(z^{(k)}-z_i)} {p_i} (z^{(k+1)}- z^{(k)}) – (b^{(k+1)} – b^{(k)})c – p_i. \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad (5)

That is choose the values

\left [x^{(k+1)}, y^{(k+1)}, z^{(k+1)}, b^{(k+1)}\right ]

such that the residual in equation 2 changes by approximately \ – f_i^{(k)}.

Let

\Delta x^{(k+1)}\ =\ (x^{(k+1)}- x^{(k)}), \Delta y^{(k+1)}\ =\ (y^{(k+1)}- y^{(k)}),
\Delta z^{(k+1)}\ =\ (z^{(k+1)}- z^{(k)}), \Delta b^{(k+1)}\ =\ (b^{(k+1)}- b^{(k)}).

Substituting and transposing \ p_i to the left hand side of the equation, there results

– f_i^{(k)} + p_i = \frac {(x^{(k)}-x_i)} {p_i} \Delta x^{(k+1)} + \frac {(y^{(k)}-y_i)} {p_i} \Delta y^{(k+1)} \;+
\frac {(z^{(k)}-z_i)} {p_i} \Delta z^{(k+1)} – \Delta b^{(k+1)} c. \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad \;\;\;\;\;\;(6)

Equations 6 provide a set of four linear equations in four unknowns, the delta terms. They are in a form for solution. Using the values of \; \Delta x^{(k+1)}, \Delta y^{(k+1)}, \Delta z^{(k+1)} and \; \Delta b^{(k+1)} determined by this linear equation solution,

\left [x^{(k+1)}, y^{(k+1)}, z^{(k+1)}, b^{(k+1)}\right ]

is evaluated using

\ x^{(k+1)}\ =\ x^{(k)}\ +\Delta x^{(k+1)}, \ y^{(k+1)}\ =\ y^{(k)}\ +\Delta y^{(k+1)},
\ z^{(k+1)}\ =\ z^{(k)}\ +\Delta z^{(k+1)}, \ b^{(k+1)}\ =\ b^{(k)}\ +\Delta b^{(k+1)}. \qquad \qquad \;\;\;\;\;\; (7)

Then set \ k = k + 1 in equations 2 through 6, plug the terms

\left \{ x^{(k+1)}, y^{(k+1)}, z^{(k+1)}, b^{(k+1)} \right \}

from equations 7 into equations 2, set \ k = k + 1 in equations 7, and reevaluate the residuals in equations 2. This procedure is repeated until the residuals are sufficiently small in magnitude.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Since all of the satellite signals are modulated onto the same L1 carrier frequency, there is a need to separate the signals after demodulation. This is done by assigning each satellite a unique binary sequence sequence known as a Gold code, and the signals are decoded, after demodulation, using modulo 2 addition of the Gold codes corresponding to satellites n1 through nk, where k is the number of channels in the GPS receiver and n1 through nk are the PRN identifiers of the satellites. Each satellite’s PRN identifier is unique and in the range from 1 through 32.[38] The results of these modulo 2 additions are the 50 bit/s navigation messages from satellites n1 through nk. The Gold codes used in GPS are a sequence of 1023 bits with a period of one millisecond. These Gold codes are highly mutually orthogonal, so that it is unlikely that one satellite signal will be misinterpreted as another. As well, the Gold codes have good auto-correlation properties.[39]

There are 1025 different Gold codes of length 1023 bits, but only 32 are used. These Gold codes are quite often referred to as pseudo random noise since they contain no data and are said to look like random sequences[40]. However, this may be misleading since they are actually deterministic sequences.

If the almanac information has previously been acquired, the receiver picks which satellites to listen for by their PRNs. If the almanac information is not in memory, the receiver enters a search mode and cycles through the PRN numbers until a lock is obtained on one of the satellites. To obtain a lock, it is necessary that there be an unobstructed line of sight from the receiver to the satellite. The receiver can then acquire the almanac and determine the satellites it should listen for. As it detects each satellite’s signal, it identifies it by its distinct C/A code pattern.

The receiver uses the C/A Gold code with the same PRN number as the satellite to compute an offset, O, that generates the best correlation. The offset, O, is computed in a trial and error manner. The 1023 bits of the satellite PRN signal are compared with the receiver PRN signal. If correlation is not achieved, the 1023 bits of the receiver’s internally generated PRN code are shifted by one bit relative to the satellite’s PRN code and the signals are again compared. This process is repeated until correlation is achieved or all 1023 possible cases have been tried.[41] If all 1023 cases have been tried without achieving correlation, the frequency oscillator is offset to the next value and the process is repeated.

Since the carrier frequency received can vary due to Doppler shift, the points where received PRN sequences begin may not differ from O by an exact integral number of milliseconds. Because of this, carrier frequency tracking along with PRN code tracking are used to determine when the received satellite’s PRN code begins.[41] Unlike the earlier computation of offset in which trials of all 1023 offsets could potentially be required, the tracking to maintain lock usually requires shifting of half a pulse width or less. To perform this tracking, the receiver observes two quantities, phase error and received frequency offset. The correlation of the received PRN code with respect to the receiver generated PRN code is computed to determine if the bits of the two signals are misaligned. Comparisons with correlation computed with receiver generated PRN code shifted half a pulse width early and half a pulse width late (see section 1.4.2.4 of [17]) are used to estimate adjustment required. The amount of adjustment required for maximum correlation is used in estimating phase error. Received frequency offset from the frequency generated by the receiver provides an estimate of phase rate error. The command for the frequency generator and any further PRN code shifting required are computed as a function of the phase error and the phase rate error in accordance with the control law used. The Doppler velocity is computed as a function of the frequency offset from the carrier nominal frequency. The Doppler velocity is the velocity component along the line of sight of the receiver relative to the satellite.

As the receiver continues to read successive PRN sequences, it will encounter a sudden change in the phase of the 1023 bit received PRN signal. This indicates the beginning of a data bit of the navigation message. This enables the receiver to begin reading the 20 millisecond bits of the navigation message. Each subframe of the navigation frame begins with a Telemetry Word which enables the receiver to detect the beginning of a subframe and determine the receiver clock time at which the navigation subframe begins. Also each subframe of the navigation frame is identified by bits in the handover word (HOW) thereby enabling the receiver to determine which subframe (see section 1.4.2.6 of [17] and section 2.5.4 of “Essentials of Satellite Navigation Compendium”). There can be a delay of up to 30 seconds before the first estimate of position because of the need to read the ephemeris data before computing the intersections of sphere surfaces.

After a subframe has been read and interpreted, the time the next subframe was sent can be calculated through the use of the clock correction data and the HOW. The receiver knows the receiver clock time of when the beginning of the next subframe was received from detection of the Telemetry Word thereby enabling computation of the transit time and thus the pseudorange. The receiver is potentially capable of getting a new pseudorange measurement at the beginning of each subframe or every 6 seconds.

Then the orbital position data, or ephemeris, from the navigation message is used to calculate precisely where the satellite was at the start of the message. A more sensitive receiver will potentially acquire the ephemeris data more quickly than a less sensitive receiver, especially in a noisy environment.[42]

This process is repeated for each satellite to which the receiver is listening.

Carrier phase tracking (surveying) :

Utilizing the navigation message to measure pseudorange has been discussed. Another method that is used in GPS surveying applications is carrier phase tracking. The period of the carrier frequency times the speed of light gives the wave length, which is about 0.19 meters for the L1 carrier. With a 1% of wave length accuracy in detecting the leading edge, this component of pseudorange error might be as low as 2 millimeters. This compares to 3 meters for the C/A code and 0.3 meters for the P code.

However, this 2 millimeter accuracy requires measuring the total phase, that is the total number of wave lengths plus the fractional wavelength. This requires specially equipped receivers. This method has many applications in the field of surveying.

We now describe a method which could potentially be used to estimate the position of receiver 2 given the position of receiver 1 using triple differencing followed by numerical root finding, and a mathematical technique called least squares. A detailed discussion of the errors is omitted in order to avoid detracting from the description of the methodology. In this description differences are taken in the order of differencing between satellites, differencing between receivers, and differencing between epochs. This should not be construed to mean that this is the only order which can be used. Indeed other orders of taking differences are equally valid.

The satellite carrier total phase can be measured with ambiguity as to the number of cycles as described in CARRIER PHASE MEASUREMENT and CARRIER BEAT PHASE. Let \ \phi(r_i, s_j, t_k) denote the phase of the carrier of satellite j measured by receiver i at time \ t_k . This notation has been chosen so as to make it clear what the subscripts i, j, and k mean. In view of the fact that the receiver, satellite, and time come in alphabetical order as arguments of \ \phi and to strike a balance between readability and conciseness, let \ \phi_{i,j,k} = \phi(r_i, s_j, t_k) so as to have a concise abbreviation. Also we define three functions, :\ \Delta^r, \Delta^s, \Delta^t which perform differences between receivers, satellites, and time points respectively. Each of these functions has a linear combination of variables with three subscripts as its argument. These three functions are defined below. If \ \alpha_{i,j,k} is a function of the three integer arguments, i, j, and k then it is a valid argument for the functions, :\ \Delta^r, \Delta^s, \Delta^t , with the values defined as

\ \Delta^r(\alpha_{i,j,k}) = \alpha_{i+1,j,k} – \alpha_{i,j,k} ,
\ \Delta^s(\alpha_{i,j,k}) = \alpha_{i,j+1,k} – \alpha_{i,j,k} , and
\ \Delta^t(\alpha_{i,j,k}) = \alpha_{i,j,k+1} – \alpha_{i,j,k} .

Also if \ \alpha_{i,j,k}\ and\ \beta_{l,m,n} are valid arguments for the three functions and a and b are constants then \ ( a\ \alpha_{i,j,k} + b\ \beta_{l,m,n} ) is a valid argument with values defined as

\ \Delta^r(a\ \alpha_{i,j,k} + b\ \beta_{l,m,n}) = a \ \Delta^r(\alpha_{i,j,k}) + b \ \Delta^r(\beta_{l,m,n}) ,
\ \Delta^s(a\ \alpha_{i,j,k} + b\ \beta_{l,m,n} )= a \ \Delta^s(\alpha_{i,j,k}) + b \ \Delta^s(\beta_{l,m,n}) , and
\ \Delta^t(a\ \alpha_{i,j,k} + b\ \beta_{l,m,n} )= a \ \Delta^t(\alpha_{i,j,k}) + b \ \Delta^t(\beta_{l,m,n}) ,

Receiver clock errors can be approximately eliminated by differencing the phases measured from satellite 1 with that from satellite 2 at the same epoch as shown in BETWEEN-SATELLITE DIFFERENCING. This difference is designated as \ \Delta^s(\phi_{1,1,1}) = \phi_{1,2,1} – \phi_{1,1,1}

Double differencing can be performed by taking the differences of the between satellite difference observed by receiver 1 with that observed by receiver 2. The satellite clock errors will be approximately eliminated by this between receiver differencing. This double difference is designated as \ \Delta^r(\Delta^s(\phi_{1,1,1})) = \Delta^r(\phi_{1,2,1} – \phi_{1,1,1}) = \Delta^r(\phi_{1,2,1}) – \Delta^r(\phi_{1,1,1}) = \ (\phi_{2,2,1} – \phi_{1,2,1}) – (\phi_{2,1,1} – \phi_{1,1,1}) .

Triple differencing can be performed by taking the difference of double differencing performed at time \ t_2 with that performed at time \ t_1 . This will eliminate the ambiguity associated with the integral number of wave lengths in carrier phase provided this ambiguity does not change with time. Thus the triple difference result has eliminated all or practically all clock bias errors and the integer ambiguity. Also errors associated with atmospheric delay and satellite ephemeris have been significantly reduced. This triple difference is designated as \ \Delta^t(\Delta^r(\Delta^s(\phi_{1,1,1}))) .

Triple difference results can be used to estimate unknown variables. For example if the position of receiver 1 is known but the position of receiver 2 unknown, it may be possible to estimate the position of receiver 2 using numerical root finding and least squares. Triple difference results for three independent time pairs quite possibly will be sufficient to solve for the three components of position of receiver 2. This may require the use of a numerical procedure such as one of those found in the chapter on root finding and nonlinear sets of equations in Numerical Recipes [43]. Also see Preview of Root Finding. To use such a numerical method, an initial approximation of the position of receiver 2 is required. This initial value could probably be provided by a position approximation based on the navigation message and the intersection of sphere surfaces. Although multidimensional numerical root finding can have problems, this disadvantage may be overcome with this good initial estimate. This procedure using three time pairs and a fairly good initial value followed by iteration will result in one observed triple difference result for receiver 2 position. Greater accuracy may be obtained by processing triple difference results for additional sets of three independent time pairs. This will result in an over determined system with multiple solutons. To get estimates for an over determined system, least squares can be used. The least squares procedure determines the position of receiver 2 which best fits the observed triple difference results for receiver 2 positions under the criterion of minimizing the sum of the squares.

Position calculation advanced :

Before providing a more mathematical description of position calculation, the introductory material on this topics is reviewed. To describe the basic concept of how a GPS receiver works, the errors are at first ignored. Using messages received from four satellites, the GPS receiver is able to determine the satellite positions and time sent. The x, y, and z components of position and the time sent are designated as \left [x_i, y_i, z_i, t_i\right ] where the subscript i denotes which satellite and has the value 1, 2, 3, or 4. Knowing the indicated time the message was received \ tr_i, the GPS receiver can compute the transit time of the message as \left (tr_i-t_i\right ) . Assuming the message traveled at the speed of light, c, the distance traveled, \ p_i can be computed as \left (tr_i-t_i\right )c . Knowing the distance from GPS receiver to a satellite and the position of a satellite implies that the GPS receiver is on the surface of a sphere centered at the position of a satellite. Thus we know that the indicated position of the GPS receiver is at or near the intersection of the surfaces of four spheres. In the ideal case of no errors, the GPS receiver will be at an intersection of the surfaces of four spheres. The surfaces of two spheres if they intersect in more than one point intersect in a circle. We are here excluding the unrealistic case for GPS purposes of two coincident spheres. A figure, Two Sphere Surfaces Intersecting in a Circle, is shown below depicting this which hopefully will aid the reader in visualizing this intersection. Two points at which the surfaces of the spheres intersect are clearly marked on the figure. The distance between these two points is the diameter of the circle of intersection. If you are not convinced of this, consider how a side view of the intersecting spheres would look. This view would look exactly the same as the figure because of the symmetry of the spheres. And in fact a view from any horizontal direction would look exactly the same. This should make it clear to the reader that the surfaces of the two spheres actually do intersect in a circle.
Two sphere surfaces intersecting in a circle

The article, trilateration, shows mathematically how the equation for this circle of intersection is determined. A circle and sphere surface in most cases of practical interest intersect at two points, although it is conceivable that they could intersect in 0 or 1 point. We are here excluding the unrealistic case for GPS purposes of three colinear (lying on same straight line) sphere centers. Another figure, Surface of Sphere Intersecting a Circle (not disk) at Two Points, is shown below to aid in visualizing this intersection. Again trilateration clearly shows this mathematically. The correct position of the GPS receiver is the one that is closest to the fourth sphere. This paragraph has described the basic concept of GPS while ignoring errors. The next problem is how to process the messages when errors are present.
Surface of a sphere intersecting a circle (i.e., the edge of a disk) at two points

Let \ b denote the clock error or bias, the amount by which the receiver’s clock is slow. The GPS receiver has four unknowns, the three components of GPS receiver position and the clock bias \left [x, y, z, b\right ]. The equation of the sphere surfaces are given by

(x-x_i)^2 + (y-y_i)^2 + (z-z_i)^2 = \bigl((tr_i + b – t_i)c\bigr)^2 , \; i=1,2,3,4. Another useful form of these equations is in terms of the pseudoranges, which are simply the ranges approximated based on GPS receiver clock’s indicated (i.e. uncorrected) time so that p_i = \left (tr_i – t_i \right )c. Then the equations becomes:

p_i = \sqrt{(x-x_i)^2 + (y-y_i)^2 + (z-z_i)^2}- bc,\; i=1,2,3,4.. Two of the most important methods of computing GPS receiver position and clock bias are (1) trilateration followed by one dimensional numerical root finding and (2) multidimensional Newton-Raphson calculations. These two methods along with their advantages are discussed.

* The receiver can solve by trilateration followed by one dimensional numerical root finding.[43] This method involves using trilateration to determine the intersection of the surfaces of three spheres. It is clearly shown in trilateration that the surfaces of three spheres intersect in 0, 1, or 2 points. In the usual case of two intersections, the solution which is nearest the surface of the sphere corresponding to the fourth satellite is chosen. The surface of the earth can also sometimes be used instead, especially in the case of civilian GPS receivers since it is illegal in the United States to track vehicles of more than 60,000 feet (18,000 m) in altitude. The bias, \ b is then computed as a function of the distance from the solution to the surface of the sphere corresponding to the fourth satellite. To determine what function to use for computing \ b see the chapter on root finding in [43] or the preview. Using an updated received time based on this bias, new spheres are computed and the process is repeated. This repetition is continued until the distance from the valid trilateration solution is sufficiently close to the surface of the sphere corresponding to the fourth satellite. One advantage of this method is that it involves one dimensional as opposed to multidimensional numerical root finding.

* The receiver can utilize a multidimensional root finding method such as the Newton-Raphson method.[43] Linearize around an approximate solution, say \left [x^{(k)}, y^{(k)}, z^{(k)}, b^{(k)}\right ] from iteration k, then solve four linear equations derived from the quadratic equations above to obtain \left [x^{(k+1)}, y^{(k+1)}, z^{(k+1)}, b^{(k+1)}\right ]. The radii are large and so the sphere surfaces are close to flat.[44][45] This near flatness may cause the iterative procedure to converge rapidly in the case where \ b is near the correct value and the primary change is in the values of x, y,\; and\; z, since in this case the problem is merely to find the intersection of nearly flat surfaces and thus close to a linear problem. However when \ b is changing significantly, this near flatness does not appear to be advantageous in producing rapid convergence, since in this case these near flat surfaces will be moving as the spheres expand and contract. This possible fast convergence is an advantage of this method. Also it has been claimed that this method is the “typical” method used by GPS receivers.[46][47][48] A disadvantage of this multidimensional root finding method as compared to single dimensional root findiing is that according to,[43] “There are no good general methods for solving systems of more than one nonlinear equations.” For a more detailed description of the mathematics see Multidimensional Newton Raphson.

* Other methods include:

1. Solving for the intersection of the expanding signals form light cones in 4-space cones
2. Solving for the intersection of hyperboloids determined by the time difference of signals received from satellites utilizing multilateration,
3. Solving the equations in accordance with .

* When more than four satellites are available, a decision must be made on whether to use the four best or more than four taking into considerations such factors as number of channels, processing capability, and geometric dilution of precision. Using more than four results in an over-determined system of equations with no unique solution, which must be solved by least-squares or a similar technique. If all visible satellites are used, the results are always at least as good as using the four best, and usually better. Also the errors in results can be estimated through the residuals.[50] With each combination of four or more satellites, a geometric dilution of precision (GDOP) factor can be calculated, based on the relative sky directions of the satellites used.[50][51] As more satellites are picked up, pseudoranges from more combinations of four satellites can be processed to add more estimates to the location and clock offset. The receiver then determines which combinations to use and how to calculate the estimated position by determining the weighted average of these positions and clock offsets. After the final location and time are calculated, the location is expressed in a specific coordinate system such as latitude and longitude, using the WGS 84 geodetic datum or a local system specific to a country.

* Finally, results from other positioning systems such as GLONASS or the upcoming Galileo can be used in the fit, or used to double check the result. (By design, these systems use the same bands, so much of the receiver circuitry can be shared, though the decoding is different.)

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

GPS signals :

Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites broadcast radio signals to enable GPS receivers to determine location and synchronized time.

GPS signals include ranging signals, used to measure the distance to the satellite, and navigation messages. The navigation messages include ephemeris data, used to calculate the position of the satellite in orbit, and information about the time and status of the satellite constellation.

GPS modernization :

The United States’ Global Positioning System (GPS), having reached Fully Operational Capability on July 17, 1995[1] completed its original design goals. However, additional advances in technology and new demands on the existing system led to the effort to modernize the GPS system. Announcements from the Vice President and the White House in 1998 initiated these changes. In 2000, U.S. Congress authorized the effort, referred to as GPS III.

The project involves new ground stations and new satellites, with additional navigation signals for both civilian and military users, and aims to improve the accuracy and availability for all users. The target date is 2013 with incentives offered to the contractors if they can complete it by 2011.

Original GPS signals :

The original GPS design contains two ranging codes: the Coarse/Acquisition code or C/A, which is freely available to the public, and the restricted Precision code, or P-code, usually reserved for military applications.
[edit] Coarse/Acquisition code

The C/A code is a 1,023 bit long pseudonoise code (also pseudorandom binary sequence) (PN or PRN code) which, when transmitted at 1.023 megabits per second (Mbit/s), repeats every millisecond. These sequences only match up, or strongly correlate, when they are exactly aligned. Each satellite transmits a unique PRN code, which does not correlate well with any other satellite’s PRN code. In other words, the PRN codes are highly orthogonal to one another. This is a form of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), which allows the receiver to recognize multiple satellites on the same frequency.
[edit] Precision code

The P-code is also a PRN, however each satellite’s P-code PRN code is 6.1871 × 1012 bits long (6,187,100,000,000 bits) and only repeats once a week (it is transmitted at 10.23 Mbit/s). The extreme length of the P-code increases its correlation gain and eliminates any range ambiguity within the Solar System. However, the code is so long and complex it was believed that a receiver could not directly acquire and synchronize with this signal alone. It was expected that the receiver would first lock onto the relatively simple C/A code and then, after obtaining the current time and approximate position, synchronize with the P-code.

Whereas the C/A PRNs are unique for each satellite, the P-code PRN is actually a small segment of a master P-code approximately 2.35 × 1014 bits in length (235,000,000,000,000 bits) and each satellite repeatedly transmits its assigned segment of the master code.

To prevent unauthorized users from using or potentially interfering with the military signal through a process called spoofing, it was decided to encrypt the P-code. To that end the P-code was modulated with the W-code, a special encryption sequence, to generate the Y-code. The Y-code is what the satellites have been transmitting since the anti-spoofing module was set to the “on” state. The encrypted signal is referred to as the P(Y)-code.

The details of the W-code are kept secret, but it is known that it is applied to the P-code at approximately 500 kHz, which is a slower rate than that of the P-code itself by a factor of approximately 20. This has allowed companies to develop semi-codeless approaches for tracking the P(Y) signal, without knowledge of the W-code itself.
[edit] Navigation message

In addition to the PRN ranging codes, a receiver needs to know detailed information about each satellite’s position and the network. The GPS design has this information modulated on top of both the C/A and P(Y) ranging codes at 50 bit/s and calls it the Navigation Message.

The navigation message is made up of three major components. The first part contains the GPS date and time, plus the satellite’s status and an indication of its health. The second part contains orbital information called ephemeris data and allows the receiver to calculate the position of the satellite. The third part, called the almanac, contains information and status concerning all the satellites; their locations and PRN numbers.

Whereas ephemeris information is highly detailed and considered valid for no more than four hours, almanac information is more general and is considered valid for up to 180 days. The almanac assists the receiver in determining which satellites to search for, and once the receiver picks up each satellite’s signal in turn, it then downloads the ephemeris data directly from that satellite. A position fix using any satellite can not be calculated until the receiver has an accurate and complete copy of that satellite’s ephemeris data. If the signal from a satellite is lost while its ephemeris data is being acquired, the receiver must discard that data and start again.

The navigation message itself is constructed from a 1,500 bit frame, which is divided into five subframes of 300 bits each and transmitted at 50 bit/s (therefore each subframe requires 6 seconds to transmit).

* Subframe 1 contains the GPS date and time, plus satellite status and health.
* Subframes 2 and 3, when combined, contain the transmitting satellite’s ephemeris data.
* Subframes 4 and 5, when combined, contain 1/25th of the almanac; meaning 25 whole frames worth of data are required to complete the 15,000 bit almanac message. At this rate, 12.5 minutes are required to receive the entire almanac from a single satellite.

[edit] Frequency information

For the ranging codes and navigation message to travel from the satellite to the receiver, they must be modulated onto a carrier frequency. In the case of the original GPS design, two frequencies are utilized; one at 1575.42 MHz (10.23 MHz × 154) called L1; and a second at 1227.60 MHz (10.23 MHz × 120), called L2.

The C/A code is transmitted on the L1 frequency as a 1.023 MHz signal using a Bi-Phase Shift Key (BPSK) modulation technique. The P(Y)-code is transmitted on both the L1 and L2 frequencies as a 10.23 MHz signal using the same BPSK modulation, however the P(Y)-code carrier is in quadrature with the C/A carrier; meaning it is 90° out of phase.

Besides redundancy and increased resistance to jamming, a critical benefit of having two frequencies transmitted from one satellite is the ability to measure directly, and therefore remove, the ionospheric delay error for that satellite. Without such a measurement, a GPS receiver must use a generic model or receive ionospheric corrections from another source (such as the Wide Area Augmentation System or EGNOS). Advances in the technology used on both the GPS satellites and the GPS receivers has made ionospheric delay the largest remaining source of error in the signal. A receiver capable of performing this measurement can be significantly more accurate and is typically referred to as a dual frequency receiver.

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Transmission of each 30 second frame begins precisely on the minute and half minute as indicated by the satellite’s atomic clock according to Satellite message format. Each frame contains 5 subframes of length 6 seconds and with 300 bits. Each subframe contains 10 words of 30 bits with length 0.6 seconds each.

Words 1 and 2 of every subframe have the same type of data. The first word is the telemetry word which indicates the beginning of a subframe and is used by the receiver to synch with the navigation message. The second word is the HOW or handover word and it contains timing information which enables the receiver to identify the subframe and provides the time the next subframe was sent.

Words 3 through 10 of subframe 1 contain data describing the satellite clock and its relationship to GPS time. Words 3 through 10 of subframes 2 and 3, contain the ephemeris data, giving the satellite’s own precise orbit. The ephemeris is updated every 2 hours and is generally valid for 4 hours, with provisions for updates every 6 hours or longer in non-nominal conditions. The time needed to acquire the ephemeris is becoming a significant element of the delay to first position fix, because, as the hardware becomes more capable, the time to lock onto the satellite signals shrinks, but the ephemeris data requires 30 seconds (worst case) before it is received, due to the low data transmission rate.

The almanac consists of coarse orbit and status information for each satellite in the constellation, an ionospheric model, and information to relate GPS derived time to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Words 3 through 10 of subframes 4 and 5 contain a new part of the almanac. Each frame contains 1/25th of the almanac, so 12.5 minutes are required to receive the entire almanac from a single satellite.[35] The almanac serves several purposes. The first is to assist in the acquisition of satellites at power-up by allowing the receiver to generate a list of visible satellites based on stored position and time, while an ephemeris from each satellite is needed to compute position fixes using that satellite. In older hardware, lack of an almanac in a new receiver would cause long delays before providing a valid position, because the search for each satellite was a slow process. Advances in hardware have made the acquisition process much faster, so not having an almanac is no longer an issue. The second purpose is for relating time derived from the GPS (called GPS time) to the international time standard of UTC. Finally, the almanac allows a single-frequency receiver to correct for ionospheric error by using a global ionospheric model. The corrections are not as accurate as augmentation systems like WAAS or dual-frequency receivers. However, it is often better than no correction, since ionospheric error is the largest error source for a single-frequency GPS receiver. An important thing to note about navigation data is that each satellite transmits not only its own ephemeris, but transmits an almanac for all satellites.

All satellites broadcast at the same two frequencies, 1.57542 GHz (L1 signal) and 1.2276 GHz (L2 signal). The receiver can distinguish the signals from different satellites because GPS uses a code division multiple access (CDMA) spread-spectrum technique where the low-bitrate message data is encoded with a high-rate pseudo-random (PRN) sequence that is different for each satellite. The receiver knows the PRN codes for each satellite and can use this to reconstruct the actual message data. The message data is transmitted at 50 bits per second. Two distinct CDMA encodings are used: the coarse/acquisition (C/A) code (a so-called Gold code) at 1.023 million chips per second, and the precise (P) code at 10.23 million chips per second. The L1 carrier is modulated by both the C/A and P codes, while the L2 carrier is only modulated by the P code.[36] The C/A code is public and used by civilian GPS receivers, while the P code can be encrypted as a so-called P(Y) code which is only available to military equipment with a proper decryption key. Both the C/A and P(Y) codes impart the precise time-of-day to the user.

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Space segment :

The space segment (SS) comprises the orbiting GPS satellites, or Space Vehicles (SV) in GPS parlance. The GPS design originally called for 24 SVs, eight each in three circular orbital planes,[22] but this was modified to six planes with four satellites each.[23] The orbital planes are centered on the Earth, not rotating with respect to the distant stars.[24] The six planes have approximately 55° inclination (tilt relative to Earth’s equator) and are separated by 60° right ascension of the ascending node (angle along the equator from a reference point to the orbit’s intersection).[25] The orbits are arranged so that at least six satellites are always within line of sight from almost everywhere on Earth’s surface.[26]

Orbiting at an altitude of approximately 20,200 kilometers (about 12,550 miles or 10,900 nautical miles; orbital radius of approximately 26,600 km (about 16,500 mi or 14,400 NM)), each SV makes two complete orbits each sidereal day, repeating the same ground track each day.[27] This was very helpful during development, since even with just four satellites, correct alignment means all four are visible from one spot for a few hours each day. For military operations, the ground track repeat can be used to ensure good coverage in combat zones.

As of March 2008[update],[28] there are 31 actively broadcasting satellites in the GPS constellation, and two older, retired from active service satellites kept in the constellation as orbital spares. The additional satellites improve the precision of GPS receiver calculations by providing redundant measurements. With the increased number of satellites, the constellation was changed to a nonuniform arrangement. Such an arrangement was shown to improve reliability and availability of the system, relative to a uniform system, when multiple satellites fail.[29] About ten satellites are visible from any point on the ground at any one time (see animation at right).

Control segment :

The flight paths of the satellites are tracked by US Air Force monitoring stations in Hawaii, Kwajalein, Ascension Island, Diego Garcia, and Colorado Springs, Colorado, along with monitor stations operated by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA).[30] The tracking information is sent to the Air Force Space Command’s master control station at Schriever Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, which is operated by the 2nd Space Operations Squadron (2 SOPS) of the United States Air Force (USAF). Then 2 SOPS contacts each GPS satellite regularly with a navigational update (using the ground antennas at Ascension Island, Diego Garcia, Kwajalein, and Colorado Springs). These updates synchronize the atomic clocks on board the satellites to within a few nanoseconds of each other, and adjust the ephemeris of each satellite’s internal orbital model. The updates are created by a Kalman filter which uses inputs from the ground monitoring stations, space weather information, and various other inputs.[31]

Satellite maneuvers are not precise by GPS standards. So to change the orbit of a satellite, the satellite must be marked ‘unhealthy’, so receivers will not use it in their calculation. Then the maneuver can be carried out, and the resulting orbit tracked from the ground. Then the new ephemeris is uploaded and the satellite marked healthy again.

User segment :

GPS receivers come in a variety of formats, from devices integrated into cars, phones, and watches, to dedicated devices such as those shown here from manufacturers Trimble, Garmin and Leica (left to right).

The user’s GPS receiver is the user segment (US) of the GPS. In general, GPS receivers are composed of an antenna, tuned to the frequencies transmitted by the satellites, receiver-processors, and a highly-stable clock (often a crystal oscillator). They may also include a display for providing location and speed information to the user. A receiver is often described by its number of channels: this signifies how many satellites it can monitor simultaneously. Originally limited to four or five, this has progressively increased over the years so that, as of 2007[update], receivers typically have between 12 and 20 channels.[32]

GPS receivers may include an input for differential corrections, using the RTCM SC-104 format. This is typically in the form of a RS-232 port at 4,800 bit/s speed. Data is actually sent at a much lower rate, which limits the accuracy of the signal sent using RTCM. Receivers with internal DGPS receivers can outperform those using external RTCM data. As of 2006, even low-cost units commonly include Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) receivers.

Many GPS receivers can relay position data to a PC or other device using the NMEA 0183 protocol, or the newer and less widely used NMEA 2000.[33] Although these protocols are officially defined by the NMEA,[34] references to these protocols have been compiled from public records, allowing open source tools like gpsd to read the protocol without violating intellectual property laws. Other proprietary protocols exist as well, such as the SiRF and MTK protocols. Receivers can interface with other devices using methods including a serial connection, USB or Bluetooth.

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It is likely that the surfaces of the three spheres intersect, since the circle of intersection of the first two spheres is normally quite large, and thus the third sphere surface is likely to intersect this large circle. It is very unlikely that the surface of the sphere corresponding to the fourth satellite will intersect either of the two points of intersection of the first three, since any clock error could cause it to miss intersecting a point. However, the distance from the valid estimate of GPS receiver position to the surface of the sphere corresponding to the fourth satellite can be used to compute a clock correction. Let \ r_4 denote the distance from the valid estimate of GPS receiver position to the fourth satellite and let \ p_4\ denote the pseudorange of the fourth satellite. Let \ da = r_4 – p_4. Note that \ da is the distance from the computed GPS receiver position to the surface of the sphere corresponding to the fourth satellite. Thus the quotient, \ b = da / c\ , provides an estimate of

(correct time) – (time indicated by the receiver’s on-board clock),

and the GPS receiver clock can be advanced if \ b is positive or delayed if \ b is negative.

Speed of light :

In physics, the speed of light (usually denoted c) is a fundamental physical constant, the speed at which light and all electromagnetic radiation travel in a perfect vacuum, which is 299,792,458 metres per second (about 300,000 kilometres per second or 186,000 miles per second). This constant is significant in the understanding and study of relativity, spacetime, astronomy, space travel, and other fields.

For much of human history the nature of light, including whether it was instantaneous or simply travelled very quickly, was unknown. By the 11th century many scientists had suggested that light had a finite speed but it was not until the 17th century that Ole Rømer demonstrated this by observing small differences in the apparent orbital period of Jupiter’s moon Io. Using these observations, Christiaan Huygens estimated the speed of light to be about 220,000 km per second. Since then, scientists have devised more sophisticated techniques to improve the precision of measurement. By the mid-20th century, the speed of light was known to be approximately 299,792 kilometres per second. In 1983, the metre was redefined in the International System of Units (SI) as the distance travelled by light in vacuum in 1⁄299,792,458 of a second. As a result, c is fixed at exactly 299,792,458 metres per second.[1][2]

According to Albert Einstein’s special theory of relativity, c is an important constant connecting space and time in the unified structure of spacetime. As such, it defines the conversion between mass and energy[3] and is an upper bound on the speed at which matter and information can travel.[4][5] It is the speed of travel of all electromagnetic radiation in free space,[6] and is believed to be the speed of gravitational waves.[7][8] In an inertial frame of reference, light in vacuum always travels at c. When light passes through a transparent material, such as glass or air, its speed is reduced; the ratio between c and the speed at which light travels in a material is called the refractive index of the material.

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A satellite’s position and distance from the receiver define a spherical surface, centered on the satellite. The position of the receiver is somewhere on this surface. Thus with four satellites, the indicated position of the GPS receiver is at or near the intersection of the surfaces of four spheres. (In the ideal case of no errors, the GPS receiver would be at a precise intersection of the four surfaces.)

If the surfaces of two spheres intersect at more than one point, they intersect in a circle. The article trilateration shows this mathematically. A figure, Two Sphere Surfaces Intersecting in a Circle, is shown below.

The intersection of a third spherical surface with the first two will be its intersection with that circle; in most cases of practical interest, this means they intersect at two points.[19] Another figure, Surface of Sphere Intersecting a Circle (not disk) at Two Points, illustrates the intersection. The two intersections are marked with dots. Again the article trilateration clearly shows this mathematically.

For automobiles and other near-earth-vehicles, the correct position of the GPS receiver is the intersection closest to the earth’s surface. For space vehicles, the intersection farthest from Earth may be the correct one.[20]

The correct position for the GPS receiver is also the intersection closest to the surface of the sphere corresponding to the fourth satellite.

Travel time :

Travel time may refer to

* the duration of a journey, see travel and travel journal
* the best season for traveling, see Wanderlust
* in physics the travel time of light or a radio waves from a transmitter to a receiver, due to the signals propagation speed. It can be used for distance measurement and ranging, e.g. by GPS or radar. The propagation speed depends on the refractivity of the medium,
o see also speed of light, time of arrival
* in electronics the amount of time it takes for an electrical signal or a certain number of bytes to be transferred over a medium, see propagation delay.
* in acoustics and seismology the travel time of sound, ultrasound or vibrations from a source to a receiver. The signal propagation speed depends on the density of medium and its elasticity. The distance measurement is called Sonar.

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# In 1978 the first experimental Block-I GPS satellite was launched.
# In 1983, after Soviet interceptor aircraft shot down the civilian airliner KAL 007 that strayed into prohibited airspace due to navigational errors, killing all 269 people on board, U.S. President Ronald Reagan announced that the GPS would be made available for civilian uses once it was completed.[5][6]
# By 1985, ten more experimental Block-I satellites had been launched to validate the concept.
# On February 14, 1989, the first modern Block-II satellite was launched.
# In 1992, the 2nd Space Wing, which originally managed the system, was de-activated and replaced by the 50th Space Wing.
# By December 1993 the GPS achieved initial operational capability.[7]
# By January 17, 1994 a complete constellation of 24 satellites was in orbit.
# Full Operational Capability was declared by NAVSTAR in April 1995.
# In 1996, recognizing the importance of GPS to civilian users as well as military users, U.S. President Bill Clinton issued a policy directive[8] declaring GPS to be a dual-use system and establishing an Interagency GPS Executive Board to manage it as a national asset.
# In 1998, U.S. Vice President Al Gore announced plans to upgrade GPS with two new civilian signals for enhanced user accuracy and reliability, particularly with respect to aviation safety and in 2000 the U.S. Congress authorized the effort, referring to it as GPS III.
# In 1998, GPS technology was inducted into the Space Foundation Space Technology Hall of Fame.
# On May 2, 2000 “Selective Availability” was discontinued as a result of the 1996 executive order, allowing users to receive a non-degraded signal globally.
# In 2004, the United States Government signed an agreement with the European Community establishing cooperation related to GPS and Europe’s planned Galileo system.
# In 2004, U.S. President George W. Bush updated the national policy and replaced the executive board with the National Executive Committee for Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing.
# November 2004, QUALCOMM announced successful tests of Assisted-GPS for mobile phones.[9]
# In 2005, the first modernized GPS satellite was launched and began transmitting a second civilian signal (L2C) for enhanced user performance.
# On September 14, 2007, the aging mainframe-based Ground Segment Control System was transitioned to the new Architecture Evolution Plan.[10]
# The most recent launch was on August 17, 2009.[11] The oldest GPS satellite still in operation was launched on November 26, 1990, and became operational on December 10, 1990.[12]
# On May 19, 2009, the U. S. Government Accountability Office issued a report warning that the some GPS satellites could fail as soon as 2010.[13]
# On May 21, 2009, the Air Force Space Command allayed fears of GPS system failure saying “There’s only a small risk we will not continue to exceed our performance standard”

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