How does a GPS Tracker work?

How does a GPS Tracker work?

Article by Gen Wright









If you watch a lot of action-packed movies or TV series these days you must have been awed by how technology can be applied in so many things like crime investigation and tracking. One technology that is often inserted in so many modern movies is the GPS or Global Positioning System. This is one huge project of the US Department of Defense that is fully functional and indeed very useful. The most common application is the GPS tracker that is now installed in most modern cars.

GPS Technology

A GPS unit is mainly made up of three segments: the satellites, the control system, and the user.

There are over two-dozen satellites stationed just outside the earth’s atmosphere. These machines are about 11,000 nautical miles above the surface and they are funded and controlled by the US Department of Defense. In order to control these satellites, there are control or monitoring stations in several strategic locations across the globe. These are the units that get the information from the satellites, monitor, and analyze them for any significance in government operations. The user holds the receiver of the radio signals from the orbiting satellites. It can compute its distance from the satellite by using the time stamps on the radio waves that were sent.

To zoom in to a specific location, four satellites are needed. The accuracy is around 10-15 meters so it doesn’t really help if the object being tracked is a car that is about 3 meters long. This is why there have been upgrades like the Differential GPS, which helps give more accurate information on the precise location of a vehicle.

Application in cars

The GPS tracker technology has found a lot of use in so many things that need to be tracked. The primary application is in vehicles. With the GPS tracking device installed in the car, the owner is certain that he won’t get lost even in places unknown to him. The screen that is hooked on to the GPS system of his car will help him find his way onto the nearest main road leading to his destination – that is, if he got lost.

The best use for the GPS tracking system is in the unfortunate event that the car gets stolen. If you only have the ordinary alarm system installed, you can’t be sure about your car’s total safety. This is because any skilled car thief can easily override your alarm system and get away with your car – and you will never hear from it again.

The GPS tracker system is a genius of a tracker so your thief can’t really go far with your car. The minute you suspect that it’s been stolen, you can just report to the authorities immediately and they can tap into the GPS system so they can instantly check where your car is at that very instant.

The GPS tracker is also useful in many other ways like:

* Investigating on a cheating spouse* Monitoring where your teen kids are* Keeping track of your pets* Guarding people on parole* Tracking small units like cell phones



About the Author

Sam is the owner of Turborevs Car Security. You can find more information on GPS Car Tracker.










Improve Your Golf Score with a Golf GPS Navigation System

Improve Your Golf Score with a Golf GPS Navigation System

Are you trying to decide on which golf GPS system to buy? GPS navigation has long been associated with the automobile. In fact, in every electronics store you can find many different makes and models of automobile GPS systems all with different features and specifications. But recently, a new type of GPS system has entered the marketplace. Golf GPS systems provide golfers a boost to play better golf. 

How Can a GPS System for Golfers Improve Your Game? 

Through the use of satellite technology, golf GPS rangefinders provide the golfer with the ability to see the entire golf course on the unit’s LCD screen. Golfers will be able to see helpful information such as the fairway, the putting green, water hazards, bunkers, distances and much more. If you are lucky enough to be equipped with a GPS, you will have a definite edge on the competition. 

What Should You Look for When Purchasing a Golf GPS Unit? 

Golf GPS devices are similar to automobile GPS systems in that they vary in price, size, features, accuracy, reliability and up-to-date data. Below is a list of things to look for when purchasing your first GPS system. 

Display Screen 

Just like automobile GPS systems and cell phones, golf GPS display screens have gotten larger as the technology has grown more advanced. Many models now have touch screen displays but there are models that still have buttons. 

Quite frankly, some people do not like touch-screen technology. The main reason is that some find it hard to touch the correct item or image on the screen no matter how big it is. With buttons, you can always be in full control of the device and not have to worry about tapping it with your finger in a precise location. Another reason that button-controlled models will always be available is for those with long fingernails. 

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The preference between touch-screen and buttons is a personal one and should not affect which model you purchase. What you should look for is a screen that you can read easily, especially in the sunlight. This will be difficult to judge from a storeroom floor so you will have to read consumer reviews and product details carefully. And always purchase a model that offers a money back guarantee. In the end, you are looking for a readable display screen that is capable of minimizing the glare from the sun or light. 

Additional Features 

The more you spend the more features you get. And some of the features you find on golf GPS navigation systems will fascinate you. Some of the features include: 

Extremely high-quality graphics and text

Higher resolution screen

Waterproof unit

Internal digital scorecard

Transfer data between unit and computer

Rechargeable battery

Three-dimensional display

Shock resistant 

The price of the unit will correspond to the number of built-in features. In the end, you will want your golf GPS unit to do only a few things very well: 

Have your golf courses pre-loaded (most important)

Measure shot distance

Good battery life if it uses rechargeable batteries

Easy to read display screen

Size and Weight 

Size and weight is a personal preference. For most, you will probably want to be light on your feet when playing 18 holes of golf. It may be a bit uncomfortable to carry around a heavy cumbersome GPS unit. The goods news is that most units are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand so size should not be an issue. 

Simple Setup and Ease of Use 

How many times have you purchased a cell phone, digital camera or automobile GPS system and had trouble using it for weeks? In the end, a golf GPS navigation system should not be complicated to use. The last thing you want is to be standing on the 18th tee trying to figure out where the fairway is because your GPS unit is difficult to navigate. 

Ease of use is a very important factor to consider when purchasing. Imagine having a complicated automobile GPS system that you dread using when you have to drive somewhere you have never been. Imagine sitting in your car hitting buttons and keys trying to figure out how to use it. By the time you enter the street address, you could have already been there. 

The same holds true for golf GPS units. Try to find one that is easy to use. Once again, this may be difficult to tell on the showroom floor. However, you will get some good information by reading golf GPS reviews and other product documentation. If you go to the manufacturer’s website, you may even find a short video demonstrating the product. YouTube is also a great place to visit for product demonstrations. 

Durability 

Last but not least on the list of items to consider when purchasing a golf GPS system is the durability of the device. Let’s face it; your unit will probably get some heavy treatment. There will also be weather conditions to encounter. You will want to purchase a system that is shock proof with a heavy-duty belt clip. You should also look for a unit that is waterproof was well.

Purchasing a golf GPS device is much like purchasing an automobile GPS. They all vary price, size and optional features. Some are touch-screen while other are button controlled. Some are waterproof and some are not. As mentioned a few times above, there will be some aspects that you cannot test on the showroom floor.

For more information on today’s best golf GPS systems, please visit my website at Golf GPS Reviews