GPS Battery Resources

You can really get geeky with batteries and powering your GPS unit. If you get a charge out of electricity, here are some links to nitty-gritty information sources that cover voltage, milliamperes, and GPS drainage rates:

• Battery drain for selected GPS receivers:www.gpsinformation.net/main/bat-5.txt. This site offers the lowdown on just how much juice different GPS receiver models consume.
• The Great Battery Shootout!: www.imaging-resource.com/ACCS/BATTS/BATTS.HTM. This site is more orientated to digital cameras (not GPS receiver-specific), but you’ll find some good data on how different types of batteries perform.
• Newsgroups: sci.geo.satellite-nav. Do a Google Groups search in this USENET newsgroup for batteries and be prepared to spend a couple of hours reading through educational (and sometimes controversial) posts.

When you check these sources, you’ll run into mAh, which means milliampere-hours. Most rechargeable batteries like NiMH have the mAh rating printed on their label. This rating is the battery capacity. Typically, the higher the mAh number, the longer the battery will last.

Becoming Familiar with Your New GPS Receiver

After considering all the options, making your list, checking it twice, and finding out which GPS receivers are naughty and nice, you’ve finally come to that blessed event where you’re the proud owner of a GPS receiver. But before you step out the door for a 100-mile wilderness trek or cross-country road trip, intent on relying on your new electronic gadget as a guide, be sure spend some time getting to know your GPS receiver.
A good place to start your GPS familiarization process is with the user manual. Many GPS receivers have a quick-start guide that gets you up and running in a matter of minutes. These guides are perfect for those impatient, got-to-haveit-now people; however, I suggest that you also take the time to read the full user manual. Otherwise, you could miss out on some important information contained in the full user manual.
In addition to the user manual, this section will also help you become familiar with your GPS receiver so you can get the most out of it. Obviously, because so many GPS receiver models are on the market, don’t expect to find detailed operating procedures for your specific model here: You need your user manual for that. What you can expect is basic information that applies to most GPS receivers, including some things most user manuals don’t mention. Based on a number of years of search and rescue experience, I can list numerous occasions when hunters and hikers thought that their GPS receiver was some kind of magic talisman that would prevent them from getting lost. And quite often when the search teams finally found them, they had no clue whatsoever how to properly use their GPS receiver. If you’re going to rely on a GPS receiver for navigating outside of urban areas, take the time to find out how to use it so the friendly, local search-and-rescue people don’t have to come looking for you. I’ll step off my soapbox now, thank you.

Road warriors

If you’ll use your GPS receiver primarily in a car or truck for road navigation, your feature criteria is a bit different than a GPS receiver designed primarily for outdoor recreational use. Although any GPS receiver with a base map or uploadable street maps can help you stay found on the road, some models are more suited to automobile navigation. And although some GPS receivers are designed primarily for automotive use, I prefer handheld GPS receivers that offer versatility because they can be used in a car or for outdoor recreation. Some important features to look for in a GPS receiver that you’re going to use for road navigation include

• Automatic route selection: A GPS receiver designed for street navigation allows you to find addresses, street intersections, and highway exits. Just enter where you want to go, and the receiver calculates the shortest or fastest way to get there. Pretty slick, isn’t it? The selected route is highlighted on the map screen, and your progress is displayed as you travel. If you encounter a traffic jam or other road problem, you can instruct the receiver to recalculate a new route from your present position and avoid the problem.
• Turn here directions: The GPS receiver lists all the streets and roads in your route at which you’ll need to make turns, including the street name, an arrow that points to the correct turning direction, how far ahead the turn is, and how long it’s going to take to arrive at the turn. The GPS receiver gives an audible or visual signal prior to when you need to turn.
• Points of interest: Maps that are used with road navigation GPS receivers have databases of information about gas stations, restaurants, freeway exits, hotels, attractions, entertainment, shopping, and emergency services along your route. These are dubbed Points of Interest (POIs); the GPS receiver can display information about specific POIs.
• External antenna support: Because the metal body of a car or truck might interfere with satellite signals, an external antenna might be required to connect to the GPS receiver. An external antenna also provides you with more mounting location options because only the antenna (and not the GPS receiver) needs to be mounted someplace with a clear view of the sky. Note: Some heated windshields can block satellite signals. In cases like that, you’ll probably need to use an external antenna with a magnetic roof mount.

If you’re a GPS road warrior, you’ll definitely want a 12-volt cigarette lighter adapter so you don’t go through a lot of batteries during a trip. And finally, if you’re more of an urbanite (versus an outdoors) adventurer, another option is to use a PDA, such as a Pocket PC or Palm with GPS hardware and street navigation software. Chapter 6 discusses the ins and outs of using PDAs with GPS.

To map or not to map

In terms of features, probably the biggest decision you’ll need to make is whether to get a GPS receiver that displays maps. If you plan to use your GPS receiver for on-the-road navigation, you need a mapping model. If you’re primarily using your GPS receiver for outdoor activities, you need to decide whether to spend the extra money and get a model that displays maps. Quite honestly, no matter what a salesperson might tell you, a GPS receiver with built-in maps isn’t required for activities such as hiking, geocaching, fishing, bird watching, kayaking, or other outdoor pursuits.

Using waypoints and tracks are all you need to navigate and successfully stay found. (Of course, you have a paper map and compass with you, and know how to use them, right?) Even though your GPS receiver doesn’t display maps, if it can interface with a PC, you can still download information on where you’ve been and have it show up in a digital mapping program. That said, mapping GPS receivers are pretty handy because they give you a quick, big-picture view of where you’re located in relation to other features. And just the sight of a map, even though it’s tiny and lacks a lot of detail, can be pretty reassuring at times; even for a seasoned outdoors-person. Although I’m a firm believer that a mapping GPS receiver should never take the place of a paper map and compass, if your budget allows a mapping GPS receiver along with the digital maps to load with it, I’d say buy it. I personally use a mapping model for outdoor navigation and treat the map feature as just another tool in my bag of navigation tricks.

How to Select a GPS Receiver?

Before you purchase a GPS receiver, you should spend some time kicking the proverbial tires. Don’t rush out and buy a receiver based on one or two good Internet reviews without having a chance to hold that very GPS receiver in your hands to see how it works. Spend some time comparing different brands and models to determine which one works best for you. Because GPS units are sold in most sporting goods stores and many large retail chains, you shouldn’t have to buy a receiver sight unseen.
The three largest manufacturers of consumer GPS receivers in the United States are Garmin, Magellan (a part of Thales Navigation), and Lowrance. All these manufacturers have extensive Web sites that provide detailed information about their products. If you’re in the market for a GPS receiver, definitely spend some time browsing through product literature. The Web site addresses for these manufacturers are

• Garmin: www.garmin.com
• Magellan: www.magellangps.com
• Lowrance: www.lowrance.com

And don’t just look at the marketing literature. Download the user manuals for the models you’re interested in to better understand their features. All GPS receiver manufacturers offer free Adobe Acrobat PDF versions of their product user manuals on their respective Web sites. If you’re in the market for a GPS receiver, these are excellent resources for comparing features and seeing what the user interface is like because the manuals have instructions as well as screenshots.
Friends with GPS receivers are also a good source of information; ask to take their different brands and models out for a test drive. Here are the two big questions that you should ask yourself before you begin your GPS receiver search:

• What am I going to use it for? Think about what activities you’ll be doing with your GPS receiver: hiking, biking, fishing, sales trips on the road, and so on. What will you expect your GPS receiver to do? Navigate streets or the wilderness, store favorite fishing spots, or find geocaches (hidden goodies from the popular electronic treasure hunting sport of geocaching)? When you get specific with your answers, you start to identify features that your GPS receiver should have to meet your needs.
  
• How much do I want to spend? How much money you’ve got in your wallet or purse is obviously going to influence which models you end up considering. The more features a GPS receiver has, the more it’s going to cost. So if you can figure out exactly what you’re going to use the receiver for (see the preceding bullet) as well as which features you really need (versus those that are nice to have), you’ll end up saving some money. Generally, figure on spending anywhere from a little under $100 to $500 for a handheld GPS receiver, although note that a few specialized automotive and aviation models can cost up to $1,000.

For the most part, the cost of a GPS receiver really has nothing to do with accuracy. An expensive GPS receiver isn’t more accurate than a cheaper model. The only exceptions to this rule are GPS receivers that support Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), which can be more accurate than GPS receivers that don’t have these enhanced location features. Figuring out how much you want to spend and what you want your GPS receiver to do narrows your options considerably, but you’re likely still going to be faced with a number of choices. The next step is to narrow down the list of candidates with some more questions and things to consider, including _ Map display: Do you want to view maps on your GPS receiver? If so, you definitely need a mapping model — a GPS receiver that displays maps. See the later section, “To map or not to map.”

• Function: Will you use your GSP receiver primarily for road navigation or outdoor recreation? Models are better suited for one or the other. See the upcoming section, “Road warriors.”
• Accessories: Does your budget include accessories such as cases, cables, vehicle mounting brackets, a case, and uploadable maps?
• Battery needs: Consider the following questions:
• • How many hours does the GPS receiver run on a set of batteries?
• Remember two things: Different models (and their features) have different battery diets, and different battery types have varying life spans. (See the upcoming section, “Battery basics,” for the skinny on the different types of batteries and their life expectancy.)
• Will you need to carry spare batteries (always a good idea), and if so, how many? I recommend always carrying at least one fresh set of spare batteries.
• Will you be using a cigarette lighter power adapter as an alternative to using batteries?
• Memory: How much memory does the GPS receiver have and is it expandable? This is a critical question if you’re interested in a GPS receiver that supports uploadable maps. Visit the GPS receiver manufacturer Web site to get an idea of how much memory maps can take up.
  
• Display screen: Find out the following:
• How big is the screen and how well can you read it? Make sure to consider visibility at night, in bright sunlight, and in poor weather conditions. The size of the screen is directly related to the overall size of the GPS receiver, so if you want a larger, more readable screen, expect a larger GPS receiver to go with it.
• Do you really need a color screen? A color screen makes reading maps easier because different colors are associated with map features. Note: Color is more of a preference than a requirement.
  
• User interface: Does operating the GPS receiver make sense to you? Sure, some learning is required to come up to speed, but using a GPS receiver should mostly be intuitive. Be sure to compare different brands and models because user interfaces are far from standardized.
  
• External controls: Look at different designs:
• Are the buttons and controls on the GPS receiver easy to use?
• Are the controls hard to operate while wearing gloves or mittens?
• Weight and size: Do you want absolutely the smallest package you can get? Note that there’s only about a 7-ounce weight difference between the lightest and heaviest handheld GPS receivers.
  
• Computer interface: Do you plan to connect your GPS receiver to a computer to download and upload data? If so, make sure that the receiver can interface with a computer to exchange data; I think this feature is a must so you can upgrade the GPS receiver’s firmware.
  

GPSBabel

You won’t find any standards when it comes to GPS receiver waypoint, route, and track formats. Each GPS receiver manufacturer seems to have its own data format. To further complicate things, software companies that make mapping programs also use their own data formats. This can make exchanging GPS data between different receivers and software a very big challenge.
In order to help address this, the folks at topoGraphix (www.topographix.com), a GPS and map software company, developed GPX. GPX stands for GPS Exchange, which is a lightweight, XML (eXtensible Markup Language) data format for exchanging waypoints, routes, and tracks between applications and Web services on the Internet. GPX is slowly building up momentum and is being adopted by both software vendors and Web service providers. However, until a standard is widely adopted (and I’m personally not holding my breath), your best bet to exchange GPS data is the free GPSBabel utility. This versatile program converts information created by one type of GPS receiver or software program into formats that can be read by others. GPSBabel is available for a number of different operating systems as a command line utility, and you can find easy-touse Windows front-ends if you prefer a mouse and menus.
To get more information about GPSBabel and download the utility, visit http://gpsbabel.sourceforge.net

Making Tracks in GPS System

Remember the story of Hansel and Gretel, the kids who dropped breadcrumbs in the forest to try to find their way back home? Their story would’ve had a different ending if they had a GPS receiver because all newer GPS receivers leave electronic breadcrumbs (called tracks or trails depending on the manufacturer) while you travel. Every so often, the GPS receiver saves the coordinates of the current position to memory. This series of tracks is a track log or track history. (Because various GPS models handle tracks differently, check your user manual for specific details.)
Note these differences between tracks and waypoints:

• Names and symbols: Although tracks and waypoints are both location data points, tracks don’t have names or symbols associated with them and can’t be edited in the GPS receiver.
• Autocreation: Unlike waypoints — that you need to manually enter —tracks are automatically created whenever a GPS receiver is turned on (that is, if you have the track feature enabled).

If track logging is enabled, tracks are shown on the GPS receiver’s map page while you move, like a trail of breadcrumbs. The GPS receiver constantly collects tracks while it’s powered on, so you need to clear the current track log before you start a new trip. If you want, you can save a current track log.

Don't get lost when buying a GPS system

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com
A growing number of riders rely on GPS technology to help make their road trips more efficient and enjoyable. But it's easy to get lost trying to choose from all the available makes and models. Here are some tips.

How it works
GPS, the global positioning system, consists of a group of satellites that transmit low-power radio signals to Earth.

Once picked up by your own GPS unit, those signals allow you to determine your location, figure out how fast you’re moving, and calculate how long it will take you to arrive at your destination.

While many handheld GPS units can be adapted for use on a motorcycle, they’re primarily designed for outdoor recreation like hiking and may not be fully weather resistant. It may be best to look for GPS units designed specifically for motorcycles.

What to shop for
Below are some basic tips and information to help you when selecting a GPS for your bike, courtesy of Tim Flight, editor of GPSReview.net.

Weather resistance. Look for a unit rated for outdoor use and sealed against moisture. Such a device will also better protect against grime, dust and other conditions encountered on the road. GPS units are typically made with a rugged plastic housing that’s resistant to UV rays and fuel spills.

Shock resistance. GPS models designed for motorcycle use are built to stand up to the rigours of road vibration. Special mounts are designed to isolate them from vibration, using rubber damping.

Sensitivity. While this was a bigger issue only three or four years ago, Tim points out that most new motorcycle GPS units can now receive a strong signal and get it quickly. Highly sensitive microchips effectively register signals while you are riding around high buildings or in dense woods.

Ease of use. The best motorcycle GPS units are easily operated via a touch screen and have glove-friendly controls.

Visibility. Screen size isn’t nearly as important as screen quality to get the full effect of graphics and readouts. Compare models by looking at them from different angles and under different lighting to gauge how well you can read them.

Maps and routing tools. New models feature pre-loaded maps of North America. Map updates are typically offered on an annual basis and range from $75 to $100 per update.

Many motorcycle GPS units feature what is commonly referred to as multi-destination routing. This allows you to plan a route that includes multiple “waypoints” between the start and end of your ride.

Advanced features. GPS units can include a Bluetooth wireless headset you can install inside your helmet to receive navigation audio prompts. The same technology enables hands-free calling. Or listen to satellite radio, live traffic and weather reports with optional subscriptions.

Popular models and prices. The two big manufacturers of motorcycle-specific GPS systems are TomTom and Garmin. Basic models from each range from $500 to $600. Expect to pay $650 to $750 for models with advanced features.

“Follow these guidelines,” says Tim Flight, “and buy the GPS system that best suits your needs and fits your budget.”

To route or not to route in GPS

A fair number of GPS receiver owners don’t use routes and find them to be an overrated feature. After all, after you reach your first destination, you can easily select the next location from the waypoint list and be on your way. In addition, if you want to record where you’ve been, just using tracks is much easier. I discuss this in the section, “Making Tracks.” However, here are a couple of situations when you should consider using routes:

• If you’re traveling to the same location on a regular basis (such as a guide leading clients on established trips).
• If you’re planning on sharing a route with other GPS receiver owners. Think of this as being a virtual tour guide. Routes can be downloaded and then uploaded to other GPS receivers.
• If you have a mapping program, you can plan a trip ahead of time and create routes on your computer by simply clicking your mouse where you want to go. When you’re finished, you can upload the route to your GPS receiver.

Using routes is a personal preference. Try creating and using routes to see whether they meet your needs. If they don’t, you can get by with waypoints and tracks.

Following Routes in GPS

A route is a course that you’re currently traveling or plan to take. In GPS terms, a route is the course between one or more waypoints. If multiple waypoints are in a route, the course between two waypoints is a leg. A single route can be made up of a number of legs.
Suppose it was a beautiful day, and you went hiking, deciding to make a loop: hike from a parking lot trailhead to a scenic waterfall, go over to a lake for some lunch on a sandy beach, and finally head cross-country until you reach a trail intersection that would take you back to your starting point at the parking lot. You’ve hiked in the area before; in fact, you’ve visited each of your planned destinations and marked them as waypoints in your GPS

receiver. However, you’ve never hiked this particular loop before, so you decide to make a route called LOOP with the following legs that you’ve already previously entered as waypoints:
PRKLOT to WTRFALL
WTRFALL to LAKE
LAKE to TRAILX
TRAILX to PRKLOT
After you create your route, the GPS receiver tells you how long each leg will be and also the total distance of the route. When you activate the route (tell the GPS receiver you’re ready to use it), this information is displayed:

• Direction: The direction you need to travel in order to reach the next waypoint in the route
  
• Distance: How far away the next waypoint is
  
• Duration: How much time it’s going to take to get there After you reach a waypoint in the route, the GPS receiver automatically starts calculating the information for the next leg. This continues until you reach your final destination.

Don’t confuse a route with an autoroute, which applies to GPS receivers that can provide you with turn-by-turn street directions to a destination you’re driving to. AutoRoute is also the name of a Microsoft European street mapping program.
Routes can be created ahead of time or entered while you’re traveling. Like with waypoints, after you create a route, you can delete or edit it, including removing or adding waypoints within legs.
Whenever you’re using a route or navigating to a waypoint, you don’t need to leave your GPS receiver on all the time. You can shut it off every now and then to conserve batteries. When you turn the GPS receiver back on, just select the waypoint or route that you were using, and the GPS receiver recalculates your present position and gives you updated information about how to reach your destination.
The number of routes and the number of waypoints that a route can consist of vary from one GPS receiver to another. Some inexpensive GPS receivers don’t support routes, but a high-end consumer GPS unit might have up to 50 routes with up to 125 waypoints in each route.