Does Your Car Need Car Tracking GPS?

Car Tracking GPSDoes Your Car Need Car Tracking GPS?

Are you a car owner? If you are, have you heard of car tracking GPS? If you have, do you have car tracking GPS installed and activated in your vehicle? If you do not, you may want to think about getting it, as it can come in handy for you many times in your life.

When it comes to car tracking GPS, there are many car owners who wonder whether or not they really need car tracking GPS. Although anyone can have car tracking GPS installed and activated in their vehicles, there are some instances where it could definitely come in handy. Just a few of the many signs that you may need or benefit from having car tracking GPS are outlined below.

If you are a business owner, you could definitely benefit from having car tracking GPS installed and activated in all of your company vehicles. Should one of your company vehicles get stolen, your car tracking GPS could help authorities find your car in what seems like record time. If one of your work vehicles ended up stranded or in an accident, car tracking GPS could be used to send assistance.

If you regularly travel long distances, it may be a good idea to have car tracking GPS equipment installed and activated in your personal vehicle. As it was previously mentioned, car tracking GPS can be used to help you out in the event of an emergency. Whether you were involved in a multi-car accident, a single car accident, the victim of auto theft, or had a medical emergency on the road, car tracking GPS can offer you assistance. If someone who is looking for you don't know where to look, they or the authorities could use your car tracking GPS equipment to find out your approximate location.

If you are interested in getting car tracking GPS on one of your vehicles or a number of them, whether you are a personal car owner or a business owner, you will need to find a car tracking GPS company to do business with. Unless your car or cars already has car tracking GPS equipment installed in it, you may want to think about finding a car tracking GPS company to do business with. There are some companies who prefer that you use a certain piece of equipment. Waiting before you purchase any equipment will make it easier for you to do business with the company of your choices, as well as save money by not buying unnecessary car tracking GPS equipment.

As it was previously mentioned, if you are a business owner or just a car owner who would like to know where their car is at all times, you are urged to at least consider getting car tracking GPS equipment installed and activated in your vehicle. In fact, you don't even need a reason to have car tracking GPS. If you would feel more comfortable having it activated in your business vehicles or your personal vehicles, you are advised to just go ahead and do so.

About the Author

Quentin Chamberlain is a writer for RM Tracking . com where you can find accurate information about Car Tracking GPS and other related information.

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Totally Free GPS Software

gps software3D Tracking - Using your mobile phone or PDA, along with your GPS receiver, you can record and view your movements in detail on Google Earth or Google Maps. You can even use the free service for live tracking using Google Earth or Google Maps. Download of the required 3dtracking application, as well as use of the website, is completely free (and there are no future plans to charge for this either). The web server also retains all the data you’ve ever recorded and submitted, so you can always go back and view your older recorded data at any time.

amAze - is for the Java-enabled mobile phone, covering the US and 15 European countries. A sample of what it does: Visual and voice guidance to any destination; Search or define any location by its address; Search and navigate to businesses listed in yellow pages directories.

APRS - APRS is free GPS software for use with packet radio by ham radio operators and non-hams alike. You can monitor, in real time, such information as the location of vehicles, current weather, and much more.

Async & RINEX - Programs to log and use raw data from the following Garmin handheld receivers: GPS12, 12XL, II+, III+, Etrex, Emap

Cetus GPS- Cetus GPS for Palm OS is the Swiss Army Knife of GPS tracking and field data collection. It is intended for use by GIS surveyors, scientists, explorers and GPS enthusiasts who need to extend the features of their standard GPS equipment.

CotoGPS- for Palm OS. Displays position numerically and graphically, capture, calculate and draw distances, tracks and areas. Supports PalmOS 3.0 and up, PalmOS 5, including high resolution mode, HandEra 330 (high resolution, screen resizes), and all NMEA capable GPS devices.

DGPSIP - A system to send DGPS corrections over the Internet.

DNR Garmin - Provides users the ability to directly transfer data between Garmin GPS handheld receivers and various GIS software packages.

Earthcomber supports Palm, Windows Mobile Pocket PC and Smartphone and allows users to specify types of restaurants, shops, ATMs, hotels, landmarks and plot them on a map. It also has free maps for any city and county in the USA.

EasyGPS - EasyGPS is free GPS software that allows you to create, edit, and transfer waypoints and routes between your computer and your Garmin, Magellan, or Lowrance GPS. EasyGPS connects your GPS to the best mapping and information sites on the Internet, giving you one-click access to street and topo maps, aerial photos, weather forecasts, and nearby attractions. And because EasyGPS is part of the TopoGrafix family of outdoor products, you'll be able to exchange GPS data with EasyGPS and ExpertGPS users all over the world!

flexGPS - FlexGPS enables the manipulation of maps used with a GPS Receiver.

G3 Project - provides tracking, archiving and geotagging features, with the help of Google Maps and Google Earth, of any Java-capable mobile phone connected to a GPS receiver.

G7ToWin - G7ToWin is free GPS software designed to exchange information between a PC and Garmin, Magellan, or Lowrance/Eagle GPS receivers.

Gar2rnx - Gar2rnx allows you to receive coordinates and much more from some Garmin GPS units using undocumented commands.

Garmap CE - Garmap CE runs on PCs or Pocket PCs running Windows CE 2.0 (and maybe later).

Garmap Win - Garmap Win is free GPS software that can be used with Garmin GPS receivers to manage waypoints, routes, and track logs. Some features are: download track logs, waypoints and routes from a Garmin GPS receiver; create and upload waypoints and routes to a Garmin GPS receiver; show current position on a map (BMP format); 124 map datums are supported.

GARNIX - GARNIX enables transfer of data between MS-DOS/Windows/Linux computers and a Garmin GPS receiver.

GarPsi, GarPsi5 - These free GPS software programs allow you to transfer Garmin data onto your Psion models 3a/c/mx or 5. You can edit them in any map datum supported by Garmin. The programs allow you to enter waypoints in a more convenient way onto the Psion and then to transfer them to the GPS.

GEOsnapper geo-tags your photos to make them searchable by location. You can also categorize your images via keywords, albums or groups so that they can be found by people who are interested in the same things as you.

GPilotS - GPilotS allows your PalmPilot to transfer waypoints, routes, and tracks to and from selected Garmin receivers. It can communicate with map applications to exchange waypoints, routes, and tracks.

GPS3D - GPS3D is a suite of free GPS software utilities to control a handled GPS receiver from your PC and see the result in 3D. If you don't have a GPS receiver you can use GPS3D to see MapBlast maps in 3D and also interact with a 3D representation of Earth.

GpsActionReplay (GpsAR) is software that enables replays and performance analysis from GPS data, incuding "real time" animation with several tracks, auto-focusing, a time-based controller, auto speed calculation and auto data send (it will send your speed results to whatever server that accepts them, such as (www.gps-speedsurfing.com). It is able to download tracks directly from the GPS without the need of a secondary program such as G7towin. It's a Java application that can be run on any system (including Windows, Linux, Mac), and on any Web browser within an applet (the Java Plug-In must be installed).

GPSBabel manipulates and transfers waypoints, tracks, and routes between receivers and/or popular mapping programs. Currently, about 100 formats are supported. It runs on Windows, OS X, Linux and is used behind the scenes by programs like Google Earth, GPSVisualizer, GSAK, and several others.

GPSCommunicator visually represent NMEA GPS position data in realtime. It works with NMEA 0183 GPS receivers connected via a serial port.

GPS Cookie is companion software to A2B. A2B is a website where you can search for websites related to any place on Earth.

GPSDiag - GPSDiag is free GPS software for 32-bit Microsoft Windows platforms (Windows 95, 98, ME, NT & 2000) to monitor incoming NMEA GPS messages from a serial port.

GpsDrive - GpsDrive is navigation software for Linux. It shows your location obtained from your NMEA-output GPS device on a map, with zoom capability. Works with Garmin units that have a serial connection and other brands with NMEA output. GpsDrive is written in C with use of the GTK+ graphic toolkit and runs with Linux and FreeBSD.

GPSion5 - GPSion5 allows a Psion 5mx to communicate with a Magellan 315/320.

GPSMan - GPSMan (GPS Manager) makes for easy and flexible manipulation of GPS data. It allows data transfer and real-time logging for Garmin, Magellan, and Lowrance units.

GPSPhotoLinker - can be used to save location and GPS position data to a photo. The latitude and longitude recorded by your GPS unit while you were taking photos can be linked, and saved, to the photos. GPSPhotoLinker automatically enters the city, state, and country annotations into the metadata.

GPSS - Run GPSS on your PC and it will give impressive in-car navigation and remote tracking demonstrations. Run on a Laptop with a GPS, and this same GPS Software will work for real. Get free registration, mapping for 155 countries and voice guidance in 12 languages. This includes free street level mapping for all the USA.

GPS TrackMaker - Free GPS software for PC with Microsoft Windows 95 or higher. It creates, edits and deletes tracklogs, routes and waypoints. It has a database with more than 280 different datums and calculates length, instantaneous and average speeds in tracklogs. You can have total navigation on the map image. GPS TrackMaker makes possible the communication between PC and GPS and does much more.

GPS Trail Browser lets you view both the maps and web links contained in an internet map by providing both web browser and a map viewer tabs. In the map viewer, use the internet tool to open web pages and photographs linked to places in the web browser.

GPStrans - GPStrans enables waypoint, track, and route information to be exchanged with a Garmin receiver.

GPS Utility - GPS Utility is an easy-to-use application that provides management, manipulation and mapping of GPS information. You can use it to transfer data to/from a GPS receiver and many other software applications. It is particularly useful for dealing with data in different file formats, datums and grid coordinate systems.

GPS Visualizer is a free on-line utility that creates SVG & JPEG maps and profiles from GPS data (tracks and waypoints), street addresses, or simple coordinates. Use it to see where you've been, plan where you're going, or visualize geographic data (business locations, events, customers, real estate, etc.).

GSAK (Geocaching Swiss Army Knife) - bills itself as an all-in-one geocaching and waypoint management tool. Major features include: multiple databases, sending/receiving waypoints to GPSr, conversion to many mapping formats, HTML output, extensive searching, macro support, backup and restore, distance/direction from other waypoints.

Kashmir 3D - Kashmir 3D is a program to allow 3D navigation with a GPS device. It also creates landscapes and 3D maps.

LaserMap - LaserMap is a mobile GPS/mapping solution for navigation for Windows CE.

LocEight - allows users to upload their GPS data, add photos, tracks and POIs, and publish it all on Google Internet maps or output it in GPX or KML format. All LocEight records are freely searchable from the Internet.

MAPEAR - Free Garmin maps for Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and South Brazil. En EspaƱol.

MapMan - A map generating tool designed primarily for owners of Garmin GPS devices with mapping capability. However owners of other brand devices, devices without mapping, or even those who don’t own a GPS at all, may be able to make use of some of the features.

MapItPronto - You can use this tool to Upload/View GPS Routes and plot as well as planning a future route. Uploading your GPS route allows you to see it on google maps with statistics such as average speed, ascent, descent, max speed. You can then enable graphs including elevation, speed, and heart rate.

Marengo GPS Route Planner - is based on Google maps and is designed specifically to allow users to crate GPX route files for upload to a GPS unit.

MGPS - is free GPS software designed to visualize and edit GPS data. Main features: displays track and waypoint data; displays scanned, calibrated raster maps as background; displays vector maps; 3D display of airspace data; analyze track data (speed, course in a given point etc.); based on the timestamps in digital photographs (from digital cameras) and the track timestamp, the software determines and displays where each individual picture was taken.

Mobile GMaps - displays Google Maps, Yahoo! Maps, Windows Live Local (MSN Virtual Earth) and Ask.com Maps and satellite imagery on Java J2ME-enabled mobile phones, PDAs and other devices. MGMaps can connect to a GPS receiver over bluetooth or use internal GPS features on some phones in order to automatically display the map for your current position.

Mologogo - Not only free software but also a free service that will track a friends GPS enabled cell phone from another phone or on the web. It currently works on pretty much any Nextel phone with Java, GPS and a data plan. It also supports Windows Mobile 5.0 and will shortly have clients for Windows and Windows Smartphone as well.

Nav4All - Navigation software for GPS and cell phone. According to their website, Nav4All is free until August 15, 2006. The anticipated monthly fee will vary between € 0.50 and € 2.00 and free subscriptions will also be available.

NMEASleuth - allows you to inspect NMEA data streams from devices connected via a serial port.

ODGPS - is a program for Pocket PCs that lets you navigate in any terrain using GPS. It is intended to be small and light and easy to use. Odgps now runs on all sorts of pocket pcs running pocket PC 2003 and higher and with all sorts of GPS devices.

OziToGoogleEarth - converts OziExplorer track or waypoint files to "kml" files which can be read by Google Earth. It will also download Garmin track files for display on GoogleEarth.

PerDiemCo Location & Tracking (PLT) - allows you to track your trip and lets others locate and follow you online. You set the passcodes so only those that you want can see your trip. PLT offers privacy and 'a need to know', so you can turn off anyone's ability to locate you at anytime. PLT allows you to access and use your GPS on-the-fly from any location connected to the Internet. For Windows® Mobile PDA or Phone

PyGarmin - PyGarmin is a set of Python classes which implement the protocol used by Garmin GPS receivers to talk to each other and to other machines. It is based on the official protocol specification.

Reperion/PocketReperion - send your GPS location to the Reperion/Pocket Reperion server, which in turn will present your location, track, pictures and audio via a web interface. People can use this interface to track position, and send and receive text and audio messages as well.

RINEX & Async - Is free GPS software to log and use raw data from the following Garmin handheld receivers: GPS12, 12XL, II+, III+, Etrex, Emap.

RoadMap - is an open source (GPL) program that provides a car navigation for Linux, UNIX and now Windows CE (a.k.a. PocketPC). It displays a map of the streets, tracks the position provided by a NMEA-compliant GPS receiver, identifies the street matching this GPS position and announces the name of the crossing street at the next intersection.

RoadNav - is an in-car navigation system capable of running on a variety of operating systems, including Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X. Roadnav can obtain a car's present location from a GPS unit, plot street maps of the area, and provide verbal turn by turn directions to any location in the USA.

SeaClear - SeaClear is a PC based chart plotter for Windows 2000/XP/NT/95/98/ME. With a GPS connected it displays the current position, speed, heading and other data on the screen. The chart is repositioned and new charts are loaded automatically as needed. You can save tracks to be viewed later and you can manually and automatically enter log book entries. The number of waypoints and routes that can be entered are unlimited. The screen area for charts is maximized with most functions accessed with the right mouse button. Zooming is provided with support for IntelliMouse wheel. SeaClear is created for nautical navigation but can probably be used for other navigation needs.

TDCGPS - TDCGPS allows GPS data to be used to mark your position on a map. It works with the Psion 3a to read NMEA information from Rockwell and other units.

TopoShare - For use in North America - This site makes it possible to create, store and share routes and tracks using gpx. You can upload GPS tracks to a personal acount and share them with the rest of the world. You can trace routes on a map, extract a terrain profile and export it to your GPS device.

TrackerGE - takes location data from either a GPS, or APRS data from the internet or the AGWPE program and uses it to plot a (moving) location on Google Earth or OziExplorer. The user can elect to plot a track or just a placemark.

TrekBuddy - J2ME application for GPS navigation and tracking. Features Bluetooth GPS, internal (JSR-179), simulator location provider, offline maps, smart GPX / raw NMEA logs, location sharing, waypoints.

Trimble's Planning software - Trimble's Planning software is a powerful stand-alone software tool supporting any form of analysis to determine visibility for GPS, GLONASS, IGSO and geostationary satellites.

Trip Tracker Sportsmate - This application allows GPS users to view and analyse their recreational and sports activities (tracks). The track will be viewed in Gmaps, and users can analyse different metrics (speed, distance, heartbeat, and more). Photos can be added too.

USAPhotoMaps downloads USGS aerial photo and topo map data from Microsoft's free TerraServer Web site, saves it on your hard drive, and creates maps with GPS accuracy.

VisualGPS - With VisualGPS, the azimuth and elevation graph displays all satellites that are in view. Each satellite identifies its pseudo random number (PRN). The survey window displays both position and xDOP (HDOP and VDOP) parameters. The ability for user selectable HDOP/VDOP color thresholds for position averaging make a great utility. You can monitor standard deviation and the effects of selective availability and print the results graphically. It monitors latitude, longitude, altitude, and satellite signal to noise ratios and displays them graphically on the screen. It also allows you to view NMEA sentences as they are received.

Wayp2shp - Wayp2shp allows you to map the tracklines, waypoints, and routes from a Garmin GPS receiver in ESRI's ArcView and ArcExplorer.

Waypoint+ - Waypoint+ is free GPS software that enables one to exchange waypoint, route, and track data between a PC and selected Garmin receivers.

WMSBrowser is a WMS client map browser with Bluetooth GPS support and tracking/waypoint features for your mobile phone or PDA. It has built-in maps (can be changed by the user) to save on network costs. It calculates distances, headings and shows height profiles. Tracks/waypoints can be saved to memory card. Two world map WMS definitions (raster and vector) are provided and a small built-in world map.

Windmill LabIML - Windmill LabIML is used to collect live data from your GPS receiver on your laptop.

Wissenbach Map3D - allows you to: plan hiking, skiing, and mountain bike trips; download and upload trails, routes, and waypoints to and from Garmin GPS receivers; plot your GPS track logs on topographic maps or aerial photos; embed links to photographs or web pages in you GPS data; print custom topographic maps or aerial photos on one or many sheets of paper; simulate flying over your trails and view 3 dimensional terrain models of your favorite area; make your own maps; share trail data in GPS Exchange (.gpx) format.

source: www.maps-gps-info.com

Professional Uses Of GPS Systems

 Professional  GPS Systems There are many professional uses for GPS systems. Some are simple, such as using a GPS system to find a worksite before it is actually surveyed. Others are more interesting. One is the GPS Compass. A pair of GPS systems can accurately determine direction without worrying about magnetic declination, as magnetic north can be slightly different than true north in some parts of the world.

Weather Reports Another professional use for GPS systems is to increase accuracy for weather reports, with special systems able to determine information such as air density, temperature, moisture and electron density. This information can be fed into computer models in an attempt to increase the accuracy of the system.

Emergency Services

Perhaps the most dramatic uses are for emergency services. Both in terms of calling in locations when initially reporting the issue and aiding first responders to quickly find the location afterwards. E911 requires that all mobile phones be locatable by GPS, though not all parts of the US are E911 compliant at this time. GPS location is actually less power hungry than the radiolocation system which was the previous standard while increasing the accuracy.

Digital Cameras

Some digital cameras can be connected to GPS systems and insert the datetime group and location into the picture, useful when there is reason to desire pictures to be tied to a specific time and place, such as pictures of work sites or crime scenes.

Some tasks require precise timing and are connected to GPS systems, not for location but for timing. The systems are self correcting to ensure the GPS itself requires very accurate time in order to function, and there is no reason for other devices not to take advantage. So some devices such as seismology sensors which are in known locations have an integral GPS in order to keep that accurate time.

Surveying

Surveying is also becoming a GPS dominated function, with Survey quality GPS systems used to place survey markers, roads and buildings. Mapping quality GPS systems are used to keep accurate locations down to 10cm. Geophysicists and geologists use GPS systems to record locations in realtime, which can be of exceptional value in circumstances such as a volcanic eruption, a sinkhole or other rapid movement.

Military The original intended use for the GPS system was military, and the armed forces are still heavy users of the technology. The systems are so popular that some soldiers who are not assigned a GPS system will buy a civilian system for the added convenience of having one at any time it might be needed.

Navigation

Boats and ships make exceptional use of GPS systems. From knowing where they are on the chart to quickly reporting the location of a crisis such as a ship in distress or man overboard, a working GPS system turns navigation from a task requiring an extensively trained professional to a task that can be accomplished quickly by an amateur. This does not mean it isn"t a good plan to have such a trained professional handy, of course.

Autor: Alan King

Practical Solutions provides complete GPS, mobile navigation/mapping and other hi-tech solutions! Check us out at: http://www.ps-gps.com

Added: March 30, 2007
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

 

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Which GPS Device is Right for You?

GPS DeviceFor those who drive significant distances or who frequently find themselves searching for things in unfamiliar surroundings, a GPS satellite receiver can certainly simplify life. Like most electronics devices however, the number of choices, brands, and features can make the selection of a device difficult and somewhat time consuming. Shoppers however can take some time to identify the features that would be most valuable for them, determine how much they are willing to spend, and then relax as the selection will be greatly simplified once these decisions are made.

In a world of innumerable options, here are a few of the more critical characteristics to consider:

Will the device be used outside of the vehicle?

There are some ultra portable GPS devices designed for use in cars, vans, and trucks that offer the flexibility of use outside of the vehicle as well. To be useful, the device would need not only roadmaps but terrain information loaded. Certainly size and weight need to be considered if the device is to be carried; Bluetooth helps to make this option more feasible. Rechargeable batteries would also be important in these instances so that the GPS device could operate without being plugged in for several hours.

Is the screen sufficient?

Obviously the screen needs to be large enough to easily view, but small enough to not block the view of the driver. It is also wise to be sure that the screen is easy to view in any type of lighting condition; not only at night time but in bright sunlight as well. Most people also prefer a touch screen to navigate rather than one requiring the use of a stylus or some other type of access. For those who want to be sure they take their eyes off of the road as little as possible, a GPS device with voice commands is also critical.

How accurate is the information the GPS device provides?

There are a number of features to consider when trying to assure the accuracy of information. A device with WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) is able to pinpoint locations accurately to within a few feet; this may or may not be critical for a given user. Some devices will merely instruct drivers to "turn left" while others are capable of providing more detail by stating the name of the street when providing instructions. Some devices also provide real-time traffic information by using an FM frequency within the vehicle. The accuracy and detail of the maps included with the GPS device can vary as well so comparison shopping can be useful. The more "points of interest" on a map the more likely it will pinpoint the location a user is seeking. Keeping maps updated after purchase is usually up to the consumer. Some devices require the purchase of a CD to update the device while others accomplish this across the internet.

Is the device easy to use?

Again for many users, voice commands and a touch screen make a GPS device easier to use. Examining the menus to determine if they are user friendly is important. Many current models don't require any complex installation and are ready to go out of the box but some offer preloaded maps while others require buyers to install the maps themselves.

As with any purchase, consumers should identify their needs and their budget to determine which device would be the best choice. If pin point accuracy is needed a GPS device with WAAS might be crucial but if budget considerations rule, a device that allows the user to transfer maps from a PC to the device would be a more cost conscious choice than one with maps on the hard drive.

Autor: Christine Peppler

The author, Christine Peppler invites consumers to visit her website for information regarding the use and selection of home electronics.

Added: March 28, 2007
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

 

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Garmin Nuvi 660 Portable GPS - Review

Garmin Nuvi 660 Portable GPSWouldn't it be great to have a personal assistant to guide you when you travel? What if that personal assistant could fit in your shirt pocket? That's the concept behind the NUVI 660 GPS system from Garmin. This portable GPS unit, which is only 4.9"W x 2.9"H, may be small but it is packed with features for anyone who travels a lot or for someone who just wants to know where they are going. The NUVI 660 portable GPS unit has a preloaded navigator that can assist you in getting where you are going fast and safely.

The portable GPS unit has preloaded maps or you can upload a customized route for either car motorcycle, pedestrian, bicycle, truck, bus, emergency, and taxi. The GPS system has a colorful widescreen display that is easy to see and that is larger than other NUVI models. You can choose a 2D or 3D map perspective. The NUVI 660 has a touch screen that makes it easy for you to make your choices.

The NUVI 660 auto GPS unit is compatible with Bluetooth wireless technology. That means you can talk to friends and family hands free, keeping your hands on the wheel and not on your phone. You can receive traffic alerts and directions in your headset.

The NUVI 660 will alert you to construction zones, bad weather or heavy traffic. This auto GPS unit will even suggest an alternate route, saving you time on the road. The GPS unit announces streets by name, allowing you to know if you are on the right road. If you are lost, the NUVI 660 auto GPS unit will look up the address and guide you in the right direction. If you want to see new places, the GPS unit can look up attractions and points of interest. You can even call a restaurant or hotel and make a reservation by touching the screen. If you are traveling out of the country, you can purchase additional software such as a travel or language guide.

Do you want to hear the latest tunes or listen to a new audio book while traveling? The NUVI 660 GPS system has an MP3 player, audio book player and a JPEG picture viewer. A built-in FM transmitter on the auto GPS unit will allow you to hear everything through your car's stereo.

The NUVI 660 comes with a rechargeable battery that can last from three to seven hours, depending on how many accessories you use. The unit also comes with Garmin Lock, the company's patented anti-theft feature. Priced at around $900, Garmin's NUVI 660 is great buy for those who love electronic gadgets or for those how want a GPS system that will keep them on the right road.

Autor: Catherine Tower

Catherine Tower of Gottronics, is in charge of the research department, where she gathers information and reviews different portable GPS units, whether it be good or bad and stays up to date with all of the latest developments of the products.

Added: March 27, 2007
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

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Garmin Rino 520 Handheld GPS - Review

Garmin Rino 520 Handheld GPS Have any of these things every happened to you?

* You are on a hike trip and you have lost a friend. Storm clouds are looming and they are nowhere to be found.
* You have taken your family on an outing at an amusement park. It is closing time but you can't find one person.
* You are on the boat and you want to make sure you are going in the right direction, whether its north, south, east or west.

Garmin's RINO 520 portable GPS navigator can solve all of those problems. These two-way radio systems are equipped with a GPS navigator that can help you find your way and lead your group as well. The patented GPS receiver allows other members of your party to tell you where they are as well as showing them your location.

One of the best features on the RINO 520 is its display. With bold colors, it is easy to see and interpret. You will never need to look at a large map from an atlas again after using the RINO 520. Garmin's Rino 520 handheld GPS units not only have built-in base maps of North and South America, but you can choose optional City Select software. These can be adapted to almost any trip, hike or boating excursion you plan to take. This GPS navigator unit allows you to customize your route, complete with turn-by-turn directions and alert tones. No more getting lost on the trails or at sea. If you are just on a sight-seeing trip, the RINO 520 makes finding a hotel or restaurant that his nearby easy. This GPS navigator unit can map points of interest along your route

If the sea is your passion, this portable GPS unit can be customized with Garmin's exclusive optional cartography that includes the fishing hot spots on recreational lakes in the United States. The built-in calendar can show you the best fishing times. If you like to hunt, this portable GPS unit can also tell you the best hunting times for snaring your prey.

What are some of the other outstanding features of the RINO 520? The RINO 520 unit has 56 megabytes of internal memory so that you can quickly download personalized maps for your use onto your portable GPS. The two-way radio has five watts of power, allowing you to contact help from as far away as 14 miles. The portable GPS unit has a WAAS enabled, 12 parallel GPS receiver. It has a bright color display and a rechargeable battery that can last up to 16 hours. Priced at about $482, Garmin's RINO 520 is one of the best buys of portable GPS systems on the market.

Autor: Catherine Tower

Catherine Tower of Gottronics, is in charge of the research department, where she gathers information and reviews different handheld GPS units, whether it be good or bad and stays up to date with all of the latest developments of the products.

Added: March 26, 2007
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

 

Purchasing A Magellan GPS

Magellan GPSThe Global Positioning System - or GPS - has taken the world by storm. What was once a proprietary item used only by the government, is now in demand by retail consumers worldwide. Those who have become used to GPS rely upon its accurate directional services; and the word continues to spread. A Magellan GPS is one of the more popular brands of GPS.

GPS utilizes the government"s network of 24 satellites that consistently circle the earth, providing timely and accurate logistical information. It was designed in the late 1970"s by the United States Department of Defense to be used as a reliable navigational tool for the military. But today, GPS has become mainstream, finding its way to consumers through a variety of convenient systems. GPS receivers are hand-held units that literally fit into the palm of your hand. This portable system has the ability to connect to the Global Positioning Satellites which, through a series of calculations based on longitude and latitude can instantly and accurately pinpoint the user"s location. The screen of the GPS receiver illustrates a map of the area, including roads, terrain, and landmarks, and places the user"s location relative to these points of reference. Travelers and outdoor enthusiasts who take to the mountains every weekend have found the GPS receivers to be invaluable in providing accurate navigation and ensuring safety.

Magellan GPS, a brand of GPS receivers, is one of the more popular systems on the market today. While some users prefer to use the Magellan GPS as a hand-held device, others use it as a permanent navigational device that is mounted in their vehicles. In this role, the Magellan GPS uses a destination address supplied by the driver to efficiently navigate the driving route. Further, if your vehicle becomes the victim of theft, it can be effectively tracked by the signals sent by the Magellan GPS.

In other cases, parents use the Magellan GPS as a tracking device to monitor their teenage drivers. The system will ensure that fledgling drivers are not left disoriented in unfamiliar territory and can alert parents to any suspicious activity.

The Magellan GPS, because of its increasing popularity, can be purchased in most retail outlets. Prices vary depending on number of features offered in each system. There is also comprehensive information provided online detailing the different Magellan GPS systems, including features, price, and user experiences. Take the time to research any GPS before you purchase to ensure that it meets your needs with regard to the manner in which you will use the system, frequency of use, and budgetary guidelines.

Autor: Michelle Bery

For easy to understand, in depth information about Magellan GPS visit our ezGuide 2 GPS.

Added: March 26, 2007
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

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Interesting Facts About GPS

Facts About GPSGPS is getting to be more a part of our everyday life all the time. If you buy a new car, there is a good chance that an option is available to get a GPS navigation system with it. It is only a matter of time before GPS navigation becomes a standard feature in every new car that rolls off the assembly line. Cell phone GPS is also growing by leaps and bounds. Right now. if you make an emergency phone call to the police or fire department from a hard - wired telephone the police know exactly where you are calling from. But not so with a mobile or cell phone. That, however, will soon change. Virtually, all new cell phones will soon have a GPS inside somewhere. Even photography is getting into the act. Some new cameras have a built in GPS so when you take a photo it tells you the latitude and longitude of where you were and stamps that information on the photo.

We tend to take GPS for granted in the same way we do the Internet. We assume it is almost free for everyone and available everywhere but that really isn't true. GPS was first developed in the 1970s and is owned, operated and controlled by the United States military. If the US military wants to cut off or control your access to the GPS system they can. In fact prior to May of 2000 all civilian GPS units had limited access to the GPS system called Selective Availability. Prior to that date your GPS would work just fine, but would not be as accurate as military GPS units. Normal GPS accuracy is greater than 20 meters but with Selective Availability it is only 100 meters. Today however, all GPS receivers - military or civilian - have the same accuracy. So at the moment, GPS is free for everyone around the world. But in the future, if a terrorist group or country were to get access to GPS guided weapons, the US military could cut off their access to GPS by encrypting the signal.

The GPS system is made up of 24 military satellites circling the earth at an altitude of 11,000 miles such that at any given time and location a GPS receiver gets a signal from at least 6 of those satellites at a time. They are set up in 6 orbital paths with 4 satellites spaced evenly in each of the 6 orbits. Signals from these satellites are available anywhere on the earth, 24 hours a day and are not affected by the weather. Older GPS receivers just had one channel so they had to cycle through the 6 or more satellites one at a time but newer units have 10 parallel channels or more so you get faster more accurate information.

The biggest headache for GPS systems is the time it takes for the signal to get from the satellite to your receiver. The 6 satellites you get signals from will all be at different distances from you and are rotating the earth at high speed. So the signals your GPS receiver gets will not automatically be time synchronized. Because of this problem, the military has limited civilian GPS units so they don't work if they are moving faster than 900 knots or above 60,000 feet in altitude. But most non-aviation GPS units will give error messages if you are moving faster than 90 miles per hour. Clearly, if you are standing still, a GPS will be a lot more accurate.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to GPS

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell


Vehicle Tracker: Never Losing Track Again

Vehicle tracker, also known as GPS vehicle tracking system, is a device that uses satellite signals to track vehicles. The device is placed inside of the vehicle, allowing either real-time or passive monitoring of its location.

How a vehicle tracker works

Vehicle tracker emits a signal that is picked up via satellite and conveyed to a monitoring system. A subscription service to the tracking company allows you to get reports and access to real-time monitoring displays.

There are two types of vehicle trackers available. One type offers passive tracking. A monitoring device is placed in the vehicle and data can be retrieved later to determine where the vehicle has been and the mileage driven. The other type is real time tracking, which is more extensive. It allows the vehicle's location to be monitored on a computer while it is being driven. Special software is loaded onto the computer to allow you to receive real-time information on the location, speed and direction of travel. Typically these movements are shown on a gridded map, making it user-friendly.

Why use a vehicle tracker

Anti-theft device - One of the major concerns of new vehicle owners is theft. With the use of a tracker, your vehicle can be quickly located if it is stolen. A deterrent to criminals, you can display the sticker, which indicates your vehicle is equipped with GPS. Many insurance companies offer discounted vehicle insurance rate to those who have a gps tracking system installed in their vehicle.

Navigation tool - The vehicle tracker or GPS can be used as a navigation tool. Newer vehicle tracking systems not only provide directions, but also suggest alternative route when traffic congestion is detected. You can also receive traffic information such as availability of parking spaces and the nearest public transport line.

Business - Many companies that have fleets of vehicles will find GPS tracking system helpful. The reports provide information on business mileage driven and location of vehicles.

Emergency - While cell phones may not be able to specifically locate you via 911 services, the GPS tracking device can detect your exact position. This enables you to receive medical or emergency assistance as quickly as possible. Some new vehicles are equipped with GPS tracking systems that are useful in emergency situations.

Surveillance - Vehicle tracker can be used to track a family member's whereabouts. It is useful for tracking teens and others who may only be allowed minimal vehicle access. The device can be mounted inside the vehicle so that it is virtually undetectable.

Benefits of using a vehicle tracking device

There are many benefits to using a tracking device in your vehicle. Emergency location is an important factor when considering getting a vehicle tracker. This can help bring peace of mind to those who travel frequently or who may need to drive late at night or in unknown areas. Many thousands of vehicles are stolen each year. Stolen vehicles can be more easily recovered and the perpetrators caught through the use of vehicle trackers. GPS vehicle tracking system is a fantastic street navigator, so you no longer need to worry about getting lost or being stucked in a traffic jam.

About the Author

GPS system is becoming popular for providing vehicle tracking solutions to personal and business needs. FInd affordable GPS vehicle tracking systems that can save you time and cost at http://www.gpstrackingsys.com/art-vehtracker

Helio Ocean GPS Enabled Phone

Helio Ocean GPS
Helio introduced Ocean, a sliding phone. The phone comes with qwerty keyboard and numeric keypad. As GPS enabled phone, the Helio Ocean utilizes Google Maps and Geatoag aplication to mark a place with related picture, thank to the integrated 2MP camera which you can use to take a picture and assign it directly to related coordinate. Available in black color, the phone expected costs $295 this spring. [via navigadget]

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