Global Positioning System Improvements and Innovations

By Richard Eberhard

The Global Positioning System or GPS has been available since 1985. GPS has two main functions: navigation and tracking. It was created by the United States Department of Defense and uses computers and 24 satellites. The satellites send radio signals to electronic GPS receivers and these satellites capture the exact longitude, latitude and altitude of the receiver. It works night or day, and in every kind of weather condition.

As GPS devices get smaller and less expensive, more and more applications are being created and increasing numbers of consumers are purchasing them. You can have a GPS device in your hand, in your pocket, on your wrist, on your bicycle, on your RV, and in your car. And now you can even keep a watchful eye on Fido, as two companies have launched dog collar models that send you a warning if your dog leaves a designated area. These devices also give the dog's location, so you can retrieve your pet quickly. Companies with fleets of trucks are beginning to use GPS to track the locations of all their trucks.

Another great feature of the newest GPS devices are the ability to avoid traffic jams and to find out information about businesses and places of interest in the area. The higher-priced auto models can show the driver alternate routes for any traffic obstruction.

GPS wrist devices can be a piece of very useful safety equipment to hikers and mountain climbers, as their location can be shown to a central command center. Should anything happen to the hikers and climbers, the search and rescue teams would know their precise location.

Accuracy has been steadily increasing for GPS technology. Differential GPS is the main reason for this. Further improvements are expected. GPS signals are sent to every location on Earth, land or sea. There is no location too remote to receive a signal from one of the GPS satellites.

Look for GPS technology to improve in accuracy, and to be available on more types of devices. Mobile phones with GPS ability combine two popular consumer products into one device. Look for more of these combinations on the horizon.

The author is the webmaster of Electronic Tool Chest, where you can browse online for GPS systems, including Hand Held GPS, Auto GPS Systems, and GPS Wrist Watches.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Eberhard

GPS Tracking Watches General Information

By Brandon Lyles

More accurate than any previous system known to man, GPS (Global Positioning System) are used as navigational tools to determine specific location data. GPS tracking watches, use twenty-seven satellites and a broad network of computers to calculate the user's latitude and longitude to within a few meters.

With wearing a GPS tracking watch, its simple to track your location, speed, direction and distance to your destination and many more functions. You can save and chart trips, retrace your steps back to your starting point, program routes in advance, and save the coordinates of interesting locations.

Even in conditions of low visibility, you'll know how to reach your destination, and know right where you are. A lot of models also include a Barometer, Compass, Altimeter, and advanced memory functions.

A barometer is an instrument that measures atmospheric pressure, or air pressure. With a barometer you can forecast upcoming weather, low-pressure weather systems tend to bring cloudy skies and precipitation, and high-pressure systems usually come with very few clouds or precipitation. When the barometric pressure drops, its time to be watching for more clouds and maybe bad weather. So, a GPS tracking watch that can read barometric pressure is a convenient and useful way of staying informed of upcoming weather conditions monitored right on your wrist.

Of course a digital compass is an extremely useful function to have in a watch. Whether you're navigating through an unfamiliar city, hiking through the backcountry, or sailing on the ocean. There are slight differences in compass functionality from GPS tracking watch to GPS tracking watch, but most models feature:

ß Bearing in degrees

ß North-south arrow

ß Bearing tracking

ß Declination adjustment

ß Rotating bezel

ß Resolution of 1 degree

An altimeter GPS tracking watches is a wrist top instrument that allows the wearer to determine their current elevation. Of course, that's not all - combined with memory, an altimeter watch can keep track of your total and cumulative vertical ascents and descents, as well as the number of runs (for skiing or snowboarding, for example). In some watches, the altimeter can be used to estimate your vertical speed, or sound an alarm when you reach a set altitude.

The altimeters used in GPS tracking watches base their measurements on air pressure - in a nutshell, the lower your altitude is, the more air there is above you is, and the heavier it is. So when you move uphill, the air pressure sensor in the watch detects the decreasing air pressure, and automatically converts the pressure drop into a reading of your increasing altitude. Of course, it is not easy to get perfectly accurate measurements of altitude, because there many factors that can cause air pressure to fluctuate.

This is why many altimeter watches feature "temperature compensation," and why the altimeter must to be calibrated regularly (by simply entering the current barometric pressure or setting to a known altitude).

An altimeter is an important and useful piece of gear for many outdoor activities, including running, biking, and hiking, skiing, or snowboarding. Pilots of small planes often wear an altimeter watch as a back up in case of instrument failure - although be aware that an altimeter of this type cannot be used successfully in a pressurized plane.

There are also various models that have built in heart rate monitors and other built in functions.

Heart monitors are one of the few pieces of equipment more important in fitness training. Serious cyclists, runners, and other athletes know that you can only determine how effective your training regimen is by keeping track of the relationship between your workout and your heart rate. There is not a more convenient way to do this than a heart GPS tracking watch with a built in heart rate monitor. Some GPS tracking watches use a chest strap to monitor your heart rate, and send data wirelessly to the watch.

One model allows you to program the GPS tracking watch with your upper and lower heart rate limits and alerts you if your heart rate goes outside the programmed ranges. It also monitors how your heart rate changes with altitude, and keeps tracks of your highest, lowest, and average heart rate while you're training. GPS tracking watches also allow you to upload your data to your PC where you can use the included software to analyze, compare, and save your own personal stats.

"If you would like to learn more about GPS tracking watches or to purchase please visit us at http://www.GPS-Tracking-Watches.net We look forward to hearing from you."

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brandon_Lyles

How to Buy Portable GPS Car Navigation Systems

By Sharon Albright

I was researching for a portable gps car navigation system
the other week because my job requires me to travel a lot in
different cities.

It was just practical for me to get a portable system that I
could carry around with me.

While most portable gps systems have basic functions such as
voice narrations to help direct you where to go, it's worth
the time to figure out exactly what other features you may
need.

For example, there are some models which will tell you which
lane to be in so you can make turns in high traffic streets
more easily. This could come in handy if you're traveling in
a congested city such as Chicago.

When considering the features that you want in your portable
gps navigation system, it's important to consider if you'll
actually be needing that feature or if it's just an added
bonus.

Here are some things to consider:

Size of the GPS Unit

You can find pocket sized units which are very portable but
have small screen sizes. If you want a larger screen the
units will be less portable so make sure to consider how
you will use your unit.

Price of GPS Unit

Cost is always at the top of everyone's minds when
it comes to technology purchases. As with anything,
you get what you pay for. Skimp on a low priced
unit and you may just end up with something that
functions half the time.

My brother-in-law spent $175 on a no-name brand
GPS unit and after using it to help him move across
the country, it took a permanent vacation.

You should also consider some of these other major
features:

Street name announcement -

Does the voice narration announce the name of
the street or does it just say next street?

Time to destination -

Will it calculate how long it will take you to
arrive at your destination? This feature is
invaluable when you want to know the closest
destination out of several choices.

Automatic rerouting -

If you make a wrong turn, does your navigation
system reroute you?

You'll find a lot of choices when purchasing a portable
gps car navigation system. My suggestion would be to
figure out what options you would like, then find the
units which have those features and check the units
out physically at your local electronics store.

You can then go online to find the best deals for
your unit. Often times, I find the best deals online
after viewing the units in a store.

As with most technology, you will find that in a few
years there will be more GPS units with more features
for lower prices.

I'm very excited to see this technology develop.

Sharon Albright operates a Portable GPS Car Navigation Systemwebsite at http://www.portablecargps.net where she lists allthe top brand GPS units on the market and she also shows youwhere to get them for rock bottom prices! Visit her sitenow to review top car navigation models.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_Albright

Portable GPS Vehicle Navigators for Locating Those Streets

By Phil Reusch

Portable GPS vehicle navigators are replacing the famous street maps that you purchased at your local gas station. With the computer age the way to find a street these days is by your portable GPS vehicle navigator. This device is a time saver because you don't have to stop and look at the map. The GPS can talk to you and tell you which way to go. How cool is that.

There are many types and prices of the portable GPS vehicle navigator so do your homework before you purchase. Some are easy to operate and others require some learning time. But they all serve the same purpose and that is to get you where you want to go. Prices vary a lot so you might want to check on the Internet before you go store shopping or you can get some great deals on the net.

The GPS directions are provided in real-time format so that you have the up-to-date info for your system. Most brands have updates each year to keep your portable GPS vehicle navigator current. You know how they are always adding new streets with those new sub-divisions. Most paper maps are not updated as fast as a GPS so this is a plus.

This is really a great device for women and men that do a lot of traveling to different cities that they are not familiar with. Its really hard to get directions late at night in a small city where everything is closed by 6pm. With your GPS you don't have to worry about that because you will have the info you need at hand. You don't even have to get out of your car.

You should purchase a portable GPS vehicle navigation system that has both audio and graphical directions. This enables you to visually look at the screen or have the directions given to you by sound. Having an audio direction is great when you are trying to look at street signs and you need to keep your eyes on the road. Some systems use your radio speakers to help with the sound so that you can hear better. This would be a great plus if your windows are down and there is a lot of noise.

There are lots of different brands with an array of features for the various GPS navigation systems. They have different operating systems in that some require batteries, technical installation and some just plug into the cigarette lighter. So you should check this out before you purchase. The more advanced the system the more costly. The most important thing is to get one that you can upgrade so that it's current at all times.

A portable GPS vehicle navigator is becoming a must have item these days. We have a large selection at our Portable GPS Online Store for you to choose from.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Phil_Reusch

Garmin Rino 520 Handheld GPS - Review

By Catherine Tower

Have any of these things every happened to you?

* You are on a hike trip and you have lost a friend. Storm clouds are looming and they are nowhere to be found.

* You have taken your family on an outing at an amusement park. It is closing time but you can't find one person.

* You are on the boat and you want to make sure you are going in the right direction, whether its north, south, east or west.

Garmin's RINO 520 portable GPS navigator can solve all of those problems. These two-way radio systems are equipped with a GPS navigator that can help you find your way and lead your group as well. The patented GPS receiver allows other members of your party to tell you where they are as well as showing them your location.

One of the best features on the RINO 520 is its display. With bold colors, it is easy to see and interpret. You will never need to look at a large map from an atlas again after using the RINO 520. Garmin's Rino 520 handheld GPS units not only have built-in base maps of North and South America, but you can choose optional City Select software. These can be adapted to almost any trip, hike or boating excursion you plan to take. This GPS navigator unit allows you to customize your route, complete with turn-by-turn directions and alert tones. No more getting lost on the trails or at sea. If you are just on a sight-seeing trip, the RINO 520 makes finding a hotel or restaurant that his nearby easy. This GPS navigator unit can map points of interest along your route

If the sea is your passion, this portable GPS unit can be customized with Garmin's exclusive optional cartography that includes the fishing hot spots on recreational lakes in the United States. The built-in calendar can show you the best fishing times. If you like to hunt, this portable GPS unit can also tell you the best hunting times for snaring your prey.

What are some of the other outstanding features of the RINO 520? The RINO 520 unit has 56 megabytes of internal memory so that you can quickly download personalized maps for your use onto your portable GPS. The two-way radio has five watts of power, allowing you to contact help from as far away as 14 miles. The portable GPS unit has a WAAS enabled, 12 parallel GPS receiver. It has a bright color display and a rechargeable battery that can last up to 16 hours. Priced at about $482, Garmin's RINO 520 is one of the best buys of portable GPS systems on the market.

Catherine Tower of Gottronics, is in charge of the research department, where she gathers information and reviews different handheld GPS units, whether it be good or bad and stays up to date with all of the latest developments of the products.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Catherine_Tower

GPS technology and fishing

by: Angela Carter

What type of fisherman are you? Are you satisfied go out and drop your fishing line and be totally unconcerned about if you catch anything or not? Is the time that you spend with your family, friends or even by your self enjoying nature what your trip is really all about? If you don’t caught anything that’s fine-you can always stop at the fish shop on the way home, but it would be nice if you caught something. Or do you feel like your trip’s been ruined because you didn’t caught anything, and go home frustrated. Or is fishing how you make your living, either by catching fish or taking customers out to fish? If you take a customer out to do some deep sea fishing, it would be much better to bring home a happy customer with his catch, who could be possibly a repeat customer or tells his friends about how great his trip was bringing you additional work. A frustrated customer will think twice about using your services again and when planning his next trip, might go elsewhere and may be steering other potential customers away from you. What if there was a way to make sure you go where the fish are? What if there was a way to guarantee that you would catch your limit, to be able to ensure that your customers will go home happy and raving about your great service.

With GPS technology it is now possible to go where the fish are and to remember the spot so you can relocate it. The other good thing about using a GPS while on the water is safety. You can enter the spot where you put your boat in the water in the memory of your GPS unit. Most GPS units hold at least 500 landmarks or areas where you want to get to. If you run into fog or bad weather you should be able to find your way back. Also if you stay out longer than expected you can find your way back in the dark. If you run into an emergency while on the water, you can call someone and let them know your coordinates, and then they could find you. If someone falls overboard a GPS unit can pinpoint the exact area where the incident happened and helping rescue crews with their rescue. This allows you to enjoy your day and not worry about getting back to land safely.

A chart plotter GPS with a map chip can give you your position relative to land features, water depth, and harbor entrances. Using a GPS with a water depth can allow you to follow the bottom looking for fish. It is also possible to let others know about a spot that you have found by using GPS coordinates.

Often people like to fish around a wreck, with a GPS unit you can enter the location of the wrecks to be able to find them easily. Plus knowing where a wreck is only part of the scenario, you need to know how deep that wreck is and if there are any areas you need to avoid. Often a fishing trip starts out before daylight, with a GPS you can pinpoint where you are going.

No matter what your intent is when you go fishing. A GPS can enhance that experience.

About The Author

Angela Carter is a successful, independent business woman who is a nurse by profession and remains to actively practice. http://CartersGPS.com
Article Source: http://www.articlecity.com

GPS Technology and Child Safety

by: Angela Carter

What parent has had that moment of fright when the child who was just at your side is gone? Usually the child has seen something of interest and just gone to investigate, or has gotten separated in a crowd, such as being at a carnival, and although it may only two seconds to locate your child, it feels like two years and when you do find them your heart is racing, your hands are shaking and you don’t know whether to hug them or scold them.

The possibility of someone taking our child is a real fear every parent carries with them. Just pick up a newspaper or watch the evening news and reports of children being kidnapped or abducted are constant and the heartbreak of the parents is just so overwhelming. Now what if there was a technology that could find that child instantly?

GPS technology is now being used to help keep track of children and allow parents to know where their child is at all times. These devices are usually small enough to fit anywhere-backpack, pants or coat pocket, etc. and lightweight enough not to be burdensome. Some of these have pre-programmable buttons so the child can keep in touch with their parents or call for help if necessary.

These devices range from tracking devices that will beep until the child is found, to cell phones with GPS technology installed, to watches that if forcibly removed will automatically activate. There are even backpacks available with GPS technology installed. Some of these will activate if the child is too far away from the parent. And there is even one that is implanted in a shoe.

Of course the main problems with these are the child is going to lose them, or if the child is abducted they can easily be disposed of. I can envision the day when it will be possible to have a GPS transmitter implanted in a child via an injection or some other simple manner.

There are other concerns also. Are only children with parents who can afford this technology are going to benefit. Is this going to increase the number of lower class children, whose parents can’t afford this new technology, being abducted? Will someone, such as a child molester or kidnapper, find a way to use a child’s transmitter signal to locate the child? Also how are our children to adjust to the fact that they are constantly being monitored?

How secure are our children going to feel knowing that the world is so dangerous that their parents need to know where they are at all times? Are we stripping a part of their childhood away from them? Who doesn’t remember, as a kid, going somewhere you knew your parents didn’t want you to go, but as children we are adventurers, and if we got into trouble or got ‘caught’ being where we shouldn’t be, we more than likely not only got punished but also learned a lesson. We grow and mature by making mistakes and learning from them, are we going to take part of this education away from our children? At what age do we stop? Do we continue to monitor them through their teen-age years? A time that can be the hardest time of any child’s or parents life, it’s a time where a teenager needs to mature and a parent needs to learn to ‘let go’ and allow the child to learn on their own-mistakes and all.

Although this technology has some very great qualities in the protection of our children, the possibility of abusing this technology must also be addressed. We all want our children to be safe, yet at the same time they must be allowed to grow to become functional adults.

About The Author

Angela Carter is a successful, independent business woman who is a nurse by profession and remains to actively practice. http://CartersGPS.com
Article Source: http://www.articlecity.com

GPS Technology and Mobile Phones

by: Angela Carter

Imagine driving somewhere new, you’re lost, unsure of where you are at, and the more you try to find your way out the more confused you get. Do you know how safe the area which you’re in is, is it safe to get out of your car to ask for directions or are you risking being attacked? What if you are threatened or attacked, you have your cell phone, dial 9-1-1, but are unable to tell the operator how to find you. Imagine having an accident, or witnessing an accident, but you are unsure where you are, you call 9-1-1 but are unable to tell them where you are. Imagine becoming ill while in your car, you dial 9-1-1, but become unconscious before you can tell someone where you’re at, how will anyone find you? Imagine being on a hike or bike ride when you suddenly realize you do not know where you are, how will you find your way back safely?

The U.S. FCC (Federal Communications Commission) has mandated the E911 (Enhanced 911) which requires that the location of any cell phone used to call 9-1-1 can be determined. This program is divided into two parts; the first requires carriers to report the telephone number of the caller and the location of the antenna that received the call. The second part requires carriers to be able to provide a more precise location. This will require that the manufacturers to install a GPS receiver in all cell phones. The benefit of this not only means that a cell phone can be quickly located, but that cell phones will have the ability to receive driving directions, and to be used as a hand-held GPS out of the car.

There are two ways that a GPS cell phone can be used to get driving directions. The first is to subscribe to a GPS navigation service, which is becoming available but is limited at this time. The second way is through use of a software program. Being able to subscribe to a navigation service has its disadvantages, if you are outside your coverage area your navigation functions won’t work. Plus, not only do you have to purchase a GPS cell phone, you must also pay a set up fee and a monthly fee and be under a 3 month to one year contract.

The second way to get driving directions is to buy a software program, but you need to have a compatible cell phone. The programs and maps are on a memory card and there is no need to pay a monthly fee and since the maps are in the phone you are not dependent on a GPRS connection.

If you want to take your GPS cell phone with you while out of your car, not only are there integrated GPS cell phones, there are GPS add-ons available also.

Another advantage to having a cell phone with GPS technology is that parents know where their children are at any time (as long as they have the phone with them). Some carriers are offering this child location service as a ‘peace of mind’ feature. There is usually a monthly service charge for this service.

About The Author

Angela Carter is a successful, independent business woman who is a nurse by profession and remains to actively practice. http://CartersGPS.com
Article Source: http://www.articlecity.com

How to Protect, Personalize, and Get The Most Out of Your GPS Unit

By G. Mira

Today GPS devices are being mass produced, and people can customize how they work simply by adding some GPS accessories or options to their GPS devices. Selecting the right accessories when you purchase your GPS device will help you turn you GPS transmitter into a useful tool.

Choosing The Right GPS Accessories

How you are planing to use your global positioning system will determine which accessory you are going to need to get the most out of your GPS device. For example, if you're planning on using the global positioning system when you go sailing, a waterproof case is an absolute must. If you purchase a case that allows the GPS device to float in the water, that's would be an added bonus. Some of the more popular GPS accessories being used are mentioned below.

GPS sensors – Are available in various sizes, and they are the perfect solution if you are dealing with a limited amount of space.

Laptop GPS – With a USB device, you can easily transform your PC into a formidable street navigator. You can also add software that will give you turn-by-turn directions as well as voice prompts, so that you will never get lost again.

Cradles, converters and cables – These GPS accessories allow you to recharge your GPS unit in the car, receive live up-to-the-minute traffic updates and hook up your global positioning system to your computer, this allows to transfer data back and forth between your computer and your GPS device.

GPS mounts – There are special mounts for motorcycles, vehicles, bicycles, waistbands and boats. These allow people to use their handheld GPS units in their vehicles.

Cell phone systems – With this accessory your vehicles GPS system can become an extension of your cell phone. This GPS accessory lets your mobile phone use the GPS system's speakers as a hands-free units.

Speaker systems – This also includes Bluetooth headsets.

Cases, screen protectors and covers – These GPS accessories will extend the lifespan of your GPS device.

Map and software data – This allows you to update your maps using software on a CD or pre-loaded memory cards that you can transfer to your GPS unit. Install this software on your laptop or PDA and presto! You've got a GPS tracking device.

There are a wide variety of GPS accessories available for practically every GPS device. The right combination of GPS accessories can determine how useful your GPS unit is and they can extend its lifespan.

If you are considering purchasing a GPS system, and you would like to read about some of the latest GPS devices on the market then you need to visit: http://www.GpsTrackingWorld.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=G._Mira

Hunting With Satellites, It's Not Just Science Fiction!

By Mandy Fain

GPS is a system that has been developed by U.S. Department of Defense. It can locate the position of any thing on the Earth to varying degrees of success! GPS is commonly used in your car, you'll be aware of it when it shouts at you for going the wrong way.

GPS works by using satellites to pinpoint your exact location. Using GPS you can get information about the location, nowadays GPS receivers are quite inexpensive, and you should be able to afford one. A GPS unit will show you the position in terms of longitudes and latitudes.

The GPS unit will help you in many ways on your hunting trip. You can find the position of deer or other animals on the hunting ground. You can also use it to locate the position of yourself, so you don't have to risk getting lost! You can even use your GPS to calculate the distance between these two places.

If you are locating different hunting spots then you can select the nearest one. The GPS unit is able to give you a list of detailed directions so you can get to your destination without losing your way. Your GPS can alert you to any landscape features, you can be aware of all the intimate details about this location.

The GPS is the most helpful when you go deeper and deeper into the wood in the search of the hunt and end up getting lost, you may be unable to retrace your footsteps. In that case, you can use your GPS like a state of the art compass! You can spot some vehicle or camp on your system and get back in that direction, eventually you should find where you are.

GPS is extremely useful when hunting, in fact it's very useful for any adventure. Next time, don't forget to include it when you go hunting.

You can also find more information at alaskan adventures hunting and hunting and fishing. DeerElkHunting.com is a comprehensive resource to deer and elk hunters with information on hunting grounds, equipment and useful hunting tips.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mandy_Fain