GPS for Dummies.pdf - Engineering Surveyor

162Part III: Digital Mapping on Your Computer More storage: Memory cards give you considerably more storage thanGPS receivers with fixed amounts of internal memory. You can currentlypurchase memory cards that provide between 8–512MB of data storage.Handheld GPS receivers that don’t support memory cards might haveonly 1–115MB of internal storage. Versatility: You can use the memory card in your PDA, digital camera,and cellphone (if all the devices support the same type of card). Minimal settings: When using a memory card, you don’t need to worryabout COM ports, baud rates, and protocols when transferring data.(However, if you’re using your GPS receiver with a laptop and cable connectedto a moving map program, you still have to contend with gettingall the settings just right.)Here are a few drawbacks to GPS receivers that support memory cards: Added cost: They add a bit more cost to the receiver price because ofthe built-in card reader and associated technology. Reader: You need a memory card reader connected to your computer totransfer data back and forth between the GPS receiver. However, somecomputers (notably laptops) have built-in card readers.If your GPS receiver didn’t come with a card reader, any third-partyreader will work. These devices are inexpensive and easy to use. Justplug the reader into a USB port, and Windows treats the memory cardlike a hard drive or floppy disk. You can then copy data back and forthbetween your hard drive and the memory card. Card readers are inexpensive,and you can purchase a basic model for under $20. Removal: Memory cards can be a little tedious to swap because youneed to remove the GPS receiver batteries to access the card slot.Just like digitals cameras, GPS receivers that support memory cards usuallycome with a card that has a relatively small amount of storage space (8–16MB).In fact, if they both use the same type of memory card, you can swap a cardbetween your digital camera and GPS receiver. You’ll probably want to upgradeto a larger capacity card. Blank memory cards with the GPS receiver manufacturer’sbrand name tend to be more expensive than standard MMC and SDcards. I don’t find any difference between the two, and you can save moneywith third-party memory cards in your GPS receiver.Transferring GPS DataAfter you have a cable and then get the ports, baud rates, and protocols allfigured out (or have a memory card and card reader), the next step is gettingthe data transferred between the GPS receiver and your computer. This iswhere software comes in, and you generally have three options: