Ohio Valley Outdoors Magazine

Where am I? An introduction to GPS

By Stacey Kuttler

Global Positioning Systems (GPS) have fast become a technological advancement that users say they couldn’t live without. The advent of GPS eliminates the need for carting around paper maps in the glove box. With it, never again will there be a need to hurriedly jot down sketchy directions from someone that may, or may not, know where they are going. And although Google Maps is a pretty convenient way to get step-by-step directions, the printed directions do not have the capacity to update when you decide take a side road or want to find the nearest steak joint.

GPS can be more than just the shortest route to North Carolina. It can also be a tool that any outdoorsman can utilize. Whether you hunt, trap, fish, boat, hike, camp, canoe or all of the above – GPS has a way to make navigating the outdoors a smoother experience. First, here is some background on what GPS is all about.
The whole system runs from the signals sent by 24 satellites floating around thousands of miles into space. Originally, in the late 1970s, when the U.S Department of Defense first launched this capability, it was only for military use. By the early 1980s, it was opened up to civilian use, through a different frequency. In 1995 the whole 24-satellite system became fully functional. Today, GPS receivers can easily be bought in a variety of price ranges.

In order to function properly a GPS receiver must receive signal from at least three satellites. Once a satellite sends a signal to the receiver, the device measures the time it took to send and receive that signal. Then it compares that result with the signals from some other satellites to gauge your latitude and longitude. With four or more satellites in range, the receiver can also tell altitude. Even the reasonably-priced units are extremely accurate.

It goes without saying, the more money you spend on the receiver, the more accurate it can be, and will have added features. The best part, the user doesn’t have to pay any charges to use the service. The receiver can work anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day, as long as it is outdoors, above water and above ground. The top three brands: Garmin, TomTom and Magellan, all offer models with similar features and prices.

Garmin, headquartered in Kansas, has pretty much covered everything in a diverse line-up. In their automotive line, there are dozens of models, including for motorcycles. Suffice to say, there are plenty of options available from between $200 and $1400 for a receiver. Models come in standard and widescreen color formats, start at 320x240 pixels, feature anti-glare and backlights for nighttime driving, voice prompts that signal when a turn is coming up, 3-D map views, and touchscreens. The units are compact, lightweight, portable, and rechargeable. The receiver comes with preloaded maps of the U.S. and Canada, points-of-interest (POI) locators (attractions, restaurants, gas stations, etc.), and allows for customizable POIs as well. Devices have the capacity to add additional maps, at a cost usually, either in extra data card or map purchases. Mostly, it is no additional cost for the average user, and Garmin moves to make owning a GPS as fun as an MP3 player.

Here is really where GPS comes in handy for outdoorsmen, the handheld. If you hunt, you can buy an extremely portable, mapping handheld unit, like Garmin’s eTrex Vista. Handhelds have the ability to pinpoint the exact location of that scrape you want to keep an eye on, and save it in the device, leading you right to it the next time. For trappers, it will be your tool to remember where each and every trap is set, and know exactly the distances between them for planning. Anglers can use it to mark favorite fishing holes, even in obscure areas. eTrex and similar models come in at around $200, with higher-end models going up to $600. A basic handheld can be bought for around $100, and are great for campers, hikers, and canoeing. Handhelds are built for durability and are often waterproof as well. Some handhelds are run on AA batteries, so it might be worth considering units with rechargeable lithium-ion battery packs. Two-way radios, with built-in GPS, are available for $200-$500, with up to a 2-mile range over FRS (Family Radio Service) and up to an average of five miles with GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service). They also have a GPS locater collar for your hunting dog, at a cost of about $550.
For fishing and boating, Garmin has a full marine line, as extensive as chartplotters to commonly-used fishfinders. Choices in dash-mounted receivers continue with TomTom, founded in Amsterdam.

TomTom brings to the lineup six different models. A brand touted as being so user friendly - anyone can use them, right out of the box. Receivers range from $200-$500. The cheapest one still has some pretty important key features like: portability, color touchscreen, voice-guided technology, rechargeable battery, and customizable points-of-interest. TomTom hasn’t branched off into the handheld market yet, but like Garmin, they make GPS capability available for PDAs and other mobile devices. TomTom designs features with ease-of-use and safety in mind. The screen displays 3-D images, even in complex highways systems, showing the driver exactly which lane they should be in. Magellan, out of California, offers a GPS receiver without restrictions.

Magellan carries many models of handhelds and mounted models, but they also created a crossover, called the Magellan CrossoverGPS. For $400, having a unit for the car and the trail is an easy reality. The CrossoverGPS is pocket-sized, lightweight, and waterproof. The unit includes standard features like: touch-screen and quick-entry, voice technology, a rechargeable battery, up to 20 different destination directions, photo viewer, music player, address book, and access to four different routes: shortest time, shortest distance, most or least use of freeways and avoidance of toll roads, just to name a few. The Magellan CrossoverGPS seems to have a little bit of everything. Magellan has handhelds for $100-$400 and receivers for the road are comparable at $200-$500. With each manufacturer producing quality units and similar features, it pays to do some research.
Log on to the manufacturer’s website to compare models for the features that you are going to need or want. Go even further than that to find websites where people have placed reviews or feedback for the model you are considering. A trip to the store, where you can get your hands on the unit, would probably be a good idea.
The great thing about GPS is that the user can utilize it as little or as much as they need to. Spur of the moment adventures can be carried out with peace of mind. Creating the feeling that you can go anywhere.

Here are the manufacturer’s websites: www.garmin.com, www.tomtom.com and www.magellan.com.