Navigation (GPS)

[Orion]

I received a navigation GPS system for the car for Christmas and I am leaning how to use it.
I'm impressed with it (all my maps will go out the window now) I will never get lost again!...I hope.
Does anyone use these navigation system? I'm curious to know what you think about them. I would also like to know if the GPS uses stationary satellites to plot it's position on earth:shrug:

[Astroman]

The GPS reciever uses geostationary satellites (up to 24 sats, for military and 12 for domestic) I use one in conjunction with Ozi Explorer and my laptop as a navigational aid. There are routing software available for them but they do have good points and bad points, like some blocked roads it will tell you to go through :o

I have a magellan Map-330 which is a hand held unit, its good cos I can connect it to my telescope so it knows where I am :)

[Orion]

Thanks for the info Andrew.
Can you put long & lat coordinates and go to that spot with it?

[Astroman]

with mine it will show direct line or as the crow flies. Doesnt actually do the routing.

[acropolite]

I love them, I have 3, one for the boat, one for flying and a Garmin streetpilot for navigating metropolis. When it comes to a trip around a big city you can't beat them.

[Omaroo]

They aren't geostationary, as that dictates an equatorial orbit at 1x the sidereal rate, such that a geostationary satellite appears to hover above a single point on the equator.

Off Wikipedia:

[Astroman]

ahh so they do move, there ya go, I stand corrected :P

[74tuc]

Hi all,

All GPS satellites transmit on 1227.6 MHz (L2) and 1575.42 MHz (L1).
The L1 carrier transmits the coarse acquisition (CA) codes that are different for each satellite and are not secure so any one with knowledge of the codes may decode the data from these satellites. The precision (P) codes are transmitted on both the L1 and L2 carriers and are secure codes. To use the P code you need to sync using the CA code first.

Jerry.:)

[Gargoyle_Steve]

Orion I take it that you have a fully fledged Sat-Nav system (portable) is that correct?? The difference between that and a "GPS" unit is the mapping and routing data that they contain both use the same GPS satellites to obtain time and position data second by second, but the Sat-nav system then correlates that against internal map and street data to calculate a travel ath for you from point A to point B, in many cases taking into account yoru preference for shortest path or quickest path or avoiding toll roads or sticking to major roads, etc, etc.

If you could post the make and model you have it woudl clarify sat-nav vs GPS.

I used to sell these and other fun/tech items in a previous lifetime, oops I meant career - just over a year ago. I would often bring them home to make sure all the initial configuration was ready for each customer. Most of these systems are great and work very well indeed.

Steve

[Orion]

Gee guys thanks heaps, I will post a pic of the unit later on this afternoon and let you know the software it runs on.

[33South]

Love mine, had it over a year now and wouldnt be without it.

Its a NavMan icn520

http://www.navman.com/Navman/Templates/productinformation____3451.aspx

[xstream]

Great boys toys, I love mine and wouldn't be without it.

Ed, most of them use sensis maps so you are able to put in you Long & Lat. coordinates of the place you wish to go to.

[Orion]

This is the unit in question. Sorry it's not focused to well.

[Gargoyle_Steve]

Hi Ed - that's not a model I have seen before so I can tell you nothing about it unfortunately. Having said that there ia hardly a sat-nav unit on the market that is not good, but some are good and some are Great if you know what I mean.

My personal favourites are the Navman series as well - I sold one to one customer once, who brought his son in to buy one, and his other son, and the first son brought in a mate, then someone else father, etc - I ended up selling 11 through this chain of people due to the great design and strengths of the unit, and this was the $1300-1700 models not the $500-800 range.

Before anyone asks - no I am not connected in any way with Navman lol I just think they are a brilliant product!