Why isnt there a sticky here

masch · 01-10-2004, 12:02 AM

for a n00b like me =/

Just started taking an interest in GPS.

I was looking mainly for answers to the following

1 Purchasing a GPS hardware, what to look for?
2 Does the software come separately?
3 Is the software subscription based or you just pay one time?
4 How much do you pay for using the GPS satellites?
5 GPS hardware plugged into USB?
6 Are GPS solutions only for windows and linux? No DOS?

I guess if these questions get answered in this thread, this thread could be the sticky

wizardPC · 01-10-2004, 01:24 AM

1. depends on what you have already (serial or usb port free)
2. depends on what you buy and where you buy it
3. every peice of software I have ever seen is one time fee
4. the satellite signals are FREE!
5. see #1
6. gps in a text environment wouldnt be very good for navigation

masch · 01-10-2004, 06:18 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by wizardPC

1. depends on what you have already (serial or usb port free)
2. depends on what you buy and where you buy it
3. every peice of software I have ever seen is one time fee
4. the satellite signals are FREE!
5. see #1
6. gps in a text environment wouldnt be very good for navigation

Hehehehehe I'm sorry that's just funny #6.

Yes you can have gui in dos too. =P And there can be pictures too.

1. I guess what you're saying is, it doesnt matter if its serial or USB? What about other constraints, like battery life and range.

2. Are there 3rd pary software that you can use with all sorts of gps hardware?

3. THat's good. So who pays to keep the maps updated then?

4. Awesome! Why are they free though?

wizardPC · 01-10-2004, 11:49 AM

Go Here and read up. Consume massive amounts of information on GPS by searching google. I don't think you know enough about the way it works to get into GPS just yet. There is a wealth of information out there, and it would take me like 13 pages to explain most of it--and even then i dont think i could cover it all.

Here are the basics:
The US military put 24 geosynchronous satellites in orbit which all have atomic clocks onboard. Those satellites emit a signal that includes which satellite is sending the signal and what time it thinks it is (GMT).

GPS recievers take the signals from at least 3 of those satelites and compares the times. By calculating the difference in times between the satellites due to the distance the signal travels, the receiver figures out its position in latitude/longitude.

The receiver can then output the coordinates to your computer. The mapping program of your choice takes those coordinates and plots them on the maps that it has. If you want to be really up-to-date, you have to buy new maps (ie, buy the software again or upgrade to the latest version), usually every year.

Those are the basics, now you have to figure out what you want to do with it.