Saturday 1 August 2009

Don't Get Lost on Your Expedition, Carry Handheld GPS Receivers

By Daniel Stouffer

We have to thank the late and great Pres. Ronald Reagan for allowing those of us in the United States the chance to get our hands on what was previously reserved for military use only " global positioning systems. Reagan believed that it was safe for this sometimes sensitive technology to be released for public use and this action transformed our way of life. These days we use these systems in our personal and commercial lives and much of what we rely on, in turn relies upon this technology in one shape or form.

If you are an outdoorsmen, you will love the flexibility given to you by handheld GPS receivers. A long list of recreational activities can benefit from the technology. You may be a boater, fisherman, hunter, hiker, biker or enjoy the sport of geocaching -- either way you will be more productive and have more fun if you use one of these handheld units.

There are a number of companies that manufacture handheld GPS receivers, with Garmin being the leading producer of GPS units, worldwide.

Handheld GPS receivers work by communicating with a series of satellites high above the earth. These satellites have been placed in what is called a low earth orbit, which means that they should always be accessible to your receiver, except in certain circumstances. For example, if you happen to find yourself in a densely forested area or in a steep walled canyon, the units may have temporary trouble.

The process of triangulation helps to determine your actual location to a very high degree of accuracy. Triangulation occurs when your handheld GPS receivers communicate with three different satellites and your position in relation to the three satellites can be determined.

Handheld GPS receivers can be particularly useful if you are a hiker. Imagine the ability to locate and narrow in on the best game and game trails. You should be pretty optimistic about how to find your targets and have a productive day. For inland salt water or freshwater fishermen, some units are available preloaded with relevant data.

The sport of geocaching is becoming increasingly popular and there are handheld GPS receivers that cater specifically to you, if this is your passion. You can download GPX files directly from a computer into the database, or insert a tiny SD card in some cases.

Peace of mind is very important when you are heading out into the unknown, far from any cell phone communication towers. The handheld GPS receivers do not require cell technology and with a relatively open sky above you will be able to tell you where you are. You don't need to worry about getting lost as you always have a good idea how to get back home.

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