What’s Next – Live Traffic Reports On Your GPS

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What if you were able to get live traffic updates on you GPS every two minutes?  Yes, you heard me right, every two minutes.  This means no more getting stuck in traffic unwittingly, and wondering just how to get around the gridlock.  It also means actually getting to that important meeting on schedule no matter how busy your day is or how far away you are. 

In approximately mid-2011, TomTom will introduce its new Go 2505 M Live model GPS system. Hopefully Garmin will do the same.   Whereas in the past we could get traffic updates every 15 minutes, TomTom has raised the bar and will be giving updates to its users at a more efficient and workable 2 minute intervals.  The added convenience and reduction of stress levels brought about by this change will be welcomed by all; especially those of us living in crowded metropolitan areas where gridlock is a factor and where a single fender-bender could ruin a carefully laid out itinerary. 

But wait, that’s not all.  The GO 2505 will include other live services free of charge for the first year.  These additional live services include local fuel prices, local searches and weather reports.  Using standard verbal commands, you will get directions to the nearest exotic restaurant, coffee house or gas station.  Tom Murray, Senior VP for marketing over at TomTom, is quoted as saying that “The data is twice as accurate as Navteq”.  For a GPS device, that’s all I need to hear.  Keep in mind that these new gps features are in addition to all of the standard services and conveniences to which we have become accustomed.  Therefore the device is a bit more costly than its forerunner, but is well worth it. 

All of the conveniences incorporated into the various types of GPS systems on the market today have become an invaluable part of our daily lives.  Wisely choosing and utilizing those specific options which will enhance our lives is extremely important.  Know what you need, get it and maximize its use.  Rather than focusing on all of the tricks that your new gps device can do, first target what you need it to do and get familiar with those elements.  Once you’ve mastered that, move on to what the device is fully capable of.  That’s the secret to a successful relationship with today’s consumer technology, particularly the personal navigation devices.

There are some people who consider themselves averse to the newer gps technology coming on the market, saying they already have what they need.  However, I believe that once you have a system for assessing the technology, acquiring it and using it, improving your quality of life can be a relatively simple procedure.

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GPS Satellite Achieves 20 Years In-Orbit

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The Global Positioning System recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. The US Air Force program has come a long way and is looking forward to many more years of technology and development.

On December 10, the United States Air Force celebrated the twentieth year of GPS systems in orbit around the earth, marking two decades of offering critical mapping data for government, commercial and personal use.

The Global Positioning System owes its success to Space Vehicle Number (SVN) 23, launched by Boeing (then the Rockwell Corporation), on November 26, 1990. The satellite was operational for navigation and timing two years later. Though it was expected to last just 7.5 years, with some repairs, it is now slated to live well into its 21st.

Originally, the satellite, Boeing’s GPS Block IIA-10, appeared to be a failure. In just its first year, the satellite’s ability to keep its solar arrays directed toward the sun appeared to be damaged and required the Air Force’s 2nd Space Operational Squadron to manually point the arrays toward the sun for fourteen years. The machinery appeared to fix itself three years later. To date, the satellite maintains one of the best atomic clocks of the GPS fleet.

Global Positioning Systems remain under the purview of the US Air Force, and work with companies like Boeing to maintain the program, which have become critical to American infrastructure for government, private businesses and the general public. There are now 31 satellites in the GPS constellation of varying models.

In the two decades since its original launch, the Global Positioning System has been used for both military and civilian uses, and the GPS system continues to improve. Boeing launched the first of its twelve IIF satellites in August of 2010, and it is the most advanced Global Positioning System in history.

As Global Positioning Systems become more advanced, programs in space, home control and civilian uses will become nearly perfectly synchronized. With these technological improvements, satellites can utilize GPS to become the standard of timing, positioning and navigation.

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Choosing the Right Type of GPS

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In order to make the right choice from all of the various GPS systems available in today’s market, it is necessary to have a practical understanding of what they offer, and what the user can  expect from the device.

There are four major components that need to be looked at.

1.  GPS receiver (or antenna).   GPS receivers use signals from satellites which orbit the Earth at known positions. Each satellite has its own identification code and sends a signal which the GPS receiver can use to calculate the distance from the device to that satellite.

2.  The portion of the system which uses the received information to estimate where the device is located on an internal map.

3.  The various capabilities for route planning and recording, which vary from unit to unit.

4.  Finally, the display portion (which can vary considerably from limited location information to full color three dimensional maps of the immediate surroundings and advised route).
Since all GPS systems are based on the same premise, it is a good idea to at least be aware of the underlying technology so that you can make an informed decision when choosing which system is best suited for you.

Much like regular triangulation, by using 3 to 4+ signals, the device finds the point in space at which the spheres representing the distance from each satellite intersect.  This allows the device software to estimate its own position by finding that point.
Using this location information, the software can then pinpoint the devices location on a map, then use the information for a number of operations, from simply displaying the location, to mapping a proposed route.

The three standard classes of GPS system are road, hiking and maritime.  Each class is further subdivided into other types which offer different features depending on the users intended use and the environment within which they will be operating.
It is important to remember is that this technology does not allow for the transmission of actual mapping data via the satellites. It is purely concerned with identifying the location of the device.

Once you have identified your exact needs and expectations regarding your device, you are ready to assess your options and make a selection.

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Marine GPS – not just for Captains anymore

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Marine GPS systems have come a long way and you don’t have to be a sea expert in order to use one. If you go to sea at all, the Marine GPS could become your best friend.

While Marine GPS has become a critical tool for commercial boaters and people travelling long distances with a GPS system, the Global Positioning System has also developed into a useful tool for recreational boaters travelling shorter distances. Devices have become simpler and less costly, meaning that it’s no longer critical to be an expert on the high seas to use and need a Marine GPS.

It is also important to remember that Marine GPS does not work on its own. The user needs to have some level of understanding of marine safety and navigation through water. A map and compass are important backups in the case of system or battery failure, but with a baseline understanding of how to use water transportation and a destination in mind, the Global Positioning System can be a useful tool.

All Marine GPS devices utilize a navigate-to-point feature, which provides directions and bearings required for a set point. More expensive devices have nautical charts already downloaded, and can provide detailed guidance on locations, routes and other critical data. Other devices can track depth of the water a user is in, and use sonar to track both directions and obstacles in the water.

The more casual users can also use Marine GPS to find fish schools of fish under the water, meaning that it is no longer important to be going on a long trip to find the Marine GPS useful. It is now as simple as increasing the chances of getting a bite on the line and returning to where the trip started. Other systems are configured with a Global Positioning System for both land and water, ensuring that users know how to drive their boat to the port before even setting sail.

Because of the multiple price points and purposes of different Marine GPS products, recreational or commercial boating is made easier with a Global Positioning System. It is no longer important to be searching for massive schools of fish or taking a trip along the coastline. Marine GPS is now important for something so simple in finding the trout in a small lake, and heading home a few hours later.

 

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