What is GPS?
At Status GPS we are aware that by now most people have heard of GPS, but for those of you who have not this article can help you learn more about GPS and how it affects our daily lives. GPS is an acronym which stands for Global Positioning System. The short version is that there are satellites orbiting earth that beam down VERY small signals that allow the GPS receiver to tell the distance from your GPS receiver to the satellite. When you pick up 3 or more of these satellites your GPS can “triangulate” and tell you where you are on the face of the earth with astonishing accuracy. It is virtually unaffected by weather and is rock solid dependable.
Cell Phone GPS
You may or may not know that most all cell phones have a GPS receiver inside used originally for the 911 emergency location system. It can be enabled in most smart phones and used by applications to interact with maps to show your location on the map. This can be a life saver when you are in a strange town. It can often be used with Google maps and show your location with respect to different services around town.
Automotive Turn by Turn GPS Products
Now honestly this is not as desirable as using an automotive GPS designed specifically for such things. Map detail can be a big variable between cell phones and automotive GPS products and certainly the automotive GPS is faster and more flexible. This is natural since it is a purposeful built product to do nothing but GPS. Maps don’t have to download over the cell phone for automotive GPS units. Automotive GPS products usually have better screens for outdoor use and almost always have much larger screens making it much easier to see map detail while driving. Cell phones are compromise GPS products but do work in a pinch.
Automotive GPS products also often have significant extra features such as everything from a hard drive, or MMC card storage to traffic information updates. Some even have databases showing radar traps. Talk about handy. Both cell phones and automotive units often have MP3 capability although many of the less expensive automotive GPS products did not handle that capability well.
Lowrance used to make an automotive GPS (iWay 600) that could store hundreds of CDs in MP3 format and play them through a built-in FM modulator to your car stereo. It could interrupt the music to tell you of an upcoming turn. Talk about advanced. Unfortunately it is only available on the used market today.
Outdoor Handheld GPS
Handheld GPS products that are meant for the outdoors are another category. These are typically waterproof with features designed with the hunter or backpacker / hiker in mind. They often contain electronic compasses and pressure sensors that can be used for weather prediction or for an altimeter.
A cell phone GPS works very poorly by comparison in the hiking market. I have yet to test a cell phone GPS that performs as well in dense foliage or partial sky blockage for two reasons. The cell phone form factor limits the size of the GPS antenna. It is very difficult to design a proper GPS antenna in the size of a wristwatch or cell phone.
The next limitation is the proximity of the antenna to the electronics. Remember the tiny signals from outer space? Well, it is a much smaller signal than the noise generated by the circuitry CRAMMED into a cell phone. GPS products that are a little larger have a better chance of isolating the antenna from the circuitry and can offer better shielding of the noisy internal circuits. So just remember, GPS in a cell phone is almost always a compromise.
Marine Sonar / Mapping GPS Products
One of the earliest uses for GPS was marine electronics. I would say without a doubt the 900 lb gorilla in marine sonar/mapping/GPS has to be the Lowrance product line. Their sonar products have been superior for decades and were pioneers in using GPS to map your location on the lakes and oceans. These products tell the depth of the water, show fish on the screen, underwater profile maps and more. This can truly be a lifesaving application OR it can simply help you catch more fish!
Wristwatch GPS
GPS is indeed, available in wristwatches. Don’t expect too much. It is mostly a novelty. Again, the small form factor is to blame. Some of the wristwatch products come with a transmitter that can be used to track the watch externally using a paid service. This is used primarily for tracking children or perhaps Alzheimer’s patients.
Aviation GPS Units
There are many excellent aviation GPS products that have made navigation in light aircraft a breeze. Again this is truly a lifesaving application. Knowing where you are while flying is important to say the least. Lowrance was one of the pioneers in this area. They were the first to introduce GPS moving maps to the aviation market. Again these products can only be found in the used aftermarket.
Golf GPS Products
Golf is not to be left out either. Several entries into the golf market have the ability to show your position on the golf course either overlaid with maps or at least the ability to show distance to the hole and various hazards. Some are available to rent on the golf carts and many are affordable handheld products.
More Applications
Runners, mountain bikers, motorcycles, semi trucks, and more are all covered with specialty GPS products as well. The list seems endless with new applications showing up daily.
Today the general GPS market is dominated by a few players. This would include Garmin, Tom-Tom, Magellan and a few Asian brands. Garmin has far and away the largest selection of GPS products and usually represent a good value. Magellan would be next having a selection of handheld and automotive units. The others primarily offer GPS products in only a select area such as automotive or marine units. For sonar/mapping/GPS Lowrance is your best choice.
This article only skims the surface of all the applications. There is so much more we could tell. Be sure and look around Status GPS to pick up a bargain on new and used GPS products.