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GPS DEVICES
What used to be priceless military technology is now something you might find in a rental car, wristwatch or even in your cell phone. GPS devices come in several flavors, depending on what you want to use them for, including models for driving, hiking, boating, and even motorcycling. GPS are used by Rescue crews, firefighters, archeologists, geologists, surveyors, mappers, boat captains, pilots, dispatchers, tour guides. Military personnel use GPS devices to perform their jobs. Automotive GPS devices built expressly for car use often include built-in maps or allow you to download mapping data. GPS devices designed for use aboard marine vessels and water crafts boast a rugged waterproof design and may also float.
Standalone GPS devices work great for most people, but some personal digital assistants (PDAs) and two-way radios come with the functionality built in. Portable GPS devices, fitting into the palm of your hand or built into automobile dashboards, now bring Space Age navigation to the masses.
How GPS Devices Work
A system of satellites sends signals to a GPS system device which then calculates the current position by latitude and longitude. A GPS device receives data from a network of 24 satellites in geosynchronous orbit around the Earth and uses the information to calculate your precise position. By locking into three satellites, GPS can tell you your latitude and longitude. The Global Positioning System (GPS) consists of 27 Earth-orbiting satellites Three are spares. The solar-powered satellites circle the globe making two complete rotations every day. The orbits are arranged so that at any time, anywhere on Earth, there are at least four satellites within range. A GPS receiver's job is to locate four or more of these satellites, figure out the distance to each, and use this information to deduce its own location. The.
The flight paths of the satellites are tracked by US Air Force monitoring stations in Hawaii, Kwajalein, Ascension Island, Diego Garcia, and Colorado Springs, Colorado, along with monitor stations operated by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). These updates synchronize the atomic clocks on board the satellites to within a few nanoseconds of each other, and adjust the ephemeris of each satellite's internal orbital model. In general, GPS receivers are composed of an antenna, tuned to the frequencies transmitted by the satellites, receiver-processors, and a highly-stable clock (often a crystal oscillator). A receiver is often described by its number of channels: this signifies how many satellites it can monitor simultaneously. It only takes a few seconds to aquire satellites on boot up and takes only a few seconds to calculate (and re-calculate) routes.
Technology
The latest innovation in GPS technology is GPS-enabled cell phones. The Global Positioning System, while originally a military project, is considered a dual-use technology, meaning it has significant applications for both the military and the civilian industry. The new service enables parents to pinpoint their children's whereabouts, around the clock, using cell phones, the Internet, and the latest in GPS satellite technology. Great for field trips, home use, and anything requiring quick information access and recording, these devices can be used without the hassle of heavier technology. The Economist reports that technology might soon help drivers get where they are going in less time, and thus, burn less fuel. One of the hottest consumer technology items this past holiday season was the global positioning system (GPS) navigational device, which uses triangulation, satellite technology and built-in digital maps to pinpoint the location of the device and, if desired, map a route to a desired location.
Conclusion
GPS devices from companies such as Garmin, Magellan, TomTom, Navman, Cobra, and Lowrance work anywhere in the world, regardless of the weather, 24 hours a day. High-tech monitors, Webcams and GPS devices can help caregivers check in on elderly parents--from afar. There’s a pretty interesting MSN group made up of diving enthusiasts dedicated to using GPS devices while underwater. Google Earth currently supports some GPS devices. In-car GPS devices have more features, are easier to use, and cost less than their predecessors of just a year ago. Some of us tend to forget where our car is parked when coming out of a mall. A GPS device could save us time and frustration in that situation.
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Compare GPS receiver prices at Consumer Guide Products before you buy. The prices are expected to stay flat in 2008, but the overall product value will go up in spikes. In-car GPS devices have more features, are easier to use, and cost less than their predecessors of just a year ago.
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