GPS Accessories

Why Do I Need an External Antenna for My PocketPC?
By Jon Butt

For stronger signal strengths, lesser static interruptions, and better GPS reception and accuracy, use an external antenna. PocketPC gadgets from HP iPAQ, Dell, and Palm, especially those with cellular phone and GPS capabilities, can work better with various signal enhancers.

An external antenna is one of the numerous PDA handheld accessories along with PDA cases, screen protectors, styluses, car mounts, cables, and others that ensure total Pocket PC protection and improved functions.

External Antennas For PocketPCs - Promoting Seamless Connectivity

For PDAs with cellular phone and GPS (global position system), an external antenna can work wonders. An external antenna can be attached to the Pocket PC device and can be conveniently placed on the roof of your car, at the top of your desk, etc. An external antenna for your Pocket PC can utilize more signals making communication faster and more convenient.

Even though some Pocket PC units, PDA phones, and cellular phones have their built-in antenna, an external one is still useful.

A built-in antenna has certain limitations in sending and receiving signals because of its restricted size so the user has to find the right place to conduct his call or use the GPS of his Pocket PC. An external antenna can easily get better signals because it can place itself in a better radio frequency (RF) environment.

Various points should also be taken care of before connecting an antenna to your Pocket PC. Other PDA accessories, like cables or connectors, are needed to connect the antenna to your Pocket PC.

Longer handheld cables lessen the signals, so shorter cables should be chosen where possible. The location of the external antenna should also be considered. For example, when you’re on the road, the perfect spot to put the Pocket PC antenna is on the roof of the vehicle to widen handheld signal coverage.

Jon Butt is the publisher of http://www.the-PDA-guide.com One of the web's leading sources of information on how to choose your perfect PDA or PocketPC or Handheld, where to get the biggest discounts online, which software downloads will enhance your life and what accessories will enhance your little PDA friend.

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GPS for GOLF

1. Golf GPS Systems - Gadgets to Improve Your Game
By Sarah Freeland

One of the newest tools of the trade is the golf GPS (global positioning system). These tools provide golfers with course maps and they can be used for determining yardage. There are several different models of golf GPSs including handheld GPS system models and digital caddies. These golf gadgets have become so popular in the last couple of years that now many of the top golf courses offer digital caddies that have a gps integrated into their golf cart rentals.

If you are in the market for a handheld GPS then you have several great options to choose from. Your first option is the Sky Golf – Sky Caddie SG2 GPS. This handheld model has a list price of $349.99, however, you can occasionally find it on sale for around $280. This product includes a programmable GPS rangefinder, an AC battery charger, a USB cable to connect your GPS to your computer, software, a belt clip, and a quick start guide.

If you have a pocket PC then you might be interested in the GPS Golf Pro with Bluetooth GPS Receiver. This item has a list price of $350, however, it is commonly available for a much lower price. It offers an electronic scorecard, shot by shot tracking, club recommendations, GPS distances, and scorecard email.

If you are looking for an easy to use handheld GPS then you may be interested in the SONOCADDIE GOLF GPS SYSTEM. This product sells for around $300. It offers distance tracking for several items like targets, hazards, and distances to the green.

Golf GPS devices are great golf cart accessories and they can be a great gift to give to yourself or to someone else. When you shop for a golf GPS make sure that you try a few out to see which ones you like best. Make sure that you can read the display and make sure that you are able to use all of the buttons or stylist. You will also want to shop around and compare prices, as this can help you to save $50 to $100 on a single golf GPS model.

Are you in the market for golf accessories? Fore Her Golf carries clothing and accessories with a feminine appeal including polo shirts, skirts, golf GPS devices, hats and outerwear from top brands - also a great selection of unique golf gifts and memorabilia for the lady golfer in your life. Fore Her Golf is your source for women's golf supplies and gifts, products reviews and recommendations as well as game tips and training techniques. For more information on golfing and other recreational activities visit the golf directory.

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2. Improve your golf game with StarCaddy.
Choosing the right club can make or break your game. StarCaddy's s unique PDA-based software and hardware helps you choose the best club for every shot. StarCaddy software displays a digital map of the course on your PDA, using GPS to give you the exact distance to the green, sand traps, or any other course feature. Analyze the key elements of the course to improve your club selection and game with just a tap on your Palm or PocketPC PDA.

StarCaddy helps golfers Choose the Best Club For Every Shot!

Take the Guesswork Out of Your Game.
With GPS and a sophisticated digital map you can analyze the distance for every shot you make. Use StarCaddy to determine exact yardage to any course feature and take the guesswork out of your game.

Lay Up or Go For It? The Right Decision Every Time.
What's the landing area between two bunkers? Can you make it over the pond? With StarCaddy, there's no more worrying about hazards or long shots. With its precise measurement tool, you can judge distances perfectly and choose the perfect strategy every time.

X Marks the Spot.
When using a GPS Receiver, StarCaddy pinpoints your position on the course with an X. As you move, StarCaddy automatically zooms in to display increasing detail and the precise distance from you to the green at all times.

Keep Score with StarCaddy.
StarCaddy lets you track your game with precision. With a tap of the screen, you can view the tees, yardage and handicap for each hole. StarCaddy dynamically calculates In, Out and Total scores, tracks match status (including strokes given per hole) and will even record presses and side bets. So relax and let StarCaddy keep score for you or your foursome.

Play Any Course Like It's Your Home Course.
Stop trying to interpret maps and legends. StarCaddy's digital maps are accurate and easy to read. These maps are created from satellite and aerial imagery and are geo-referenced to be within one yard of actual position. And since StarCaddy can give you the exact distance to each course feature, every course, you can master the grounds in no time. Every course will feel like your home course!

Download your first StarCaddy course map for free!
Getting started with StarCaddy is easy! Check out all the digital course maps available at www.starcaddy.com, then pick the ones you want. Your first map is FREE with your purchase of StarCaddy. You can download detailed digital maps for the courses you play at home, on vacation or when you're traveling on business.

Use StarCaddy's MapManager to efficiently control your list of digital course maps. MapManager is a program for your desktop computer that installs StarCaddy on your PDA and lets you easily move your course maps on and off your PDA. MapManager stores your course maps when they're not in use and checks for FREE updates to the maps and the StarCaddy software.

StarCaddy is optimized with a GPS receiver.

According to an informal survey of golf pros, the average golfer loses as many as six strokes per round to incorrect club selection. StarCaddy uses GPS satellite technology to give golfers the information needed to choose the right club every time and pick up strokes without practice.

Star Caddy for PDA w/ GPS Receiver and Software

System requirements for the desktop PC:
OS: Win 95/98/2000/ME/XP (Home or Professional)/NT
Internet Access required: IE 5.0 or higher OR Netscape 4.0 or higher
Sync Software: Active Sync 3.1 or higher (for Pocket PC models)
PalmDesktop 3.1 or higher (for Palm OS models)

For more detail click here.

Dowload Plugin

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What is Geocoding?

By Dave Stevenson

"Geocoding is the process of assigning geographic coordinates (e.g. latitude-longitude) to street addresses, as well as other points and features. With geographic coordinates, the features can then be mapped and entered into Geographic Information Systems." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geocoding)

How do I Geocode an Address?

There are a number of ways to geocode an address. The complicated way is to download the US Census data (Tiger/Line), write some programming code and database code to interact with the database, and go from there. The much easier way is to use an existing geocoding provider. There are many on the net today. Many have programming interfaces in Java, .NET, or even Ruby, ready for you to plug into your application.

What are some uses of Geocodes?

Many people ask why addresses should be geocoded. Let me ask you this: Have you ever wanted to generate a list of customers that lived within a certain distance from a point? Or have you wanted to display on a map where your customers are from? Both of these questions require you to geocode your data in order to find the answer. When you have an address geocoded, you can then use the latitude and longitude to perform searches and mappings with it.

Dave Stevenson is a computer programmer from Highland Utah. He has many hobbies, including running. Check out his website at Geocode America

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Topographic Maps 101

By Will Robertson

The intricate details on a topographic map can be befuddling, even frustrating, if you are learning while out in the backcountry. But once you get familiar with the markings and symbols, reading maps will become a friendly aid, rather than a dreaded assignment.

Topographic Maps Grid System

Lines of latitude run parallel to the equator (east and west), and lines of longitude run perpendicular to the equator (north and south). These lines form a pattern of squares across the surface of the earth like a checker board.

One square, formed by lines of longitude and latitude, measures 90 degrees x 90 degrees. Degrees are further subdivided into minutes and seconds.

• 1 degree = 60 minutes
• 1 minute = 60 seconds

The important thing to understand, when we look for a topographic map for our hiking adventures, is that it will be located within this larger context of degrees, minutes, and seconds. Fortunately, it will also, usually, be identified with a place name.

An alternative method of notation within the Geographic Coordinate System is the decimal degree system. In the decimal degree system, minutes and seconds are replaced by a percentage of a degree, expressed as a decimal up to four places long. It is often used for Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications,

Topographic Maps Scale Explained

A topographic map lists its scale in the margin or legend. The scale is the relationship between distances on a map and the corresponding distance on the ground. For example, a map with a scale of 1:50,000 means that 1 unit of measurement on the map equals 50,000 equivalent units on the ground.

Units can be in inches, feet, centimeters, or meters, depending on what scale map you are looking at and what measuring system the country uses. Most USGS maps are 1:24,000, also known as 7 ½ minute maps. On this map, 1 inch = 24,000 inches on the ground. In Canada, most hiking maps are 1:50,000 scale, where 1 cm = 50,000 cm on the ground.

A small scale map (ex. 1:100,000) covers a large area; it shows less detail with fewer features. A large scale map (ex. 1:10,000) covers a small area; it shows great detail and small features. A 1:2,500, large scale map would show individual houses and street lights.

Topographic Maps Symbols and Colors

The symbols and colors used on Topographic maps are fairly straight forward:

• Black - man-made, “cultural,” features such as roads, buildings, etc. It is also used to show geographical names (toponymy), certain symbols, geographic coordinates, precise elevations, border information and surround information.

• Blue –water, lakes, rivers, streams, etc. The names of bodies of water and water courses are also shown in blue, as are magnetic declination and UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) grid information.

• Brown - contour lines, contour elevations, spot elevations, sand.

• Green - areas with substantial vegetation like a forest, orchard, or vineyard

• Grey - used on the back of the map where the different symbols and a glossary of terms and abbreviations can be found.

• Orange - unpaved roads and unclassified roads and streets.

• Purple - features added to the map since the original survey. These features are based on aerial photographs but have not been checked on land.

• Red - major highways; boundaries of public land areas. A red tint is used to show an urban development.

• White - areas with little or no vegetation; also used to depict permanent snowfields and glaciers

Topographic Maps Glossary

• Bearing - Angular direction expressed in degrees.

• Contour Lines – A line on a map joining points of equal elevation. These lines are used to illustrate relief on a map.

• Distortion - The difference in shape between the actual curved surface of the earth and the flat representation of a topographic map.

• Grid - A system of horizontal and vertical lines that provide coordinates for locating points on an image.

• Magnetic Declination - The angle between magnetic north and true north, expressed in degrees and minutes, east or west from true north.

• Magnetic North - The direction your compass needle points.

• Projection - A method by which the curved shape of the earth is represented on a flat surface, overcoming distortion.

• Relief – The variations in elevation of the earth’s surface.

• Scale – The relationship between distance on a map and the corresponding distance on the ground. For example, a map with a scale of 1:50,000 means that 1 unit of measurement on the map equals 50,000 equivalent units on the ground.

• Topographic Map – An illustration of the earth’s different elevation levels by means of contour lines. They present both natural and manmade features.

• True North - Direction of the northern rotational axis of the earth – the North Pole.

Outdoors Adventurer, Writer and Webmaster Will Robertson lives with his family in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Explore the best hiking vacations and gear on the planet at: http://www.hiking-vacations-and-gear.com

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OnStar Satellite System for Robotic Vehicles

By Lance Winslow

The General Motors OnStar system is a cool system for any family. There is even the ability to unlock your door from Space, if you lock yourself out of your car you simply call a number and they unlock the door. With this great technology and the fact it always knows where you are with GPS means the OnStar system could do much more, if it were designed to do so. For instance OnStar Satellite System could be used for Engine Efficiency, self-driving buses, over the road trucks, train controls or even street sweepers at night and Garbage Trucks in the early mornings.

With GIS information data sets figured into the GPS Navigational system it would be easy to control unmanned ground vehicles in our civilization. There is a shortage of truck drivers and cities need to cut labor costs. Many of our Nations Largest Municipal Transportation Systems have had strikes in the last year. Additionally with fuel costs up, we must cut costs somewhere. By over laying map systems, ESRI software and XML database sets this system can be integrated and that is not a problem. Thus taking care of the coming shortages in drivers and the escalating labor costs, which threatens to sink our nations most critical transportation systems.

There would also be military applications for this to save fuel and increase range on the heavier bullet proof re-enforced Humvees. Indeed as we saw in the DARPA Challenge all these technologies are fully feasible and during that event much of this technology was not even used or allowed due to contest rules. These systems for true autonomous ground transportation along with anti-collision devices now available by German and Japanese Automakers this whole plan could be a done deal in relatively short order.

This could also prevent wartime deaths from roadside bombs and be used for robotic warfighting vehicles especially for army tanks, robotic vehicles and UAVs too. By developing these systems and technologies to the fullest we maybe able to allow for the transfer technology to the private sector to insure a greater advantage in efficiency in Ground Transportation, think on this.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

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Satellite and Satellite Phones

By Paul Cris

A satellite is a most sophisticated communication device, which works as a relay station orbit up above the earths crust. All satellites have receivers, converters and transmitters with all the accessories needed for wireless communication. A typical communication satellite has 12 to 24 on board transponders. A Transponder is nothing but a package consisting of receivers, converters and transmitters and the normal output is calculated between 5 to 10 watts. It has the potential to operate in L-Band, C Band or KU Band or in the microwave range. KA-bands (18 to 31 GHZ) can also be operated in some cases. Communication through Mobile satellite system cannot be operated.

Geosynchronous Earth Orbit Satellite – GEO:

It is a satellite which orbits the earth some 22000 plus miles up above the equator. It is having a fixed direction corresponding to Earth. It is finely synchronized with the rotational speed of Earth so much so it would appear as though it stands stationery at that spot all the time. Earth-satellite-Earth time is about 0.25 seconds. Normal Bands operate on 4 to 6 GHZ (C-Band) and 12 to 14 GHZ (KU-Band normal frequency is 10.9 to 17 GHZ). Signals that go beyond 3 GHZ are considered microwaves.

Low Earth Orbit Satellite – LEO system.

In this system a constellation consisting quite a large number of satellites put on a circular orbit above the earths surface at a constant altitude of a few hundred miles (as against 22000 plus miles in GEO). The entire constellation is systematically arranged in such a way that at least one satellite in on sight always. Every geographical area is covered by the orbiting satellites. Internet access though wireless is possible in this configuration. L. Band - 0.5 to 1.5 GHZ – is operated which means satellite phone handset to satellite in quite possible.

Medium Earth Orbit Satellite: MEO

It is not stationery from a fixed or definite point on earths orbit like a GEO. In fact it is between a GEO and LEO. You need access methodology to access the satellite or use a precise frequency band in order to track the satellite with the help of a non-direction antenna.

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