GPS Tips

by: L. Woodrow Ross

If you are an outdoor person and spend time is some of the more remote areas of our state or other parts of the country, you should be familiar with the use of a compass or GPS system. The compass has been around for centuries and is a very dependable tool for a person to use to maintain his orientation in the wild. A compass does not have batteries like a GPS system, but it can fail unless you use precautions. If you hold it too close to a dense metal object, it will affect the reading. Also, anything magnetic will make it render false readings. If you eliminate those items when using the compass, you will be okay.

Basic compass use is easy and there are plenty of guidebooks on orienteering with a compass. If you chart a course and watch the compass, it is easy to backtrack with a minimum of skill. If you are traveling for a great distance with a lot of twists and turns, you will need a good topographical map of the area for reference and a good compass with a base-plate and adjustments for declination. Declination is the difference between true North and magnetic North. Depending on where you are, you have to make a minor adjustment to know where true North happens to be.

A GPS is much easier, but you have to keep fresh batteries in it or it is useless. Various units have many different features and many of them have a base map in the software package and will show you where you are on the map. They will provide you with latitude and longitude readings so that you can look at larger topographical maps and determine exactly where you are. They also tell you the altitude, sunrise and sunset times and many more neat things. You can pre-plan a route and enter recognizable waypoints so that you can easily reach your destination. These units can be linked to your computer and the information stored for future reference. You can use computer topographical programs on your computer and map out routes and even see them in three dimensional images to see the grade in the mountainous areas.

GPS (Global Positioning Systems) process signals from satellites to determine your location. It takes access to two satellites to give longitude and latitude reading and three satellites to provide altitude readings.

These are neat units, but there are traditional ways to determine directions. The most obvious is to be aware that the sun rises in the East and sets in the West, therefore on reasonably clear days, you always have a reference. If you observe trees in the forest, you will see that most of the trunks are not exactly round. They are oval. The longest axis of the oval would be North and South (it’s up to you to decide which is which). The old myth of moss growing on the North side of the trees is partially true, but in very damp shady areas, it may not be dependable. At night, the North Star and some of the other constellations can be used as a guide.

Personally, I have a GPS unit, but I always feel comfortable having a compass in my pocket. It is dependable and almost fool-proof if you know how to use it.

By the way, if you are out a lot, it’s not a bad idea to have a first aid kit and a little elementary survival gear. Water treatment pills, water filter, high energy snack bars, and such are good ideas.

If you are looking for a neat thing to remind you of the places you have been, pick up a small rock that is unusual in appearance and when you get home you can use a permanent marker to record the date and location on the bottom. They make great paperweights. I use acrylic paint and paint outdoor scenes, fish, flowers and such on mine. I have them all around the house and at the office and each one reminds me of a great day outdoors.

About The Author

L. Woodrow Ross is a freelance writer/photographer who lives in Travelers Rest, SC. He has written an outdoor/travel column for two years and just completed his first novel, “Return to Oak Hill”. He is an active fly tier, fisherman, and hunter and participates in many outdoor sports. His websites are http://www.lwoodrowross.com and http://www.flyfishnorthamerica.com

Article Source: http://www.articlecity.com

Practical Uses for GPS Technology

by: 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. Handheld GPS units ( http://www.gpsdevices.info/gps-handhelds.php ) and other GPS devices ( http://www.gpsdevices.info/ ) 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 ( http://www.gpsdevices.info/gps-tracking-system.php ) can be an excellent way to combat crimes such as theft and kidnapping.

About The Author

Jeremy Maddock is the webmaster of http://www.TeleClick.ca - a trusted source of telecommunications industry news.

Article Source: http://www.articlecity.com

Time to Get GPS on Big Wheels for Kids

By 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 Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

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Nextel Phone With GPS Option - Be Careful!

By Carlos Gutierrez

In recent times, gps option available with some of their phones. This feature is great for many reasons. You will learn why you as a consumer should consider a nextel phone with GPS option.

GPS or Global Positioning Satellite, uses the Satellites in space to tell you where you are located. If you remember a few months ago in 2007 Boost Mobile came out with a commercial, they kept says "Where you at?" - then someone would reply "You know where I'm at" in reference to the GPS capability. Nextel uses the term "mobile locator"

Benefits of having nextel phone with gps option:

You can locate your phone when it is lost. - this feature only works when the phone itself is powered on.

Turn By Turn Directions the most common service used is Motorola's own Viamoto service.

If you miss a turn, the direction will adjust themselves to help you find your way.

Find local areas of interest such as movie theaters, restaurants, gas stations.Negatives of a having a cell phone with GPS option:

Police can track you down (may or may not apply to you)

Must get be in area of nextel coverage to use the Gps functions.Older Nextel phone with gps option include:

i58

i58sr

i90 & i90c

i730

i560

i530

i760

i88

i305

i710

7520Newer nextel phone with gps option include:

i670

i580

i860

i870

Blackberry 7100i

There may be other nextel phone with gps option please ask any seller this question to verify it before making any purchase..

Find Your New Nextel Phone With Gps Option Here! If you are looking for cheap nextel phones < -- Click Here! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carlos_Gutierrez

Portable GPS Mapping Systems

By Darryl Power

We all know that the GPS nowadays is a must to ensure one's safety. Not only can you determine your exact location when you're lost but you can also locate other people as well. This may be the reason why many people have portable GPS mapping systems.

Originally, the GPS was used only by authorized personnel of the US but now civilians are already enjoying the benefits of having a portable mapping system anywhere they go.

GPS systems are widely available and if you try to shop online, you will be amazed by the endless choices that you have. There are reasonably priced GPS mapping systems as well as the very expensive ones.

There are several devices that feature portable GPS mapping systems. You only have to select the GPS that will suit your needs. You can purchase the handheld device because it is portable and lightweight.

You can also get a GPS for your car so that wherever you go, you will know your location and you can go to other places even without a traditional map.

Portable GPS mapping systems has truly made the lives of many people a very convenient one. And because of this, new and advanced technologies are still being developed.

Therefore, we can expect that in the near future, more advanced developments will be incorporated in the GPS mapping systems.

I recommend that you have with you always a portable GPS mapping system. Even if it is a bit expensive, the benefits are endless. Don't mind the cost because this device is a very good investment.

Darryl Power is a writer of GPS Articles. Visit http://www.gpsgloblepro.com and read more on Portable GPS Mapping Systems and get Good Deals on Magellan GPS.

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