Belfast and Beyond

Archive for the ‘GPS’ Category

In 2011 the Iditarod ended with a new winner, a new record set and a new component. For those unfamiliar with the Iditarod, visualize a person on a sled pulled by a team of dogs over some of the most extreme and gorgeous wilderness terrain known to man. For around 1,150 miles the dog sled team crosses frozen rivers, jagged mountain ranges, desolate tundra and dense forests. As if that weren’t enough, factor in subzero temperatures, winds that generate zero visibility and long hours of darkness and you have a race called the Iditarod that Alaska claims as its own.

If you’re wondering what does this have to do with GPS devices, well for the first time in Iditarod history, the mushers were permitted to use personal navigational devices (PND) – GPS units. Race participants who are in favor of making the use of personal GPS devices an option, are quick to point out the significance of maintaining a steady pace. They explain that if the speed is inconsistent or too fast, the rate of injury to the dogs is increased substantially. Additionally, it is easy to misjudge your sled speed without the benefit of a GPS. Proponents for the use of GPS tracking devices, such as Garmin, like to call attention to John Baker’s experience. In 2010, Baker was considered a contender for the title. Regrettably, thinking himself to be lost, he miscalculated his position and lost hours trying to get back on the trail. Those lost hours ended up costing Baker a chance at the title. If he had been able to use a GPS device, he would have quickly discovered that he was in fact on the correct path and not at all lost.  Read more...

Over the past ten years, adventure seekers have been involved in a high tech game of hide ‘n seek through the use of their GPS devices. The game is called Geocaching and, at last count, it has over 1 million players in over 100 countries around the world. Sounds like an excellent way to increase your level of enjoyment as you hike and explore the wilderness with family and friends, or even go it alone.

Notwithstanding the efficiency of smartphones, this game is definitely enhanced by the use of a dedicated GPS personal navigation device (PND). Makers such as Garmin, TomTom and Magellan all offer quality GPS systems which truly enhance the geocacher’s experience. The name of the game is derived from the token treasures and log book which are typically placed in an airtight, waterproof container and hidden somewhere. Though the treasure may not typically have significant monetary value, it does have some personal value for the one who finds it. The whole assembly is referred to as a geocache or just simply a cache. The geographical GPS coordinates for the location of the caches are posted online. Once you find the geocache, just log your discovery into the logbook tucked in with the treasure(s). You can then choose to either add to the treasure, leave it as you found it, or take something away. If you do decide to remove part of the treasure, fellow players recommend leaving something of value in place of the item removed, enhancing the find for the next player.

There are times when a treasure of noteworthy value is placed in the cache, however, these caches are usually hidden in GPS locations that are difficult and challenging to reach. Having the coordinates for the cache is only half the battle. Once you arrive, you must figure out exactly where the treasure has been hidden, buried, hung, placed, etc. Be warned, as fellow geocachers can be extremely creative.  Read more...

We all thoroughly enjoy using our various GPS devices to the extent that they have become indispensible in our daily lives. We depend on them to keep us from getting lost, to keep track of our children and pets, to find specific types of business – restaurants, stores, gas stations, etc. Our GPS devices and Smartphone apps help us to maximize the enjoyment of our vacations even protect us from harm by letting the proper authorities know our whereabouts if/when we find ourselves in perilous situations.

Sad to say that our honeymoon with our GPS is being threatened by unscrupulous, terroristic tactics carried out by uncaring and selfish individuals. The tool being used to create such dangerous and potentially life threatening circumstances is the GPS jammer. Regardless of the fact that these devices are illegal in the United States and most of Europe, the gps jammers can be bought online directly from factories in China for $30 to $50 USD. Since the websites advertise the jammers as privacy protectors and tracking blockers, the average consumer is unaware of the jammers’ capabilities to wreak havoc on an unsuspecting public. Consider this incident reported in a recent article published in The Economist; “in late 2009 engineers noticed that satellite-positioning receivers for a new navigation aid at Newark airport in New Jersey were suffering brief daily breaks in reception. Something was interfering with the signals from orbiting global positioning system (GPS) satellites. It took two months for investigators from the Federal Aviation Authority to track down the problem: a driver who passed by on the nearby New Jersey Turnpike each day had a cheap GPS jammer in his truck.”  Read more...

Everyone has read about the crime prevention aspects of GPS tracking devices and how police have been able to locate and apprehend stolen cars, bikes, appliances etc. The creative use of GPS tracking devices continues to amaze as it expands and protects its users. Recently we heard about a bank robber who was caught because a quick thinking teller placed a GPS device in the bag along with the money. Apparently the robber was only looking for signs of a dye pack and not a tracking device. Another robbery attempt foiled by a GPS device.

Another story reported is a state-of-the-art GPS device which makes it possible for authorities to fully control a bus by remote means. The idea is tied in with the Department of Homeland Security, and is being used to thwart attempts by terrorists to hijack buses and potentially turn a passenger loaded vehicle into a weapon capable of massive devastation. In the face of a terrorist threat, all a driver need do is to hit a panic button, which is discreetly hidden somewhere around the steering wheel. The distress signal which is generated activates a GPS device connected to the bus’ onboard computer, and lets the dispatcher identify the vehicle, its location, speed and direction of travel. At this point, the dispatcher can remotely override the bus systems and slowly bring the bus to a safe and complete stop, preventing it from restarting. Currently the Gray Line double-decker tourist buses and Coach USA are using this technology to improve the safety of their passengers. The New Jersey Transit is presently in the process of equipping its fleet of approximately 3,000 busses with this system, and other municipalities are planning to follow do the same.  Read more...

The GPS Tracking Devices can be defined as a device which with the aid of Global Positioning System or GPS helps in locating a person or object. Generally, this device has the ability to record definite position of the targeted entity at certain time intervals. Thereafter the data collected is stored either within the device or transferred to a location generally a data base center or an Internet enabled computer.

The GPS tracking system is very useful and has multiple benefits and utilities. They are not only useful but one of the integral part in many countries in the area of road transport. In many countries, the government has stipulated the citizens to install these devices in their respective automobiles in order to protect them from any kind of theft or crime. The GPS tracking devices are mainly of four types namely marine system, navigation system, the PDA/GPS system and the handheld outdoor system. Marine system helps in locating the the fishes in water and other water bodies in general. Navigation system in vehicles helps to locate the exact position of the vehicle. The hybrid tracking device combines the qualities of GPS and handheld system. Handheld GPS tracker is portable and compact. Thus, you can opt from a variety of options suiting your needs and requirements.

A GPS tracking system comes with varied features and options, so you should choose what caters you the best and optimistically as it would help to save certain amount of money as well. GPS tracking device are one of the most widely desired gadget as its versatile and efficient at the same time. Earlier it was a gadget that came with a big price tag but now with its increasing popularity, it comes at affordable price with additional benefits as well. It reduces fuel expenses and decreases overtime. This way drivers productivity is increased which increases the work productivity too.  Read more...