Automotive GPS and Other Popular Uses of GPS

A GPS, or Global Positioning System, is a satellite-based navigational system. It is comprised of 24 satellites that the U.S. Department of Defense placed in orbit, originally for military operations. In the 1980s the U.S. government opened up the system for civilian use. Since that time Global Positioning Systems have become increasingly popular for numerous applications.

GPS works in any weather, in almost any location, and at any time. The only places where signals cannot be received are caves, tunnels, inside buildings, and under water. Using it does not require a subscription fee or setup charge-it's available free to anyone who wants to use it. GPS receivers are extremely accurate, often to within 15 feet or less.

The GPS consists of three parts: satellites that orbit Earth, control and monitoring stations on Earth, and receivers owned by users. GPS receivers pick up signals that satellites broadcast. The receiver provides latitude, longitude, altitude, and time.

Applications

Many automobiles now have built-in GPS. Some automotive GPS by Garmin and other manufacturers contact emergency assistance, while other systems also provide location and direction information.

Occupational applications of GPS continue to multiply. It has increased the efficiency and decreased the cost of surveying by reducing site setup time and dramatically improving accuracy. Foresters and farmers use GPS. Geologists, biologists, and other scientists use it for its precision timing capability and for accurate position information. Commercial fisherman, and professional mariners use GPS.

Drivers and dispatchers use it to improve customer service and fleet tracking. It is an essential tool for public safety, emergency response, and disaster relief. In the air, GPS improves pilot communication, navigation, and hazard avoidance. GPS is revolutionizing space exploration.

Recreational uses of GPS navigation systems continue to expand. Hikers, hunters, snowmobilers, fishermen, and boaters use it. In fact, anyone who wants to keep track of where he or she is or figure out how to get from one place to another will find a GPS useful. Without GPS the worldwide activity of geocaching would not be possible. GPS has even improved the game of golf by telling golfers how far they have to hit their balls.

Equipment

GPS receivers range from relatively small, portable, and affordable handsets for recreational use to an innovative technology developed by NASA for high Earth orbit missions. Enhanced technology is making GPS more available within heavy foliage environments. The increasing incorporation of GPS into cell phones improves emergency response and popularizes its technology.

The newest systems are both more sophisticated and more user friendly than earlier systems. Manufacturer support services enhance the accessibility and availability of the technology.

Manufacturers and distributors provide guidance on which GPS systems are best for specific applications. With many choices of GPS receivers now available, consumer reviews also inform purchases. The Internet is a powerful resource for information on its technology, applications, and equipment and for the purchase of new and refurbished receivers. Commercial, governmental, and scientific websites educate the public on this growing technology that will soon become part of everyday life.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web.

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Three Popular GPS Running Watch Choices - Timex GPS Watches, Suunto T Series and Garmin Forerunner

The best equipment can help make hard physical training a little easier. While good training shoes and fabrics that breath can make exerting physical effort more comfortable, the best technology can handle much of the hard work in tracking and comparing results. For runners, cyclists and any sport that involves moving from point A to point B in quick time, a GPS watch can be a beneficial tool, providing you with valuable feedback on how you are performing and storing performance statistics for later comparison. As there are a various models of GPS watches on the market, lets take a look at a few of the popular ones.

At the cheap end of the price scale, you'll discover the Timex Speed and Distance watch. Timex GPS watches require an external GPS device be mounted on the wearer's body, which transmits data wirelessly to the wrist watch via a digital FM signal. The Timex Speed and Distance model measures horizontal speed and distance, but unlike the more expensive Timex Bodylink GPS system, cannot measure altitude. That aside, it has many nice features that runners need such as lap and target speed sessions, 100 Laps of memory and the famous Timex INDIGLO illumination lighting system for night time running. The GPS system also features auto-pause which stops the timers when you stop running and starts when you resume.

Another GPS watch system for runners is the Suunto Training series watches. The Training series watches is a series of three GPS enabled watches, the T3C, T4C and T6C. These watches also utilize an external, wireless GPS device and unlike the Timex watches feature "Training Effect", an accurate indicator of the actual fitness benefit of a workout. The pricier T6C can also measure EPOC and is packed with bunch of other analytical features, although these are mostly overkill to all but the most specialist runners and coaches. Only the T6C measures altitude, and utilizes a barometric altimeter which is more accurate than GPS.

The Suunto Training Series watches offer a different set of features to the Timex GPS system and any one of these might be considered one of the "best GPS running watches", but there is a more popular brand of GPS watch that is a clear favorite amongst athletes and runners everywhere. This watch would be the Garmin Forerunner line of GPS watches.

The Forerunner 305 is an older GPS system, yet is still amongst the most popular GPS system in existence. It was superceded by the Forerunner 405, which is sleeker and looks more like a watch, but stripped out were the navigation features that the Forerunner 305 could accommodate with its larger screen size. The 405 was then superceded by the 405CX which was essentially a minor upgrade. The 405 and 405CX are high tech watches that feature a touch-sensitive bezel and a wireless ANT+ transfer mechanism for transferring data to PC. Data can even be wirelessly transmitted between 405 watches. While the 405CX is probably the most popular running GPS watch, the 405 and 305, being older watches can be picked up slightly cheaper and still deliver a lot of bang for your buck!

These three watch brands all offer their advantages, but the best GPS running watch for you will depend on which features you need individually and what price you are prepared to pay. A GPS running watch is a tool highly worthy of investment. It will keep you on track and on time.

Visit our website to learn much more about running watches GPS systems and other GPS running watch choices.

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GPS Trackers And Their Most Popular Uses

GPS became available in the 1980's. For a long time the technology was only used by the military. It then became popular as a tracking system in cars. GPS Trackers are used for a variety of purposes, such as in cars, trucks and cell phones. Companies that have a large fleet of vehicles, such as a trucking companies or taxi cab and limousine services use GPS to track the locations of their drivers. They are also used as a safety precaution in the event that one of their vehicles is stolen or if a driver radios in that they are hurt or in danger, the problem of figuring out their location will be eliminated. The most common consumer use of GPS tracking systems is seen in automobile digital maps - a good resource for planning trips or helping drivers find new places without getting lost.

The use of GPS trackers is not limited to digital automobile street maps. GPS trackers are now being anonymously used to track a people. This is especially popular in families where a teenager drives the family car, and the teenager is suspected of doing things or going places they have been told not to go.

Choosing a GPS tracking system can often be overwhelming. Google's directory lists over 200 companies that provide GPS systems. Here are some brand names to consider when buying a GPS unit: Garmin, Navam, Magellan, Tele Type, Rocky Mountain Tracking, GPS Tracker. Many popular cell phone brands now have GPS functionalities built in.

Science is also beginning to use GPS trackers as a way to help conduct experiments and learn more about animal movements. Researchers can put collars with GPS trackers on nearly any kind of animal ranging from a bear to a mountain goat. Dog owners are also starting to buy dog collars with GPS trackers built in, to make it easy to find their pet in the event it gets lost, stolen or runs away. They are also being used as safety devices to track young children and even older patients suffering from Alzheimer's and other similar physically disorienting diseases. Even the GPS built into cell phones come in handy in search and rescue missions for emergency personnel, who can use a GPS tracking device to locate anyone whose cell phone has GPS built in.

Chris Simons is a prolific freelance writer. You are welcomed to visit [http://gps.theconsumerguide.net], for more information on GPS and GPS trackers.

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