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GPS AT ITS FINEST

GPS AT ITS FINEST

As I typically do - I write to the majority - not the minority. What I mean by this is - not all of us graduated from Harvard, Yale or Princeton. Because this is factual - I’m going to write this so everyone can grasp what I’m saying here. No elaborate tech talk; few to no terms or names commonly used in any given field. And why? Because only those in any given field understands all that crap - or those who graduated from high end colleges.

As to the subject matter at hand here and now - it’s the ninth wonder of the world - or - as I’d rather refer to it as - the third most incredible piece of electronic gear available to us in this decade: the Global Positioning System or GPS. As to what this is - in simple terms: it is a small device that receives data from satellites positioned above - typically twelve satellites - though they do have has many as twenty - if you have the more up dated GPS units with Sirf III. Whether it’s 12 or 20 - makes no difference inasmuch as accomplishing what the GPS is suppose to do: Give us a live map on a GPS unit screen - with our vehicle icon - in the middle of the map - so we always know exactly where we are - and what is around us.

One of the most outstanding features about GPS however - is its ability to have an address inserted in your GPS unit - and have it direct you to that location - 99% of the time. And let me tell you - for someone like myself - who despises getting lost or wasting time trying to locate a location - this is a gift come true. You simply enter the address you want to go to - or the latitude and longitude - and it will take you directly there. There is another great feature though - that doesn’t require you to know either of these mentioned means of locating. Upon being at any location you’re presently at - you simply touch the screen several times - and save that location in your “favorites” file for later recall.

Notice I said above - that 99% of the time a GPS will take you to the location you desire. Why not 100% of the time? Never blame not getting to the correct location on your GPS unit. Or - at least - the unit itself. It is the map programming in the unit installed by - whomever that is the culprit. Said differently - during this extensive programming when constructing GPS units - ever so seldom - they don’t get an exact address programmed with the correlating address of the GPS latitude or longitude. Or another more common scenario is - the business is no longer there - after it was programmed into the GPS. This is common for gas stations but again - very rare. Just know - it is NOT the fault of the GPS - no matter who tells you differently. They program GPS’s to a latitude and longitude - matched to an address - so if the dwelling is no longer there - hey? It’s the GPS’s fault? No. It’s the programming of any GPS.

So that you’ll put a little more stalk in what I say - I have six different GPS units and have used all of them extensively. Do I know everything about each unit or GPS in general? I wish I did. But no - I’m still learning daily. I do know enough however - so you should etch in gold everything I tell you - because I am the kind of person who will ONLY tell of things I know to be factual. Not what I “think” is the case.

As to what kind of GPS you should get: Naturally that equates to - how much you can afford. Just as - the top end GPS units will do more for you - and have more really cool features than the cheaper units. For example - I just bought the Garmin Nuvi 680 which is presently a/the top of the line in mobile GPS units. Two of the features the 680 has over my prior Garmin Nuvi 650 - is one - the FM transmitter which sends music from an SD card in the GPS unit - to the stereo system in my/the vehicle - so that I/you can listen to your very favorite songs or books while driving - directly from your self-created SD card. On the side - of both the 650 & 680 - is an SD card slot where - after you insert the card of your choice - you can play whatever it is you wish. (Or look at photos or movies) In the case of the 680 - it transmits your selections to your stereo system in your car- so you can hear it loud - and as fine as it gets. This is all in MP3 format too. And - by the way - the Garmin Nuvi series are the BEST MP3 players on earth for too many reason’s to list.

The other feature the 680 has over prior units - is the blue tooth capability. With this feature in the 680 - once set up - it automatically connects to my Tilt 8925 cell phone upon entering the car - so that when I receive a call - (or want to voice dial a call) it presents any/all phone information on the GPS screen - naturally giving you the option to answer or not. This beats having to get and open a small cell phone to see who it is - as well as giving you the option to answer or not - as the GPS screen is many times larger than the cell phone - and directly in front of you already visible. Andddd - if you have the FM transmitter capability - upon answering - it sends the phone audio through your stereo system - which is really pretty neat. No struggling to hear people while driving along the road.

Again talking which GPS units to get - I can only talk “best” - as that is all I get - being a spoiled brat. Never could deal with anything but the best and finest - including females. And - in regards to mobile GPS units - I prefer the Garmin Nuvi 680 - and for two reasons. One: It is their newest (as of late 2007) GPS - with the most features. TWO: Because - though it sells from $699.99 to $800.00 - you can get it at Costco’s for the incredible price of $479.99 - and that is a deal and a half. This GPS unit nearly walks on water and comes with everything you need for easy - quick vehicle installation. Greater still - is - once it’s installed - you can remove it in exactly one second and reinsert it in one point two seconds - so taking it in and out - is no big thing and MUST - to keep it from being stolen.

One of the greatest features about the 680 also - is the fact - they give you a FREE (no credit card) year of MSN service that gives you TRAFFIC - WEATHER - GAS PRICES and MOVIE (locations) and what’s playing at each location within 100 miles of where ever you are. I’ve saved a ton of money on getting the cheapest gas WITHOUT having to drive far to do so - which adds up when driving as much as I do. You just press one icon and it list every gas station from closest to furthest - and then gives you the option of taking you directly to it. I mean - hey? It’s like having Christ sitting at your side giving you a turn by turn route. So I would highly recommend the Garmin Nuvi 680 if you want the best of the best and easiest to operate.

Now - for anyone who has a Mobile 5 or 6 cell phone - if you want a GPS program that would make James Bond sit there in awe - you need to enter “GPS Tuner” into your browser and download their free demo - because let me tell you - this program offers more information about your travels - than you can even think up. Just to name a few -

Distance / Vertical Difference / Current Direction / Target Direction / Estimated Time En-route (ETE) / Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) / Target Info / Tilt / Altitude / Max Altitude / Min Altitude / Trip Length / Climb Elevation / Climb Distance / Climb Rate / Climb Time / Descent Elevation / Descent Distance / Descent Rate / Descent Time / Flat Distance / Flat Rate / Flat Time / Speed / Max Speed / Average Speed / Moving Average Speed / Vertical Speed / Acceleration / Max Acceleration / Min Acceleration / Total Time / Moving Time / Stopped Time / Next Turn / Sunrise / Sunset / Actual Time

I mean seriously: What else would you need to know about ones travels? I have this program in my AT & T Tilt 8925 and I use it daily. It is the greatest of the greatest. And it has multiple modes - such as Flying - Biking - Walking - Custom - Driving - Boating - etc. I also use it for walking and it records my every second and step for play back - if I have it set in that mode. Prior to this program for walking - I had/have the Garmin CXs60 which I thought was the cream of the crop and it was - then. Now that I’ve got this program - NOTHING beats it. This is the coolest thing on earth and the far side of the moon. The bad news is - you do need a GPS capable phone (or blue tooth capable) to use it and/or - a map program you have purchased - then placed on an SD card - or - if you have the appropriate data connections with your cell service - you can use this program with Google Maps/Earth or others. But you may take to any bank - not presently being robbed - this is THE program to get - if you have a GPS cell and or Mobile 5 or 6 - and they may have it for other cell phones as well. Check out their web site - where you can download their free PDF operating manual - which will blow you away at all it can do. It is relatively user-friendly - but you learn more - by using it daily.

For those of you who have ANYTHING with blue tooth - such as a lap top or cell phone that DOESN’T have a GPS in it - I can’t tell you enough how cool the BT-338 is. This is a small device that is a GPS unit in itself - and transmits to a lap top or cell phone - via blue tooth - GPS readings. But again - you must have some type of map program in the device or the capability of receiving Google Maps etc. For lap tops - any map program you have in it now - (not acquired via internet) and that works with GPS - will work with this unit. To learn more of this BT-338 GPS unit - just insert that name in Google and it will bring up that web site.

For trips or around town - you can’t be without a GPS. Upon seeing traffic ahead - I’ll often reroute myself by looking at the GPS and seeing which roads I can take - so not to run into any dead ends. It gives the highest speed I’ve driven - which is always nice to check - (100 MPH even - my latest) and - well - you’ll never regret buying a GPS once you have. They are the coolest car gadget.