GPS and PDA Bring TLC to Your Travels

by: Rainer Cassell

Remember family vacations when you were a kid? Waiting in a stuffy car while mom and dad pored over those massive road maps? Or, watching as they tried to decipher the directions given by the guy at the gas station? Makes us wonder how we ever found the cottage! Thankfully, modern travelers can use a GPS receiver to find their way quickly and easily.

Every since GPS became widely available on the market the need for maps and large navigational devices became redundant. Today's traveler can refer to the tiny computer screen on the GPS receiver to find exactly where to go.

A GPS receiver is a small electronic device that can actually calculate your precise location on earth. The GPS is able to decode signals sent from satellites in outer space, and use those signals to tell you where you are at any given time. When combined with specialized software and electronics, the GPS is able to pinpoint an exact location on a map, and give you instructions on how to get there. This fascinating technology becomes even more incredible when you discover that it can be had for a relatively small price.

GPS receivers become even more useful and convenient when paired with other mobile devices. A PDA is a popular consumer product that is easily used along with a GPS. PDAs have hard drive space to allow for map storage and colored screens to display maps, making them ideal technological GPS partners. When one takes into account the small size and weight of a compact PDA as compared to options such as laptop computers, it's easy to see why PDAs are the choice of today's tech-savvy travelers.

Integration poses a problem with using a PDA with a GPS receiver. Most PDAs are connected to GPS receivers with either a CompactFlash (CF) card, or conventional USB wires. The size of the GPS, added to the size of the PDA, plus a CF can create a bulky and cumbersome system. Using wires, on the other hand, can be inconvenient and actually limit the usability of your navigation device. Many people are finding the best solution to the problem is through Bluetooth technology.

Bluetooth Solution

Bluetooth wireless technology has become the open standard for wireless communication. Using Bluetooth technology, two electronic devices are able to communicate with each other, sending a receiving signals and transferring data, from up to ten meters away. The beauty of this technology is that the information is transmitted completely wire-free.

Bluetooth GPS Receivers

A Bluetooth GPS receiver is an electronic device that uses wireless technology (namely, Bluetooth electronics) to transmit GPS data. The data is transmitted to a second wireless device, such as a PDA, that is capable of handling the technology. For example, a GPS receiver can wirelessly transmit data to a PDA handset, but only if they are both enabled with Bluetooth capabilities.

There are many advantages to using Bluetooth GPS receivers with compatible PDAs for data transmission, rather than using CompactFlash or USB wires:

Wireless Connection

It's not always best to have your PDA and your GPS receiver located in the same position. Without wires to bind the devices, you can position your PDA and GPS separately in the most strategic locations, to provide the best results. For example, if you are using your GPS while driving, you can position the Bluetooth GPS receiver in a spot where it has a clear view of the sky, while mounting the PDA to your dashboard where you have a clear view of the screen. There are no wires to get in the way of your vision, or hamper your driving in any way.

CompactFlash Slot Space

If you are using Bluetooth technology to transmit data, you'll have no need to plug in a CompactFlash card. The empty CF slot, therefore, can be used as a storage space for software or maps to further optimize the results of your GPS.

Bluetooth GPS manufacturers will offer further benefits with their equipment. For example, many Bluetooth GPS receivers feature a POI (points of interest) database, pre-stored maps and route re-calculation function.

So, whether your travels are taking you to the next neighborhood or another country, don't leave home without your GPS and PDA bundled with Bluetooth technology.


Article Source: http://www.christiannotepad.com

Rainer Cassell loves writing for various of today's best web zines, on product and technology themes.
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