The technology behind the car GPS is both impressive and relatively simple to understand. Understanding how your car GPS works might help you to understand a little bit about how you better use your GPS. I know, this sounds like a line, but keep reading and at the very least you'll be able to sound like a smarty pants to your friends and really smart to your kids.
Okay here's how a car GPS works in a nutshell; satellites in space triangulate on a single unit through pings, or packets sent from the GPS to the satellite and back. The GPS then calculates how long each ping (or signal) takes to get back to it and uses this information to give its own location within 3 meters. What it needs is basically two good signals, but three or more are much better.
How does this work with a map? Each map on a car GPS had a grid. This grid is cross indexed with the GPS's supposed self positioning and displayed on the LCD screen as an animation. Does the GPS actually think it's on Elm Street? Nope. To the GPS it is at a longitude and latitude location. When you think about it, this how any car GPS could be used on foot, even in a national park. I wouldn't test this theory in like say the Arctic. I'm not 100% what the coverage is up there.
While not as common anymore, there have been some accidents related to usage of a car GPS. Nearly all of these have had to do with not updating the maps. Not updating your maps will cause all kinds of issues. Your GPS knows where the construction was as of the last time it was updated. In some cases that could have been months ago.
Updating your GPS maps is really not optional if you want a properly functioning GPS. Often when you plug your GPS into your computer via USB a prompt will come up asking you to update your GPS; do so. Not only will you find the best possible route to your destination, but firmware updates are also included. Without these firmware updates your GPS will most likely not communicate at its optimum capacity with the orbital satellites.
Downloading some novelty voices is also a very cool thing to do. You can find free voices and premium voices with most services. These can be well known celebrity voices ("Turna Right HERA! JA!") or just the latest greatest sexy robot voice. The choices are pretty varied.
Alerts can be set on your car GPS that will inform you as to when you are getting close to restaurants, rest stops, school zones and even bars. We do not recommend you use your GPS to gain an advantage on the next Pub Crawl, however it is good to be able to find a bathroom quick. Some GPS unit will also help you monitor gas consumption and that means peace of mind.
No matter what you do it's always good to have a back-up plan in life. Having a road atlas is always a good thing. If you ever find your GPS has led you astray you'll be glad to have some sort of guide out. Generally, the longitude and latitude on the GPS will still be good even if the GPS map or address is wrong. This should give you some point of reference on a good atlas. That's all we have this time around. Stay strong and keep between the ditches!
Okay here's how a car GPS works in a nutshell; satellites in space triangulate on a single unit through pings, or packets sent from the GPS to the satellite and back. The GPS then calculates how long each ping (or signal) takes to get back to it and uses this information to give its own location within 3 meters. What it needs is basically two good signals, but three or more are much better.
How does this work with a map? Each map on a car GPS had a grid. This grid is cross indexed with the GPS's supposed self positioning and displayed on the LCD screen as an animation. Does the GPS actually think it's on Elm Street? Nope. To the GPS it is at a longitude and latitude location. When you think about it, this how any car GPS could be used on foot, even in a national park. I wouldn't test this theory in like say the Arctic. I'm not 100% what the coverage is up there.
While not as common anymore, there have been some accidents related to usage of a car GPS. Nearly all of these have had to do with not updating the maps. Not updating your maps will cause all kinds of issues. Your GPS knows where the construction was as of the last time it was updated. In some cases that could have been months ago.
Updating your GPS maps is really not optional if you want a properly functioning GPS. Often when you plug your GPS into your computer via USB a prompt will come up asking you to update your GPS; do so. Not only will you find the best possible route to your destination, but firmware updates are also included. Without these firmware updates your GPS will most likely not communicate at its optimum capacity with the orbital satellites.
Downloading some novelty voices is also a very cool thing to do. You can find free voices and premium voices with most services. These can be well known celebrity voices ("Turna Right HERA! JA!") or just the latest greatest sexy robot voice. The choices are pretty varied.
Alerts can be set on your car GPS that will inform you as to when you are getting close to restaurants, rest stops, school zones and even bars. We do not recommend you use your GPS to gain an advantage on the next Pub Crawl, however it is good to be able to find a bathroom quick. Some GPS unit will also help you monitor gas consumption and that means peace of mind.
No matter what you do it's always good to have a back-up plan in life. Having a road atlas is always a good thing. If you ever find your GPS has led you astray you'll be glad to have some sort of guide out. Generally, the longitude and latitude on the GPS will still be good even if the GPS map or address is wrong. This should give you some point of reference on a good atlas. That's all we have this time around. Stay strong and keep between the ditches!
About the Author:
Zeeman Haus enjoys writing articles online on a variety of subjects. You can check out his latest website on Garmin GPS Accessories which showcases reviews of some of the top accessories for your Garmin GPS system.
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