Auto GPS » Paper Maps

Buying Your First GPS

admin — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:25:49 +0000

It seems like just about everyone has a GPS these days, everyone but you! If you are interested in buying your first GPS you may find that the market is a bit intimidating. There are a lot of really great products out there and you just may not be sure of what you need or even what you want! Long gone are the days of the paper maps, now you can have your very own machine tell you how to get from point A to point B with relative ease!

Shopping for Your GPS

One of the first things you will notice when you start shopping for your GPS is the wide range in prices. Today you can find models that start right around $100 and yet there are other models that cost $700 or more! Which one is the right one for you, and how will you know it when you see it?

Which GPS is right for you really depends on what you will be using it for. If you are looking for a GPS that will help guide you on short trips or will help get you around town occasionally you probably don’t need anything in the $700 range, in fact you will generally find that the units in the $200 to $300 range are suitable for you. The point is, if you are not going to be taking long trips or using the system every day, a more expensive system won’t pay for itself.

If you work in sales or if you work with the deliveries of products you may need to get a GPS unit that is a bit more costly. The reason is that the more costly units are able to help you with intricate directions and will provide a screen that will help you get from your starting point to your destination without any hiccups.

When you start comparing the features of each of the GPS units you will soon find that you are attracted to a certain quality unit. Be sure to ask yourself if the amount of use that you will get out of the unit justifies its cost, if not you can probably scale back again and still get a really great product. When shopping, be sure that you do shop around as prices can vary from retailer to retailer and your goal should always be to get the very best product for the most affordable price.

By: Heather Jacobson

Utilizing GPS Technology

admin — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:40:24 +0000

Automotive GPS Systems

Originally conceived and developed by the United States Department of Defense for use in military applications, GPS tracking technology has in recent years been opened up to commercial development and use by the general public. As a result of this, GPS tracking has seen a huge rise in popularity as more and more ways to utilize the technology has emerged in the marketplace. GPS capability can now be found in newer cars or as an aftermarket accessory for older cars as a replacement for having to deal with paper maps, as a handheld personal device for campers, hunters and other outdoor users, in some newer cell phones as a tracking device, and there are even GPS treasurehunting groups who hide objects and then post clues on the internet, for users to try and find using GPS systems. GPS systems are also finding great use by companies for tracking movement of vehicles and personnel as a way of monitoring business costs. And they are also being used by individuals as a way of monitoring personal vehicles of all kinds against theft and to monitor younger drivers whereabouts and driving habits.

A GPS system is basically an electronic transmitter/receiver that is in communication with a series of 24 satellites which orbit above the earth, and through communication with the satellites can pinpoint where on earth that receiver is. In the case of automobile navigation units, the user programs in a destination to the receiver and the satellites determine where the receiver actually is and then the receiver, using map data programmed into it can map the most direct route to get to the destination entered into it and display that information on a view screen. The information is constantly updated through communication between the receiver and the orbiting satellite system. Probably the most productive uses of GPS receivers would be as tracking and monitoring devices to monitor movement of vehicles for theft protection of vehicles and for commercial fleet management as well as keeping track of where young drivers go and what their driving habits are.

As with most electronic items, mass production is bringing the price down to the point where it is affordable to most everyone who is interested in GPS tracking. Basic units can be found for as little as a couple of hundred dollars, while more complex systems can run as much as a thousand dollars depending on what features and capabilities an individual has need of. Some GPS tracking systems may require an additional monthly monitoring fee similar to monthly cell phone charges.

By: Paul Dyer

How to Choose a GPS

admin — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:27:35 +0000

You’ve heard that new sport, geocaching, is fun. Or, you’re tired of getting lost on your travels. Welcome to the 21st century. Global Postioning System (GPS) has been around long enough that prices are reasonable and the technology is user-friendly. With myriad brands and models, how to choose?

If you want a GPS for both hiking and driving use, then a handheld unit would be the way to go. Some handhelds even have accessories to allow them to be installed in an automobile. But don’t rule out a PDA. More on that in a moment. For driving only, there are GPS receivers made just for vehicle use.

Handheld GPS receivers are either mapping or non–mapping. A basic, non–mapping unit can often cost less than $100 US and usually has/displays the following:

Location Compass heading Elevation above sea level Accurate time Satellite location and signal strength The ability to calculate distance traveled The ability to record your path as a set of waypoints The ability to navigate routes The ability to retrace your steps

Handheld mapping receivers do all the above plus have the ability to display maps. The maps are either pre–loaded or uploaded from your PC. Prices are reasonable for mapping units, starting at around $150 US.

Paper maps are strongly recommended whether you’re using a mapping receiver or not. Paper maps do not require batteries and probably won’t go defective. Also, a paper map gives you a “big picture” view of your situation — something lacking on the small screen of a GPS.

I mentioned earlier your considering a PDA with GPS capability. A PDA is bulkier and the battery life is usually shorter, but if you’re using a PDA anyway, then there are several ways to turn a PDA into a GPS. Some PDAs accept a GPS “sleeve.” That is a device that the PDA nestles into. Another choice is one of Garmin’s PDAs. Garmin is probably the most popular GPS maker and they have one PDA/GPS that is Palm–based and one that is Pocket PC–based.

Prices for automotive GPS start at around $250 US. These provide turn–by–turn guidance. Spend a little more than that and you get voice guidance. These are larger than handhelds in order to accommodate a screen large enough to be seen while driving. They are powered by the car’s electrical system and because of this, they can only be used in a vehicle.

Many automobile manufacturers now offer built-in GPS receivers as an option. Because they are built-in, the big advantages are security and aesthetics. They are quite a bit more expensive than add-on units and often have fewer options. I’ve also heard some stories of people having a hard time getting map updates.

A PDA/GPS is a good alternative for automotive use. Its screen is about the size of an automotive unit, so seeing the display is not a problem. They can also be powered by the car, eliminating battery worries. The Garmin PDAs mentioned above both come with the hardware and software for automotive use.

If you’re hiking, a basic handheld unit (without maps) will be fine since you’ll always have paper maps with you anyway (you will, won’t you?). An advantage to a handheld mapping unit is that they usually have more advanced features than the basic units. For driving, you have the choice of a handheld, in–car dedicated, or PDA. The handheld does have limited usefulness in a car, as it does not provide turn–by–turn guidance. For a more detailed look at how to choose a GPS, click here.

By: James Chartwell

What is an Car and Truck GPS?

admin — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:07:33 +0000

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

GPS Systems-Not Technical Enough to use a GPS? Don’t Worry- You Can Buy an Automatic GPS System

admin — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:41:06 +0000

This may come as a surprise… you do not have to be a technical person to use a GPS.

Although the concept and technology of Global Positioning Satellite systems was originally created by the Department of Defense for military uses, it has lately been made useable to the general public and today you will be able to get an automatic GPS system easily and promptly to keep you on track while driving. An automatic GPS system is becoming more and more popular amongst people and the latest vehicles actually include it among the vehicle accessories.

An auto GPS system is basically a GPS receiver that’s put on the dashboard of the vehicle. You program in the address you’re thinking of going and the system will provide you stepwise directions -audio directions in the latest ones. The days of paper maps and argument over whether or not men could ask for directions are all over. Nowadays, all you require is an auto GPS system and you’re ready to go where you wish.

The automatic GPS system receives its signal from four out of twenty-four possible orbiters that are constantly revolving the Earth. The receiver overlays this positioning data onto map files stored on the unit, to provide a present location on the map in addition to previous course. The receiver perpetually recalculates location, passing on real time location. A regular auto GPS system comprises:

* A twelve channel receiver – the quality of the receiver decides how long it takes the device to acquire a 3-D fix.

* Antenna to receive satellite signals – placed to get an unobstructed view of the sky.

* Central processing unit to process the information and place on maps

* A DVD Hard-drive – where maps on DVD’s or those downloaded from the net are uploaded and put in. Some cheaper units don’t upload the maps; they just reference them off the DVD or CD.

* A Display Screen – generally color with hand-held units using black-and-white

* Audio Interface

The first time you switch on your automatic GPS system, its information store is empty so it has to gather satellite data to find out your location. This is named as cold start. Some units just take thirty to forty-five seconds to get a 3-D fix during a cold start, while others could take several minutes. Future position updates just takes three to four seconds. Whenever you go out of range from losing line of vision, like passing behind a large building or through a tunnel, a good receiver will immediately recover, whereas weaker units will need more time to reacquire a 3-D fix.

Nowadays, automatic GPS systems are not as costly as you guess they might be. A few of the automatic GPS systems could be obtained for under two hundred dollars and the flashier devices will cost you as much as a thousand dollars. However there’s no doubt that owning an automatic GPS system could surely make life more comfortable for everybody.

By: Kamran Chy