Posts Tagged ‘Navigational Systems’

Hit The Road With A Garmin GPS

March 14th, 2010



Garmin is one of the top manufacturers of global positioning systems in the United States. They offer a host of products from GPS navigational product for cars, boats and motorcycles to aviation and boats. There goal is to enrich the lives of their customers through the products of navigational equipment.

Beginning with GPS units for vehicles, Garmin began using the power of the 24 satellites circling 12,000 feet above us back in 1989 when the company started making GPS navigational systems for people and their cars. Today they are making the same product, only better. Garmin has kept up with the times and increase their products as the times called for them. Today they offer the vehicle GPS navigational unit, as well as the GPS for boats and airplanes and hikers and bicycle enthusiasts.

Garmin makes a remarkable assortment of GPS navigational units for every kind of moving vehicle and person. Today they put GPS navigation equipment in personal assistant machines which is a small travel aide; a cell phone and your computer. With the personal assistant, you can download your destination and the personal assistant will ‘walk’ you to your destination or as you are driving, give you turn-by-turn directions to get to where you are going. The cell phone is similar in that you download your information and the voice will guide you to your destination using a map of where you are now and an arrow following you as you walk to where you would like to be. And lastly we have the computer or laptop which can be used as a GPS navigational system by itself after you have downloaded the information.

Other Garmin GPS units include those for aviation use complete with longitude and altitude and the same is programmed into the marine GPS units. Some of these units are portable and can help you get around the city or town without your car and help you find restaurants, places of interest (POI) such as parks or ATM machines; they can also help you find an address you’ve never been to before. Besides aviation use, Garmin makes GPS units for marine usage as well. Being able to see the bottom of the lake or river or ocean in clear form is something fishermen have been waiting a long time for. Now they can tell a fish from a rock and discover where all the fish hang out and with the routing feature on the GPS, keep going back to the same spot over and over again.

Garmin GPS units can be found through their website or on other websites throughout the Internet. They can also be purchased at electronic stores and large discount stores for cheaper than the official website address has them. Discounted Garmin’s would be found on the Internet, be buyer beware, sometimes people are selling ‘refurbished’ or ‘reconditioned’ Garmin GPS units and if that is not what you want, you should ask if it is a new unit or ‘re – done’ unit.

By: Charlie Lee

GPS Systems in Trucks

December 19th, 2009



With the business of logistics becoming more and more competitive, the use of GPS systems in trucks is increasingly common. A GPS system fitted to a truck will mean that the transportation company will be able to track all their loads throughout their journeys. This will ensure a clear picture of where their vehicles are and they will be able to track their progress as they deliver their goods. Customers waiting for deliveries can then be given a reliable report of progress and a definite expected time of delivery.

The technology which allows the use of GPS systems in trucks is now commonplace and the price of such equipment is decreasing all the time. In fact, you will now find many cars fitted with similar devices in an attempt to combat theft. Many logistics companies have now decided that the cost of the equipment is justifiable as the benefits are clear. These benefits go well beyond just knowing the whereabouts of their trucks. A GPS system will also feed information back to base regarding the speed that the vehicles are travelling. This can be important in reducing speeding and therefore reducing the risk of fines.

Another important benefit of fitting GPS systems in trucks is as an aid to navigation. As the information regarding the whereabouts of your fleet is fed to your central dispatch office, you will be able to give detailed directions to your drivers. This could be vital if you have information regarding road closures or traffic hold ups. Such details could be the difference between making a delivery on time and suffering the consequences of being late. If you are responsible for the long distance movement of perishable goods, for example, this could save your load being spoiled. Details on navigational systems are fed into the computer, including the size of the vehicles. Information such as this can be important as allowances can be made for manoeuvrability though small town. Details such as vehicle size are also important when it comes to narrow roads, low bridges or stretches of road with weight restrictions. A satellite navigation and positioning system will be of great help in the direction of vehicles in such circumstances.

Now that technology is moving on at such a rate, some companies are installing GPS systems in trucks that not only track the whereabouts of their fleet but are also letting the central dispatch office know of problems that the vehicles may be suffering. Some are fitted to the trucks main systems and will give a technical readout directly to the office or vehicle maintenance office. Although this is obviously more costly than a straightforward tracking system, it is considered to be a worthwhile investment for many of the larger companies.

Despite the initial outcry of the drivers to accept the use of GPS systems in trucks, due to the possible invasion of privacy, they are a natural step on from the old cardboard tacho systems that they replace. They are, however, a huge step when it comes to the efficient running of a logistics department.

By: Candis Reade

What is an Car and Truck GPS?

November 23rd, 2009



Do you travel a lot? Have you found yourself wishing you had a better way of finding your end point instead of using old fashion paper maps? If so, then you need an Car and Truck GPS. If you don’t know a lot about these devices, then you should know that they are the most modern way to find your way away. They can tell you exactly how to reach your end point by giving you precise directions. These directions are so advanced that it can even tell you when you need to make a turn and in which direction you are traveling. Choosing an Car and Truck GPS that is right for you will depend on how you plan on using the system.

These navigational systems work by using satellites to find your location and then mapping out a route to your end point. Without pinpointing your current location a new end point cannot be found. The system uses latitude and longitude to determine where you are and then to find the location you programmed as your end point. These systems can give you several routes to the location that you are searching for and it is your choice which one you decide to use. There are several different types of Car and Truck GPSs that you can choose for your vehicle.

There are both cheap and expensive Car and Truck GPSs available. Some of the cheaper models plug into the cigarette lighter of your vehicle and is great for the occasional use. However, these are a little harder to use than some of the other types. If you plan on using your system often, then you may want a bigger one with more features. There are several styles and sizes of these to choose from, so make sure you pick one that is suited for your vehicle. You wouldn’t want to choose a system that makes it uncomfortable when passengers are riding.

Some of these systems feature several different ways for you to find your end point. In other words, you can find a end point by using things like the address of the place you are searching for, a street name or choose a location from the map. These systems can use voice commands to help you find your end point. Many of them will also tell you the location of the nearest airport, bus station, train stations, ATM’s and banks. The Car and Truck GPS is a great asset to any vehicle that can ensure you never get lost or miss a turn again.

By: James Kronefield