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If you've ever gotten lost on the way to a business or social
function, then it's time to
consider a GPS system. It
can pinpoint your exact location
and provide a map that shows
you how to get to your destination.
How does GPS work? GPS measures
the satellite signals in proximity
to your location. The GPS
receiver absolutely needs
to know where it is! This
happens by receiving signals
from a minimum of three satellites.
If it wants elevation, then
a fourth satellite needs to
come into play. Next, is the
high end math; GPS locks onto
a position and uses trigonometry
to calculate its position.
This is measured in latitude
and longitude. From that point,
as long as it stays locked
onto your location, it can
provide the speed, distance
and that most valued of all
things; a map to your destination.
What is the signal accuracy
of GPS? GPS signal accuracy
is approximately 50 feet.
But some systems go beyond
this range. Ground stations
help GPS systems achieve an
accuracy greater than 50 feet.
WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation
System) correct satellite
orbital errors. With 25 ground
stations in the U.S., WAAS
calculates and transmits the
corrected data to fixed-position
satellites. WAAS-enabled GPS
receivers reach accuracies
of 10 feet or less. DGPS (Differential
GPS) also has a correction
method with its network of
towers. DGPS systems achieve
an accuracy of between 10
and 20 feet, but the downside
is that these systems require
an antenna to receive the
corrected signal. What options
are there for a GPS system?
You can either choose a dedicated
GPS receiver with displays,
or a receiver that works in
conjunction with your PDA
or notebook computer. At the
lower end, dedicated receivers
with displays show the location
and basic maps. Others at
the higher end offer downloadable
capability so you can receive
more sophisticated map configurations
from a PC. Pocket PCs, Palm
OS devices and notebook computers
also offer GPS receivers combined
with mapping programs. GPS
devices come built into some
PDA mounts offered by Akron
and Seidio. Bluetooth GPS
Receiver The Bluetooth GPS
Receiver is a stand alone
receiver that can communicate
with a Pocket PC or Smartphone.
To use the GPS receiver with
your Windows Mobile device
it needs to have Bluetooth
capability, or you can simply
add the receiver to the unit
with a CF or SDIO Bluetooth
card. You don't have to be
exactly near your GPS receiver
to use it. This is what is
really cool about this receiver.
It's very flexible too. You
can place it within 30 meters
of your other Bluetooth devices
and still have full GPS functionality.
Even more surprising...it
can actually produce a map
and location details while
inside a clothing item or
in a container. It's convenient
too. Before you leave for
a trip, you can input where
you want to go and have it
all mapped out when you depart
for your new destination.
Consider these factors when
selecting a GPS system: •
1. Watch out for lost signals.
The GPS signal with a satellite
could conceivably get lost
in rough or remote terrain,
like in a canyon or forest.
This can be minimized with
a system that continuously
monitors 12 satellites. •
2. Is the GPS system programmable?
What is the data package like?
Is it cost-effective? • 3.
What is the power supply like?
Some in-car systems come with
their own batteries, while
others are dependent on the
car itself. • 4. Pay attention
to interface. Some GPS interfaces
run better than others. Find
out about their performance
from tech journals and colleagues.
• 5. Look at how the maps
and directions are displayed.
Do you like the presentation?
Is it easy to navigate? GPS
- Gets you on track Think
of GPS as a modern take on
that classic refrain heard
by car passengers everywhere,"Just
ask for directions." Only
now, you can ask your very
own GPS system without worrying
about getting lost. Copyright
© Rene Tse is on the look
out for mobile devices to
enhance her productivity.
Rene's reviewed countless
sites on the net, but always
turns to the one run by herself.
Her website, as she says,
cuts to the chase and has
valued information on: free
GPS cell phones, free camera
phones and Bluetooth cell
phones are the best buys for
accessories. I grant permission
to publish this article, electronically
or in print,as long as the
bylines are included, with
2 live links and the article
is not changed in any way.
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