Friday, December 11, 2009

Bluetooth gps navigation

Bluetooth gps navigation is now quite popular, What could be better than using your pocket pc, palm pda or bluetooth mobile phone for navigation? For the mobile phone navigation, you need a bluetooth nokia s60 series phone like the nokia 6120, 6630, 6670 and 6680 while the requirement for the pda is for it to be bluetooth enabled.

Essentially all you need for your complete mobile satellite navigation is your pda or mobile phone, a bluetooth gps receiver, the satellite navigation software which usually comes in or with a memory card also containing the digital maps of your chosen country or region, a car charger for the pda or phone (you don’t want to run out of power in the middle of nowhere) and finally a pda or phone holder to hold your precious phone/pda in place while driving. when it comes to the navigation software, the best i have used so far is the TomTom Navigation software. A lot of people ask if you require a subscription, the short answer is NO except if you want to take up a traffic subscription, once you have purchased the software that is it.

holux gpslim 240 bluetooth gps receiver

Incar dedicated navigation systems can be very expensive, with most starting from up to £1000 hence if you have a compatible mobile phone or pda, buying a bluetooth gps receiver and navigation software can be a cheaper alternative. There are other advantages like being able to move it from one vehicle to another, a good example being if you are renting a car (but make sure you grab some car insurance northern ireland, so that you’re covered). They can can also be used for navigation while walking.

A very affordable yet popular bluetooth gps receiver is the bt77, also known in some cases as itrex, but the better ones are the sirf 3 ones which are very sensitive. They are so sensitive that they can work indoors. The best Sirf 3 bluetooth receiver I have used is the holux GPSlim 236, a very compact unit and my favourite til this day. My choice of navigation software remains Tomtom for the pda and tomtom mobile for the mobile phone because they are so easy to use with a very user friendly interface, I guess I am being biased.

One of the purposes of this website has been to create a definitive guide for configuring your bluetooth gps receiver to work your bluetooth enabled pda or mobile phone with your navigation software and therefore enhance a stress free bluetooth gps navigation

Bluetooth GPS

Bluetooth GPS AKA GPS Puck is an antenna designed to receive GPS signals from GPS satellites. A bluetooth GPS will wirelessly transmit GPS data to a bluetooth enabled device such as a PDA, Smartphone, laptop, UMPC etc. Together with the right Navigation Software, you can turn these devices into a turn by turn GPS Navigation Unit.Bluetooth GPS

Nokia Bluetooth GPS Module LD-4W

Nokia Bluetooth GPS Module LD-4W – Leading the way


The Nokia Bluetooth GPS Module LD-4W is for you if you’re looking for a navigation solution to send you effortlessly on your way. The lightweight, slim design makes this technology a great travelling companion.

With a Nokia Bluetooth GPS Module LD-4W you can:

  • turn your mobile device into a navigator
  • explore with GPS features on Nokia Maps, or compatible software
  • tap in an address to Nokia Maps and let voice-guided directions take you there
  • take it along with the belt clip or suction cup
  • operate up to 11 hours on a single, fast charge

Universal Vent mount with purchase of any of our GPS receivers*

  • Compact and versatile design.
  • Installs easily without tools.
  • Easily transferred from one vehicle to another. Perfect for rental car.
  • 360° swivel tightening head accommodates vertical and horizontal positioning.
  • Adjusts to accommodate a variety of viewing positions for best viewing angle.
  • Cushioned Jaws (arms) securely hold your device.
  • Fits any type of device with the adjustable arms. Range of arms: Min=1.50 Inches, Max=3.75 Inches
  • Foldable bottom feet can be adjusted to fit any device.
  • Big release button located at the back of the cradle to release the arms.
  • Flannelette top finish which reduces sunlight reflection
  • Compatible with all vehicles, using horizontal vent louvers.
  • WARNING Does NOT work with round vents found in some vehicles.

Specifications
  • Range of arms: 1.50 to 3.75 Inches
  • Weight Loads: 4 lbs
  • Operating Temperature: -40 ° F to 185 ° F
  • Holder Releasing Cycles/Lifespan: 10,000 times

Safety Precautions
  • Do not mount this product near or over an airbag cover panel / deployment zone.
  • Do not operate while driving. Easy PocketNAV, Inc. does not promote use of any device excpet when the vehicle is safely parked or stopped.

*Terms and Conditions of this offer:
  • Offer does not apply to GPS receivers in our outlet store, USB GPS receiver, all personal navigation units (PNDs), and some select open-box GPS receivers.

MobiTrack, GPS Navigation System by Mobilink Re-launched

GPS navigation solution by Mobilink has been re-launched with enhanced features and with a web portal. Mobilink has actually strengthened its presence in navigational application – won’t be wrong if I say Mobilink is the only company offering r…

GARMIN GPSMAP 478

On the Water

GPSMAP 478 comes preloaded with US marine detailed maps for the entire US coast, including Alaska and Hawaii. These maps are based on BlueChart g2 technology, so they layer smoothly and are integrated for easy panning, scrolling and zooming.

On the Land
478 is ready to navigate you on the roads, with turn by turn directions and voice prompts that take you straight to your destination. The 478 is preloaded with detailed City Navigator maps for all of North America and contains over 6 million points of interest, including hotels, restaurants, gas stations, marinas, attractions and more.

Add Optional Weather, Audio and Sonar
See real-time weather on the 478's high-resolution TFT with the purchase of a GXM 30 XM antenna and a subscription to XM Satellite Weather and Radio services. View vital weather data, including NEXRAD radar, storm cells, wind speeds, surface temperatures, forecasts and more than a dozen other weather attributes, so you can enjoy the water without worrying about the weather. You can also subscribe to XM Satellite Radio to receive over 100 channels of commercial-free music, sports, news and talk radio.

For serious fishing, pair the 478 with the GSD 21 remote sounder, which offers 4,000 watts of power peak-to-peak (500 watts RMS) with a dual-frequency transducer (purchased separately).

Add More Marine Maps
The 478 accepts optional MapSource data cards, so you can add new maps without connecting to your computer. Optional BlueChart g2 data cards let you view real, detailed aerial photos of harbors, marinas and other important marine landmarks and places, right on your chartplotter.

What is GPS?

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system made up of a network of 24 satellites placed into orbit by the U.S. Department of Defense. GPS was originally intended for military applications, but in the 1980s, the government made the system available for civilian use. GPS works in any weather conditions, anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day. There are no subscription fees or setup charges to use GPS.

How it works

GPS satellites circle the earth twice a day in a very precise orbit and transmit signal information to earth. GPS receivers take this information and use triangulation to calculate the user's exact location. Essentially, the GPS receiver compares the time a signal was transmitted by a satellite with the time it was received. The time difference tells the GPS receiver how far away the satellite is. Now, with distance measurements from a few more satellites, the receiver can determine the user's position and display it on the unit's electronic map.

A GPS receiver must be locked on to the signal of at least three satellites to calculate a 2D position (latitude and longitude) and track movement. With four or more satellites in view, the receiver can determine the user's 3D position (latitude, longitude and altitude). Once the user's position has been determined, the GPS unit can calculate other information, such as speed, bearing, track, trip distance, distance to destination, sunrise and sunset time and more.

How accurate is GPS?

Today's GPS receivers are extremely accurate, thanks to their parallel multi-channel design. Garmin's 12 parallel channel receivers are quick to lock onto satellites when first turned on and they maintain strong locks, even in dense foliage or urban settings with tall buildings. Certain atmospheric factors and other sources of error can affect the accuracy of GPS receivers. Garmin® GPS receivers are accurate to within 15 meters on average.

Newer Garmin GPS receivers with WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) capability can improve accuracy to less than three meters on average. No additional equipment or fees are required to take advantage of WAAS. Users can also get better accuracy with Differential GPS (DGPS), which corrects GPS signals to within an average of three to five meters. The U.S. Coast Guard operates the most common DGPS correction service. This system consists of a network of towers that receive GPS signals and transmit a corrected signal by beacon transmitters. In order to get the corrected signal, users must have a differential beacon receiver and beacon antenna in addition to their GPS.

The GPS satellite system

The 24 satellites that make up the GPS space segment are orbiting the earth about 12,000 miles above us. They are constantly moving, making two complete orbits in less than 24 hours. These satellites are travelling at speeds of roughly 7,000 miles an hour.

GPS satellites are powered by solar energy. They have backup batteries onboard to keep them running in the event of a solar eclipse, when there's no solar power. Small rocket boosters on each satellite keep them flying in the correct path.

Here are some other interesting facts about the GPS satellites (also called NAVSTAR, the official U.S. Department of Defense name for GPS):

  • The first GPS satellite was launched in 1978.
  • A full constellation of 24 satellites was achieved in 1994.
  • Each satellite is built to last about 10 years. Replacements are constantly being built and launched into orbit.
  • A GPS satellite weighs approximately 2,000 pounds and is about 17 feet across with the solar panels extended.
  • Transmitter power is only 50 watts or less.

What's the signal?

GPS satellites transmit two low power radio signals, designated L1 and L2. Civilian GPS uses the L1 frequency of 1575.42 MHz in the UHF band. The signals travel by line of sight, meaning they will pass through clouds, glass and plastic but will not go through most solid objects such as buildings and mountains.

A GPS signal contains three different bits of information — a pseudorandom code, ephemeris data and almanac data. The pseudorandom code is simply an I.D. code that identifies which satellite is transmitting information. You can view this number on your Garmin GPS unit's satellite page, as it identifies which satellites it's receiving.

Ephemeris data tells the GPS receiver where each GPS satellite should be at any time throughout the day. Each satellite transmits ephemeris data showing the orbital information for that satellite and for every other satellite in the system.

Almanac data, which is constantly transmitted by each satellite, contains important information about the status of the satellite (healthy or unhealthy), current date and time. This part of the signal is essential for determining a position.

Sources of GPS signal errors

Factors that can degrade the GPS signal and thus affect accuracy include the following:

  • Ionosphere and troposphere delays — The satellite signal slows as it passes through the atmosphere. The GPS system uses a built-in model that calculates an average amount of delay to partially correct for this type of error.
  • Signal multipath — This occurs when the GPS signal is reflected off objects such as tall buildings or large rock surfaces before it reaches the receiver. This increases the travel time of the signal, thereby causing errors.
  • Receiver clock errors — A receiver's built-in clock is not as accurate as the atomic clocks onboard the GPS satellites. Therefore, it may have very slight timing errors.
  • Orbital errors — Also known as ephemeris errors, these are inaccuracies of the satellite's reported location.
  • Number of satellites visible — The more satellites a GPS receiver can "see," the better the accuracy. Buildings, terrain, electronic interference, or sometimes even dense foliage can block signal reception, causing position errors or possibly no position reading at all. GPS units typically will not work indoors, underwater or underground.
  • Satellite geometry/shading — This refers to the relative position of the satellites at any given time. Ideal satellite geometry exists when the satellites are located at wide angles relative to each other. Poor geometry results when the satellites are located in a line or in a tight grouping.
  • Intentional degradation of the satellite signal — Selective Availability (SA) is an intentional degradation of the signal once imposed by the U.S. Department of Defense. SA was intended to prevent military adversaries from using the highly accurate GPS signals. The government turned off SA in May 2000, which significantly improved the accuracy of civilian GPS receivers.

GPS System for iPhone (SAB-IG028)

GPS System for iPhone (SAB-IG028)
1) Navigation software with handwriting and TTS functions. (the content can be transferred into sound by speakers)
2) Navigation maps--the latest navigation map since Fall of 2008.
3) Best quality framework: International brand-Sirf III GPS receiver, providing high sensitive, fast speed, and accurate positioning for
iPhone 2G, 3G and I-Pod Touch.
4) Power Management: Recharge continues when navigation function is used and therefore, it will not drain iPhone's power.
5) Volume Management: Built-in speakers (in pair) can solve the low volume problem for iPhone 2G and I-Pod Touch as well as improve volume output for iPhone 3G
6) Car power-adapter and Installation CD in each package.
GPS System for iPhone (SAB-IG028)

Trimble 5800 GPS System


The Trimble 5800 is an ideal solution for the surveyor that needs a simple, straightforward GPS solution that performs under the most rigorous conditions. With flexible options for system configuration and upgradability, the Trimble 5800 is a smart long-term investment.
Designed to bring the Trimble experience to more customers than ever before, the new Trimble 5800 receiver provides scalability options to meet a variety of needs and to grow with your business:

The Trimble 5800 GPS offers:
Start with an efficient L1 receiver as a base or a rover
Upgrade to L1/L2 dual frequency to initialize surveys faster.
Purchase or upgrade to the full solution - L1/L2, RTK to maximize productivity and eliminate the need for post-processing.
Scalable and upgradeable.
Configurable as rover or base station.
Flexible field control options.

Trimble R3 L1 GPS System

The Trimble® R3 GPS system is a complete L1 GPS postprocessed solution from the industry leader in GPS surveying technology. Combining an L1 GPS receiver and antenna, rugged handheld controller, and easy-to-use field and office software, the Trimble R3 system brings precise subcentimeter control to your site, establishes new localized control, and collects topographic data.

The Trimble R3 GPS System offers:
A unique form factor that works as hard as you do.
Familiar, easy-to-use software in the field and office.
A total surveying solution for L1 GPS.
A survey-grade L1 GPS receiver integrated with the popular Trimble Recon™ controller
Trimble® Digital Fieldbook™ field software
Trimble A3 L1 GPS receiver
Trimble Business Center

GPS Serving the World

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a U.S. space-based radionavigation system that provides reliable positioning, navigation, and timing services to civilian users on a continuous worldwide basis -- freely available to all. For anyone with a GPS receiver, the system will provide location and time. GPS provides accurate location and time information for an unlimited number of people in all weather, day and night, anywhere in the world.

The GPS is made up of three parts: satellites orbiting the Earth; control and monitoring stations on Earth; and the GPS receivers owned by users. GPS satellites broadcast signals from space that are picked up and identified by GPS receivers. Each GPS receiver then provides three-dimensional location (latitude, longitude, and altitude) plus the time.

Individuals may purchase GPS handsets that are readily available through commercial retailers. Equipped with these GPS receivers, users can accurately locate where they are and easily navigate to where they want to go, whether walking, driving, flying, or boating. GPS has become a mainstay of transportation systems worldwide, providing navigation for aviation, ground, and maritime operations. Disaster relief and emergency services depend upon GPS for location and timing capabilities in their life-saving missions. Everyday activities such as banking, mobile phone operations, and even the control of power grids, are facilitated by the accurate timing provided by GPS. Farmers, surveyors, geologists and countless others perform their work more efficiently, safely, economically, and accurately using the free and open GPS signals.

For additional information about GPS, please explore the rest of this website, as well as the external sites referenced on this page.

GPS Serving the World

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a U.S. space-based radionavigation system that provides reliable positioning, navigation, and timing services to civilian users on a continuous worldwide basis -- freely available to all. For anyone with a GPS receiver, the system will provide location and time. GPS provides accurate location and time information for an unlimited number of people in all weather, day and night, anywhere in the world.

The GPS is made up of three parts: satellites orbiting the Earth; control and monitoring stations on Earth; and the GPS receivers owned by users. GPS satellites broadcast signals from space that are picked up and identified by GPS receivers. Each GPS receiver then provides three-dimensional location (latitude, longitude, and altitude) plus the time.

Individuals may purchase GPS handsets that are readily available through commercial retailers. Equipped with these GPS receivers, users can accurately locate where they are and easily navigate to where they want to go, whether walking, driving, flying, or boating. GPS has become a mainstay of transportation systems worldwide, providing navigation for aviation, ground, and maritime operations. Disaster relief and emergency services depend upon GPS for location and timing capabilities in their life-saving missions. Everyday activities such as banking, mobile phone operations, and even the control of power grids, are facilitated by the accurate timing provided by GPS. Farmers, surveyors, geologists and countless others perform their work more efficiently, safely, economically, and accurately using the free and open GPS signals.

For additional information about GPS, please explore the rest of this website, as well as the external sites referenced on this page.

Global Positioning System


The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a U.S. space-based global navigation satellite system. It provides reliable positioning, navigation, and timing services to worldwide users on a continuous basis in all weather, day and night, anywhere on or near the Earth.

GPS is made up of three segments: Space, Control and User. The Space Segment comprises 24 to 32 satellites in Medium Earth Orbit and also includes the boosters required to launch them into orbit. The Control Segment is comprised of a Master Control Station, an Alternate Master Control Station, and a host of dedicated and shared Ground Antennas and Monitor Stations. The User Segment is comprised of hundreds of thousands of U.S. and allied military users of the secure GPS Precise Positioning Service, and tens of millions of civil, commecial and scientific users of the Standard Positioning Service (see GPS navigation devices). GPS satellites broadcast signals from space that GPS receivers use to provide three-dimensional location (latitude, longitude, and altitude) plus precise time.

GPS has become a widely used aid to navigation worldwide, and a useful tool for map-making, land surveying, commerce, scientific uses, tracking and surveillance, and hobbies such as geocaching and waymarking. Also, the precise time reference is used in many applications including the scientific study of earthquakes and as a time synchronization source for cellular network protocols.

GPS has become a mainstay of transportation systems worldwide, providing navigation for aviation, ground, and maritime operations. Disaster relief and emergency services depend upon GPS for location and timing capabilities in their life-saving missions. The accurate timing that GPS provides facilitates everyday activities such as banking, mobile phone operations, and even the control of power grids. Farmers, surveyors, geologists and countless others perform their work more efficiently, safely, economically, and accurately using the free and open GPS signals.

Global Positioning System

Boeing GPS SatelliteThe Global Positioning System (GPS) is a technical marvel made possible by a group of satellites in earth orbit that transmit precise signals, allowing GPS receivers to calculate and display accurate location, speed, and time information to the user.

By capturing the signals from three or more satellites (among a constellation of 31 satellites available), GPS receivers are able to use the mathematical principle of trilateration to pinpoint your location.

With the addition of computing power, and data stored in memory such as road maps, points of interest, topographic information, and much more, GPS receivers are able to convert location, speed, and time information into a useful display format.

GPS was originally created by the United States Department of Defense (DOD) as a military application. The system has been active since the early 1980s, but began to become useful to civilians in the late 1990s. Consumer GPS has since become a multi-billion dollar industry with a wide array of products, services, and Internet-based utilities.

GPS works accurately in all weather conditions, day or night, around the clock, and around the globe. There is no subscription fee for use of GPS signals. GPS signals may be blocked by dense forest, canyon walls, or skyscrapers, and they don’t penetrate indoor spaces well, so some locations may not permit accurate GPS navigation.

GPS receivers are generally accurate within 15 meters, and newer models that use Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) signals are accurate within three meters.

While the U.S. owned and operated GPS is currently the only active system, five other satellite-based global navigation systems are being developed by individual nations and by multi-nation consortiums

How to Use this Tutorial

GPS is a complex technology but understanding it can be quite easy if you take it one step at a time. This tutorial is designed to give you a good basic understanding of the principles behind GPS without loading you down with too much technical detail.

We recommend that you follow the tutorial in the order it's presented, especially the "How GPS works" section. In that section the logic of the explanation develops one step at a time.

How GPS Receivers Work

Our ancestors had to go to pretty extreme measures to keep from getting lost. They erected monumental landmarks, laboriously drafted detailed maps and learned to read the stars in the night sky. gps handheld

Things are much, much easier today. For less than $100, you can get a pocket-sized gadget that will tell you exactly where you are on Earth at any moment. As long as you have a GPS receiver and a clear view of the sky, you'll never be lost again.

In this article, we'll find out how these handy guides pull off this amazing trick. As we'll see, the Global Positioning System is vast, expensive and involves a lot of technical ingenuity, but the fundamental concepts at work are quite simple and intuitive.

­When people talk about "a GPS," they usually mean a GPS receiver. The Global Positioning System (GPS) is actually a constellation of 27 Earth-orbiting satellites (24 in operation and three extras in case one fails). The U.S. military developed and implemented this satellite network as a military navigation system, but soon opened it up to everybody else.

Each of these 3,000- to 4,000-pound solar-powered satellites circles the globe at about 12,000 miles (19,300 km), making two complete rotations every day. The orbits are arranged so that at any time, anywhere on Earth, there are at least four satellites "visible" in the sky.

Artist's concept of the GPS satellite constellation
Artist's concept of the GPS satellite constellation

A GPS receiver's job is to locate four or more of these satellites, figure out the distanc­e to each, and use this information to deduce its own location. This operation is based on a simple mathematical principle called trilateration. Trilateration in three-dimensional space can be a little tricky, so we'll start with an explanation of simple two-dimensional trilateration.