GPS Systems: How Do They Guide Us?

Having some knowledge of how GPS systems work will make you more appreciative of their complexity and make you less likely to balk at the cost.  More and more often, GPS gadgets are being added as standard features in the latest cars and personal electronics such as PDAs and cellular phones.  This writer isn’t an engineer or scientist, so this article is a simplified explanation of how GPS systems function. If you need a more technical explanation, there are other articles on the web that cover that.

The ABCs of GPS

You may be astonished to learn that there are over 2500 satellites that are orbiting our planet at this very moment.  Rather a large percentage of them are GPS system satellites.  But only 36 of them are actually still in operation with many others having been retired.  These satellites transmit a consistent low-power signal which is picked up by GPS receivers such as the unit in your auto.  By precisely measuring the distance from three of these satellites, the global positioning system can calculate its exact position on earth.

When their solar power panels are completely unfolded, a GPS satellite can be about seventeen feet wide.  Yes, they run on solar power and also have backup batteries installed for use when solar isn't available.  They generally survive ten years or more if all goes well. There is a "senior" satellite that has been working since 1978.  His task is to tell the newer satellites how tough it was in his time and how much easier the new models have it. Yes, I'm joking!

But Seriously

So what is a GPS receiver?  Any electronic device that is able to receive signals transmitted by the GPS satellites is a GPS receiver.  One may be on a commercial cruise liner, another in a taxicab and yet another is that Navigon 7100 GPS in my neighbor's car.  Personal GPS systems currently average around $300 for a well-equipped model.  When you recognize that you didn't have to pay to design, build or launch a gps satellite into orbit, $300 doesn't appear excessive at all.

The US government is responsible for paying the costs required in fabricating and launching satellites into orbit.|Our government here in the US has decided to take on the costs needed in creating this network of GPS satellites. So you can sit back and relax in your car, knowing that this network of satellites will quickly and dependably direct you to your destination. So now you should have a reasonably good understanding of what goes on behind the scenes when you switch on your GPS system.

Handheld Auto Tracking Systems

GPS car tracking

There are many different types of auto navigation systems. Among the many you will find those that come factory installed, those that are attached to the interior of your automobile through the use of suction cups, and still others that are handheld devices which can simply be installed by attaching a cord to your cars cigarette lighter. These devices don't offer quite the functionality and ease of use as some of the other (need I say pricier) types of navigational devices but you should not be fooled by features that you might not find all that useful in reality.

Being a bargain hunter is what I do. There really is nothing I can do to change my thrifty (some might say cheap) nature. I like having nice things but would like to get them while spending as little money in the process as possible. For this reason alone I decided to seriously consider some of the many handheld navigational tools on the market today.

There are a list of reasons why I consider these systems attractive. First of all, they suit many purposes. Not only are they useful when traveling by car (if you purchase the right software of course), they are also quite useful when taking your travels off road as well. You can use them four wheeling in the country, riding horses in wide open spaces, hiking in the hills and mountains, or when getting away by bike for the day. My personal favorite use for these nifty tools however is on the side roads. I'm a horrible navigator and a mapping GPS car tracking handheld is just the thing to keep me on track and on target.

I really dislike the feeling of being lost and not in control of my whereabouts. It is a frightening feeling that is only intensified whenever there are children on board during those lost moments in time. Only someone who has ever experienced that feeling while looking into the eyes of her babies and feeling so alone on top of being so lost can really understand. There simply aren't adequate words to describe the deep down inside fear that can take hold in situations such as this if allowed.

The best action to take is proactive. Avoid putting yourself in situations where you will feel lost. This of course, hasn't always been possible in the past. If you're traveling to a strange place, owning a navigational system can calm some fears of the unknown. Since there are those few times when we do become lost, it's best to know that these systems can assist us to find our way back safely.

If you are looking for a great gift to give almost anyone on your Christmas list this year, a nice handheld GPS tracking system with mapping capabilities is a great gift to give. A gift like this should not wait until the holiday season, especially if it's someone whose safety is your number one concern. Females who travel alone will see benefit to these devices, wheather be it for driving, hiking, boating, or any other activity. 

No matter what your specific needs in auto navigation systems may be, there are many systems that could suit them quite nicely. Take the time to study what is available and reconcile your needs with your budget in order to find the one that will work best for you. Extra features on the GPS mapping systems makes them attractive when both in and out of the vehicle. Good luck in finding the perfect auto navigation system for you. It's out there somewhere.

Not Your Ordinary Bluetooth: The Latest Bluetooth GPS Devices

Bluetooth devices have certainly gone a long way since their introduction to the world just a few years ago.  Thanks to innovative technological advances in electronics, Bluetooth - named after an ancient King of Denmark - has become so much more than a wireless method of communication between personal devices.

Now, Bluetooth devices can play your favorite music, record handwritten notes and even play slideshows of your favorite pictures.  Yet here's the real treat -Bluetooth products have gone from primarily functioning as a personal communication tool to a navigator's dream, thanks to Bluetooth GPS devices that can plug directly into your laptop or PDA.  We've outlined some of the best and most affordable Bluetooth GPS devices on the market today, so you'll never need to go to the trouble of asking for directions again!

TomTom's done it again.  One of the major GPS product manufacturers out there, they've turned Bluetooth technology into a GPS goldmine, thanks to the TomTom Bluetooth GPS Sensor.  Created specifically for PDAs and pocket pcs, this sleek device completely eliminates the need for those complicated connection cables, as the Sensor is 100% wireless.  Perfect for city and suburb dwellers, the TomTom Bluetooth GPS Sensor offers clear and detailed street maps in real-time and is compatible with a majority of popular PDAs, pocket pcs and smartphones.  You can buy this Bluetooth GPS device at your local electronic store for under $200, or shop online for even greater savings!

Not to be outdone by their competitors, Garmin has unleashed their own Bluetooth technology with the Garmin Mobile 10 Wireless Bluetooth GPS Deluxe Package.  While this may be a mouthful, Garmin Bluetooth technology offers powerful navigation solutions for your PDA, laptop, pocket pc or smartphone.  With detailed street maps of cities and suburbs in North America, simple operating instructions and a battery life that could put the Energizer Bunny to shame, you can journey with confidence and ease no matter where your travels may take you. 

Still haven't had enough? Magellan has the perfect product for when you look to buy Bluetooth GPS devices -the Magellan RoadMate 6000T Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator and MP3 Player.  With a brilliant color display screen and over six million preloaded points of interests - including restaurants, movie theaters, gas stations and ATMS - you'll never need to worry about getting lost again.  Plus, with the ability to play digital music files, you can travel while listening to all of your favorite tunes!  It's truly a product that knows how to multi-task, but keep in mind that this product is a little more expensive than most of its competitors: online prices average around $699.

As you can see, your favorite Bluetooth product doesn't have to be limited to just personal communication devices.  With major brands like Garmin, TomTom and Magellan all offering superior products at prices that can fit every budget, you won't need to find a reason to buy Bluetooth GPS devices today!

GPS Tracking System

Vehicle Tracking System

The GPS Vehicle Tracking System developed by Ennoble Consultancy combines the use of GPS Devices (Global Positioning System), GSM (Global System for Mobile communications), and the most widely used Google Maps, to produce a much more powerful all-in-one solution to vehicle tracking, making vehicle tracking more accurate and easier than ever, and enhancing effective and efficient fleet management.

With the EC Vehicle Tracking System, and the use of GPS Tracking Device with built-in GSM module, vehicles can be tracked in real-time with accuracy, using inexpensive devices such as cell phones or personal computers with telephony or internet connection. Vehicle location can be viewed on the user-friendly Google Maps interface through the online application, and the work progress and activities can be accessed in real-time

Nowadays, a Vehicle Tracking System is commonly used by fleet operators for fleet management functions such as routing, dispatch, on-board information and security. When managing a fleet of vehicles, knowing the real-time location of the vehicles allows more efficient management to meet customer needs at lower cost.

Main features:

· Ability to transmit the longitude and latitude coordinates of a vehicle‘s location to cell phones by SMS (Short Message Service)

· Ability to transmit the coordinates to personal computers over the internet using GPRS (General Packet Radio Service)

· Ability to get the vehicle's location displayed on Google Maps interface.

· Ability to keep track of vehicle's position in real-time or playback the route of the vehicle afterwards

· Ability to produce statistics and graphs illustrating the details of the trip of the vehicle

· Ability to communicate with the vehicle driver via SMS

To view the Vehicle Tracking System application demo, visit the website: http://demo.ennoble.com.au/gmaps

Ennoble Consultancy (EC) is a multi-disciplinary software development and consultancy company with offices in Australia, Malaysia and Vietnam. EC management operates on providing leading edge geospatial consultancy and software development in the Australasia region.

EC develops innovative geospatial/GIS and mapping TabletPC and web applications with emphasis on using web-based maps to deliver asset and facility management capabilities. Ennoble products include Vehicle Tracking, CiMAS Contract Performance Management, Tree and Playgrounds Management System and various audit/inspection enterprise solutions.

GPS Maps

To help people find their through unfamiliar territory many devices and items have been invented. Of all of these the current favorite is that of gps systems. These systems work on the principle of a tracking system that bounces signals off of orbiting satellites which have been made especially for this need. The information you receive is translated into the form of gps maps.

These gps maps show you the current position you are in and the final destination point. You will also be provided with a highlighted route to take. In most cases the route will be the quickest and the most efficient way to arrive at your destination. There are a few cases where the gps system will not be able to provide you with the needed information. This is due to the insufficient data that has been provided to the system.

However you can rectify this situation by installing more updated gps maps. These new maps will have lots of extra information. In some instances you can also add city maps of countries where you are hoping to visit. Imagine being in an unfamiliar country and being able to drive in that country without any hassles.

In these gps maps you will find lots of valuable information. Among the information you can look into is the names of streets, various venues like hospitals, restaurants, hotels. As these are places of importance to travelers the gps maps will contain this information. The best way you can get hold of this information is to use the touch screen interface that is found with the gps systems.

When you use the touch screen interface the gps maps will show you the different streets in your locality. Based on the information you feed the gps system you will be shown the fastest route to take. This route will be shown more clearly as compared to that of the others. The onboard computer voice will enhance the information you receive from the gps maps.

With each of the gps systems that are available the gps maps are formatted differently. Some of the maps will show the route highlighted, while the other roads are depicted in a faint background picture. On some of the maps the gps system will also show many other pieces of information like near by trees, bodies of water, places of interest, railway crossings and others.

These are various items which are required for the traveler. The many different forms of gps maps will let you see and choose the best way to travel to your final destination. With the help of these gps maps you can be assured of reaching your travel destination quickly and safely.

Cheap GPS

The gps system is an invention which now provides help to people to find their way from place to place. This is alternatively called a Global Positioning Satellite system. Satellites that have a specific purpose to help with navigation, tracking and position coordinates are used by gps systems. You are able to purchase various items which have included a gps system. You should be able to find some low cost gps devices as there is a big range nowadays.

This however means that you will need to see about the various features that are present in these devices. With a gps system you should be able to see the monitor interface clearly. You're new low cost gps interface must be able to give you clear maps which are not hard to see. Also to modify from a section or feature of the map to another, the touch screen should be in very good operating condition.

The alternate gps systems also have different costs and depend on which features are included in the system. For the most part you should be able to find a cheap gps within the price range of about $100 to $400 USD. You may want to rethink things in the event that you think the price range is on the expensive side.

The newer gps systems which have many new and improved features come in the price bracket of $999.99 plus. At the high end of the cost scale you can even find gps systems up to - you may need to sit for this - $2,000.00 USD. Now when you look at these price comparisons you must admit that paying about $200 is better than the high price of $2,000.00.

We can move ahead as soon as you have recovered from shock on this point. You will need to do some shopping and choose the cheap gps model which has all of the features that are necessary for a gps. These features should be a low price, an excellent quality touch screen monitor, a visible and easy to read interface.

The street maps should also be clearly visible. Even if it is dark you can see them as the route and your actual location are highlighted. The various street names, railway crossings, hospitals, and other venues of importance should be shown and stated well. Your should be able to hear the voice prompts which are part of the gps system clearly regardless of the cost of the device.

As technology is meant to help us you should choose the items which will provide this help. While getting the brand new products that are available can show your status and prestige you will need to pay a substantial price. A cheap gps on the other hand can give you all of the help you require for a fraction of the price.