Customer Review: Not great
I bought and used this plotter over the summer of 2008 in Maine. While better than nothing the screen is really too small to be useful. If you zoom out to get a range of a few miles, you lose chart detail. The screen keys on the cursor, and it can then be difficult to find the arrow indicating the boat position again. I would have returned it, but Amazon has only a 30 day return policy on unused items. So you buy it and try it, you own it. Unless you have a very small craft, buy a plotter with a larger screen.
Customer Review: Garmin GPSMAP 478
Fantastic. Easy to use both on and off the water. The auto-zoom is wonderful when driving. Worth every penny.
GPS or Global Positioning Systems are a breakthrough in technology. Earlier, people used to spend great deal of their times in searching a place or choosing the right path to the desired location. Now, with the help of technology, they can have a guide in their hands, which will help them to reach the exact location. Global Positioning System is a miniaturised version of Global Navigation Satellite System. The GPS uses a great deal of technology to make they owner reach the place for he is looking for comfortably. It’s officially known as NAVSTAR GPS. The GPS satellite constellation is managed and carried over by US Air Force.
The GPS works out by carefully timing the signals received through constellations of GPS satellites which are placed high above the earth.
GPS devices are composed of antennas tuned to the frequencies transmitted by these satellites. It also has a time calculator and receiver processors which perform the work of decoding.
One most extensively used GPS device is SATNAV GPS Navigations System which is Satellite Navigation System. These can be mainly found in the latest mobile devices. These are more of handy and follow the same criteria of working. SAT NAV GPS Navigations have an extensive networks and it helps the user to trace the paths if ever he gets lost. These devices ensure that the user never gets lost. No matter, where he is, he can use this device to find the correct location of any place. The accuracy level of these devices is commendable.
Moreover, these devices come in a user friendly cost. He can avail these devices with great ease and comfort. These devices greatly help the user to trace directions and locate places. They indeed prove to be a great source of help to the user especially when he has lost the path. The stylish bodies and user friendly interface helps the user to easily reach the desired place with great convenience.
GPS Navigation: a Smart Way to Search the Way
Finding The Way With GPS Navigation
While the features overall are pretty neat and this is a nice, compact design that is perfect for a night stand, I am finding that for a bedroom alarm clock it doesn't work so well. I thought that the "HiGlo(tm)" back-lighting was always on, making it easy enough to read in the dark, but that is not the case. The back lighting only comes on after fumbling to find one of the "touch technology" buttons that, of course, are also not lit up. For a desk clock, this would be perfect. For a bedside clock, find one that is visible in the dark...
For any of us who have been lost while driving, the road map has been our guiding light, identifying roadways and landmarks to help us find our way. But gone are the days of tri-folded paper maps that require the use of illumination and attention taken from the road. The modern Global Positioning System - or GPS - has transformed the process by which we find our way. But, contrary to popular belief, GPS navigation is not a new invention designed for strictly consumer use.
The Global Positioning System marked its beginnings in the 1970s but seeds of its existence were sown prior to that. We first saw the possibilities of satellite navigation with the launching of Sputnik in 1957. Russian scientists who were monitoring the progress of Sputnik found that they could track its movement based on radio waves; this set the foundation for GPS. The U.S. Navy used an elementary form of GPS in the 1960s when they used six satellites to help their submarines pinpoint their location. But GPS as we know it was designed and implemented by the U.S. Department of Defense in 1978 when they launched the first operational satellite.
Today, 24 satellites circle the earth and provide an enormous amount of information in terms of plotting location. A derivative of this technology in modern times has been GPS navigation - a system that allows drivers to map their routes. GPS navigation comes in a portable unit that can be removed and transferred from vehicle to vehicle when needed. But because of the growing popularity associated with this system, GPS navigation units are now mounted as standard equipment in newer cars. Of course, GPS navigation is also essential to water navigation as used by boats and ships.
But GPS navigation is not solely for the use of vehicles. Outdoor enthusiasts - with an eye towards safety - will often carry a hand-held GPS navigation device; the modern equivalent of a compass.
GPS navigation has allowed us to explore new terrain as we venture forth with confidence, knowing that, no matter what, we will find our way.
Expecting Something Big From Cell Phone GPS Tracking
Recently there have be more demand for improved 911 emergency contact capabilities. Later in 2005, every cell phone carrier was required to supply the capability to track cell phone calls to a certain degree. Today cell phone GPS tracking is readily available and used in many situations.
How It Functions
GPS started out in the military for mapping out locations. Global Positioning Systems, or GPS for short, are actually computer systems that depend on satellites. These satellites orbit the planet to find out exactly where the user is located. The only condition is that a clear sight of the sky is present. Everyone can operate GPS units in the modern day and prices do vary by features and quality.
The Usefulness Of Cell Phone GPS Tracking
There are two main reasons why consumers use cell phone GPS tracking. The first reason is positioning and the second is navigation. If you get stuck somewhere while camping and need help, police can track where you are with more ease. If you are on an unfamiliar road and need immediate assistance, your cell phone GPS tracking capabilities can help you find your way to your destination. Cell phone GPS tracking capabilities can even show you the shortest possible way to get to your destination.
What Cell Phone GPS Tracking Can Offer
GPS systems can inform you about how far and how long you've been driving. It can also tell you how fast you're going and the average pace of all your travels. And last of all, it can trace your whole trip and present to you an estimated time of arrival.
What You Gain From Cell Phone GPS Tracking
Of course, you'll be able to speak with someone in the emergency department right away with a GPS system. Starting in 2005, the department could readily contact you again after you've made a call to 911. A cell phone that already comes with a GPS tracking capacity means you can now get quicker assistance in case of emergency.
More importantly, reflect on your kids' safety. It's impossible to be always on the watch. When buying them a mobile phone, make sure that phone already has GPS units. This way you can easily trace where your child is in case he or she suddenly doesn't return home for instance.
With cell phone GPS tracking you have several choices. A software that offers anonymous cell phone GPS tracking of any vehicle with a GPS device attached to it. This is really helpful for those who manage car rentals. You'll have the means to check on the condition of your vehicles and driving habits of your employees just by using your cell phone.
Parents can definitely gain from cell phone GPS tracking. In an event that you're worried about your child's driving, GPS tracking can help you monitor just how responsible the driving is. GPS tracking is believed to help people become better drivers.
There's no doubt about the positive outcome of cell phone GPS tracking. People can utilize it for the safety of their kids and the elderly. Even searching for lost pets has now become very easy, The benefits of GPS tracking are definitely countless.
The Different Uses of Laptop GPS Receiver Units
Gps systems can be used to help us find locations in our cities, forest trails, hiking paths and even foreign countries. These many different gps units can also be found in many different appliances including those of laptops. Many of the laptops that we use have the ability of using gps receivers. These laptop gps units come in different styles and prices.
By using these laptop gps units you can avoid the high costs that come with the usual gps units. The general size for these laptop gps systems is about the size of a matchbox. They have the good ability of being plugged into the USB slots on your laptop. As these gps systems are part of your laptop once they have been plugged into the USB slot they can work in ways that make them superior to that of other gps systems.
With these types of laptop gps units you can download various maps and use these maps without any problems of trying to see the details. By adding these maps onto your laptop gps receiver you increase the range of maps that you can use. When you look at the specifications which have been listed for these gps units you will find there is a built in antenna.
Additionally you can attach your laptop gps receiver to your car via a very powerful magnetic mount. The LED screen will indicate if you are still receiving any satellite signals to your gps unit. Some of the gps units have a low power consumption chipset embedded into them.
Once the gps has been attached to your laptop you can use the various shortcuts on the computer to access the all of the information you require. As the monitor of the computer laptop is larger than your usual gps handheld unit any street map details will be easy to read and very clear. You can use the other features of these different laptop gps units to help you with the planning of your business and even your entertainment plans.
The different uses of laptop gps receiver units become very clear as you use these little devices to help you plan any travel plans that you may have. With these devices fixed in to your laptop you now have the perfect tool with which you can plan your travel and business trips around.
Enjoy your business trips aboard as you now have the ability of traveling in that country as if you were born there. Your business meetings will now proceed safely and on time as you can find the business meeting venue with no problems at all. All of this and more can be found when you use laptop gps units.
Benefits of Using a GPS Navigator While Travelling
ravelling by roads in India has become a simpler task as satellite navigation and Global Positioning Systems have taken position on shelves in electronics stores. Gone are the days of asking directions from roadside tea-stalls, as these gadgets offer you views of the smallest lanes in remote locations of the country.
A relatively new concept in India, GPSs have been widely used across the world by adventure tourists, travelers, sportsmen, sailors and general road users as well; and with good reason too. Offering real time positioning, these devices enable you to not only locate where you are, but also to find the best route to your destination. Some companies that manufacture these GPS navigators are SatGuide and MapMyIndia. MapMyIndia provides consumers with a ready to use GPS Navigator that enables the user to travel across the length and breadth of the country, without losing sight of their path. SatGuide on the other hand uses high end software, Destinator, created by HSTC, which is world leader in navigation software. It employs an award winning software that allows the compression of the Map Data to up to 95%, this allows SatGuide devices to run its data on Pocket PC memory.
The device from MapMyIndia connects over 55,000 villages and towns with high level details for 18 major cities and their suburbs. More than 4,00,000 places of interest (or landmarks) allow you to locate, and travel to, your destination by simply choosing the name. These are just some of the features that make the GPS navigators a must have for every car.
It shows a real-time location of the device enabling users to chart routes based on immediate position.
Voice instructions ensure that you don’t have to look away from the road when driving.
Easy to mark points of interest such as ATMs, Chemist Shops or that cheap flower vendor – just get there once and mark it on the device.
Type in your destination and the device selects the shortest route to take you there – automatically.
In case you miss a turn on the route, it automatically re-routes you to your destination from the current location.
It also allows you to plan a trip with multiple destinations. This allows you to select the shortest route while covering all your destinations.
Touch screens ensure that selecting options and setting up the system is an extremely easy task.
When travelling to a new city, users already have the road maps and directions for those cities – travelling becomes more convenient.
Add to this the added features such as a media player, picture viewer, games and world clocks, and you have an extremely well rounded system that takes a load of your mind.
Traffic situations in the country are worsening and roads are extremely packed. If knowing that a different route will save you time and head-ache, then who would give up that opportunity? The Global Positioning System has certainly eased our life in that way and whether you are an extensive traveler or not, it seems to be the next ‘must-have’ on everyone’s list.
GPS Navigation and Mapping Software - Mapping the Way to the Future
Revolutionizing Business with GPS and Mapping Software
In the modern business world, operating internationally on a heretofore inconceivable level, finding geographical information that is easy to access, precise, and up to date has become an absolute necessity. In the past, many companies were managed from the world’s superpower economies, like the US, the UK, and Japan, while operating in distant countries, sometimes on the opposite side of the globe. There was less global competition for international companies and there were a lot of sure bets. Recently, however, the number of globally operated companies has expanded exponentially, with companies from China, India, Saudi Arabia, and other emerging nations buying business assets even in the US itself. This new competition has made the globe a volatile marketplace.
Managing companies on the other side of the planet, understanding conditions being experienced by your branches around the world, and getting a solid reading of potential future business opportunities has only gotten easier, however. With the development of three converging technological concepts, it has become possible to tailor interactive maps to the specific needs of these organizations. Three key technologies have made this possible: Global Positioning Systems (enabling the use of GPS Navigation Software), Geographic Information Systems (creating the mapping software used as the basis of so many navigational tools now), and Web Mapping (using GPS mapping software to create up to date maps for a variety of specific purposes).
Geographic information systems have actually been around for centuries. In its most literal form, it simple refers to a map that indicates the importance of certain objects and regions. They actually date back to caveman days, with map paintings on the wall, showing markets, borders, and points of interest. As the world has progressed in complexity, however, so, too, have geographic information systems, providing more elaborate details specific to the particular issues of importance at the time.
GPS Navigation: Let’s Never Get Lost!!
Now you can be assured that you can safely reach your destination even if you are visiting the place for the very first time. There is a gadget that is surely going to prove its worth whenever needed and will thus, will ensure that you never get lost again.
The GPS or the Global Positioning System navigation is getting popular with each day passing by and thus are becoming a convenient aid to navigation these days. Besides, numerous other tasks like useful tool for map making, land surveying, commerce and scientific use and hobbies such as geo-caching are getting successfully accomplished with its help.
Besides, the user can also avail the benefit of getting the most precise time reference which can be employed in many applications including scientific study of earthquakes and other natural calamities. GPS Navigation Systems can also be used in synchronisation of telecommunication networks.
These are certainly a breakthrough in electronics technology. Earlier, people used to spend great deal of their times in searching the way to the desired location. They will be finally freed from this tired task. This proves to be a mini guide.
These hi-tech gadgets consist of numerous antennas which are programmed to the frequencies transmitted by satellites which are placed high above the earth. This device work out by precisely timing the signals received through constellation of these satellites. They also consist of functionalities like time calculator and receive processors which perform the decoding task.
The SATNAV GPS Navigation are the systems, which again employs satellite navigation technology. These can be extensively found in the latest mobile phones. These carry more of user friendly interface and thus are handier. SATNAV systems have an extensive networks and it helps the user to trace the path no matter how tough to reach the area is.
The accuracy and precision these devices these devices reflect are appreciable. Moreover, GPS Navigation devices are very affordable as well as stylish.
How to Buy Portable GPS Car Navigation Systems
I was researching for a portable gps car navigation system the other week because my job requires me to travel a lot in different cities.
It was just practical for me to get a portable system that I could carry around with me.
While most portable gps systems have basic functions such as voice narrations to help direct you where to go, it's worth the time to figure out exactly what other features you may need.
For example, there are some models which will tell you which lane to be in so you can make turns in high traffic streets more easily. This could come in handy if you're traveling in a congested city such as Chicago.
When considering the features that you want in your portable gps navigation system, it's important to consider if you'll actually be needing that feature or if it's just an added bonus.
Here are some things to consider:
Size of the GPS Unit
You can find pocket sized units which are very portable but have small screen sizes. If you want a larger screen the units will be less portable so make sure to consider how you will use your unit.
Price of GPS Unit
Cost is always at the top of everyone's minds when it comes to technology purchases. As with anything, you get what you pay for. Skimp on a low priced unit and you may just end up with something that functions half the time.
My brother-in-law spent $175 on a no-name brand GPS unit and after using it to help him move across the country, it took a permanent vacation.
You should also consider some of these other major features:
Street name announcement -
Does the voice narration announce the name of the street or does it just say next street?
Time to destination -
Will it calculate how long it will take you to arrive at your destination? This feature is invaluable when you want to know the closest destination out of several choices.
Automatic rerouting -
If you make a wrong turn, does your navigation system reroute you?
You'll find a lot of choices when purchasing a portable gps car navigation system. My suggestion would be to figure out what options you would like, then find the units which have those features and check the units out physically at your local electronics store.
You can then go online to find the best deals for your unit. Often times, I find the best deals online after viewing the units in a store.
As with most technology, you will find that in a few years there will be more GPS units with more features for lower prices.
I'm very excited to see this technology develop.
GPS and Other Emergency Contact Devices
What is the best kind of GPS system for you? This depends on what you intend to use it for.
Garmin 12 GPS is very good. There are various models of the 12, 12XL etc. They can be found for under $150. The altimeter is usually off but once you find your position, most of the time the map tells me what my altitude is. They have a pretty decent battery life since you rarely ever use your GPS for 12 hours straight.
The vendors selling GPS units are Garmin and Magellan, those are good brands and can meet your requirements quite well. There is a third player, Brunton (compass makers gone hi-tech). They make very reasonably priced GPS units with lots of bells and whistles. Garmin GPS records the distance travelled, speed, average speed, etc. Make sure you get good battery life and enough memory to be useful.
Mitac Mio 168 comes out well for my requirements but is more expensive, especially if you go for the tom tom mapping software too (voice directions when I'm out on my motorbike!)
Most of the functions on GPS of this sort you can get from a map. Maps on pure GPS are not as good as on a GPS/PDA but good maps for these are usually expensive. Some mountain rescue team members use PDAs with 1:25000 OS mapping data for recording search patterns etc.
You really need to look at your own plans - for instance, most backpackers use GPS to "confirm" their position, and they don't use it to set waypoints, determine compass direction, navigate, etc. Many backpackers use it as an emergency navigation tool in Utah's deep, narrow canyons, where a map and compass can be almost useless.
One word of warning, take very seriously the statement on the front of all GPS units "Do not rely on this unit as the primary source of your navigation." It's always a good idea to have a map and compass with you when engaging in wilderness travel and use them right along with the GPS. It can actually be kind of fun to see how accurate you are with a compass and compare map routes with GPS routes to see why you ended up going the way you did.
What are the numbers on a compass for and how do you use a compass? The numbers on the compass are for degrees or headings. They will tell you what direction to proceed on. The first thing you need to do is figure out what kind of compass you have, a floating dial or a floating needle.
As to emergency contact, you could buy an expensive Iridium/satellite phone - they can get a signal just like a GPS does. They run over $1,000. It may also be possible to rent one. For real emergencies, not simply a vehicle breakdown, there is a GPS signaling device, much like ONStar (GM trademark), that can send an emergency signal. The final thing to do is to check in at the local ranger station, BLM office, forest service visitor center, etc., and see about leaving your itinerary with them, as well as a promise to check-out with them when leaving. If you don't check in, they would send someone out to check on you.
Compare Garmin GPS Systems Before You Buy
GPS and Garmin have become synonymous. They are the leading GPS manufacturer in the world today by a long way. They started out in 1989 and today they have sold millions of GPS receivers.
So how do we know which Garmin GPS device will be perfect for our needs? There are so many which makes it very difficult to decide. The Garmin Nuvi and StreetPilot are some of the most popular GPS devices on the planet. Lets take a look at some of the automobile GPS systems and compare the differences.
Garmin StreetPilot 340
The Garmin StreetPilot c340 has a big advantage over the c330. That advantage is text converted to speech. Instead of GPS saying, turn right in 50 meters, it will say, turn right at Glover Street. This feature helps a lot when you dont want to look down at the device to confirm the street name.
Another great feature of the c340 is that it can easily be upgraded with an optional FM traffic receiver. What this means is that live traffic information can be sent to your GPS device to warn you of construction work, accidents etc. The StreetPilot c340 can then show you the way around the traffic and guide you to your destination.
Garmin Nuvi 250
The Nuvi 250 is famous for its simplicity. It doesnt have the advanced options most of us never use. So many buyers waste money on GPS systems that have features they will never use. They could have saved a lot of money and at the same time satisfy all there needs with a cheaper GPS system. If youre not the hard core type then the Garmin Nuvi 250 will be the perfect match for you.
The Garmin Nuvi 250 comes with a 3.5 inch display, which is the standard among the entry level GPS devices. 3.5 inch display is a big enough screen to find your way with ease. You can also insert a SD card if you would like to load additional products and maps.
The only feature the Nuvi 250 doesnt have is the text to speech feature I explained with the Garmin StreetPilot c340. Things like Bluetooth, MP3 player, FM transmitter and widescreen is not available on the Garmin Nuvi 250 but many will agree that its not necessary. If Garmin decided to include text to speech it would have been the perfect GPS system at entry level but if that doesnt bother you it might just be the one for you.
Discount Garmin GPS, Quality At A Great Price
Of the many various GPS manufactures, Garmin has become the most popular. Not only do they make a high-quality product, but they offer a wide variety of GPS units for average consumers, mariners and pilots. However, quality can come at a price, as some Garmin GPS units can range in price up to thousands of dollars. This is why it is important to try to find a source for discount Garmin GPS products if at all possible.
The first way one can try to find as source of discount Garmin GPS products is from the Garmin website itself, Garmin.com. The company website does not sell discount Garmin GPS directly; rather they provide a list of stores that do sell their equipment. They also provide access to refurbished GPS units that sell at greatly reduced prices. Refurbished units from authorized sellers come with a short warranty. Most refurbished Garmin GPS products are very reliable. Another option to finding a discount Garmin GPS unit is to check out the special offers on their website. Discount coupons are frequently available to many Garmin GPS products. To find Garmin retail stores, one has to make two selections: what country they are in and what type of GPS system they are looking for. The resulting hits will show information about the store including: address, telephone number, email address and a link if it is online. The potential buyer will have to search through the list to see which store offers the best discount Garmin GPS.
The second way one can locate a source of low priced Garmin GPS is from auction sites such as Ebay or Ubid. These sites work through a bidding system. Sellers post their items which contain a starting bid. The buyer places their bid and if they bid the highest after a number of days they have purchased the item. Auction sites also allow sellers to utilize the "buy it now" feature. Of course, "buy it now" tends to be more expensive in comparison to bidding, but it gives the seller an option to buy the item immediately. When the buyer is ready to pay, they can use their credit card or bank account through a payment system known as Paypal. Often using online auctions will provide the best prices for discount Garmin GPS products.
Another way you can buy a Garmin GPS at a reduce price is through shopping comparison sites, such as Froogle.com, Bizrate and Pricegrabber. Why would one even consider other methods of buying discount Garmin GPS if these options are available? It is because though these sites are very helpful, they do not always provide the match one might be looking for. Sometimes the results may not even be related to what one was looking for. Other times what they would consider a discount Garmin GPS would not necessarily be what the person searching would consider a 'discount Garmin GPS', since the prices could actually be those of regular retail Garmin GPS. This is a major downside when using shopping comparison sites, which is why one should be aware of the different sources of discount Garmin GPS units.
There are several methods for finding discount Garmin GPS products: through the Garmin website itself, auction sites or shopping comparison sites. Through these resources one can save hundreds, maybe even thousands of dollars on their next Garmin GPS unit. Purchasing a Garmin GPS at any price is a good investment. However, there should be no excuse why anyone should have to settle for a lesser quality GPS brand when you have access to discount Garmin GPS products.
