| If you've been confounded by all the technical | | | | like speed, sunrises and sunsets, bearing, distance |
| jargon and hype surrounding GPS, confusing | | | | and more. While they will work in any weather, |
| what's turning out to be a very useful tool, allow | | | | some hindrances would be electronic |
| me to shed a little light on your roadmap to | | | | interference,buildings, and certain terrain. A good |
| deciding whether or not this technology is for you! | | | | rule of thumb is that the units will generally not |
| Originally designed with military applications in mind, | | | | perform underwater, indoors, or underground. |
| the technology was made available to mere | | | | There are currently two Global Navigation Satellite |
| mortals in hte 1980's for the many and varied | | | | Systems in use. Besides GPS, there is the Russian |
| uses we've found so far for these special tools. | | | | Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) |
| Not only handy for auto navigation, GPSunits have | | | | Protocols are constantly beingrefined to enhance |
| made their way into maritime | | | | the abilities of these systems. A bright light on the |
| navigation,backcountry uses, and much, much | | | | horizon is Galileo, scheduled to go online in 2008, |
| more! | | | | which promises even greater accuracy and |
| How does GPS work? GPS (which stands for | | | | functionality. |
| Global Positioning System) allows you to pinpoint | | | | So how do I know which GPS unit is for me? |
| your position anywhere on the planet to within an | | | | Quite a fewchoices now exist for consumers in |
| average of 15 meters, with some units doing | | | | the GPS marketplace. |
| much better than that. Twenty-four GPS | | | | Whether you need a handheld unit for |
| satellites, paid for and placed in orbit by the Dept. | | | | backpacking or boating, or one for your |
| of Defense courtesy of your tax dollars, send | | | | automobile (they are becoming an attractive |
| signals back to terra firma 24/7. These signals are | | | | option!) or for one of a myriad of uses, there are |
| retrieved by your handy dandy GPS receiver | | | | several reputable manufacturers of quality GPS |
| which uses three sources (satellites) to triangulate | | | | units out there to help you find your way through |
| this information and compute your actual position. | | | | the maze of choices. Names like Magellan, Garmin, |
| If there are four data sources, even altitude can | | | | Rino, Etrex and Meridian lead the market, and are |
| be determined. Since there are normally eight | | | | readily available. Take your time, check out the |
| satellites in line of sight from anywhere on earth, | | | | various features each has to offer, and get |
| the opportunity for accurate positioning exists. | | | | yourselfoutfitted with one of the more useful and |
| Other things that can be determined besides | | | | efficientnavigational tools out there today! |
| latitude, longitude, and altitude would include things | | | | |