GPS for Dummies.pdf - Engineering Surveyor

4 GPS For Dummies While most GPS receivers have the same functionality, there are a lot ofdifferences in manufacturer and model user interfaces. In a way it’s likesitting someone down in front of three personal computers, one runningMicrosoft Windows XP, one running Linux (with the KDE or Gnome interface),and the other a Macintosh, and asking a computer novice volunteerto perform an identical set of tasks on each of the computers. Goodluck! Because of this, you’re not going to find detailed instructions onhow to use specific GPS receiver models. What you will find is informationon how to use most any GPS receiver, with some kindly suggestionstossed in when it’s appropriate to consult your user’s guide for details. Finally, don’t expect me to tell you what’s the best GPS receiver. Like anyconsumer electronics product, GPS receiver models are constantlychanging and being updated. Instead of recommending that you buy acertain brand or model (that could possibly be replaced by somethingcheaper and better over the course of a few months), I’ll tell you whatquestions to ask when selecting a GPS receiver and give you some hintson which features are best for different activities. You’ll be able to applythese questions and selection criteria to pretty much any GPS receiver(no matter how much the marketplace changes), to pick the right modelfor you.Take comfort in the fact that it’s pretty hard to go wrong when you purchasea GPS receiver from one of the Big Three manufacturers (Garmin, Magellan,and Lowrance). All these companies make excellent products, and you canexpect to get a number of years use out of them. (The good news is that GPStechnology and product features haven’t changed as rapidly as personal computers.I can go out and happily use a GPS receiver from 1998, whereas thesame vintage personal computer would have been recycled a long time ago.)How This Book Is OrganizedThis book is conveniently divided into several different parts. The content ineach part tends to be related, but by all means, feel free to skip around andread about what interests you the most.Part I: All About Digital MapsThis part of the book introduces you to digital maps; actually it presentssome important universal concepts that apply to both paper and digital mapssuch as coordinate systems, datums, and how to read and use maps. Thefocus is primarily on land maps but there are a few brief mentions of nauticaland aeronautical charts. In this part you’ll find out about different types of