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GPS Charts Course For Success

Categories: GPS Articles | February 20th, 2009 | by Mike Tucker | no comments

GPS systems have become increasingly popular, portable and affordable. Sales for this small navigation system are off the charts, and they are the hottest ticket at every electronics store and big box retailer around.

So what is GPS exactly, how does it work, and why is it so popular? What other uses are there for technology? For the answers to this and more, keep reading.

What is GPS?

GPS is an abbreviation for Global Positioning System. This technology was developed by the US Department of Defense, and employs a network of 24 strategically placed satellites around the globe. It was originally intended for military use only, but the government made it available for anyone to use in the 1980s. That coupled with latest advances in portable technology has made GPS the new hot item. It is extremely popular with those who drive for a living, such as couriers.

How Does it Work?

A GPS receiver uses signals transmitted by these GPS satellites to triangulate exact locations. The 24 satellites circle the planet twice a day and transmit signals to the earth, which are what the receivers use. The receivers basically use the difference between the time a signal was transmitted and received to calculate how far away the satellite is.

In order to track movement as well as calculate an object's latitude and longitude, a GPS receiver has to get signals from at least three satellites. If you add one more satellite to the mix, you can track altitude as well. One the receiver has the location, other variables can be accounted for such as speed, distance to destination, and more.

New advances in GPS technology such as Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) and Differential GPS (DGPS) have made it possible to get accuracy down to within three meters of a signal. While WAAS is widely available in newer GPS systems, DGPS requires additional equipment and is mostly used in marine systems and by the US Coast Guard.

Popular Uses for GPS

The most common application for GPS is in small receivers that can be mounted in your car or carried by hand. These compact devices are usually used for directions, and include speakers that give turn by turn spoken directions to avoid being distracted by looking at a tiny map. But GPS users are discovering new uses for the technology daily.

One of the first widespread uses of GPS before the handheld was the Lo-Jack. This was a chip implanted in a vehicle that police stations could use to locate stolen vehicles. The Lo-Jack became the inspiration for locating other objects, especially living ones.

GPS collars have become popular for wandering pets. So when little Spot or Fluffy can't be found, you can simply use a GPS signal to find them. Missing children can be found with a popular cell phone software that uses the GPS signal to locate them.

The new handheld revolution owes a lot of its success to the iPod. This popular portable music player spawned the invention of parallel hard-drive technology, which allows you to double the disk space of a hard drive without increasing the physical dimensions.

So as you can see, the GPS has a lot a reasons for its recent success. And with a sharp and steady increase in sales, the technology has become a lot more popular and affordable than before. You can buy a inexpensive receiver with a major name brand starting at about $150.

Des Smalls. owns a number of websites. They carry wide selection of Garmin GPS, GPS systems, GPS navigation and Tom Tom GPS they offer the most popular gps navigation equipment for cars and mobile devices as well as computers for everyone.

Article Source: GPS Charts Course For Success - ArticleSpan.com

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Motorcyle GPS. The Hottest Motorcycle Accessory On The Planet

Categories: GPS Articles | February 19th, 2009 | by Mike Tucker | no comments

Do you ride a motorcycle? Get lost sometimes? A Garmin GPS motorcycle navigation system, or perhaps a Tom Tom GPS motorcycle navigation unit, can take the strain out of motorcycle navigation.

But firstly, what is GPS motorcycle navigation, and secondly what can it do for you?

GPS, or Global Positioning System technology, allows a motorbike rider, by the use of multiple satellite signal cross referencing, to pinpoint their exact location on the globe with extraordinary accuracy. This, combined with modern mapping software, means that owners of motorcyle GPS systems can use these technologies to produce the most accurate, easy to use and user friendly navigation system that has ever been available to motorcycle riders, or anyone.

Mount a modern motorcycle GPS system onto your motorbike and you have available a total navigation system. All maps are loaded into the unit, and once you have planned your route and told your GPS where you want it to take you and your bike, your GPS will tell you, both visually and by voice command, exactly how to get there. Modern GPS, such as the Garmin GPS motorcyle system or the Tom Tom Rider GPS units, will plan your route according to predetermined requirements, such as fuel stops, accomodation stops and points of interest. They will show you and tell you every turn you need to make along the way to get there easily.

Like to avoid traffic jams? Modern GPS can also be asked to notify you of real time traffic information. Traffic jam ahead of you? Your motorcycle GPS navigation can let you know and determine the best way around the problem.

And all this can be routed by voice command direct to an earpiece in your helmet via bluetooth technology. No need to take your eyes off the road risking accident by looking at your GPS screen, just allow it to tell you where to go all by itself.

Like to make a hands free phone call along the way? No problem. Perhaps load your motorcycle GPS with a few music files so you can relax and listen on the road? No problem. Want to record your ride for future reference, or to share with your friends? No problem. All this, and lots more, can be done with a modern motorcyle GPS navigator, at a cost of less than $1000. Units such as the Garmin GPS motorcyle navigation systems or the Tomtom GPS units can do all this and lots more.

Garmin GPS navigation systems like the Zumo 450 or it's big brother the Zumo 550 are specifically designed for motorcycle mounting. Vibration resistant and user friendly for easy screen viewing, they have been specifically designed with the motorcyclist in mind.

Or perhaps the Tom Tom Rider GPS navigator. Again, designed specifically for the motorbike rider. Waterproof, sunshield to minimize glare and easy to mount on the handlebars, a Tom Tom will make navigation for your ride a pleasure.

So if you'd like a total navigation solution for a long ride on a cold day, when you don't want to be stopping all the time to consult the map, consider a modern motorcycle GPS like the Garmin GPS motorcycle navigation systems or the Tom Tom Riders. You will never regret it.

For a website totally devoted to Motorcycle GPS visit Peter's Website Hot Motorcycle GPS Deals and find out about Motorcycle GPS as well as Garmin GPS Motorcycle Navigation and more, including Tom Tom Rider navigation systems and motorcycle GPS videos.

Article Source: Motorcyle GPS. The Hottest Motorcycle Accessory On The Planet - ArticleSpan.com

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