GPS Information

The global positioning system, or GPS, was originally a military development born during the Cold War. Satellites were launched, with at least four above the horizon at all times, which allowed precise locations to be determined on Earth. After a Korean Air Lines plane was shot down for inadvertently straying into Soviet air space, President Reagan allowed the technology to be accessible by all. As restrictions were further eased, GPS devices became widely available in many different forms.

One of the first uses of the new technology was to incorporate GPS chips in cell phones. This was primarily to address the problem of emergency personnel who needed a precise location to respond to 911 calls. More advanced cell phones allowed them to be used for navigation purposes as well so that users could get turn by turn directions to their destinations.

Hand held GPS units are often used by surveyors, hikers, and campers. These units can be programmed to track progress from a starting point and then provide return directions. This feature can be very helpful if there is a danger of becoming disoriented or to provide guidance for others to follow.

Many automobiles have GPS capability installed. Drivers can get turn by turn directions for their trip. Restaurants and attractions along the route may also be included. Most units feature a map plus spoken directions.

In addition to the active life saving properties of GPS, there is also a passive element to them. If someone has his cell phone on, authorities can often find his position by tracking his number. Hikers who are lost in the wilderness, skiers buried by an avalanche, and boaters left adrift have all been located through their cell phones.

GPS also allows for extremely accurate time measurements. If there are at least four satellites to send signals, they can also determine altitude. In addition to aviation, such measurements are useful to scientists for many studies. For example, they are used at Yellowstone to measure the upward movement of the ground above the volcanic crater, a sign that the magma chamber is rising.

Some devices are self contained, with a power source, display, and mapping capability included. Others can be used only on a laptop or desktop computer. Still others can be used to record information which is then downloaded to a computer. Most automobile units are permanently attached, but some have a docking unit that can be used remotely.

In recent years, GPS games have become quite common. There are scavenger hunts, where all players are armed with a portable device and then must locate items based on a series of coordinates. Online sites allow members to check in by cell phone at various businesses to earn discounts or rewards, with the GPS chip in their cell phones verifying their location.

As GPS devices become more advanced and less expensive, they will no doubt continue to be integrated with more and more everyday products. Where once only outdoorsmen and technicians saw the value of them, they have now become indispensable aids to many consumers.

The Garmin GPSMAP 4208 comes preloaded with many exciting features that each helps to make this a very exciting offshore chart plotter. This is a device that is exceptionally well designed and which also offers strong networking capability.

Amoungst its many enticing features, the Garmin GPSMAP 4208 Offshore Chartplotter also comes preloaded with BlueChart G2 mpas which include the entire coast of the U.S. This information is displayed on its VGA display, video quality resolution, 8 inch screen.
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Many users of the Garmin GPSMAP 4208 make it a point to connect the device to the Garmin Marine Network which then ensures that they can use radar and sonar as well as get weather information. With the help of another card, the BlueChart G2 Vision Card, users will also get to enjoy even more functionality.

Due to its outstanding BlueChart G2 Marine cartography, the unit enables users to view all coastlines of the U.S., including Hawaii, Alaska and the Bahamas. The device also provides users with vital information such as port plans and restricted areas. Furthermore, the GARMIN GPSMAP 4208 Offshore Chartplotter stores, and provides users with information on tides and currents, allowing them to keep up to date with current weather conditions.

With the help of its worldwide related basemap, the 4208 is also able to provide satellite based images which are high quality and far more superior to any conventional map. By also using an SD Card, users can easily add new maps and do so without having to connect the 4208 to a computer.

This device allows users to interface with many more MFDs and add more remote sensors, just by simply connecting to the exceptionally fast Garmin Marine Network. Best of all, once users are connected to the Garmin Marine Network, they can share information with any chart plotters that are also being used the boat.

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For many companies GPS car tracking is the solution that solves many security problems. Government institutions, the police and the army heavily rely on GPS car tracking to limit criminality there are also private users, civilians that turn to tracking systems too. Information on the position of an asset is provided by a small unit attached to the vehicle. A GPS car tracking unit could also record the data or simply transmit it to a computer, a cellular or some other form of central database. The transmission of the signal is not possible unless the GPS car tracking device has an incorporated modem in its structure.

Then, the GPS car tracking system displays the data on a map monitor. Data can be later downloaded from the memory card of the device, which is very similar to a simple flash memory. Although the GPS car tracking system works great for criminal investigations and the prevention of car theft, many people use a GPS device while jogging or hiking as a means to analyze the duration and the length of the trip. Sometimes, by means of a GIS system, you can collect data for future mapping, particularly since a GPS receiver has geo-catching features incorporated as well.

GPS car tracking or GPS tracking through the mobile phone can apply to very more complex investigations from the business environment. The vehicles of commercial fleets always have GPS car tracking units incorporated. Such a GPS car tracking model is popular in both North America and Europe, and the collected data can be displayed on digital maps or in the form of reports, depending on the operational software.

Delivery and taxi vehicles, armored trucks and all sorts of expensive automobiles are equipped with GPS car tracking units for a continuous monitoring of the vehicle location. With more special units, one can activate the tracker via a SMS but only in theft cases. The efficiency of the device is thus incredible for the authorities that deal with lost or stolen vehicles cases. Very often GPS car tracking systems are installed on race cars particularly in the case of long circuits in areas that are more difficult to access.

I actually could not decide between the Garmin Nuvi 255w Refurbished or the 750 model, so I decided to buy them both for comparison. I mounted them both to my car windshield and gave them various addresses to find together. I found that both models took the same routes and announced upcoming turns and street names at practically the same time. One thing I noticed about the Garmin 255w Refurbished was that it was updating my position on the road more often, I’d say about 3 times as often as the 750. This made for smoother graphics on the 255w of the vehicle moving along displayed roads, where the 750′s display was more of a “jerky” movement.

I also found that the display on the 255w was a bit brighter, clearer, and more vivid than on the 750 in both daylight and at night. Another feature I like on the 255w is the graphic turn indicator in the upper left corner, which the 750 lacks. This is a small arrow which shows upcoming turns and the distance to that turn. It also show things like a fork in the road, (ie: a Y intersection), and which fork you will be taking. The 750 just displays text on the top line for upcoming turns without the arrow. It’s just a little extra feature on the 255w which I happened to really like. The 255 also automatically adjusts the font size of displayed text so that even lengthy text will fit.

Another feature on the 255w is a display of the posted speed limit on the road which you are currently on right above your current displayed speed. I found myself not even looking at my car speedometer as I could easily see my current speed and the speed limit of my route at a glance. The 750 doesn’t have this feature. I also like how they moved the zoom in (+) and zoom out (-) buttons on the 255w to the same side of the screen which makes it a bit easier. On the 750 the zoom buttons are on opposite sides of the screen.

Now there are some features on the 750 that the 255w does not have. The 750 can broadcast it’s sound over your FM radio with the supplied cigarette lighter cable, and it has a headphone jack, which I found to be nice features. The 750 also has an MP3 player and an Audio-book player, which the 255w does not. Another really nice feature of the 750 is the car locater. This is a great feature if you are parking in a really big lot, such as at an amusement park or a fair. The 750 marks your location when you remove it from the car, then you take it with you and it remembers where you parked and takes you right back to your car. The 255w doesn’t have the car locater.

I also thought the the voice prompts of the 750 where more pleasant sounding than the 255w’s. The 750 sounds more like a real female voice, where the 255w sounds more robotic.
Another thing to consider was that I paid $50 less for the 750 and it came with the FM transmitter cable and a USB cord to connect it to your computer for updates and downloads.
My final decision was to keep the 255w and return the 750 because I really liked the graphic turn indicator and the posted speed limit and current speed indicators. I didn’t find a need for the 750′s MP3 player and Audio book player, but that is up to personal preference. Since the USB cable was not included with the Garmin 255w Refurbished, I purchased it on this site for $10. I also intend to purchase the MSN direct cable when it is available in August 2008.

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It was the early 1970s and the Golan Heights had been in Israel’s possession for several years. Day trips were becoming more popular and my family decided to rent a car and see this beautiful area. It would have been great if GPS had been accessible.

We got lost; very lost. Not long aftwards night began to set in, in addition to being low on gas, all eight of us, noticeably Jewish, overpacked into a rental car, with no clear notion of where we were. We finally found a small Arab town, clearly part of Syria not too long ago. However if we were aware of its existence more than likely we would have reached for our pepper spray guns.

Fortunately, the people of the town were incredibly helpful, kind and concerned. Widely known, that wasn’t necessarily the case in those days. The people opened up their one and only gas station in the area, filled us up with fuel, supplied us food, in addition tp extremely good direction. In other cases the situation could have turned out much worse. We were lucky. Today, no one has to face such a situation; if they have their GPS.

How Does a GPS work?

The GPS, or Global Positioning System, satellites orbit overhead, beaming signals down to equipment that is found in a GPS receiver inside a vehicle. The receivers are completely passive, being unable to transmit. By identifying which satellite is supplying which signal, the unity can then triangulate its virtual position. When added with the mapping software it can advise you with realistic accuracy, where you are located at any moment.

Traveling with a GPS

If you are unsure about purchasing a GPS, but you like to go on road trips on a consistent basis, there are a number of reasons why you should own one to bring along, even though you may not operate it all the time.

Firstly: You are more than likely going to end up in a region you are not familiar with. That is kind of the point of going on a road trip. With a GPS you are certain to arrive at your destination, even at night, even if it involves odd turns, even if – well, you get the idea.

Secondly: You won’t be asked to pull over to take out a road map, to reread on a constant basis. Your GPS should be able to provide commands out loud, which means you can keep your eyes on the road while driving. Just program the address you want to reach and go – and if the voice is bothering you, turn it down until you near your destination.

Thirdly: You will stop making any wrong turns ultimately ending up in a location where you will instantly think to yourself – “why didn’t I buy a tazer?”.

Easy to install, helpful to have along, GPS devices have made travel safer and more accurate – and they just keep getting better.