Auto GPS » Gps Technology

To Catch a Thief – Use a GPS Tracking Device

admin — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 12:54:29 +0000

In a recent news story, police were able to apprehend a criminal who stole a van because the van was equipped with a GPS tracking device.

A felon spotted a van that was property of a county in New York state and hopped in for a ride. As you probably know some crimes are planned, but many are simply crimes of opportunity. An idling van, an open door…these are the kinds of temptations that criminals find hard to resist.

The employee who had been entrusted with the van was quick to alert his employer and they in turn called the police. Because of the GPS tracking device inside, the police were able to find the van outside of a fast food restaurant. Without the GPS tracking device, who can say how long it would have taken for them to find the vehicle? It surely wasn’t the only county-owned van on the streets. So police would have had to be on the lookout for both the van, not really knowing exactly where it was or who was driving it. A detective in an unmarked car attempted to get the suspect to end his joy ride. The suspect left the vehicle and made a run for it.

Eventually the van thief, someone who had been arrested 17 times in the past, was apprehended.

There is another side to this story though-what about the employees who left the car running and accessible to an opportunistic thief? We didn’t get to read about the end of that person’s story. I’m sure the county was glad that this employee came forward quickly and did not try to hide the theft.

As great as GPS technology is and as much as it can do to help make things more efficient, it doesn’t beat old-fashioned common sense. Most employers would prefer of their employees didn’t leave company vehicles idling, but having a GPS tracking device can add an extra layer of security in the event that something like this does happen.

By: Nancy McCord

GPS Tracking is Saving Businesses Money

admin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:24:56 +0000

Businesses are saving thousands of dollars per month with GPS vehicle tracking devices.

“Businesses have reported a reduction in fuel usage as the biggest advantage of GPS tracking,” said Brad Borst, Founder and President of RMT. Monitoring and reducing speeds, routes, and idle time are just a few things that fleet owners can do to lower the fuel bill. Each mile per hour above 50 MPH increases fuel consumption by 1 ½ percent. Higher speeds also cause more tire heat, which puts more wear on tires. Wear on tires will almost double at road speeds of 70 MPH or greater. RMT’s GPS tracking systems report all vehicle activity and immediately alerts fleet managers by cell phone and email of speeding and unauthorized use of company vehicles.

Business owners are most concerned with fuel & maintenance, employee overtime, and employee productivity. New GPS technology significantly reducing excess costs for businesses:

1. Fuel & Maintenance – The average operating cost per vehicle is about $1.50 per mile. A company can reduce at least 25 miles per week for each vehicle with a GPS tracking device.

2. Employee Overtime – The employee overtime rate is estimated at about $30 per hour. On average, a company can reduce at least 1 hour of overtime per week with a GPS fleet tracking system.

3. Employee Productivity – On average, each vehicle could complete at lease 1 extra stop, job, or delivery per week with a live GPS tracking unit.
For an average size fleet of 10 vehicles, this means an estimated monthly savings of over $6000 with RMT’s GPS tracking solution.

A new Mileage (odometer) tracking feature for the Discovery LITE GPS fleet tracking system. The mileage tracking will allow fleet managers to observe vehicle performance and maintenance from the convenience of their computer. RMT expects to offer the mileage tracking to its thousands of customers by the end of the month.

By: Brad Borst

Motorcycle GPS Makes For Better Travels

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:20:25 +0000

If you have ever traveled on a motorcycle across country you know what the hassles can be associated with it. It can be a drag having to stop ever so often to find the correct route. Most of the time you will have to pull over on the highway and with traffic flying by it is really hard to read a map sometimes. This is why getting a GPS unit for your motorcycle is something you really should consider. It will make traveling a lot easier as you will be able to have more time to enjoy your ride instead of having to worry about which turn to make all the time. Let us look a little closer at GPS on motorcycles and how it can actually help you.

Over the years many different companies have come out with Motorcycle GPS, but none have worked very well until the Zumo550. This portable GPS unit is from Garmin and has many great features that will make traveling so much easier. It is very easy to operate and has all the features anybody who rides a motorcycle would ever need. You also get the Garmin name, which is the industry leader as far as GPS technology is concerned. Turn by turn navigation is something you will like from this unit as well as touch display and easy accessible controls make your traveling much easier than ever before. This is a very solid performer that will last you for years. Let’s look at how it will make life easier for you as you’re on the road as well.

One of the hardest things to do when you’re driving a motorcycle is to watch everything around you. With traffic and other obstacles that could be fatal you must stay very alert and this usually causes you to miss an exit and makes traveling much tougher than ever before. This is where a motorcycle GPS unit can really make things much easier. With turn-by-turn navigation you will be able to see what exit you need before you get right upon it. You will have much more time to react and in the end you will be much safer as you will not be weaving in and out of traffic because you will know exactly where you need to be.

Most of the newer motorcycle GPS units have a fuel monitor on them which means it will give you a warning when you are getting low on fuel so you will know exactly when it is time to fuel up. Now finding a gas station especially out on the road can be tough sometimes, but with GPS technology that will not be a problem either. With a touch of a button you will be able to pull up the points of interest database. This database will have a list of gas stations and exactly what exit they are on and how many miles away from you. This takes all the guesswork out and makes sure you never run out of fuel.

Motorcycle GPS will also make traveling on your motorcycle much more fun as well. No more worrying about how to get somewhere or how many more miles to go. It will all be right at your fingertips. This is why getting a GPS system for your bike could be the best investment you ever make. The hours that a unit of this type will save you is immeasurable. Most people who get one will tell you they would never leave home without it. Many people worry about hooking one of these up, but in reality it is real easy and does not take much time at all. The learning curve is real short as well so you will be on the road heading in the right direction very quickly.

If you travel a lot and want to make that experience even more fun than by all means grab a GPS unit for your motorcycle. One of the best around is the Garmin Zumo550, which has many extras that you will love. It is easy to hookup and operates so you will be on the road in no time at all. GPS technology is the wave of the future why not has it on your motorcycle as well. It will save you money in wasted trips and wrong turns that it will pay for it probably is just a few uses. I know as a rider I have made so many wrong turns, but now with GPS technology those turns will be a thing of the past for me.

By: Jeffrey Meier

GPS Devices – Don’t Get Lost

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:12:33 +0000

Mobile GPS devices are becoming more and more popular each day, for they allow great portability. Most consumer GPS devices can be easily fit into the palm and are not that heavy as well. It can also be clip to a pet’s collar or fit into a cell phone. The basic concept behind GPS unit is quite simple. It includes a radio emitter that works with a clock, and together they work with Satellite that are located in the space. And now with the booming of technology, we have GPS device installed in many laptops computers, cars and even at seat back television screen of airplanes.

While the GPS technology does not really need a lot of space, the software that adds the functionalities expected by the consumer, actually does. The software once created, gets improved by getting smaller. The fact that not all GPS features are required by the customers, allows for smaller GPS devices.

How does a GPS device work? As already said, the GPS device requires a radio emitter and a clock to work. The emitter sends the time of the clock to the satellite overhead. The satellite then calculates the amount of time it took for the radio signal to reach them and then figures the distance from that. Three or four satellites compare their location and the time involved. They then show the location within about six inches depending on the accuracy of the unit’s clock.

Portable GPS device can be of many use. Besides plotting navigation or tracking objects and living things, it can use the data as information in applications.

Many mobile devices are GPS enabled in the present times. One of the most talked about, is the GPS navigation system of Nokia N95 and the Nokia 6110 navigator. The GPS of these devices are very user-friendly, and designed to meet the requirements of the modern users.

By: Alice Erin

Tracking Your Cheating Spouse With GPS

admin — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:34:31 +0000

Do you suspect your spouse is cheating, but don’t know for sure? Do you wonder who they might be talking to on the phone? Are they really going to the gym late at night? Fortunately, technology exists for tracking your cheating spouse with GPS technology. GPS tracking technology allows you to pinpoint where your spouse is going and lets you identify if they are where they say they are. In this article, we are going to cover how the GPS tracking works if you decide to use this method.

There are several types of GPS tracking devices depending on how technical you want to get. The easiest to use systems I have seen are small cards that you can put in the car, then download the data later and view on a map where your spouse has been. After downloading the data, you can overlay the data on the map and trace each movement of the vehicle. The best system I found was from SkyTRX GPS systems. It works very well with any PC and is easy to use.

The second type of tracking device is a more active GPS tracking system with real time monitoring. Most of these services require a monitoring device that costs around $400-$500 and requires a monthly subscription to the GPS service. These systems are useful for tracking fleets of cars, but not so viable in tracking your cheating spouse. I would advise going with a simpler tracking system.

The third type of tracking is a device that actually taps your spouses cell phone. These devices do way more than just location tracking. You can actually capture SMS, Text Messaging, Caller ID, and also listen in on their phone conversations. The device allows you to track the cell phone through the cell phone network and relays back the location. Another feature is that you can track incoming and outgoing calls and numbers.

These devices are very scary at what they can do. Another feature is they actually allow you to turn the cell phone into a microphone so you can listen to the surroundings. Several services offer this product. One of the better ones is product from FlexiSpy. These products support most models of phones. These include Blackberry, Windows Mobile, and Symbian devices.

If your intuition is telling you that your spouse is cheating but you just need the hard facts, GPS tracking might be the solution for you. Depending on how technical you are, the easiest to operate is the first option where you simply plug into the PC and look at the map.

If you really want to dig deep, the mobile phone device is going to be your best bet. It should only take you a few weeks with these more sophisticated devices to find out for sure if you have a cheating spouse. If you don’t want to do it alone, you can always hire a private investigator who can use these devices as well. Best of luck.

By: Matt Murren

GPS – Bringing The World Together

admin — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:36:55 +0000

GPS, or Global Positioning System, has become for the 21st century what bloodhounds and used to be for police forces and bread crumbs were for Hansel and Gretel: both a way to find a person or target, and a way for a person to keep from becoming lost. GPS uses its “eyes in the sky”, a group of twenty-one operating and three backup satellites in orbit nearly twelve thousand miles above the Earth, to interpret the signals sent from GPS devices down below.

GPS translates those signals into information about the latitude, longitude, and altitude of the device that sent it, and beams the information back to a GPS receiver in the same device. The whole operation is done in split seconds, accurate to within five meters, and is the result of over three decades and twelve billion (and rising) dollars spent by the US Department of Defense.

Military GPS Applications

While the DoD initially installed GPS systems in their Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles to help them locate their targets with pinpoint accuracy, the GPS technology has now fund applications far beyond its use in weapons systems. The US military used it once again in 1991, during the first Gulf War, when GPS was essential for the mapping of huge uncharted tracts of desert.

Because GPS information can be provided as a readout, interpreted, and printed as a map of the target terrain, it saved the military countless man-hours and risk to the personnel who would otherwise have had to map the desert while airborne. GPS has its defensive purposes as well; it allows a country to monitor the movements of military troops in another country across the globe and to prepare for an attack well lin advance.

Commercial GPS Application

The first non-military use of sGPS was for marine applications; those lost at sea and unable to navigate by traditional means could simply push a button to signal the GPS satellites and have their latitude and longitude appearing on a screen in a matter of seconds. Today GPS is most widely used in the aviation industry, as an aid to routing aircraft.

GPS technology has advanced so much, in fact, that it is now possible for ships’ computers to be linked to a GPS system which automatically navigates to a preprogrammed destination. GPS can function as both s ship’s navigator and captain, although it is highly improbable that it will replace them.

GPS, in both its military and commercial applications, has made the world a much smaller and safe, place!

By: David Faulkner

Tips On Using Marine GPS Based Devices

admin — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:12:10 +0000

Marine GPS based devices are a boon to all seafarers. It is based on the Global Positioning System or GPS. It is a constellation of satellites which orbit the earth twice a day, transmitting exact time and position information. With GPS, you can spot your precise location and get back to your original destination. A marine GPS can be of a great help should you get lost in any large body of water – lakes, seas or oceans.

A marine GPS device’s use starts off the first step prior to going out to sea – voyage planning. One of the most vital advantages of using marine GPS is that it is a device commonly responsible for saving lives. In addition, marine GPS also reduces the chances of getting lost at sea.

Normally, marine GPS systems are used by the Coast Guard to keep track of ships as they move along the coastlines. This will give them an idea of the direction in which a vessel is heading. They may be able to communicate with the vessel and provide precise information regarding its current position and directions to take to get to its destination.

With marine GPS technology, planning routes for other ships have been made possible for the crew. In addition, this technology also helps in avoiding collisions that may cause fatality or other accidents that may cause damage to the ship.

Basically, there are many different kinds of marine GPS in the market. They range from voice-enabled computer systems to simple radar-oriented GPS systems. The more popular marine GPS systems will be the one that is voice-enabled. Somehow seafarers relate to this type of marine GPS systems since they find some comfort in listening to a ‘human’ voice; though it may be a computer generated one. As for the radar-oriented GPS systems, they only give off a beep as a form of signal. This makes the interaction with the marine GPS a less ‘personal’ one; although they are very effective in locating positions.

People usually perceive that they need lots of sea knowledge in order to operate a marine GPS. However this is not the case. Just like any other GPS system, all you need to do is to read the manual and understand the signals that are shown on the GPS device. Thereafter, you can program the marine GPS device according to the requirements of your journey on the high seas. Whether you use a marine GPS on land or at sea, they provide user friendly interfaces that makes them easy for everyone to operate.

GPS Fish Finders Is A Great Tool For The Fisherman – Hobbyist Or Professional

GPS fish finders are amazing devices that take away the hassle of finding your catch during your fishing expeditions. There is a great variety of GPS fish finders today. The Internet is a great place to start your search for information. Some sites will have general information regarding these innovative devices; others will have details regarding commercially available models. You can review their features and functions and what they will cost to buy to improve the chances of successful fishing. Here is a summary of some well-known models:

1) Hummingbird 383c GPS Fish Finder Combo

This GPS fish finder has a built-in nautical mile resolution UniMap of USA inland lakes, rivers and coastal areas. In addition, it includes many key features in its package such as an internal 16 channel WAAS GPS receiver with omni-directional antenna for higher performance. This model gives accurate water temperature readings and can be designed for both fresh and saltwater environments.

In addition it also can freeze frame immediately; pause display allowing more time to examine the details. Its compact design is perfect if there is insufficient space on your boat. Moreover, this GPS fish finder can be easily mounted on a mounting space on the boat. This model possesses the DualBeam PLUS sonar, which delivers wider coverage of the bottom. It also makes the job of finding fish much easier with the built in adjustable zoom levels for display.

2) Eagle FishElite 500c GPS Fish Finder

This model is another popular choice for a GPS fish finder. It has a high quality ultra bright and 256 color LCD screen. Furthermore it is a full size combo 200 kHz sonar and mapping GPS and WAAS with 256-color, sunlight-viewable 320Vx240H pixel display.

What is great about this mode is that it offers high definition to help you identify what you are looking for. In fact, the GPS fish finder can reveal fish hidden in underwater color. It also comes with an optional sensor and adjustable ping speed with automatic HyperScroll to show fish targets at higher boat speeds.

This GPS fish finder system also comes with a built-in temperature sensor in the transducer, zoom in bottom tracking and easy zoom in and out control as well as on and off sonar alarms. This model also comes with pre-installed maps of the continental U.S and Hawaii.

Basically, this particular GPS fish finder is good, durable and easy to use. Its internal memory helps to store GPS data and sonar settings. Therefore, with this tool, you can be assured that you will bring in loads of fish home.

By: Cindy Heller

Using a GPS For Golf

admin — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 02:14:25 +0000

In this article I will give you 10 benefits of using a GPS for golf. With the rapid development of GPS technology, using a GPS for golf has become very popular throughout the world, and in particular America and Australia.

Why has using a GPS for golf become so popular?

Well quite simply the information you receive from a GPS is both accurate and extremely useful.

When using a GPS for golf you get the following benefits:

Distances from where you are to varying parts of the course and hole in play. This includes the overall length of the hole, the distance to the beginning and end of the fairway. Distances to hazards, both to reach and to carry the hazard, as well as distances to the front, centre and back of the green. All this information is extremely useful and time saving. No more measuring out or guessing of distances. Most Golf GPS models are accurate to within a couple of yards. Get to know how far you hit the ball with each club. A lot of players who have been using a GPS for golf say that this can be quite a humbling experience. Believing that they hit a driver (or any club) a certain distance and then discovering that they in fact don’t hit it that far seems to amaze them. Truth is most amateurs think they hit the ball further than they do. Gain confidence. Knowing the distance that you hit each club gives you an incredible amount of confidence when playing. No longer do you have to worry about a three quarter or “between clubs” shot. This alleviates tension and allows for a smooth swing. Ever wondered why the pros seem to know exactly which club to use and get the distances exactly right? Their caddies are paid to know exactly how far it is to the pin, what clubs they hit that distance and to advise the player accordingly – exactly the information you will get from using a GPS for golf. A Golf GPS is extremely useful when you have hit a wayward shot; say behind some trees, where you would ordinarily have no idea of how far it is to get the ball back into play or to the green. Without a line of sight you can confidently play your shot knowing that your ball will (or should – as you still have to execute the shot) land back in play or where you intended it to go. Play anywhere any time with confidence. If playing at a strange course for the first time or a course that you do not play that often – such as when you are on holiday – you have the advantage of not having to worry about distances. Most GPS models come preloaded with a number of local courses or courses can be downloaded as required. In addition you can ‘map’ or plot your own points on every hole and so customize your GPS specifically for your own use. Using a GPS for golf will speed up play. It is amazing how many players report that this happens. Even one GPS in a four ball seems to speed up play considerably. Shoot lower scores and reduce your handicap. A lot of people who use a GPS for golf say that they have shaved shots off their rounds from the very first time they use a GPS. Quite simply a GPS takes a lot of tension out of the equation and this definitely makes for better scoring. Be the envy of your mates – they’ll all want to play with you. Or more likely want you to help them with their distances. Analyze your round after the game by using the built in statistics available in most GPS models. Enjoy your game more. If you are playing well you will naturally enjoy it more.

So there you have it – 10 benefits to using a GPS for golf. If you haven’t already tried using a GPS for golf do yourself a favor and go out and get one today.

By: Lawrence Bredenkamp

What Is GPS and How Can It Be Used?

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:48:48 +0000

GPS stands for Global Positioning System and was initially designed to be used by the U.S. military and is operated by the U.S. Defense Department. This system consists of 24 satellites, these satellites are 12,000 miles above us, are constantly moving in a precise orbit, have an atomic clock, and are solar powered. They do have a battery backup so they will continue to run in the event of a solar eclipse, and each satellites has a small rocket booster to maintain their orbit. The first satellite was launched in 1978 and it wasn’t until 1994 when there were a total of 24 satellites. Each satellite has a life expectancy of about 10 years, so new satellites are constantly being built and launched. Each satellite weighs about 2,000 pounds and is approximately 17 feet in width when the solar panels are extended. In the 1980s the GPS became available to the public, and although it is still maintain by the U.S. Defense Department there is no charge for its usage by the public.

These 24 satellites orbit the earth twice a day and continuously sends the location of the satellite. A GPS system can tell how far a satellite is away by comparing the time difference between the time a signal was transmitted and the time it was received, the longer it takes the signal to be received by a receiver, the farther away the satellite is. If a GPS is receiving signals from three satellites it can calculate latitude and longitude. Altitude can be determined if the GPS is receiving signals from four satellites.

GPS can be used for navigating your car through traffic day-to-day or tracking a fleet of vehicles. Not only can a driver use a GPS for directions the main office knows where that vehicle is and the speed of the vehicle. GPS can be used while on vacation for activities such as hiking, camping, or hunting. Is your passion fishing but get frustrated trying to find the fish? With a fish finder which uses both GPS technology and sonar you’ll know exactly where to go to find those fish. GPS technology is also being used as a way to track your pet if he wanders off or to safeguard a pet from being stolen.

Another use for GPS is as a child finder with a receiver in a child’s cell phone or wristwatch to ensure a child’s safety. It can be used in a teenager’s car in order to both know where they and how fast they are driving. This could also be used to keep track of someone who tends to ‘roam’ but is not capable enough to find there way back; i.e. someone with Alzheimer’s disease.

As GPS technology improves, it uses will increase. Who knows where it will take us next?

Copyright 2006 Angela Carter

By: Angie Carter

GPS System Tracking – Applications of GPS Tracking System

admin — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:07:24 +0000

The General Positioning System (GPS) tracking system is the latest breakthrough of the technology aiming at improving people’s lives. The GPS tracking system is reported to be used as a travel guide and as a tracking device of vehicles. No matter its application, GPS devices are good traveling companions.

The actual process of GPS tracking system is straightforward. In short, there are exactly 27 satellites rolling around the center of the Earth. Out of them, 24 are used by the GPS technology and the remaining ones are used for storage purposes. A GPS receiver installed in your car emits a signal to these satellites. Four available satellites will be used to find out your exact position. The mathematical tenet involves in this computing process is called trilateration. It can be achieved in either two dimensions or three dimensions.

Adverse weather conditions can affect the accuracy of the position. This issue is still to be addressed by GPS vendors as they are struggling to tweak their devices as a way around this problem.

Applications of GPS devices are twofold: the first one being as travelling guide as you can set your destination and the receiver will work out your location. It will also tell the best trajectory to reach your destination. It should be noted that some devices are able to talk as well. The GPS technology is also reported to be used in the military industry as it was first created for such purposes.

Another application of GPS devices is for tracking purposes. For instance a car company may decide to install GPS device in their cars in order to record their position all over the time. This can help them improving their delivery times and also increase their efficiency. An employer also can make use of this device to make sure that his employees are not abusing company car privileges.

Private investigators also make use of GPS tracking devices in order to keep track of cheating wives. Law enforcement also makes use of GPS devices to locate people who steal cars. Recent GPS devices are also able to report a driver’s habits therefore deciding if the driver is responsible enough to carry on.

The GPS tracking system is also a perfect way around home construction site thefts. Indeed, recent news from the Tennessee reveals that GPS tracking devices have helped identify a rash of construction site thefts where many thieves were used to nicking home appliances. A Tennessee police spokesman later on claims that these hard to break burglaries could be tracked down in less than 24 hours with suitable GPS tracking devices.

Still in the US, it is well known that some school buses are equipped with GPS tracking devices for emergency response purposes. Indeed, school buses equipped with the GPS tracking devices can be used to shuttle emergency responders such as fire fighters, and evacuate those in need, including nursing home residents.

In summary, GPS device applications are growing more and more over the time. There are mainly used for military and civilian purposes as we described in previous sections. It is nowadays commonplace to see GPS devices almost everywhere as we saw in the previous sections.

By: John B Mayall