GPS for Dummies.pdf - Engineering Surveyor

100Part II: All About GPS Datum: The default datum for all GPS receivers is WGS 84. Unless you’replanning on using your receiver with maps that have a different datum,leave the default setting. (See Chapter 4 for more information on typesof datums and their impact GPS position coordinates.) Battery type: The default battery setting on most GPS receivers is alkaline.If you’re using another type of battery, select the correct type. Thebattery type setting doesn’t affect the GPS receiver’s operation; it onlyensures that the battery life is correctly displayed on the screen becausedifferent types of batteries have different power characteristics. Language: Most GPS receivers are multilingual, so if you’d rather view theuser interface in a language other than English, it’s as simple as selectinga different language from a menu.Using Your GPS ReceiverFinally! After you initialize your GPS receiver and change some of the systemsettings, it’s time to use it. Start with Going through the GPS receiver’s different onscreen pages and see whatinformation is displayed. Walking around and watching what happens to the numbers and yourposition on the GPS receiver’s mapping and trip pages. (Do this outside,of course.) Pressing buttons and seeing what happens. You may want to have youruser manual nearby in case you get lost between information screens.GPS receivers are pretty robust, and you’re not going to hurt your new purchaseby being curious.GPS receiver screens can be scratched relatively easily. Investing in a carryingcase will keep the screen scratch-free; many cases have a clear plastic face thatallows you to use and view the GPS without taking it out of the case. Anotherway to keep the screen from being scratched is to buy thin, clear plastic sheetsused to protect PDA screens, cut them to shape, and place the sheet on topof the GPS receiver screen.The following are some simple exercises you can try that will help you becomefamiliar with your GPS receiver. When you first start using your GPS receiver,take the user manual with you. If you forget how to do something or have aquestion, the manual will be right there for reference.