Global Positioning Systems
GPS is a Satellite Navigation System -- an innovative breakthrough that has revolutionized travel and navigation of all kinds. This lens features the best GPS tools plus vital information about how GPS works so you can take advantage of this new technology!
The Global Positioning System (GPS) on Wkipedia
Developed by the United States Department of Defense, it is officially named NAVSTAR GPS (Contrary to popular belief, NAVSTAR is not an acronym, but simply a name given by Mr. John Walsh, a key decision maker when it came to the budget for the GPS program[1]). The satellite constellation is managed by the United States Air Force 50th Space Wing. The cost of maintaining the system is approximately US$750 million per year,[2] including the replacement of aging satellites, and research and development. These costs are funded by the US and GPS is free for civilian use as a public good.
GPS has become a widely used aid to navigation worldwide, and a useful tool for map-making, land surveying, commerce, and scientific uses. GPS also provides a precise time reference used in many applications including scientific study of earthquakes, and synchronization of telecommunications networks.
Contents
GPS Resources
- GPS Navigation Systems
- Mind Media Guide to GPS Navigation Systems Shopping and Product Reviews
- GPS World - GPS World magazine for industry professionals
- GNSS and GPS news for industry and business, covering national and international navigation systems including the Global Positioning System, We provide targeted news and analysis to professionals in navigation, aviation, transportation, survey, construction,
- Ready, Set, GoGPS!
- Ready, Set, GoGPS!
- Tiger GPS
- Tiger GPS
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How GPS Works
When people talk about "a GPS," they usually mean a GPS receiver. The Global Positioning System (GPS) is actually a constellation of 27 Earth-orbiting satellites (24 in operation and three extras in case one fails). The U.S. military developed and implemented this satellite network as a military navigation system, but soon opened it up to everybody else.Each of these 3,000- to 4,000-pound solar-powered satellites circles the globe at about 12,000 miles (19,300 km), making two complete rotations every day. The orbits are arranged so that at any time, anywhere on Earth, there are at least four satellites "visible" in the sky.,
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. This operation is based on a simple mathematical principle called trilateration.GPS receiver calculates its position on earth based on the information it receives from four located satellites. This system works pretty well, but inaccuracies do pop up. For one thing, this method assumes the radio signals will make their way through the atmosphere at a consistent speed (the speed of light). In fact, the Earth's atmosphere slows the electromagnetic energy down somewhat, particularly as it goes through the ionosphere and troposphere. The delay varies depending on where you are on Earth, which means it's difficult to accurately factor this into the distance calculations. Problems can also occur when radio signals bounce off large objects, such as skyscrapers, giving a receiver the impression that a satellite is farther away than it actually is. On top of all that, satellites sometimes just send out bad almanac data, misreporting their own position.
Differential GPS (DGPS) helps correct these errors. The basic idea is to gauge GPS inaccuracy at a stationary receiver station with a known location. Since the DGPS hardware at the station already knows its own position, it can easily calculate its receiver's inaccuracy. The station then broadcasts a radio signal to all DGPS-equipped receivers in the area, providing signal correction information for that area. In general, access to this correction information makes DGPS receivers much more accurate than ordinary receivers.
Microsoft Streets and Trips 2008 with GPS Locator DVD
You know where you want to go, and Microsoft Streets & Trips 2008 with GPS can help you get there. This best-selling travel and map software has been enhanced with several new features that take all the guesswork out of traveling, letting you focus on the sites, instead of the directions. With more than 1.6 million points of interest to choose from, and with updated maps and the most extensive trip planning features you'll find anywhere, Streets & Trips will help you plan your trip, your way. This package of software and GPS Locator is the ultimate travel tool for anyone who wants to plan a memorable vacation, or simply needs to find their way around town without a hitch.
It starts with all the door-to-door routing, location-finding and comprehensive mapping power of Microsoft Streets and Trips, and adds a plug-and-play Global Positioning System (GPS) locator that helps you stay on track and always knows where your next turn is. Combining the power and versatility of a GPS receiver with mapping information that is pinpoint accurate and easy-to-use, Streets & Trips 2008 with GPS Locator is the essential travel tool.
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GPS Feed
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byGPS Gadgets at Amazon
Garmin nüvi 350 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Text-to-Speech
Amazon Price: $199.99 (as of 07/26/2008)
Garmin Portable Friction Dashboard Mount for Nüvi Series and StreetPilot C5XX Series GPS Navigators (C530, C550 and C580)
Amazon Price: $27.42 (as of 07/26/2008)
Bracketron UFM-100BL Nav-Mat GPS Friction Dash Pad
Amazon Price: $11.50 (as of 07/26/2008)
Garmin nüvi 200 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
Amazon Price: $149.99 (as of 07/26/2008)
Garmin nüvi 360 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Bluetooth and Text-to-Speech
Amazon Price: $224.99 (as of 07/26/2008)
GPS Software on Amazon
Microsoft Streets and Trips 2008 with GPS
Amazon Price: $61.49 (as of 07/26/2008)
DeLorme Earthmate GPS LT-40 2009
Amazon Price: $49.99 (as of 07/26/2008)
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight
Amazon Price: (as of 07/26/2008)
Garmin MapSource City Navigator, North America DVD-ROM for Garmin StreetPilot GPS Units
Amazon Price: $80.99 (as of 07/26/2008)
Garmin MapSource BlueChart CD-ROM for Garmin GPS Units, Americas (010-10317-00)
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 07/26/2008)

