GPS Basics: How To Read Global Positioning System Coordinates

| Saturday, December 10, 2011
By Warren Hayiltonn


GPS navigation systems are any device that receives Global Positioning System signals for the purpose of determining the device's current location on earth. The Global Positioning System is actually a constellation of 27 satellites that orbit the earth, 24 of which are in operation, and the remaining 3 are back-ups. GPS units scan for at least 4 of these satellites, determine the distance to each, and utilize these details to pinpoint its own location. This is referred to as trilateration.

These devices are used in a variety of settings - commercial aviation, military, as well as land and sea transportation. These days it is no longer uncommon to find ones with nonautomotive functions such as those used by outdoor enthusiasts. These portable gadgets ordinarily have digital compasses, altitude, pressure, and thermometer sensors, as well as varying levels of routing, waypoint tracking, and plotted course capabilities.

You can now also find sports GPS gadgets which allow their users to record and share various components of their routines such as pace, number of laps or steps, and distance travelled. These features are the reason why Garmin 305 reviews and Garmin 205 reviews are very encouraging. One more reason why Garmin 205 and Garmin 305 reviews are favorable is that they also have rudimentary but dependable routing and mapping capabilities apart from being a personal trainer, eliminating the need of runners who also love backcountry excursions to purchase separate gadgets. Garmin 305 and Garmin 205 reviews also highlight their impressive sensitivity even under dense canopy.

If you intend to bring these dedicated GPS gadgets during your backcountry excursions, it is imperative that you know how to make sense of the GPS coordinates being displayed. GPS gadgets will tell you where you are in relation to the equator and the prime meridian by giving coordinates which are written as hemisphere - degrees - minutes - seconds. You will see two sets of coordinates, latitude or the North-South position, and longitude, East-West position.

When the coordinates N 25 07.450 E 15 07.55 are given, this means you are in a location that is a little more than 25 north of the equator, and a little over 15 east of the prime meridian. To locate where you are exactly, determine the point where both of these coordinates meet on the map. If you are curious, the coordinates given earlier are for the Washington Monument.




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