GPS Revue

Your Source for All Things GPS
September 24, 2008

Portable GPS Systems and How They Work

Author: admin - Categories: Portable GPS - Tags: ,

Portable GPS units come in many flavors, including stand-alone devices and GPS built into a PDA or a cell phone. Portable GPS satellite simulators can fit in the trunk of a car, and are often used for testing. They are available as commercial off the shelf products. Portable GPS units are also used widely for regular civilian activities like navigating your car through traffic, for finding road directions in a new area, for finding your route when hiking, biking or walking. You can also use a GPS tracking system to keep an eye on your children or your pets.

Garmin offers a wide selection of handheld portable GPS devices such as its Rino 530, which doubles as a two-way radio with a range of 14 miles. Garmin Mobile 20 also has powerful short message service (SMS) integration that lets users send their position or information to any other phone via text messaging. In addition, Garmin Mobile 20 has application programming interface (API) features that support customized third party location based services (LBS) or enterprise applications.

TomTom’s portable GO 910 heads the company’s GO series, and sports a 4-inch widescreen touchscreen, Bluetooth, MP3 playback off of the 20GB hard drive, and extensive iPod integration. Sounds like most of the features function well and as advertised. TomTom also integrated in the Go 720 a FM Transmitter, which will allow you to play mp3s saved on the SD Card of the GPS on your cars radio.

Consumers should note that premium features such as real time traffic reporting may require either a subscription fee, optional equipment such as a traffic receiver, or both. Consumers should note that premium features such as real time traffic reporting may require either a subscription fee, optional equipment such as a traffic receiver, or both.

How to Use Your Handheld GPS Device

Author: admin - Categories: Handheld GPS - Tags: ,

Handheld GPS units, which combine a radio receiver and a microprocessor, measure the tiny differential between when a satellite signal is transmitted and when it’s received. They then calculate the distance from the satellite to the GPS. Handheld GPS receivers also have longer battery life and are built to resist the elements. Handheld GPS units can come typically with 1 to 16mb of storage for data. Some newer models allow for additional storage cards to be added.

Garmin has incredible variety and options in the handheld field. The Garmin GPS Map 60cs comes with a full color screen easily read in a variety of lighting situations and long on battery life. Garmin charges for their software and locks it city versions to only one GPS unit.

Magellan marine global position system is commonly used to provide the position of the tail buoys relative to the absolute position of the seismic vessel, with meter-level accuracy. This technology involves a high-speed UHF bi-directional data link along with a high-grade GPS core, which is part of our know-how and is available to system integrators. Magellan has a wide range of choices for handheld GPS receivers and recently announced a new handheld GPS product line. Available in several different flavors, the Triton features a QVGA touch screen, waterproof case, and the top model even has an integrated 2-megapixel digital camera.

Handheld GPS systems use a network of satellites that are already in orbit over the earth to relay information to your GPS system. This will enable to pinpoint your exact location at the time as well as map out how to reach your destination safely. Handheld GPS devices are in high demand from the likes of bikers, travelers, hikers and skiers. The performance of the models can vary, depending on what database and software is installed.

Discount handheld GPS units are perfect for casual hikers who fear becoming lost. Most enable the carrier to retrace a person’s steps to go back to the beginning of their hike. Discount handheld GPS are a better option against the traditional maps.

How GPS Tracking Works

Author: admin - Categories: GPS Tracking - Tags: ,

GPS Tracking or Global Positioning System is a system that can be used everywhere on Earth, on land, at sea and in the air. It has a great tool for companies and individuals alike. With so many options available on the market it can be hard to choose which product is best for you. Checking a company’s reputation and service history is a good place to start.

A GPS tracking unit is a piece of equipment that uses global positioning satellites to pinpoint the location of a person, vehicles, or other moving object and records the position of that entity in real time. Some businesses place GPS devices in company vehicles to track employees.

Over the last several years GPS tracking has gained great popularity. So much so that many mobile phones have the GPS tracking services. GPS Tracking is a MapPoint feature that reads data from a GPS receiver and displays your current position on the map. This feature also has the ability to rotate the map, which cannot be done via APIs.

GPS tracking is already done by law-enforcement, usually by placing the unit in or on a vehicle.

Real-Time GPS tracking is fast becoming the standard for companies or individuals who wish to monitor fleet vehicles as well as tracking assets like trailers, generators, and heavy equipment. These systems are cost-effective, easy to use, and are virtually maintenance free.

A direct GPRS data connection gives you the most accurate and reliable tracking data. Real time tracking requires the purchase of a monthly service plan, similar to cell phone plans.

Real time GPS tracking is also particularly useful from a security perspective as it allows vehicle owners to pinpoint the exact location of a vehicle at any given time. So, if there is a robbery, the owner of a vehicle will know exactly where the vehicle was when the robbery took place.

How To Use GPS Systems

Author: admin - Categories: GPS Systems - Tags: ,

GPS systems are the tools many fleet managers use to track their fleets movements as well as a source of decision making is setting and meeting old and new productivity goals. GPS systems help decrease vehicle and cargo theft thereby lowering insurance costs and decreasing capital expenditures.

GPS systems are sweeping the nation, and it will not be long before every car has them.

Portable models are great if you want to use them in multiple cars, on your bike, or on a hike. This is definitely more economical than having a system professionally installed in multiple cars. Portability can be useful if you plan on using it outside the car as well like navigating on foot. Be sure if you are planning on using it away from a power source that it has decent battery life. Portable GPS systems are affordable, easy to use and versatile. You can take your Portable GPS system with you from car to car or even if you travel.

GPS systems are also not limited by the line of sight limitations of a laser based systems. GPS systems are also available for smart phones and cell phones. So whether you have a Blackberry, a Razr, or something else, you can add GPS to help you avoid getting lost. GPS systems are made to be compact and easy to use, and nearly every feature included in a given model is tailored to a specific need. Chances are you’ll outgrow an entry level unit over time, but even the most basic model is quite useful if you’re new to the technology.

GPS systems can aid in tracking stolen vehicles in real time. You can have better surveillance of company trucks, cabs, and buses. Auto GPS has become one of the most popular features in today’s automobiles. Having the information that you need at the touch of a finger or the sound of your voice is something that everyone has come to enjoy and love.

Selecting the Right GPS Software

Author: admin - Categories: GPS Software - Tags: ,

GPS software falls into two main categories: survey grade software for network adjustment of GPS points, and GIS mapping software that produces GIS ready files containing features, attributes and differentially corrected position information.

There is a third software category which runs on Pocket PC platforms with low-cost handheld or PCMCIA GPS instruments. GPS software can also plan alternate routes if there are roads blocked or traffic problems. Many GPS navigation systems will even quickly plan reroutes if you miss a turn along the way.

GPS software makes creating and managing waypoints and routes a lot easier and even more precise. On the other hand it is extremely important that you know without hesitation how to create waypoints and routes directly on your GPS receiver. GPS software or Global positioning system technology allows people to effectively, create their ideal maps. It works off 28 satellites, and allows anyone with a GPS unit to triangulate a position, anywhere in the world. GPS software is intended for navigation, way finding, and identifying landmarks and street names. It should not, however, be viewed as a replacement for the traditional mobility tools.

There are maps available that cover all the USA and more than 40 countries. Mapping It Out - Even getting the information about the receiver’s location will be useless without something to compare it with. The mapping part of any GPS software is very important. It is how GPS works our possible routes, and allows the user to plan trips in advance.

TomTom NAVIGATOR 6 software offers coast-to-coast and cross-border navigation, as well as new and enhanced options. New features include trip planning based on preferred arrival time, speed-limit information and integrated navigation to the smart phone’s contact list. TomTom gps simplicity of operation together with the excellent navigation it provides makes it the best of its peers.

What is Auto GPS Anyway?

Author: admin - Categories: Auto GPS - Tags: , ,

Auto GPS uses signals that travel at nearly the speed of light through our atmosphere, so this technology is also useful for calculating a variety of aspects, chiefly speed, direction, and current time, in addition to the aforementioned location. With an intuitive map updated on a regular basis with traffic congestion, accidents, and road work, auto GPS is an indispensable tool for motorists to get around, especially in areas that they are unfamiliar with.

Auto GPS systems are a relatively new invention, made possible through faster microchips and cheap LCD screens, which display the directions for easy viewing. However, this portable auto GPS not only includes the directions – it also includes a road-perspective map so that you can easily see where to go. Auto gps is a sleek and handy companion that can be your life-saver, reliable informer, and must-have buddy.

TomTom gps is a well known and established navigation software developer. Their easy to use software has helped thousands of people worldwide to get in touch with GPS technology. TomTom is a full service auto GPS unit. It has maps, driving directions, voice driving directions, detours, and a lot of programmable features accessible. It can also give weather condition and traffic updates, and it’s a handsome three-and-a-half inch screen that’s easy to learn and easy to see day or night.

Auto GPS units will commonly have preloaded maps of all United States highways, city streets, and waterways. In addition, some auto GPS systems will have the capability to chart multiple destinations for long trips or multiple errands in a new town. Auto GPS units are commonly larger than the handheld ones. They are portable also, but do not cooperate well when out for a hike. Auto GPS uses voice orders so that the driver can concentrate on the road.

Garmin Auto GPS systems are well made and dependable. Garmin is the industry leader. Magellan was actually one of the first companies to figure out this technology, and TomTom is thought of as the new kid on the block. Garmin has also added the ability to upload Points of Interest and apply proximity alerts to these points to notify you when you are getting close to that particular point.

Auto GPS devices don’t typically have many buttons and are operated through the touch screen. This can be a major drawback if you are trying to use the device while hiking. Auto GPS has become one of the most popular features in today’s automobiles. Having the information that you need at the touch of a finger or the sound of your voice is something that everyone has come to enjoy and love. Auto GPS units are probably the coolest things to hit the car since the cup holder. They can direct you anywhere you need to go, navigate you around traffic, construction and unexpected road blocks, help you find a nail salon and do it all with style.