GPS was created and realized by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and was originally based on and run with 24 satellites. It was established in 1973 to reduce the large number of navigation aids and to overcome the limitations of previous navigation systems.

GPS or Global Positioning System is a satellite-based system through which one can know one’s position on the globe with utmost accuracy and navigate accordingly while traveling, tracking or performing other activities including displacement. The system is free of cost; one only needs a good GPS device to make use of this global network of maps and navigation. GPS navigation can be used by anyone in the world at any time of the day irrespective of one’s global position or the weather of the place where one is situated. Maintained by the United States of America, GPS was made available for civilian usage only in the 1980’s. Before that, it was mainly used in military enterprises and operations.

GPS devices are basically of two kinds: those involving maps and those without maps. While the former type of devices are useful when one needs to navigate on road and find the exact way like while driving or traveling in an unknown place, the latter kind of units are of use at places where the way or path is not as important as the position, like in trekking or hiking. There are four different types of GPS units otherwise: outdoor units, units for car navigation, units for marine systems and PDA/GPS hybrid. Before buying a GPS unit, understand the utility of each type and purchase accordingly.

We stock the two leading brands of GPS units: Garmin and Lowrance. Both these companies offer a range of options in each kind of GPS devices. The products of both these companies are highly reputed because of their accuracy, durability, portability and affordability. These companies consistently come up with new products with better features or revisions of older models and are therefore the first choice of al consumers.
Accessories and Software

GPS devices require certain accessories for smother and better functioning such as chargers, adapters, data cards, mounting kits and other cables. These accessories can be purchased separately if the existing ones are damaged or if your device does not come with all the necessary accessories. For a more intuitive and informational GPS services, one can make use of different GPS software available in the market as well as online.

The ability to determine the receiver’s absolute location allows GPS receivers to perform as a surveying tool or as an aid to navigation. The capacity to determine relative movement enables a receiver to calculate local velocity and orientation, useful in vessels or observations of the Earth.Being able to synchronize clocks to exacting standards enables time transfer, which is critical in large communication and observation systems. An example is CDMA digital cellular telephony: each base station has a GPS timing receiver to synchronize its spreading codes with other base stations to facilitate inter-cell handoff and support hybrid GPS/CDMA positioning of mobile telephones for emergency calls and other applications. GPS enables researchers to explore the Earth environment including the atmosphere, ionosphere and gravity field. GPS survey equipment has revolutionized tectonics by directly measuring the motion of faults in earthquakes.

Author Bio: Vladimir Petrov – Chief Technology Advisor www.minleys.com

Category: Computers and Technology
Keywords: gps,gps sattelite,satellite,global positioning,gps application,gps device