GPS Auto Navigation Systems

Over the past couple of years, the cost of installing a GPS auto navigation system has fallen considerably, and as an inevitable result of this, more and more people are taking advantage of it in order to make it easier to find out where they are going, plan their journeys, and keep track of where they are.

Satellite navigation dates back a lot longer than many people realize. The principles behind SatNav were first tested back in 1967, but it took nearly 30 years before the NavStar GPS System first began operation as a military application in the mid 1990s. Civilian use of GPS navigation was made available soon after the military launch, but the initial costs of using the system were very high, and required ongoing subscriptions to be paid. The first people who took advantage of GPS were pilots, and surveyors, who needed to be able to measure distances with pinpoint accuracy. In the early days , an affordable GPS auto navigation system was out of reach for the average car owner.

Over time, the costs of GPS auto navigation system has fallen considerably, and there are increasing numbers of applications for them and the data that they provide in our daily lives. Manufacturers such as Garmin and TomTom have combined GPS signals Data with existing map information and complex mathematical algorithms to create systems that can be used for navigation on the roads and highways.

These GPS auto navigation systems can be installed into any car in a matter of minutes, and then be used to plan journeys, and keep track of where you are to stop you getting lost on the roads. By being combined with other data, such as traffic news feeds, GPS auto navigation systems can warn drivers about road congestion, and provide alternative routes in real time to ensure that no-one who has such a GPS needs get stuck in a queue again.

There are a number of different styles of GPS auto navigation systems available to suit the needs of the individual, from basic models through to expensive and highly accurate systems able to manage large amounts of data and provide information to the users in order to give feedback about where they have been.

The simplest kind of auto navigation GPS system is a removable gadget that stores the map data internally, and uses a satellite signal to pinpoint the position of the unit. By combining the map data and the satellite signal, routes can be planned, and the user can find their way, while seeing a graphical representation of their route on a small screen. These GPS auto navigation systems can be either removable, or fixed into the car. Many new models actually integrate the GPS into the dashboard, while non fixed systems can either be mounted on the dash, or attached to the windshield using a suction cup.

As well as dedicated auto GPS devices, it is also possible to buy a large number of other gadgets with GPS as a built in feature. Some GPS PDAs can have a GPS module plugged in to them, and used in cars, and an increasing number of cell phones have GPS as a standard feature. On the whole, although these devices have GPS built in, it is not of the same standard as a dedicated system, and wile it may help you know where you are, it will not provide such accurate data or be able to plan routes on the go as well as one of the custom systems from Garmin or Magellan.

At the top end of the list of auto navigation GPS systems, there are a number of fantastic options available. Many of the high end GPS auto navigation systems include a range of features to make getting around as simple and convenient as possible.

Aside from the standard information about maps and positions, these GPS systems can also provide information about local amenities such as gas stations, motels, and even speed control cameras in certain countries. More expensive GPS auto navigation systems come with the ability to upload additional map systems so they can be used in different countries, and through the use of local radio services, provide comprehensive traffic information to the driver wherever in the world he is.

Whether you want a simple auto navigation GPS system to help you avoid the traffic problems in your home town, or are a cross country driver who needs the long distance planning flexibility for getting from a-to-b as efficiently as possible, there is a GPS system available that will suit your needs.
by Jason Miller

garmin streetpilot c320 review

Back in September last year, Benny reviewed the Tom Tom Go, and decided that it was a must have product for anyone wanting to drive from A to B with minimum fuss and no need for maps. Amazingly, it’s taken this long before another product has appeared to really challenge the Tom Tom Go, and it’s no surprise that this challenge comes from Garmin.

Garmin knows a thing or two about GPS, and anyone that’s into outdoor pursuits probably has a Garmin device stashed in the rucksack whenever they leave the house. Personally I have a Garmin Gecko 301 that my wife kindly gave me for Christmas a few years back – it sits on my handlebars when I’m mountain biking and makes sure that I get back home, no matter how unfamiliar I am with the area.
But despite Garmin’s obvious heritage in GPS technology, it’s taken a surprising amount of time for it to really burst into the in-car navigation market. There have been other StreetPilot devices, but the c320 actually looks like a product that’s been designed for in-car navigation from start to finish.

The StreetPilot c320 bears an uncanny resemblance to the Tom Tom Go, although it is a bit more svelte. The SD card slot is located on the left hand side, rather than at the front on the Tom Tom, and on the right you’ll find the power button, mini USB connector and an analogue volume wheel. The latter is a great feature, making it very simple to adjust the volume as your environment changes, or as the music on your car stereo gets louder.

Garmin supplies a 256MB SD card with the StreetPilot, which contains detailed maps of the UK and Ireland pre-loaded. The supplied CD includes maps for most of Western Europe, so if you did want to go on a European touring holiday, you could just load up the relevant maps.

Before I go into how the StreetPilot is to use, let me say that once you have got your route planned and you set off in your car, this device works brilliantly. I’ve been using it for a few weeks now, and it has helped me find some obscure locations that I probably would have struggled with otherwise. If the StreetPilot c320 has convinced me of one thing, it’s that I want an in-car navigation system – just not this one.

In some ways I feel quite sorry for the StreetPilot, because Garmin has equipped it with some truly excellent features, but unfortunately along the way it seems to have missed some of the fundamentals.
When you turn on the StreetPilot, you’re greeted with a screen with two selections “Where to?” and "View map” – both pretty self explanatory. The Where to? section is probably where you’ll be going most of the time, as this is where you’ll be attempting to plan your route. The biggest problem with the route planning is that you can’t search by post code. Now, this could be a result of Garmin being an American company, where post or more accurately, zip codes don’t mean that much. However, in the UK, searching by post code could place you to within a few yards of your destination quickly and easily.

So the StreetPilot stumbles somewhat at the first hurdle, but unfortunately a lack of post code search isn’t the only problem. When you search by address, the first questions you’re asked is which country you wish to search in. Pressing E will instantly present you with England – so far so good. You’re then asked which city you’re looking in – you can either search all cities, or spell the one you’re after. Next you need to enter the house number, which is fine as long as the place you’re going has a number. Then you need to enter the street name, and this is where the problems begin.

GPS Navigation Systems: Ditch The Paper Map For A GPS Navigation Device

Are you still using paper maps to navigate in your car? Of all the high tech gadgets that have become popular in the 21st century, the GPS navigation device is one of the best and must-have. This device can help you tool around town or guide you on a cross-country trip. Convenient and helpful, GPS navigation systems come in a wide range of styles and prices. Depending on what you need and want in a GPS unit, you can surely find one within your budget.

A GPS navigation device can save you time by helping to guide you to your destination. You don't need to waste time looking at a map or stopping to ask for direction along the way. Instead, you'll have instant access to your directions in real-time format.

It is cumbersome to look at a paper map while driving. The only safe way of looking at it is to pull over to the side of the road or get a passenger to read it for you.

For female drivers who drive alone or at night, traveling with a gps navigation system offers safety and prevents them from getting lost. They don't have to stop at unknown places to ask strangers for direction.

The GPS navigation system is like having a map that is constantly updated with the latest information. No more guessing is involved. The GPS device gets its information from a large bank of data that is constantly being updated to ensure accuracy.

For the most complete navigation, choose a system that gives you both audio and graphical directions. This allows you to see the map on the screen as well as to hear the specific spoken directions. Some GPS navigation systems integrate the radio speaker system to speak to you. Before purchasing a GPS device, be sure to think about your need for audio and visual guidance.

There are various brands, features and types of GPS navigation systems to choose from. More sophisticated systems obviously will cost more than simpler models. Some units are portable and can plug into the cigarette lighter. Others require technical installation. Keep in mind that some manufacturers will void the warranty unless the unit is installed by a certified dealer. As technology is constantly evolving, you should purchase a GPS navigation device that is upgradable.

Think about how you will be using your GPS navigation system. Some units can tell you where the nearest point of interest. For example, you can ask to search for the nearest grocery store and the GPS device may be able to give you several options along with directions. Stucked in a traffic jam? Use a GPS navigation device to help find alternative routes. If you want to get your destination in the quickest way, a GPS system can give you direction and time of travel.

GPS navigation devices are becoming cheaper. You can get a basic one for less than $200 and it can do much more than paper maps. Isn't it time to ditch the paper map for a gps navigation device?

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

GPS navigation device is becoming an indispensable gadget that most people don't leave home without. There are gps navigation systems to suit every budget and needs. Check out our top resources on the latest car gps navigation systems at www.gpstrackingsys.com

GPS - Why I Feel Safer

Whether you're an old pro at driving or you're just gearing up for your first long trip, a GPS unit can be worth its weight in gold! GPS stands for "global positioning system," and with one in your car or in your bag, you'll always know where in the world you are.

A GPS uses the coordinates from Air Force satellites to triangulate its location; after the GPS receiver figures out how far it is each from each satellite, it can figure out your location within about ten to twenty-four meters. With this powerful tool at your disposal, you'll never have to worry about bad directions and highway detours again!

There are plenty of jokes about people not wanting to ask for directions or people who give poor directions, but getting assaulted while asking for directions is no laughing matter. Far too often, motorists are assaulted or targeted when asking for directions in an unfamiliar area or while they are distracted.

When you ask for directions from a stranger, you are showing that person that you don't know where you are, that you are unfamiliar with the area, and that you are possibly disoriented. When we get lost, we are confused and frustrated, and there is a good chance that our internal warning systems are not working; we may end up asking for directions from people who make that internal warning bell go off.

Even if you don't ask for directions, fumbling with a map can be a dead giveaway. How many times have you gotten out of your car to spread the map out for better visibility? When you are distracted with your map, you are extremely vulnerable. Having a paper map out and fumbling with it makes you a target for would be thieves or dangerous individuals.

There are also places where you just don't want to get lost. Several cities have bad neighborhoods that are easy to stumble into but harder to get out of, especially if you are driving in the dark. A GPS unit can make sure you get to where you are going without having to spend a stressful few hours trying to get out of a dangerous part of town.

Even if you don't do a lot of city driving, there are still areas where you want to avoid getting lost. If you've ever driven cross-country, you know that some states, like Texas and Oklahoma, go on forever without a lot in the way of landmarks. You can lose hours of time and hundreds of miles before you figure out that you are lost and running out of gas on a desolate part of the highway is highly problematic. If you have young children in the car, this situation can become quite dangerous; children especially become dehydrated easily.

If you are driving in an area that you are not familiar with, a GPS unit can be instrumental in getting you where you need to go. Don't forget that because the highway commissions are constantly building new highways and closing others for construction or repairs that the maps you buy at gas stations are not always reliable. When you are driving in an unfamiliar area, there is a chance that you will be forced off the highway and into a confusing residential area. When this happens, a GPS unit can help you get back on track, and in fact, might have been able to find you a route that you wouldn't have had to leave in the first place.

Much as cell phones have become part of our world, GPS units are quickly becoming an essential part of travel. They are compact convenient, and they can make your driving experience a lot safer. You can purchase one for a teenager who's not so sure about the driving geography of her own town, or you can purchase one for yourself if you're going to be driving in an area that you are not familiar with. For both individual travel and family vacations, a GPS can give you a great deal of peace of mind.

No matter how old you are, or where you are planning on driving, a GPS unit can make sure you get there safely. When you purchase a GPS unit for your car, you're ensuring that you never have to worry about getting lost or feel the anxiety of getting lost again!

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

Top 5 Reasons Why Businesses Use Vehicle Fleet Tracking

GPS Vehicle Fleet Tracking isn't just for the big businesses anymore. Businesses with fleets as small as 5 vehicles are using GPS vehicle fleet tracking and finding themselves making back their investment within a short period of time. Fortunately, technology changes are making it more affordable for these smaller businesses to use this GPS fleet tracking to serve their needs.

Global Positioning Systems (GPS) use a network of satellites beaming time-stamped signals to receivers on the surface of the Earth. By measuring the delay between when the signal was sent and when it arrived from three different satellites, you can isolate the coordinates of any receiver on the surface of the earth, with a precision that goes down to inches for military receivers, and about two years for commonly available civilian gear.

GPS equipment has become more and more common as cell phone technology has made it more portable and easier to use. There are a number of reasons to have GPS equipment in the vehicles in your fleet.

Firstly, GPS equipment, and the monitoring software for it, allows you to have precise locations of delivery vehicles. This makes it possible to route technicians and repairmen and delivery personnel more efficiently, and to let customers know, nearly in real time, about any potential delays in routing or delivery.

Second, because of more accurate data gathered on the movements of vehicles in your fleet, you have better control over mileage, proactive maintenance, and fuel economy. It's a lot easier to keep track of fuel economy when you can factor in idle times.

In similar vein, you now have an accurate record of where every vehicle in your fleet has traveled over the course of a given day. Your payroll expenses will go down; when you have an accurate log of where every vehicle is at every hour of the day, you can cross reference it against employee time sheets for hours spent driving for reimbursement.

Likewise, most vehicle-tracking GPS software allows you to set a "virtual fence" which lets you tell when a vehicle has gone "out of zone" - this is good for tracking if a vehicle has made an unscheduled detour, or to track it down if it's stolen.

Finally, more and more GPS tracking software can work with a public web interface. It can be a great marketing coup for a taxicab company to have a web site that shows, as an overlay on Google maps, the location of all cabs reporting in, whether they have a fare and so on - this makes it much easier to schedule a cab pickup, or run a bus route with accurate time stamps for how far ahead or behind a bus is on its scheduled rounds.

The previous benefits listed make businesses look into investing into GPS fleet tracking as a solution to keeping costs down; it's estimated that the more accurate timekeeping versus payroll expenses can cause a typical small business with a fleet of company vehicles to save enough money to pay for the installation and software in under 90 days.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

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How does a GPS Tracking System work?

GPS tracking is a way of working out exactly where something is. A GPS tracking system, for example, may be placed in a vehicle, on a cell phone or on special GPS devices which can either be fixed or portable units.

GPS (Global Positioning System) works by giving information on exact location. It can also track the movement of a vehicle or person. So, for example, a GPS tracking system can be used by a company to monitor the route and progress of a delivery truck, it can be used by parents to check on the location of their child, or it can be used by drivers as an aid to navigation.

A GPS tracking system uses the GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) network. This network incorporates a range of satellites that use microwave signals which are transmitted to GPS devices to give information on location, vehicle speed, time and direction. So, a GPS tracking system can potentially give both real-time and historic navigation data on any kind of journey.

A GPS tracking system can work in various ways. From a commercial perspective, GPS devices are generally used to record the position of vehicles as they make their journeys. Some systems will store the data within the GPS tracking system itself (known as passive tracking) and some send the information to a centralized database or system via a modem within the GPS system unit on a regular basis (known as active tracking).

A passive GPS tracking system will monitor location and will store its data on journeys based on certain types of events. So, for example, this kind of GPS system may log data such as turning the ignition on or off or opening and closing doors. The data stored on this kind of GPS tracking system is usually stored in internal memory or on a memory card which can then be downloaded to a computer at a later date for analysis. In some cases the data can be sent automatically for wireless download at predetermined points/times or can be requested at specific points during the journey.

An active GPS tracking system is also known as a real-time system as this method automatically sends the information on the GPS system to a central computer or system in real-time as it happens. This kind of system is usually a better option for commercial purposes such as fleet tracking and individual vehicle tracking as it allows the company to know exactly where their vehicles are, whether they are on time and whether they are where they are supposed to be during a journey. This is also a useful way of monitoring the behavior of employees as they carry out their work and of streamlining internal processes and procedures for delivery fleets.

Real-time tracking is also particularly useful from a security perspective as it allows vehicle owners to pinpoint the exact location of a vehicle at any given time. So, if there is a robbery, the owner of a vehicle will know exactly where the vehicle was when the robbery took place. And, the GPS tracking system in the vehicle may then be able to help police work out where the vehicle was taken to if it was stolen. Many fleet operators find that having a GPS tracking system in place actually works as an extra security deterrent for this reason.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

Mr. Olano, with over 10 year in GPS Tracking Industry, deep knowledge of wireless communications, tracking devices, map engines, and contact with over 2,000 companies that adopted GPS, earned him a position as expert of GPS Tracking Technologies. Visit him at www.trackingsolutionsonline.com and www.geosoftusa.com .

How GPS Works

How GPS Works
Global Positioning System (GPS) is a navigational aid originally developed for the military. The system simply receives signals. It is the applied technology that gives the GPS its versatility.

If you have ever used map and compass, you will understand a little about how the GPS
works. In order to find your position on a map, you need to have three points of
reference. The intersecting line from the reference points is where you are. Map and
compass work uses triangulation (bearings), GPS uses trilateration (distances) to calculate location. Satellites orbiting the earth emit unique signals that can be received by a GPS. The GPS software interprets the signal, identifying the satellite that it came from, where it was located, and the time that it took for the signal to reach the system. Once the receiver has both time and distance it begins to determine position.

Three satellites provide the intersection point and the fourth is used to check that the positioning is accurate. Accuracy depends upon the synchronization of atomic clocks in the satellites with the clock in the GPS system. Although the clock in the GPS is not atomic, utilizing the fourth satellite gives it that functionality as the internal clock adjusts itself to correct any discrepancy discovered.

GPS has gone far beyond its initial military application. Drivers can find their way
through city streets, long distance trekkers use the technology to cross unfamiliar terrain, mariners and pilots use GPS enhanced data to cross the seas and skies.

In--vehicle GPS can be integrated into the car entertainment system or can be installed as a removable device. These systems need to tell the driver where he/she is and how to
reach their destination. The information includes road directions plus relevant features along the way such as rest stops, gas stations, points of interest, etc. Auto GPS uses voice commands so that the driver can concentrate on the road.

Hikers and trekkers use similar technology, but normally without the inclusion of road
systems on their devices. Mapping software defines the territory that the hiker will
encounter. The user can enter waypoints (points of reference) so they can return using the same route. They can add points of interest such as water sources, possible campsites, and other items of interest on their trail. However, the portability demanded by hikers will also limit the functionality of the system as small screens mean that some detail will be lost.

It is GPS technology that is used to track individuals on home arrest, to trace missing
pets, stolen vehicles, and missing people. Small systems can be incorporated into pet
collars and wristwatches. As long as the receiver is active, it can be found.

Marine and aviation GPS units are sophisticated and specialized. The principles involved are the same as any standard system; the software is much more highly developed.

Any fisherman, who is using a fish finder on his boat, is using a GPS that is enhanced by
sonar and tracking devices. Units have been developed for use on float tubes also -� as
GPS technology advances, the systems become more and more compact and their uses
more and more extensive.

If you are considering purchasing a GPS, make sure that it can be updated easily. This is especially true if you buy a multi--function GPS or one that is used where conditions change regularly. An in--vehicle GPS soon loses its usefulness if it is not updated as road systems change.

Updates vary according to the device being used. They can come in CD/DVD packages
or as computer downloads. The user can purchase maps specific to the area in which the GPS will be used or a range of maps and routes. These are available from GPS software companies who will charge proportionally to the sophistication of the software.

GPS units vary in price according to their usefulness. It is possible to buy units for less than one hundred dollars to units costing more than one thous