Handheld GPS Receivers Give You Freedom to Roam

By Daniel Stouffer

There was a time when the technology governing the use of global positioning systems was restricted specifically for military use. The late Pres. Ronald Reagan decided it was time to release this technology for use by the public in the USA and we have to thank him for helping to transform our lives in this way. It is difficult to imagine our life without the freedom that these systems have brought to us, both in our personal and in business lives. Commercially, much of what we rely upon, day-to-day, in turn relies upon this technology.

Handheld GPS receivers offer great flexibility for those who love the outdoors. Imagine the list of recreational activities that could benefit from the use of just such a receiver. Whether you like boating, biking, fishing, hunting, hiking, or the sport of geocaching, you will have much more fun and be more productive with one of these handheld units.

There are a number of companies that manufacture handheld GPS receivers, with Garmin being the leading producer of GPS units, worldwide.

Handheld GPS receivers communicate with a number of satellites that have been placed in low Earth orbit. This means that they are relatively low in relation to our horizon at any time and the receiver can generally communicate with satellites continuously, with certain exceptions. For example, if you are in a steep walled canyon or in a heavily forested area, the unit may have trouble.

The process of triangulation helps to determine your actual location to a very high degree of accuracy. Triangulation occurs when your handheld GPS receivers communicate with three different satellites and your position in relation to the three satellites can be determined.

For the avid hunters amongst us, handheld GPS receivers give you the ability to locate and track the best game and game trails available. If you know your location and the likely location of your prey, don't you think you will have a pretty productive day? If inland salt water or fresh water fishing is your bent, some units come preloaded with the data that you need.

If you like the sport of geocaching, you really should get one of the handheld GPS receivers that are specifically designed for you. You will be able to download GPX files directly from your computer or by installing a tiny SD card.

Peace of mind is very important when you are heading out into the unknown, far from any cell phone communication towers. The handheld GPS receivers do not require cell technology and with a relatively open sky above you will be able to tell you where you are. You don't need to worry about getting lost as you always have a good idea how to get back home. - 21396

About the Author:

Writer Daniel Stouffer would like to enlighten you with more detailed information about handheld GPS receivers. GPS-catalog.com is a great resource for all GPS-related matters.