GPS Systems-101

Most people in technologically advanced areas of the world today recognize what the initials GPS stand for. They stand for Global Positioning Satellite system or GPS systems. More and more this technology is becoming a part of our everyday lives and finding its way into more and more of our electronic devices. GPS systems can now be found in everything from cell phones to laptop computers to vehicles for navigation or other tracking purposes. Originally developed by the United States defense department as a military application, the technology in recent years has been opened up to commercial development.

Many practical uses for GPS systems have been developed for the commercial marketplace. The first commercial GPS systems were developed as stand alone handheld devices which have become very popular with people who spend a lot of time in an outdoor environment such as hunters, hikers and campers as a means for keeping from becoming lost in unfamiliar territories. Because GPS systems are in constant communication with a series of satellites which circle the earth, someone in an unfamiliar outdoor environment has the ability to determine exactly where they are at any time.

They have also become very popular with groups of people who use them to stage treasure hunts. Someone or group will hide some sort of object and challenge others to find what has been hidden through the use of clues to find it using GPS systems to determine the location of what was hidden. GPS systems have become extremely popular as a vehicle accessory for means of navigation instead of having to deal with paper maps. Many vehicle manufacturers now include at least the option of having GPS systems as an accessory on new cars. With a GPS system installed, all a person has to do is to input an address and the GPS systems can determine through communication with the satellite system and preprogrammed map data, what the most direct route is between where the user is and the desired location and then display that on a view screen.

There are other GPS systems for vehicle use which can track the movement of vehicles and relay that information to a remote location such as a cell phone or computer. These systems can be used as a notifier if a vehicle is stolen, to help locate and recover the vehicle, to monitor vehicle speeds, to monitor the driving habits of young drivers, to monitor vehicle usage by company employees, to monitor engine usage hours on construction equipment or any kind of equipment where maintainance is based on engine hours run or as an emergency means of helping locate a missing person based on tracking movement of their vehicle.

The possibilities are almost endless. GPS systems are finding their way into more and more of our electronic devices. They can be found in newer laptops to help with recovery if the computer is stolen, they are in newer cellphones, and PDA's. You can find them in some high end stereo equipment, vehicles, law enforcement uses them to monitor criminals who are out in the community on release programs, and there are GPS systems which can be worn by children like a wristwatch, attached to their clothing or carried with them like a cell phone as a means of locating them in case they go missing. Imagination is the only limit to what GPS systems can be used for.

GPS systems and technology are here to stay and becoming more and more commonplace and less expensive all the time as the technology is advanced and mass produced in the marketplace. Any technology such as this that makes our lives easier or safer or more productive will always gain widespread acceptance and usage in everyday life.

For more information about GPS system, click..
GPS system

GPS tracking technology has become very popular in the last few years as a means of navigation while travelling in your car. Originally designed by the United States military for military use, many commercial applications have been developed for GPS tracking capabilities since the US government opened up the technology for commercial development and use. The most common and popular of these is using this GPS tracking technology to replace the use of paper maps for trip and driving navigational purposes. Many car makers now incorporate this ability in new cars, and aftermarket units can be purchased for installation in older cars. As nice and convenient as this use of the technology is, there are actually more beneficial and practical uses of GPS tracking for business fleet management.
GPS tracking can be used by businesses for fleet management in several ways to increase efficiency and decrease unnecessary business expenses. One of these uses of GPS tracking is being able to more effeciently map and monitor delivery routes to eliminate unnecessary driving by employees. With the continuing rise in fuel costs with no end in sight, any unnecessary or unauthorized driving increases fuel expenditures and decreases profits for the company. While this might not have a big impact on a company with one or two company vehicles, a company with a multitude of vehicles could really be impacted financially by excess fuel expenditures caused by unnecessary driving by it's employees in company vehicles. GPS tracking gives the company the means to track movement of it's vehicles to ensure that they are reaching the destinations they are headed for in a timely manner without making detours or stops for non-business related reasons. It gives the company the ability to make sure it's employees are where they are supposed to be and are performing the jobs they are being paid to do when they are away from the business in company vehicles.
Another excellent reason for GPS tracking by businesses would be for theft prevention of expensive company vehicles and equipment, and quick recovery of vehicles or equipment which might become victim to this crime. Some covert GPS tracking units can be set to send alerts to a cell phone or computer when a movement perimeter has been breached. Some of these units also have the capability of being able to disable the starting system of vehicles equipted with them so that once turned off, the vehicles can't be restarted by the thieves. With the vehicle disabled and the ability to know exactly where the vehicle is, authorities can be immediately notified of it's location and quick recovery of the vehicle secured by law enforcement officials. Another benefit to businesses whose vehicles are so equipted would be a possible reduction of insurance premiums due to the high recovery rate of vehicles equipted with GPS tracking systems, thereby saving the company additional money. For a company with a number of vehicles or high value equipment such as construction related equipment, this could result in a substancial savings just in insurance costs.
While most of us think of GPS technology as a nice convenience that can help us get from one place to another without getting lost or having to fumble around with paper maps, companies using GPS tracking for fleet management can greatly benefit financially by employing this revolutionary technology to eliminate unnecessary driving costs and protect expensive machinery against loss due to theft.

For more information on GPS tracking For Business Fleet Management click..

GPS Fleet Management

Do you know what GPS is? It stands for Global Positioning System. It is a satellite based navigation system. This system consists of twenty four satellites. If you really want to truly understand how GPS works, you may want to go back to the reason it was first created.

Did you know that GPS was first created by the United States Department of Defense back in the 1980's? The system was to be used for military operations. Over time, the Defense Department realized this Global Positioning System was much more valuable and could do much more than they first believed.

Soon it was allowed to be used by civilians. Plus, people could use it without paying for a subscription fee.

GPS can work in any weather condition. It also can be read anywhere in the world, twenty four hours a day.

How do these satellites actually work? Twice a day they orbit the earth. As they are orbiting, they can locate where each GPS device is being used. This means that the satellites can actually find the location of the device anywhere in the world. This allows people to find other people, as well as other objects that are lost or stolen.

The satellite is able to read the GPS's signal. That signal can be compared by the time the GPS receiver sends an additional return signal. This time difference is then read and compared between the distance of the GPS and the satellite. This gives a distance measurement. Then more distance measurements are read from the other satellites and the GPS is located.

Many objects have GPS capabilities. Some of the most popular of these being: automobiles, boats, trucks, etc. Plus, GPS devices can be built into such items as: cell phones, laptop computers, stereo equipment etc.

Some people will actually buy what is referred to as GPS tracking devices which are used for the sole purpose of tracking a person. These products are often placed on the automobiles of suspected cheating spouses or the automobiles of teenagers, when parents are concerned about their safety.

Many parents have even bought some nifty GPS tracking devices that can even allow them to know what speed their teenager is driving. This is especially nice for the parent of a newly licensed driver.

New and well equipped laptop computers are generally always equipped with a GPS tracking device. The device can be triggered once the laptop is reported stolen. Then when the stolen laptop is placed online the GPS is able to track the location of the stolen merchandise. This is a great insurance to many business people that stores important information on their computers.

As the computer and electronic world keeps growing, so will the use of Global Positioning Systems. It is evitable that we will need these systems not only to monitor our belongings, but to help keep our world a little safer. For these reasons we all should, at least have a basic understanding of GPS's and understand that they can benefit us more than help predict our weather.

For more information about GPS system, click..
GPS system
source

Finding the best GPS system is like buying the perfect car. It's all relative -- to you! The perfect car for me would have to be able to survive two rowdy kids, a dog, sometimes two cats, and a wife who routinely picks up junk (Oh, excuse me, they're called collectibles) on the side of the road. It would have to be roomy and maintenance free. For someone else, the perfect car would only need two seats, a rag top, and be able to do 120 mph easily.

In order to find the best GPS system, you have to first understand what they generally do and what are the usual features, then define what you want it for.

By GPS systems, I'm specifically talking about the after-market car variety. You know, the kind you see perched on people's windshields at the grocery store. I'm not talking about the in dash kind that come with some cars, nor am I considering the hand-held varieties you would take on a long hike. The after-market systems are usually called portable GPS receivers, or systems, and that's what I'll call them here.

Basically, all of these portable GPS receivers do exactly the same thing. They show you where you are on an electronic map, and they tell you how to get where you want to go, be it down the street or somewhere across the country.

All GPS systems work off of the same network of satellites that ring the earth, and most of the portable ones even use the same types of receivers. So, the differences between makes and models are not in how they work or what they do, fundamentally, but in the bells and whistles that come with them.

Virtually all GPS systems come with the following:

* Voice prompts that tell you where to turn
* Touch screen
* Large database of "Points of Interest" (locations of hospitals, ATMs, McDonalds, etc.)
* Choice between 2D "map view" and 3D "bird's eye" views
* Automatic route calculation
* Choice between shortest and fastest routes
* Come preloaded with maps of the 48 states

The main optional features to consider when buying a GPS system are these:

* Does it actually say the names of the street you need to turn on as you approach it?
* Do you need a widescreen version (4.3-inches diagonally as opposed to 3.5-inches)?
* Do you need maps of Canada, Mexico, and/or Europe?
* Does it support Bluetooth technology, which allows you to use your GPS system in conjunction with your cell phone to make hands-free calls? (Which essentially makes it a windshield mounted version of those little ear clips people walk around with.)
* Can you enter multiple routes into the unit and have it calculate the best route to get to all of them? Say you were in an unfamiliar city and you wanted to go to the cleaners, the grocery store, the movies, and a local dentist all on one trip. Could the GPS system calculate the shortest possible route to get to all of these?
* Does it have real-time traffic and weather report capability, and can it use that information to re-route you around traffic jams?
* Can you use your device to listen to music (mp3) or to look at digital pictures?
* How big is the Points of Interest database?

There are a few other features that major manufacturers include. Magellan, for instance, has hooked up with AAA to offer their Tourguide information actually on the GPS itself. Tom Tom has this neat feature where users can make map changes and upload those to Tom Tom's computer database which makes them available for everyone else. And Garmin is coming out with a new unit in 2008 that will learn to recognize your voice so you can enter commands by speaking instead of typing on the touch screen.

So, in order to find the best GPS device for you, you need to first decide which of these optional features are necessary, and which you might like if you can afford it.

You can get a basic GPS system for under $200. The Garmin nuvi 200, for example, has all of the basic features I listed above. It comes preloaded with regional maps (not the entire United States). If you want to spend slightly more, how about the Tom Tom One, 3rd edition, which at the time of these writing (early '08) costs slightly less than $200 at Amazon and comes with real time traffic capability and Tom Tom's MapShare (where you can uploaded changes).

Virtually all of the Magellan Maestro series is currently in the $200 to $400 range. You can get the more basic 3210 for around $250, which has millions of points of interest and, of course, the AAA Tourbook, or you can spend about $100 more and get the 4250, which includes all that the 3210 does and adds Bluetooth, voice recognition, and real-time traffic.

One of the most popular units is the Garmin nuvi 350, which does all the nuvi 200 does, but includes Garmin's "Travel Kit", mp3 capability, picture viewer, world travel clock, calendar, and more.

Deciding can be difficult, but to help out, I've created a website where I've collected all of this information plus links to appropriate pages on Amazon. There you can easily compare makes and models side by side and figure out which is the best GPS system for you. You can get to it from my link below.

Don't put off buying one, though! GPS systems are great. Once you have your first one, you'll wonder how in the world you got along without it.

For more information about GPS system, click..
GPS system
source

Until just recently, in order to be able to use GPS (Global Positioning System) technology to track someone, you would have needed expensive hardware and software. Today, though, there are entire full solutions readily available to allow the average consumer to use GPS even through a regular cellular phone.

Though many believe that the primary reason that GPS was first included in cellular phone technology was in response to parents who want to be able to watch where their children are all the time, the truth of the matter is that as the demand for enhanced 911 (e911) emergency phoning abilities - especially after 9/11 - GPS technology was rapidly integrated into cellular phone technology so that by the end of 2005, all cellular phone providers had to comply with a regulation that allows cellular phone calls to be traced to a specific location to an accuracy of 100 meters or less.

In order to be able to comply with these FCC regulations, the cellular phone carriers decided that it was best to work the GPS technology into the mobile phone handsets themselves, instead of having to rebuild the entire cellular network. However, it should be noted that the GPS technology that has been worked into cellular phones is not the same technology as is used by hikers and other people who live, work, or recreate in remote areas. The majority of cellular phones don't actually allow the user to access the GPS data directly. In order to determine an accurate location, the wireless network must be accessed, and this data will be transmitted only in the case when a 911 emergency phone call has been placed.

Therefore, not all cellular phones provide the ability for users to track someone by way of their phones unless their phone has a specific kind of technology, and is connected to the right kind of network, and is registered for the right kind of cellular service, then they won't be able to use the phone to directly track someone.

However, this does mean that if you do sign up to the right network with the right service and you use the right kind of phone technology, you will be able to track someone - including your child - very easily, no matter where they may be.

For more information about GPS system, click..
GPS system
source

GPS

GPS units give the electronic routes and voice guided turn by turn directions to your destination. As technology has progressed in this field, you can get plenty of models in the market with various accessories and add on features, some extremely useful. The basic features you need to look out for before you buy one are explained in the following sections.

Map Capabilities

Most GPS models come with internal map capabilities. Manufacturer provides maps with details up to street level in the hard drive. The menu option enables you to access the desired data. Comprehensive street level maps can help you identify the coordinates of the destination on the map by using just the name, or locate the destination on map by giving the coordinates. For some models you will have to subscribe to a plan to update the maps on an annual basis.

Some models provide map information in memory cards having detailed information of a particular region. Thus you will need extra cards if you have to store information for more coverage. Map cartridges are more flexible but can prove to be expensive.

Some brands provide map information in CD-ROM, DVD-ROM discs.

Receiver type

There are 24 GPS satellites in six orbits around the earth. GPS receivers track these satellites to compute the information of your location, the bearing, distance and time left to reach destination and other route options. Since there are 12 satellites at a time in view, each of them is tracked continuously to generate the information. Latest GPS receivers marketed today are commonly 12 parallel channel receivers.

The associated advantages of tracking more satellites are:
faster cold start
regular initialization
better reception
do not require an external antenna if you are in an open vehicle

Other receiver types are:
20 parallel channel receivers
16 parallel channel receivers
14 parallel channel receivers

Display size

Large displays are a visual treat when you consider buying TVs but not the same when it comes to buying a GPS. The map on the display gives you information regarding:

current location
where next turn is
name of street you are turning onto
estimated time of arrival

While driving, casting your glance away a second longer can prove to be risky, hence a device with a smaller screen will be advantageous. The display should be easy to read irrespective of surroundings. The navigation aids come in various sizes. Some units with screen size as big as 7in. enable you to get connected to external video devices. Some hand held ones are as small as 1.5in.X 0.9in.) Some of the convenient, easy to read GPS are:

3.5 in.
2.in. x 2.1 in.

Resolution

Screen resolution decides how clearly you can see and read in broad daylight. Color, glare free LCDs are soothing to the eyes. High end models have color screens which gives information about weather and terrain. Some GPS units with different resolutions are:

320x240
480x272

PC Interface

The portable models have a USB or serial ports which gets you connected to a PC. It enables you to download latest maps and system software. GPS units with USB and serial ports can be found at:

USB:

Serial port:

Bluetooth GPS that communicates with mobile device wirelessly are also available.

Built-in memory

With larger memory space one can store more route information and waypoints. Units with software that can transfer data from the unit to a PC can be used to gather more data than it can hold. So depending on how much map data and information you wish to store, you can select the units with the required memory space. You get various models with wide range of built-in memory space.

1 to 30MB

30 to 512MB

512 to 2500MB

2500 to 40000MB

Antennas

External antennas are used when stronger signals are needed. If in a vehicle the system cannot be placed near the window, external Antenna hookups can prove to be ideal solution. Choice of external hookups is most practical for hiking under heavy tree cover, under tall buildings or in any place which doesn't have a good view of sky.

Built-in antennas are less prone to breakage and can communicate with more satellites.

Quadrifilar Helix- This is also an external antenna useful for situations where open sky is limited.

Flip up antennas too give strong performance.

Price

This is one factor not to be compromised on, if you don't wish yourself or your loved ones to get lost in the maze of roads. The technology in this field has developed rapidly and the old models which are cheaper may have crowded maps, or confusing menu options. Latest models high on price have more detailed maps. Of course, lesser the features lesser will be the cost. If you don't need features like live traffic data or weather data, don't invest money in models offering these features. Features like speech recognition for hands free operation, 3D maps, and information on fuel prices all come for additional price.

Under $200- You get good light weight portable navigation units in this range. Maps look great with reasonably timely route recalculations. Good value for money! Those of you looking for more memory space may check out models at higher range.

Between $200 to $312- You get better performance and features like anti glare, touch screen with good resolution. You also get good in-built memory space and battery life.

Between $312 to $416- Good screen settings, voice guided directions and overall good performance.

Between $416 to $1172- Accurate route guidance, easy to use and compatibility with Bluetooth cell phones are some attractive features of devices in the price range.

Brands

There are various manufacturers manufacturing GPS units with different features to suit a wide range of customers. The major brands available today are:

Garmin has many models of handheld and mounted types.

Magellan:

Mitac:

Lowrance:

For more information about GPS system, click..
GPS system
source

Back in 1973 the decision was made to develop a satellite navigation system based on the systems TRANSIT, TIMATION and 621B of the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy. For many years after that it was used solely for military and government uses.

From 1974 to 1979 the system underwent testing.

During the year of 1977 The first receiver tests were performed even before the first satellites were stationed in the orbit. Transmitters were installed on the earth's surface called Pseudolites (Pseudo satellites).

From 1978 to 1985 a total of 11 Block I satellites were launched into orbit. In 1980 the first Block I satellite carrying sensors to detect atomic explosions was launched.

This satellite was meant to control the abidance of the agreement of 1963 between the USA and the Soviet Union to refrain from any nuclear tests on the earth, submarine or in space.

In 1979 the decision to expand the GPS system was made. Thereupon the resources are considerably shortened and the program is restructured. At first only 18 satellites would be operated.

Then in 1988 the number of satellites is again raised to 24, as the functionality is not satisfying with only 18 satellites.

During years of 1980-1982 the financial situation of the project was critical, as the usefulness of the system is questioned again and again by the sponsors.

Then in 1983 when a civilian airplane of the Korean Airline (Flight 007) was shot down after it had gone lost over Sovjet territory, it was decided to allow the civilian use of the GPS system.

In 1986 the accident of the space shuttle "Challenger" was a drawback for the GPS program, as the space shuttles were supposed to transport Block II GPS satellites to their orbit. Finally the operators of the program revert to the Delta rockets intended for the transportation in the first place.

1989 The first Block II satellite was installed and activated.

From 1990-1991 temporal deactivation of the selective availability (SA) during the Gulf war. In this period civil receivers should be used as not enough military receivers were available. On July 01, 1991 SA is activated again.

Then in 1993 The Initial Operational Capability (IOC) was announced. In the same year it is also definitely decided to authorize the world wide civilian use free of charge.

In 1994 The last Block II satellite completes the satellite constellation.

In 1995 Full Operational Capability (FOC) is announced.

In 2000 Final deactivation of the selective availability and therefore improvement of the accuracy for civilian users from about 100 m to 20 m.

2004 marked the launching of the 50st GPS satellite.

In 2005 the first IIR-M GPS-satellite was launched. This new type supports the new military M-signal and the second civil signal L2C.

For more information about GPS system, click..
GPS system
source

In recent times driving has become all the more simpler and exciting with the use of navigation systems such as automotive GPS systems. The time where you worried about getting to your intended destination is long gone because the automotive GPS system ensures that you get to your destination in due course without roaming about aimlessly and straying from your intended course. Honda was the first vehicle company to create the automotive navigation system as far back as the early 1980's, at that time a device known as an accelerometer was used in order to determine precise locations as the means to use GPS systems weren't available. Nowadays you have a lot of popular vendors selling automotive GPS systems as well as other navigation systems and you are free to make an independent choice.

For those who have no detailed understanding of how automotive GPS systems work, they should understand that these systems make use of satellite signals in order to determine the precise location of a vehicle. Not all automotive navigation systems make use of GPS technology and certain differences exist with other GPS systems that use data on your precise position to superimpose it on a map and determine your particular location.

Different aspects make up a complete navigation system. These different components are the aerial view of the map which changes according to the motion of the vehicle; this component is easily the most crucial component, distance gauge, distance numbers as well as the next curves bird's eye view in order to protect you from harm.

Navigation systems make use of road databases which contain a complete listing of the names and addresses of different locations which are stored as geographical coordinates. Any information that requires updating is supplied through internet technology as the vehicles moves from one particular location to the other. It also has a vector map of a particular area which ensures that it is easy to find a person or business if you have their particular name or address.

Databases which are employed in such systems can be easily kept on storage media such as hard disks or by using certain memory known as read only memory. Read only memory comes directly programmed from a factory or stored on other optical storage media devices such as CD's and DVDs. Base maps are usually stored constantly in the memory of the device because they don't change. The base maps are used to provide precise and accurate information about any current location that a user may find themselves in or which they may be interested in. Systems exist which allow for a combination of all these elements.

History has it that the navigation system that was primarily created to function with GPS was developed by Pioneer in the year 1990. Nowadays GPS navigation systems have come a very long way. You can use them not only to determine your location but to locate other essential services such as gas stations, restaurants and motels. Auxiliary functions which include messaging capabilities and the ability to watch DVD's may also come included.

For more information about GPS system, click..
GPS system
source

Today's modern society means ownership of a bevy of gadgets guaranteed to elevate us to new levels of convenience. What would we do with our cell phones, PDA's, and Blackberry's? And now, there's another handy gadget that sits in our palm; it may be small but it harnesses an enormous amount of power and brings it streaming right to our hands. The Global Positioning System - or GPS system - is the newest of modern gadgets that promises to keep us on the cutting edge of technology.

The GPS system uses the positioning of 24 satellites that circle the earth to pinpoint any location in the world. Having been developed by the United States Department of Defense, the GPS system was initially intended for military use when the first operational satellite was launched in 1978. However, by the mid-90's, 23 more satellites had been added to the rotation and the modern GPS system was born. Today's civilian consumers have taken the system and elevated it to ever-growing popularity.

The GPS system of today includes a network of devices used for mapping, navigation, and tracking that has replaced the compass and paper road maps of yesteryear. Users operate their GPS system in a variety of ways - from the computer mapping device to the navigational system available in newer cars.

One part of the GPS system is the GPS receiver - a hand-held device that receives its information from government satellites. Using this information, the GPS receiver does a series of latitudinal and longitudinal calculations that can precisely pinpoint the user's location. A small screen will literally mark the location of the user amidst a larger map that shows surrounding points of reference. This can be enormously beneficial in a number of situations including the use by outside enthusiasts who frequently camp and hike.

The GPS system that seems to be most in use today is the navigational unit found in modern vehicles. While some units are portable and can be transferred from one vehicle to another, there are others that are permanently mounted in newer cars as part of their standard features. This GPS system - when given a specific address - can navigate the driver to their destination including turns, landmarks, and distances of all portions of the trip.

Most importantly, the GPS system of today is one that provides you with the most convenience that is specific to your needs and frequency of use.

For more information about GPS system ,click..
GPS system
source