If you're really good at getting lost, a GPS device can be your best co-pilot. And even if you're good with directions but just want to know where you are at all times, a GPS unit can offer accurate information on where you are on the planet. GPS manufacturers make devices to help you navigate in all types of vehicles whether you're on land, sea, air, or your own two feet.
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Must-Have Features for a Handheld GPS
If you're happiest in the great outdoors, a handheld GPS device may make you even happier. Use a GPS unit to help with your personal navigation needs whether you're boating, hiking, geocaching, or doing any other outdoor activity. The following table offers recommended features to help you choose the right GPS receiver for your purposes:
| Activity | Useful Features in a GPS Device |
|---|---|
| Hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing | Altimeter/barometer Electronic compass Sunrise/sunset table Uploadable topographic maps |
| Geocaching | Electronic compass Geocache database Uploadable topographic maps |
| Hunting | Hunting and fishing calendar Sunrise/sunset table Uploadable topographic maps |
| Fishing | Fishing calendar Floats Saltwater tide table Sunrise/sunset table Waterproof |
| Boating (inland and offshore) | External power supply Floats NMEA output (for autopilots) Saltwater tide table Sunrise/sunset table Uploadable nautical charts Waterproof |
| Canoeing, kayaking (inland and coastal) | Floats Saltwater tide table Sunrise/sunset table Uploadable nautical charts and topographic maps Waterproof |
| 4x4ing, motorcycling, ATVing | Electronic compass External power supply Uploadable topographic maps |
| Flying | External power supply Jeppesen database WAAS |
| Mapping, data collection | Area calculation Differential GPS External antenna Helix versus patch antenna Large number of waypoints and tracks WAAS |
| Caving, scuba diving, visiting art museums | Sorry, you're out of luck! You need a clear view of the sky for a GPS receiver to work. |
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How GPS Modes Affect Accuracy
The accuracy of your GPS unit can vary depending on whether you set the mode to make use of differential GPS (DGPS), which augments satellite information with ground-based signals; a wide area augmentation system (WAAS) developed by the Federal Aviation Administration for more accurate air navigation; or go without selective availability (SA). The following table shows how accurate you can expect your GPS unit to be in each mode:
| GPS Mode | Distance in Feet | Distance in Meters |
|---|---|---|
| GPS without SA | 49 | 15 |
| GPS with DGPS | 10–16 | 3–5 |
| GPS with WAAS | 10 | 3 |
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Popular GPS Manufacturers
When you can download a GPS app to your phone, you know GPS has gone global in more than just name (GPS = global positioning system. Get it?). To help you explore some of the GPS makers out there, the following table offers links to some of the more prominent manufacturers and shows whether they make handheld or automotive devices or both.
| Company | Handheld | Automotive |
|---|---|---|
| DeLorme | X | |
| Garmin | X | X |
| Lowrance | X | X |
| Magellan | X | X |
| Mio | X | |
| Navigon | X | |
| TomTom | X |
Even if a company doesn’t manufacture a handheld GPS unit, it most likely offers an app you can download to your mobile device.
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dummies
Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/gps-for-dummies-cheat-sheet.html
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