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The Global Positioning System (GPS) was created by the US Department of Defense to answer the second most important question an army has: "Where are we?" (The most important question being: "Where's the chow line?") Today, GPS satellites constantly send signals ground-ward; these signals are picked up by GPS receivers, which calculate position. It didn't take long for police and fire departments, construction crews and other civilian operations to see the value of GPS. For consumers, the industry needed to refine GPS tracking system into user-friendly, consumer electronics. For example, it does little good to know you're at 40 degrees 33 minutes 24 seconds north 118 degrees 48 minutes 36 seconds west, unless you already know that's where is located and you're trying to parachute onto the office roof. So, manufacturers added street by street visual directions. Commercial GPS receivers are almost always on target to within about 50 feet, but many users see accuracy to within 30 feet. NDGPS is a joint Transportation-Commerce-Homeland Security program using fixed, land-based reference stations. When near an NDGPS marker, GPS accuracy may increase to less than 10 feet. Dust, heat, humidity and impact damage are primary causes of failure. Don't drop your GPS unit, not even onto something soft like water--especially not onto something soft like water! Wipe it down with a clean cloth before you put it away and, if your GPS receiver has openings like a data card slot or battery compartment, blow those clean with canned air--never your humid breath. If you own a car GPS system, mount it out of direct sunlight. Even on cool days, the dashboard can get dangerously hot for electronics and excessive exposure to the sun's radiation can damage the memory - yes, sunburn can be terminal for a GPS terminal. Like all modern consumer electronics, a GPS receiver has few moving parts to break, so it can provide years of valuable service (and a whole lot of fun!) if not abused.
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GPS, GPS device, GPS Systems,
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