cell for all: Cell Phones with GPS

by reza salehi

Handheld GPS vs Cell Phone GPS

There are two budget GPS navigation options: Dashboard units or cell phone apps (portable gps or cell phone gps). Which is right for you?

If you need GPS navigation only occasionally and don't want to spend a fortune, you've got two options. You can buy a low-cost dashboard model for as little as $175, or a cell phone application that you pay for only when you need it (with a daily or monthly fee). We pit the Mio DigiWalker C220 against Verizon's VZ Navigator 3.0 running on a Motorola RAZR to see which option makes the most sense for the light traveler. This contest is free of bells and whistles, as our budget options don't offer the extras common in high-priced GPS devices. We simply want to determine which makes basic navigation easiest. We've applauded Mio's attractive, well-priced GPS units before, and the C220 is a fine basic unit. While it lists for $250, you can easily find it for around $175. VZ Navigator software is available on many Verizon Wireless phones for $2.99 per day or $9.99 per month. We tested it with a suction-cup mount, which we highly recommend. One feature you won't get with either budget device, however, is live traffic. Although Sprint Navigation (also $2.99 per day or $9.99 per month) provides proactive alerts with one-click rerouting, we chose VZ Navigator because Verizon has many more customers. The Mio C220 doesn't support a traffic add-on antenna, as some higher-priced Mio units do. If you want traffic updates with a dashboard unit, you'll need to look to a midrange unit. Garmin GPS is a Popular gps devices company wich produce many device models for various usage. the new popular gps devices are : 350 garmin nuvi , 660 garmin nuvi , c340 garmin nuvi , 2720 garmin gps , 305 , c320 , c530 , 60csx garmin , 205 garmin , 670 garmin nuvi and tomtom gps devices Some gps devices designed for pilots and shipmaster captains and in the sea usage Some navigation devices use for airplane pilots. They have further options to use in the front panel. Personal usage gps devices: There is some various types of portable gps devices, you can buy and use it. Handheld gps devices usually are cheaper than other models. PDA and Cell phone GPS devices used new technology to mounting a GPS chipset into the cell phone. Some popular devices are: Nokia N95 ,Nextel Cellular phones with gps, Bluetooth gps for many cellular phones, …

all mobile cell phones with gps ( GPS Cell Phone ) :

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Global positioning system

Global Positioning System

Introduction

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is quickly becoming part of the fabric of everyday life. Beyond recreational activities such as boating and backpacking, GPS receivers are becoming a very important tool to such industries as agriculture, transportation, and surveying.

Very soon, every cell phone will incorporate GPS technology to aid first sponders in answering emergency calls.

GPS is a satellite-based radio navigation system. Users anywhere on the surface of the earth (or in space around the earth) with a GPS receiver can determine their geographic position in latitude (north-south), longitude (east-west), and elevation.

Latitude and longitude are usually given in units of degrees (sometimes lineated to degrees, minutes, and seconds); elevation is usually given in distance units above a reference such as mean sea level or the geoid, which is a model of the shape of the earth. Because these positions are based on an earth-referenced coordinate system, the positions are universal and repeatable,

which means you can identify a location with latitude, longitude, and elevation, and anyone should be able to go to that location or find it on any map.

Even though GPS is becoming more and more common, the basis of the technology is still a mystery to most. The purpose of this publication is to explain in simplified terms how GPS works, the different kind of receivers that are available, some of the limitations of the technology, and some interesting activities that people can do with GPS receivers.

Tracking Devices

One of the easiest applications to consider is the simple GPS tracking device; which combines the possibility to locate itself with associated communications technologies such as radio transmission and telephony. Tracking is useful because it enables a central tracking centre to monitor the position of several vehicles or people, in real time, without them needing to relay that information explicitly. This can include children, criminals, police and emergency vehicles, military applications, and many others. The tracing devices themselves come in different flavours. They will always contain a GPS receiver, and GPS software, along with some way of transmitting the resulting coordinates. GPS watches, for example, tend to use radio waves to transmit their location to a tracking center, while GPS phones use existing mobilephone technology. The tracking centre can then use that information for co-ordination or alert services. One application in the field is to allow anxious parents to locate their children by calling the tracking station - mainly for their peace of mind. GPS vehicle tracking is also used to locate stolen cars, or provide services to the driver such as locating the nearest petrol station. Police can also benefit from using GPS tracing devices to ensure that parolees do not violate curfew, and to locate them if they do.

GPS systems

Precisely locating positions on Earth is not a new phenomenon. Navigators, sailors, explorers and surveyors have done this for centuries as they traveled about the world. Most maps and globes display longitude and latitude or some other coordinate projection information. Points on Earth are given unique addresses on maps using specific coordinate systems. Agriculturists commonly use either a geographic system of latitude and longitude measured in degrees or a Universal Transverse Mercator coordinate system that locates positions in meters measured from a specific point.

The GPS system uses measured distances to the precisely located GPS satellites to locate positions on Earth. Radio receivers in GPS units monitor radio signals broadcast from the GPS satellites. A GPS position is determined by simultaneously measuring the distance to at least three satellites. The distance to a satellite is measured by the time it takes a radio signal to travel from the satellite to the GPS receiver. Computers in GPS units use information from the radio signals, including broadcast time and unique satellite information, to calculate positions. Information from at least four satellites is needed to calculate elevation. Signal reception from more satellites increases position accuracy. The global positioning system includes a constellation of 24 systematically arranged satellites orbiting the earth in 6 orbital planes with 4 satellites in each plane.

The satellite orbits are approximately 12,500 miles above the earth. The constellation is arranged to guarantee radio reception from at least 4 satellites from any location anytime, anywhere on Earth (Figure 3). GPS receivers normally receive signals from 8 to 9 satellites in location without obstructions like buildings or trees.

GPS map

Make Your Own GPS Maps

Can’t get the coverage you need? Here’s how to map out your travels of just about anyplace in the world, using free software and on-line data resources. The most common complaints about the maps built-in to GPS receivers is that they lack sufficient coverage and detail. There are some reasonable explanations for this and your GPS manufacturer most likely has better maps for you to purchase . Even so, one of the most frequently asked questions is “How can I download different maps to my GPS?” For example: A lot of folks would like to download their Delorme Topo Quad, Maptech Terrain Navigator, or National eographic Topo! map images to their Garmin or Magellan GPS receivers. These maps include a high degree of detail, like what you find on U. S. Geological Survey 1:24,000 scale topographical maps, but they are rasterized images that are incompatible with the vector graphics used in most GPS receivers.

With few exceptions , you can’t alter the vector maps built-in to your GPS. However, you can make your own GPS maps using map display software to create maps consisting of waypoint and track elements.

Map Display Software

There are many software programs that display maps, but the better ones allow you to do more. To make your own GPS maps, you’ll want a program that lets you to import map images from a variety of sources, overlay data in various formats, and interface with your GPS receiver.

In the process of researching this article, I created a chart that compares the features of several map display software programs. Looking at the chart on http://www.travelbygps.com/articles/sftwr_compare.php, you can see that no one program does it all. Some of the programs are good at importing a variety of data formats and user map images, while others are designed to work better with digital maps from commercial providers. Often, the format of the data you want to look at determines which program you need to use. And, depending on what you’re trying to do, you may need more than one program.

On-line Map and Data Resources

Finding GPS data and maps on the web can be a frustrating task, especially if you’re looking for information on locations outside the United States. For starters, you can try the web sites where you found the map display software. Typically they will have a few links to other web sites with maps and data that work with their software. At sites like University of Iowa’s Center for Global and Regional Research http://www.cgrer.uiowa.edu/servers/servers_references.html) you’ll find an incredible

number of links to maps and data, but not all will work with the map display software discussed here.

Annoyed by time-consuming Internet searches, I decided to add another resource page to the Travel by GPS web that has descriptive links to several of the better sites that provide free map images and data for popular destinations. You are more than welcome to bookmark http://www.cgrer.uiowa.edu/servers/servers_references.html

Trip Planning with GIS Data

A common post in the newsgroups is from people wanting waypoints for travel destinations. Let’s say you are one of those people and the base map of your GPS does not cover your region of interest. Even if you are lucky enough to find someone who has a set of coordinates, a single point is a poor map.

GIS (Geographic Information System) data is available on the Internet for most anywhere on the planet. Some map display programs will import this data, allowing you to see your point of interest in relation to basic features like roads, lakes, rivers, mountains, and other features. The Penn State Online Map Room offers a “Digital Chart of the World,” comprised of GIS data in Arc/INFO export (.e00) format. The data is free, cataloged by country. This and other links to GIS data sources can be found at http://www.travelbygps.com/authoring.php#gisdataview

Tutorial:

Do-it-Yourself GPS Map of the Galapagos Islands

Here’s a short tutorial that incorporates all the elements of creating GPS maps that we’ve talked about here. When you’ve completed the tutorial, you’ll have your own Galapagos Islands GPS tour guide.

For this example, I’d like to bring your attention to GPS Track Maker software. GPSTM is freeware that is very capable of doing most everything you need to do to create your own GPS maps, including:

1. Calibrate a map image

2. Import data

3. Edit data

4. Transfer to your GPS receiver

If you haven’t already, go to the GPS Track Maker web site and download the software and the help file.

To skip the details and see the end result of this step-by-step tutorial, visit: http://www.travelbygps.com/guides/galapagos/galapagos.php

Calibrate Map Image

Starting with a map image makes creating a GPS map easier, but it’s not absolutely necessary if you have other map data. Searching the Internet for “Galapagos map” yields many results, one of which is an interesting website sponsored by the United Nations – ReliefWeb Map Centre (http://www.reliefweb.int/w/map.nsf/home). Look up Ecuador and you will find several maps for the Galapagos Islands.

� For this example: view the “Galapagos Islands” image dated 4 April 2002 [jpg –214k], and save it on your computer with file name “galap_image.jpg” in a folder you’ve created as workspace.

� Open Track Maker and select “Insert Map Image” from the Tools menu. Open the map image file from your workspace folder.

� Click on the “Map Adjust Tool” icon. Move the cursor so that crosshairs intersect the latitude -1 and longitude –91 margin labels (tip: use the page up/down and arrow keys zoom in and move around the image). Click to insert the coordinates.

� Repeat for latitude 0, longitude –90.

� Save your work in the GPS Track Maker (.gem) format.

Import GIS Data

Download the data from the Penn State web site

� Go to the Digital Chart of the World http://www.reliefweb.int/w/map.nsf/home ) and click on South America.

� Select Ecuador from the country list and click on “Continue”

� Click on “Download Data”

� Select at least the following layers.

o Roads (rdline.e00)

o Drainage Network (dnnet.e00)

o Hypsography Network (hynet.e00)

� “Continue” and select data compression method: PC or Unix

� Then “Compute Data” and wait for the next screen.

� Download the data to the workspace folder on your computer.

� Unzip the files in your workspace.

Import the data to GPS Track Maker

� Click on “Merge File…” from the File Menu

� Select one of the files of the type “Arc/Info export files (.e00) from the Open File dialog box .

� “OK” the datum and coordinate system defaults in the Data Import Tool dialog box.

� For this example we will not be using all the data for the country of Ecuador, just the Galapagos Islands. So, use the Snap Tool to select all the data on mainland

South America, and delete with the delete key, choosing both waypoints, tracks/routes.

� To better see the imported data, you can toggle the map image off.

� Save your work and repeat for all other layers.

Edit Data

Change, Delete Tracks

At this point, you should tidy-up your work by deleting extraneous and customizing relevant tracks. Take a moment to review Track Maker’s help files relating to track selection and change features, then:

� Select track segment(s) that make up the coastline for one of the islands and use the “Change Track log Style” to give it the island’s proper name. If multiple tracks make up the coastline, select the group and give them all the same name,

color, line style, etc. Repeat for each island.

� You may need to cut down on the number of track points due to the track log memory limits of your GPS. Select and delete non-essential tracks.

Identify Points of Interest by Creating Waypoints

to find geographical references of places you’d like represented on your map, do a web search for information about the Galapagos. I like to find trip reports from individuals, which sometimes give details you won’t find on commercial travel web sites. If you are creative with your search terms, you may even come up with a set of coordinates, or maybe even a data file. For instance, I used the keywords “Galapagos”, “lat”, and “lon” to find a shipmate’s online journal that gave the coordinates of the anchorages along with details of their experience in the islands.

� Use the pencil tool to create waypoints. Use descriptive waypoint names and comments. The Track Maker program has an extensive set of symbols that you can use to creatively identify a location of interest.

� Need I remind you to save your work?

Transfer the GPS Map to Your GPS

all that is left to do is to download your tracks and waypoints to your GPS.

� Use the GPS “Interface” tool found on the main menu for your particular brand of GPS Now, let’s go swimming with penguins!

_____________________

Footnotes:

[1]An article by Joe Mehaffey found at http://joe.mehaffey.com/

[2] Garmin, Magellan, and Lowrance Cartography Products Web pages:

http://joe.mehaffey.com/

http://www.magellangps.com/en/products/software.asp

http://www.lowrance.com/Mapping/default.asp

[3] There are a couple of programs program under development that make it possible for you to enhance Garmin basemaps: