How can you find the best GPS navigation system?
In previous posts we talked about the basics of what GPS is and how it works, as well as how a GPS device can be connected or disconnected. Knowing more about how GPS works can help you make the right choice when choosing the best GPS system.
With so many GPS navigation systems on the market it can be really confusing to even know where to start. So before you start looking at getting a Garmin, TomTom or a Magellan, you need to be clear about what you need your GPS tracking system to do. And with most of the talk on the internet about personal or in-car GPS devices, it can be easy to overlook other systems such as fleet management software or GPS people tracking.
What are your GPS needs?
Of course it’s tempting to buy a GPS system just because everyone else is or because you can’t resist buying the latest gadgets, but if you did you’d probably miss out on the true benefit of a GPS system. By knowing the problem you want to solve, you’re in a much better position to find the best GPS navigation system, and will get far greater value from it.
Let’s consider the different types of GPS navigation systems available.
Last time we talked about the basics of GPS is and how it works. There are many different uses for GPS systems from farming to aviation and everything in between.
One sector that benefits heavily from GPS is ground transportation. Whether you’re getting your kids to an out-of-town soccer game or you’re moving hazardous chemicals interstate, GPS navigation systems for ground transport can make the journey faster, more economical and safer for everyone.
But there are two distinct flavors of GPS devices and your navigation needs will determine which you should choose:
- Connected - A connected GPS receiver uses its built-in connectivity (either GSM/GPRS or CDMA – GPRS is preferred and is more suitable for live tracking) to connect to a wireless provider (e.g. Sprint). This allows it to communicate information such as its location, altitude or speed to other devices or a web browser application, such as fleet management software programs. An example of this is Telogis OnTrack, which helps fleet owners manage multiple GPS receivers (which could be in cars, trucks, vans or even attached to people).
- Disconnected – A GPS device that is disconnected only receives signals from the free GPS satellite network, or constellation as it’s called. Information such as current location, speed, altitude and time is only available to the user of the GPS device. Unlike a connected GPS receiver it cannot send or transmit data to another device. The units are often cheaper because they do not have any built-in connectivity.
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How does GPS work?
Jan
Some interesting GPS trivia
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GPS is a complicated subject so let’s get right back to the basics of GPS; what is it and how it works. As an example in demonstrating how GPS technology is being used, we will look at how it is helping the ground transportation sector to route vehicles more efficiently.
Making an informed choice about GPS systems
If you’re looking to invest in a GPS system you don’t necessarily need to know exactly how it works, just like you don’t have to know how a car works to drive one. You just get in and shift it into drive.
But understanding how GPS works can help you to make a better decision when it comes to choosing the best GPS system. Unfortunately many people who buy GPS systems don’t know much about them. They end up making the mistake of getting something that is overkill, with features they’ll never need and a price tag to match. In some ways it’s like buying a car without knowing that the more liters a vehicle’s engine has affects its power and fuel consumption – if you didn’t need the extra power why pay for a fuel guzzler? Then again buying a Prius when you need to tow a 240-foot super-yacht could be disastrous.
In a similar way, different GPS systems work in different ways, some are better suited to specific environments, some are free, and others have ongoing charges. By understanding some of the science behind GPS and how it works you can make sure you get the best GPS navigation system for your needs, or the needs of your business.
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The ACM-ICPC proved that future fleet management software development is in good hands
I’ve always been led to believe that our sharpest minds were being snapped up by wealthy arms manufacturers. Some time ago London’s Guardian Newspaper claimed that ‘more than half the world’s best scientists and engineers [were] employed in the arms race’. So it’s refreshing to know that some of the brightest brains in the world of computer programming are working hard to develop solutions that benefit the environment instead of coming up with new ways of killing people.
Joey Scarr and Edwin Flores are employed by Telogis, a developer of fleet management software programs that assist fleet owners to operate with a much smaller carbon footprint, reducing their fuel usage and encouraging operators to drive more economically. Joey and Edwin, who are also both working towards honors in Bachelors of Computer Science, make up two-thirds of Team J.E.T. (they are the J and E of J.E.T.), with Thomas Steinke as the third team member.
Take the 5-minute SaaS software quiz and find out if you need to switch to web-based telematics
Web-based software is growing in popularity and there are good reasons why. Also known as SaaS (Software as a Service), web-based has gone from desktop’s poor cousin to being the preferred choice for a lot of businesses. This isn’t a fad that’s going away anytime soon. In fact a recent survey from InformationWeek analytics showed that 46 percent of IT business executives are likely to use SaaS software, will absolutely use it, or will continue to use it in 2010. This is a significant 31% increase over last year.
What has changed that has made the SaaS model more acceptable to a growing number of business executives?
No one likes to get caught in a traffic jam, inching along the freeway, bumper to bumper, cursing the heat, the wasted time and fuel as well as the appointment you’re now going to be late for. And there’s not a thing you can do about it. Fortunately not many of us take it to the extreme Michael Douglas did in the movie Falling Down, which saw him abandoning his stranded vehicle and going on a murderous rampage through LA, but we might feel his frustration. If it makes you feel any better we’ve rounded up five of the worst traffic jam locations, and, more importantly, what you can do to minimize their impact on your commute.
There are degrees of traffic jams and some are just worse than others – much worse. In fact, some time ago Forbes reported on the DOT (Department of Transportation) rounding up the worst offenders and taking measures to alleviate what it describes as ‘alarming trends of congestion’, with the emphasis on implementing short-term solutions.
But it’s not just the U.S. that suffers from traffic chaos. Here is a roundup of pictures from the five worst cities for traffic jams (Sao Paulo is officially the worst with a queue that was 166 miles long, recorded in 2008).
#1 Sao Paulo, Brazil Worlds Worst Traffic Jam Cities #1 - Sao Paulo |
#2 Jakarta, Indonesia Worlds Worst Traffic Jam Cities #2 - Jakarta |
#3 Los Angeles, U.S. Worlds Worst Traffic Jam Cities #3 - Los Angeles |
Are you a truck driver looking for work as a fleet manager or operator? You’re not alone: on one truck recruitment website alone, more than 212,000 completed truck driver applications sit on their database!
Don’t despair! Just because the job market is competitive, doesn’t mean employment is out of reach. You’re just a couple of strategic moves away from landing your ideal trucking job.
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The Future of Freight
Sep
Flash forward five years, and the trucking industry will be a very different beast to what it is today.
“The big carriers are going to get bigger and fewer,” confirms Duff Swain, president of consulting firm Trincon Group, “while the smaller carriers need to get smarter and more niche-driven.”
Swain delivered this news at a recent conference, where he pointed out what most of us already know: the global economic downturn has not only forced us to rethink the way we do business today, but it’s also forced us to re-evaluate how we’ll operate in the future.
According to American Trucking Association (ATA) President Bill Graves, the main concern carriers face today is the increasing influence of the federal Government. Read the rest of this entry »
The Australian government is implementing new regulations on heavy trucking companies enforcing the use of GPS monitoring. Read the rest of this entry »
It’s quite sad when you hear of skiers going missing after unknowingly wandering off the ski-fields trail and especially when it’s supposed to have been a fun family event. We are just now beginning to see GPS being integrated into ski fields to improve overall safety and also provide the ski fields with useful skier information.
