I am sure everyone has seen those tiny screen in dashboards that display maps etc. Does anyone know how it works? Is there a monthly fee for it? Please advise…
Shamsheer ul Haq
I hope this is a little help, as I only have a basic understanding of GPS.
Global Positioning Systems are basically tracked by about 24 or 25 satellites. It is a radio wave navigation system, as I understand it, meaning it uses low frequency, low energy wavelengths. As those satellites recieve these signals, they track latitude, longitude, and altitude of vehicle or whatever is being tracked. (They even use them to track whales!)
So, I suppose it would be similar to always having a map and compass with you - never being lost - even in the event of a wreck, the vehicle would be able to be found based on the GPS info. However, GPS systems available to civilians (seeing as how this is a US military defense invention) is only accurate to within 100 meters.
I am not certain about fees or anything like that.
I have one of those, except it's broken.
There is generally no monthly fee for it. However, the initial cost for the equipment is significant, and often there is a very large charge for updated maps whihc you need every few years.
There are no monthly fees for a simple GPS system installed in a car. (There are monthly fees - $10/mo - if the GPS system is linked to an online help system like OnStar etc)
In USA, in factory-installed GPS systems there are generally of two kinds: CD-based and DVD-based. The CD-based have multiple CD's to cover the whole of US (or you can get just a CD for your state). In newer models, however, the GPS is DVD-based, and generally one DVD is enough for maps of whole of US. People generally get a new DVD each year for updated maps.
After-market GPS systems are of many different varieties, so you need to check their user manuals. Likely, there won't be any monthly fees associated with them either.
GPS DETAIL INFO
HI ,
Every one above has explained correct about the gps system which are used in cars nowadays , i just want to add few lines in it , firstly there is no monthly fee if u installed normal gps in your car which is not voice aticviated. let me tell u the difference voice and normal gps , in voice gps it will guide u by tell u to turn right or left just reach your destination which you have already feeded before start of you journey. And on the other side the normal gps is just telling you the lat and long and its correct to almost 1 to 3 meters.
If u go to usa or european countries u will find gps in cars which will guide you completly to your destination by voice ativation function.
more over in pakistan you can install normal gps and in that you can feed different way points while going some where , and on your return u just have to follow the way points which have feeded.
One new techonology in the gps is now the DGPS , its differencial GPS , it is basically the combinations of different sets , like u have 10 gps sets and they are having one similar frequency and its controled by its one base set. But its also getting feed back of lat and long from different satillites and then also from different becons , so then the error ration is minimized to only 1 ft to almost 1 meter. And this dgps is also having features like mobile phones for sms etc.
I think now u can have a little bit info about gps , but if still u want some more then i can give u lot of info , as i am dealing in this spceific product since long, and i may guide u in better way.
thanks
kamal
How much does it cost. Does the thing talk like in europe, which languages is it available/ programmed in???
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*Originally posted by blushing_vision: *
How much does it cost. Does the thing talk like in europe, which languages is it available/ programmed in???
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I bought a car kit in the UK late last year for £550. It talks in British English, American English, French, german, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, dutch and a few others, depending which language you install from the included DVD.
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*Originally posted by anahndi: *
...... As those satellites recieve these signals, they track latitude, longitude, and altitude of vehicle or whatever is being tracked. (They even use them to track whales!) .....
So, I suppose it would be similar to always having a map and compass with you - never being lost - even in the event of a wreck, the vehicle would be able to be found based on the GPS info. However, GPS systems available to civilians (seeing as how this is a US military defense invention) is only accurate to within 100 meters.
I am not certain about fees or anything like that.
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You've got some of your facts mixed up. The GPS satelites transmit a signal which is received by the GPS unit in your car. It then uses this signal to work out where you are. Usually, you need a signal from a minimum of 2 satellites to get an accurate fix, but some of the early GPS receivers worked on a single satellite. This means that satellites themselves can't track anything, all they do is transmit a constant signal.