Information on GPS navigation and other GPS applications

GPS Navigation everywhere

GPS Navigation and mapsIf Navigation stands for "determining of position and direction on or near the surface of the Earth", than GPS Navigation stands for the same with the help of the Global Positioning System (GPS). A GPS chip is a small radio-receiver that can capture the signals of several GPS satellites simultaneously. This way it can compute its Position, Velocity and the exact Time. This information is given out in encoded form.

How to use this information for navigation?

In the first (non-mapping) GPS receivers this information was made visible on a small LCD screen. A small computer program in the receiver translated the information about subsequent positions into dots on the screen. This way you can see where you came from and were you actual are, as well as the track that you followed to come to your actual position. As long as you move, the system can also calculate the direction in which you move, by comparing subsequent positions. If you project your direction over a longer distance, you can even see where you are heading.

This seems maybe rather abstract, but with some smart extra possibilities of the internal program and only some external buttons for the user, you can indicate waypoints or save waypoints at specific points along your track, which facilitates navigation. You can also plan ahead and create a Route, along which you want to do a future travel. It would be of great help if you were somewhat familiar with the different GPS Terms.

In normal circumstances you will use these techniques with a (topographic) map of the region where you want to travel (drive, hike, walk), but in emergency situations you can very well use it to your advantage, even if you do not have a map. At least it will prevent you from walking around in circles. The more you exercised with your particular GPS receiver, the more you will be able to get out of it.

Wouldn't it be nice to have maps incorporated?

To a certain extend, yes. Here is where mapping GPS receivers come in, but this is not perfect. First, the maps used in these receivers are in proprietary format, which means that you can only use Garmin maps in Garmin receivers and Magellan maps in Magellan receivers, etc. Second, for two thirds of our planet's surface, you will not find maps in these formats. And third, it is wiser to have a GPS receiver AND a good paper map for your trip in unknown territory. After all, electronics can break down and the batteries can get discharged. On the other hand you can always use a mapping GPS receiver as a non-mapping receiver, without background map.

Other possibilities to apply GPS Navigation

Before we continue, let us be clear about one aspect. Most of the above mentioned mapping and non-mapping dedicated GPS receivers are waterproof and rather ruggedized. This means that they are the devices of choice for a tough hike in mountainous territory and/or in bad weather.

Modern pocketPCs and Palm PDAs have fast microprocessors and a lot of internal memory and have expansion slots for CF and/or SD memory cards. With the right GPS Software, you can run all kind of GPS Navigation applications on these devices. They can get the GPS information from several different sources (See also page on GPS Types):

1) The above mentioned dedicated GPS receivers can almost all output the GPS information via NMEA-0183 sentences. A cable between such a GPS receiver and your pocketPC allows you to run many GPS programs. You can use your own scanned maps or maps downloaded from the Internet, in areas for which your dedicated mapping GPS receiver does not have maps. And when none of your programs has maps for the area you are in, you can always use your dedicated GPS receiver to do Blank Map GPS Navigation. But carrying two devices, connected by a cable is often a burden, especially when you have to take them out of your car and reinstall them several times a day. You know that if you do not take them out when you leave the car, they will be stolen.

2) GPS Mice, aka "Smart Antennas", are complete GPS receivers without a user-interface. They are also connected to your pocketPC by a cable and get their power from the pocketPC, but you can not use them independently, without the pocketPC.

3) Bluetooth GPS receivers have the big advantage that they connect with the pocketPC without a cable. The disadvantage is that you have two independent devices, each with its own battery, which need to be recharged. Setup of a BT connection often is more troublesome than a cable connection.

4) GPS receivers in the form of an extended CompactFlash(CF) card make that the pocketPC and the GPS receiver form one unit, but you have to sacrifice a CF slot. If it is the only slot for storage cards in your pocketPC, where will you store your maps? GPS receivers in the form of an extended Secure Digital(SD) card have the same pros and cons. Before buying one you should verify that the SD slot is capable to handle a GPS receiver. It needs to have SDIO capability.
A very practical GPS Navigation solution

PocketPCs with incorporated GPS receiver have it all. No two devices, no cables or other communication links and most have a SiRF Star III GPS chip, which is considered as one of the better, if not the best, on the market today (See article pocketPC GPS Navigation). And if you really want an all-in-one device you could opt for a pocketPC phone with incorporated GPS receiver, like the ETEN G500 or the Fujitsu Siemens LOOX T830.