Portable GPS Map Units - How You Can Use Them

Portable GPS Map Units - How You Can Use Them
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Abhishek_Agarwal]Abhishek Agarwal

Portable GPS maps units can be helpful in a number of ways. If you have this wonderful handheld GPS tool with you, you can give free reign to the explorer in you and enjoy as many hiking and biking expeditions as you want. You can always depend on your portable GPS maps units to keep you on the right track. For this reason, you should be armed with a good variety of GPS maps that can help you to navigate the trip you want to undertake in your vehicle. It is also desirable that these GPS maps are accurate and detailed.

Your portable GPS unit may be pre-loaded with GPS maps, but very often you will find that the details you desire will be lacking in them. Your portable GPS unit could well prove to be a life saver in case you lose your way during your expedition. So acquiring detailed and accurate GPS maps for the portable unit is of prime importance. If you are heading towards an unfamiliar location and that location is not incorporated in the pre-loaded software coming with the GPS unit, you can well imagine the plight you will land in.

It is very easy to locate GPS maps for GPS units. If you will go to the internet, you will find many websites that will offer your free downloadable GPS maps. At the click of the mouse, you can download these GPS maps directly on to the hard drive of your computer and subsequently upload these to your portable GPS unit. A Google search on "GPS maps" will help you locate these places with various detailed maps for any number of destinations.

Actually, there is hardly any difference between the GPS portable maps and the GPS maps for regular GPS device which is mounted, except the fact that they exist in a smaller size in keeping with the smaller screens. Despite that, all the details that go in for a regular navigation system will be incorporated in the GPS maps for the portable units. These will contain all the specifics like the destination information keeping you on track and the information on the terrain of the area. This is a boon for bikers and hikers as it is relatively easy to lose your way in the woods. You have a fancy compass in the guise of your hand held portable GPS unit which can even communicate with you to guide you back on your track.

You may also opt for as many detailed and accurate GPS maps as you can for portable units so as to ensure your peace of mind while on your expeditions. Then you can leave your worries of getting lost in an unfamiliar destination way behind and enjoy your trip fully.

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New WAAS Technology Increases Marine GPS Accuracy

New WAAS Technology Increases Marine GPS Accuracy
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Hugo_Valle]Hugo Valle

Marine GPS is now benefiting from a new technology called WAAS, which is being developed by a couple of Government agencies to improve the accuracy of GPS data for aviation purposes. Even though this new technology is still in its infancy, it has already brought Marine GPS accuracy to within 3 meters, and most leading GPS manufactures are already manufacturing WAAS capable devices.

WAAS stands for Wide Area Augmentation System and is basically a new system of satellites working together with ground stations whose main function is to make corrections to GPS signal readings, which usually get distorted by satellite orbit, atmospheric disturbances and delay in signal transmission. The ground stations track GPS reading from all GPS satellites and forward it to a couple of master ground stations whose function is to retransmit the corrected data back to a stationary satellites for retransmission back to the originating satellites.

The resulting improvement in accuracy of the GPS reading seems to be in the range of 3 to 5 times better than GPS alone, and that currently translates to a pinpoint accuracy of approximately 3 meters. Three meter might not seem like a lot, but considering that the average was 10 meters, to vessel in open waters makes a major difference.

The initial mission for WAAS was to improve GPS readings accuracy for aviation purposes, but the new technology is finding its way into marine GPS as well. WAAS is also a free system and the structure of the information is compatible with existing GPS signals, which means that any GPS device equipped with a WAAS antenna can benefit from it. What's more, newer Garmin marine GPS, Lawrence marine GPS and Magellan, who are the leading manufactures of marine GPS devices already have WAAS capable marine GPS systems on the market.

The current infrastructure of the WAAS system at the moment has only been developed to support most of North America and cannot cover remote areas outside the United States, but other regions like Asia and Europe are also developing parallel systems and eventually, GPS users around the world will have access to much more precise positioning GPS data by tapping into these systems.

For a list of available WAAS capable Marine GPS, please visit: http://OnlineMarineGPS.com/

Hugo Valle is an Affiliate Marketer and expert in Car Audio and Consumer Electronics. http://onlinemarinegps.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hugo_Valle http://EzineArticles.com/?New-WAAS-Technology-Increases-Marine-GPS-Accuracy&id=1370861

Comparable GPS Solutions for the Consumer

Comparable GPS Solutions for the Consumer
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow]Lance Winslow

Perhaps you are interested in getting a GPS unit for your Car but you do not know, which type to buy? There are many different ways to do GPS and there are many GPS solutions for the consumer. Let's compare a couple of examples of products you can buy to solve your GPS desires. Nobody wants to be lost and no man wants to ask someone else for directions. That is why God invented GPS.

Perhaps you have seen the commercials for TomTom, which offers voice-activate GPS while you drive. The Tom Tom Go 910 costs about $800 and it is a pretty nifty little unit. If voice-activated GPS is not what you're looking for there are less expensive units that you can get into.

One company makes a GPS unit, which is also an MP3 player. The MIO DigiWalker C310 is a take anywhere type device for about $650 and in this unit also interfaces with your Microsoft outlook e-mail contacts and address book and anyone listed in there with an address, the GPS can take you there; pretty cool.

One of the most popular GPS units that most of the truck drivers enjoy you can also get for your SUV and it is made by Garmin Corp. and it is the GPS Map 378 and it will set you back about $1200-$1300. The MapQuest Navigator is another interesting toy and he can turn any modern cell phone into a GPS unit with full display, so it is great if you are on foot and the service runs about $10 per month.

Perhaps it is time that you got a GPS unit so you don't get lost anymore and can find those things quicker without driving around wasting all that expensive gas. Hopefully you'll consider all this in 2006.

"Lance Winslow" - Online [http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/]Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; [http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/]www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for [http://www.ourspokanemagazine.com/]Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow http://EzineArticles.com/?Comparable-GPS-Solutions-for-the-Consumer&id=306789

Time to Get GPS on Big Wheels for Kids

Time to Get GPS on Big Wheels for Kids
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow]Lance Winslow

How come all the adults get the cool toys. We have GPS units the size of cell phones. You can get a GPS for your bicycle, which will tell you your exact speed, where you are and your average time to destination at the present rate and accumulated time, speed and distance, WOW.

We have GPS for Motor Homes, snowmobiles, boats and motorcycles. It seems all the high-end cars have them too now. And they better considering the 50K cost of today’s SUV they better come with GPS. Indeed I hear you.

But what about for GPS to track golf balls on the PDA on the steering wheel of our golf cart? We all love GPS and so give us more ASAP, alert the media and lets get the researchers right on it. Indeed when there is money involved and such markets available an entrepreneurial company will fill that niche. So, you have to give kudos to capitalism no doubt.

But what about our children, we need GPS trackers to watch them and they need navigation tools too. For instance they need GPS for the steering wheels on their Big Wheels; it is only fair. If Dad can have all these tools in his cars, golf cart and Mountain Bike then certainly Junior should be able to have GPS technologies too. Perhaps we should consider this in 2006.

"Lance Winslow" - Online [http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/]Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; [http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/]www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for [http://www.ourspokanemagazine.com/]Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow http://EzineArticles.com/?Time-to-Get-GPS-on-Big-Wheels-for-Kids&id=306135

Practical Uses for GPS Technology

Practical Uses for GPS Technology
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jeremy_Maddock]Jeremy Maddock

Since the US Department of Defense established the worldwide Global Positioning System (GPS) network, it has been put to a very wide variety of uses by governments, corporations, organizations, and individuals alike.

It has been put to good use for many years in its original, and most obvious, purpose of coordinating military operations. In fact, if it weren’t for GPS, many modern military operations and practices would simply not be possible. It is also frequently used in search-and-rescue missions as well as disaster relief efforts.

In addition to this, GPS technology has proven to be instrumental in numerous scientific research expeditions, especially in very remote regions such as mountain ranges and the north and south poles.

The other side of GPS functionality, which is sometimes forgotten, is the many uses it can be put to by individual consumers. GPS handhelds and other GPS devices are available for sale through many ordinary retail channels, and can be very useful for a variety recreational purposes. For example, having a GPS device handy when camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, or boating can be an excellent way to ensure that you don’t get lost, even if you somehow manage to wander off course.

Another common consumer use of GPS technology is for safety security purposes. Using a GPS tracking system can be an excellent way to combat crimes such as theft and kidnapping.

About the Author: Jeremy Maddock is the webmaster of [http://www.gpsdevices.info]www.GPSDevices.info, an informational site about [http://www.gpsdevices.info]GPS Devices, and TeleClick.ca, a useful [http://teleclick.ca]telecommunications news resource.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeremy_Maddock http://EzineArticles.com/?Practical-Uses-for-GPS-Technology&id=91921

GPS Something for Everyone

GPS Something for Everyone
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Steven_Wagner]Steven Wagner

In this day and age traveling by map is getting to the point where the
glove box is full of them and folding them back into there proper
position is a pain. Plus the majority of people I know can't even read
one.

This is where the high-tech GPS units come in today's life. There are
more than 24 GPS satelites that orbit around Earth that put out timing
signals by radio. This allows any GPS unit to accuratly determine its
Longitude, Latitude, Altitude, time and speed anywhere on Earth.

The GPS wasn't available to civilians until recently. It was
originally named NAVSTAR GPS and was developed by the United States Department of
Defense which launched the first experimental satalite in 1978.

Today the GPS is accurate to as close as a 1ft. making navigating to
an exact point easy. With todays GPS units available for Vehicles, Boats,
Planes, Helicoptors, Bicycles and portable Handhelds you can go anywhere
in the world with one.

There are many different uses for GPS systems. I mainly use one for
boat navigation. Traveling 50-100 miles offshore with just a compass
can get downright scary once you look back and land is nowhere to be
seen. A friend of mine is a hunter and he likes to walk upto 5 miles
into the forest. Without a GPS he'd never get back to his truck. My
wife has one in her car, she puts in an address and it will give you
the best directions to that address. It even tells her when she's passed
her turn and recalculates a new direction to get her where she needs to
go. It is truely a wonderful thing to have and can help the direction
illiterate's get anywhere they need to go like the inlaws that are coming for the Holidays. http://www.great-gps-navigation.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steven_Wagner http://EzineArticles.com/?GPS-Something-for-Everyone&id=364759

What You Need To Know About GPS

What You Need To Know About GPS
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jason_Gluckman]Jason Gluckman

The Global Positioning System, commonly called GPS, is a navigational system that uses satellites and computers to determine the latitude and longitude of a receiver on Earth. This is done by computing the time difference for signals from different satellites to reach the receiver.

GPS is the only satellite navigation system that is fully functional. It uses a collection of more than twenty-four satellites to send radio signals to electronic GPS receivers. By doing so, the satellites are able to find the correct location of the receivers. They get the exact longitude, latitude and altitude of the receiver. GPS systems work around the clock under any weather conditions.

The GPS system became fully functional in 1985. Today it is used for navigating on land, sea and air. It is also used for mapmaking, land surveying and scientific research.

Over the last fifteen years, the accuracy of the GPS signal has improved steadily. Today, a GPS system can accurately pinpoint the receiver on Earth to almost five meters of its exact location. However, further improvements and developments may increase the accuracy to about 1 cm of the receiver. This can be done using techniques such as differential GPS. A GPS also gives an extremely precise time reference which is useful in some scientific experiments.

The GPS system was devloped by the United States Department of Defense. It was officially named NAVSTAR GPS, which was an abbreviation for Navigation Signal Timing and Ranging Global Positioning Systems. Out of the twenty-four satellites revolving around the Earth, the last one was launched in 1994. New satellites are periodically launched to replace aging ones. With the improvement in technology, GPS devices have become less costly. GPS is available for free use in civilian applications. [http://www.z-GPS.com]GPS provides detailed information on GPS, GPS Tracking, Handheld GPS, GPS Systems and more. GPS is affiliated with [http://www.e-freecellphones.com]Free Cell Phone Number Search.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Gluckman http://EzineArticles.com/?What-You-Need-To-Know-About-GPS&id=270133