GPS for Dummies.pdf - Engineering Surveyor

Chapter 5: Selecting and Getting Started with a GPS Receiver101Coming homeEveryone has opinions and like to know where people stand on differentthings, so here’s an exercise to let you know exactly where you stand —when you’re outside your backdoor.1. Take your GPS receiver outside where you live and create a waypointfor the spot where you’re standing.See Chapter 4 for the skinny on creating waypoints.2. Name the waypoint HOME.3. Turn the GPS receiver off and go for a walk.How far is up to you, but at least travel far enough that you can see yourstarting point.4. When you’re ready to head back home, turn the GPS receiver back onand use it to navigate back to the HOME waypoint.Be sure to move through the different onscreen pages to watch the directionand distance change as you head back home.After you enter the HOME waypoint, no matter where you are, if you haveyour GPS receiver with you, you can always tell exactly how far away homeis. Remember, this is in a straight line as the crow flies unless you’ve got aGPS receiver that supports autorouting.How far, how fast?Your GPS receiver also contains a very accurate trip computer that displaysinformation about distance, speed, and time. After you read your user manualon how to reset and start the trip computer, here are some ideas for gettingfamiliar with how it works: When exercising: When you run, jog, bike, or whatever, take your GPSreceiver with you on your favorite course to see just how far you go. Atthe end, check your average and maximum speed. (Chapter 23 is filledwith tips on using GPS if you’re an athlete.) When on walks: If you have children and they walk to school, go withthem on their route to see exactly how far it is. (And then tell them youused to have to walk at least ten times that distance . . . in the snow . . .uphill both ways . . . when you were young.) When doing lawn work: The next time you cut the grass, take your GPSreceiver with you and see just how far you push your lawn mower.