The Different Uses of Handheld GPS Systems
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GPS is a popular technology that has been used to aid travelers giving them a sense of direction in distant areas when the technology was still new. Now GPS is being implemented in mobile phones to aid drivers in reaching their destinations faster and more feature-rich devices are surfaced to better meet the needs of these drivers by offering accurate navigation features and plenty of convenient extras that give these drivers a smoother and safer experience.
The popularity of these devices makes GPS an embraced technology by average consumers. However, handheld GPS systems still play a major role to dedicated travelers and, in fact, are continuing to evolve the same way other GPS systems are. As manufacturers improve their handheld GPS systems in virtually every aspect, hikers, campers, and anyone into outdoor expeditions can now benefit from the convenient features that are present in other mobile devices as GPS handhelds are becoming more multifunctional in usage. Here are some of the things you can do in today's handheld GPS systems.
Tracking Current Positions
No matter how sophisticated the GPS system is, the core feature of tracking your current location is never left behind. Modern devices manage to do this by communicating with a number of satellites in order to accuracy trace the current location of the user at fast speeds so the position is updated as the user travels. Advanced models have clever prediction capabilities that can understand the course and direction of the satellite so the position can be updated even after the device has been turned off for a period of time. The next time the device is turned on, it correctly assumes the position of the satellite reflecting the current location without many adjustments. Some models may also track the positions of other people using the same model through social networking.
Most GPS devices also act as a compass to help determine direction. If the device has a 3-axis electronic compass built-in, it is possible to get accurate readings no matter how the unit is held.
Surveying the Surroundings
This feature varies depending on the amount of content built-in to the handheld GPS unit. In the early monochrome screened models, it is possible to survey the surroundings using a basic map that shows trails, roads, and minor geographic features. The latest devices can do much more than that as their screens are colored and the maps take full advantage of that through color coding of elevation levels and adding visual indicators to highlight points of interest.
Planning Hiking Routes
After the surroundings are surveyed, a route can be planned through the use of waypoints. As long as the current position stays accurate, plotting waypoints should be easy as the map can be zoomed in and scrolled to remote areas. Multiple routes involving several waypoints can be planned as well allowing an effective hiking expedition to be planned. If the device has digital camera and geotagging features, the waypoints can be accompanied by images to make destination reaching easier. Voice notes can be added as well if there is a built-in microphone and speaker.
Adding Points of Interest
Many of the top GPS handhelds are outfitted with hundreds of points of interest scattered across the US and other areas depending on the map. In case the preloaded information isn't up-to-date or a certain spot doesn't get marked as a POI, you can add a custom point of interest yourself and geotags, voice notes, or other important data the same way waypoints are created. In most cases, it is easier to use connect the GPS device to a computer and use the software the handheld GPS device comes with to manipulate the map data and upload new points of interest with ease.
Checking Weather Conditions
In addition to the compass, most devices have a sensitive barometer that gives readings regarding the current elevation and advanced notices of weather changing. New devices also come with satellite imagery to get live statistics of the weather conditions in the current position and its surroundings. Usually, a paid subscription is required in order to layer these statistics to the current topo map.
Reading Common File Formats
Many of the devices priced above $200 have an SD card slot that can be used to read certain file formats the same way standard compact devices with slots read them. This includes images in JPEG format and audio files in MP3 format. If the GPS device has a built-in camera, it should have its own slot for storing excessive pictures. The same thing applies to the MP3 support if there is a headphone jack or built-in speaker. The SD card can also be used to store waypoints, POIs, and other map data.