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Edge 205- Garmin’s GPS-enabled personal trainer and cycle computer. Whether you’re a competitive racer or weekend cyclist, Edge will help you achieve your personal best.

Edge 305 - Garmin’s GPS-enabled personal trainer and cycle computer. With a wireless heart rate monitor and speed/cadence sensor, Edge 305 will help you achieve your personal best.

This GPS-enabled cycle computer comes loaded with everything you need to make the most out of your ride. Get cycle computer data and mapping detail, all from one compact, easy-to-use device. You can even store, analyze and share your stats for the world to see with Garmin’s online training community. With a color display and ultra-cool training features, Edge 605 has it all.

Edge 705 pushes you to do your best, then shows you the way back. This GPS-enabled cycle computer knows no limits. Get heart rate, cadence, turn-by-turn directions, power data (from ANT+Sport™-enabled third-party power meters) — the works. Even share your data with other Edge 705 buddies after your ride. All wireless with a color display.

Tag: GPS, Garmin Products

Dust, heat, humidity and impact damage are primary causes of failure. Don’t drop your GPS unit, not even onto something soft like water–especially not onto something soft like water!

Wipe it down with a clean cloth before you put it away and, if your GPS receiver has openings like a data card slot or battery compartment, blow those clean with canned air–never your humid breath.

If you own a car GPS system, mount it out of direct sunlight. Even on cool days, the dashboard can get dangerously hot for electronics and excessive exposure to the sun’s radiation can damage the memory–yes, sunburn can be terminal for a GPS terminal.

Like all modern consumer electronics, a GPS receiver has few moving parts to break, so it can provide years of valuable service (and a whole lot of fun!) if not abused. Enjoy and have fun!

Tag: GPS, Gadgets

Factors that can degrade the GPS signal and thus affect accuracy include the following:

• Ionosphere and troposphere delays — The satellite signal slows as it passes through the atmosphere. The GPS system uses a built-in model that calculates an average amount of delay to partially correct for this type of error.

• Signal multipath — This occurs when the GPS signal is reflected off objects such as tall buildings or large rock surfaces before it reaches the receiver. This increases the travel time of the signal, thereby causing errors.

• Receiver clock errors — A receiver’s built-in clock is not as accurate as the atomic clocks onboard the GPS satellites. Therefore, it may have very slight timing errors.

• Orbital errors — Also known as ephemeris errors, these are inaccuracies of the satellite’s reported location.

• Number of satellites visible — The more satellites a GPS receiver can “see,” the better the accuracy. Buildings, terrain, electronic interference, or sometimes even dense foliage can block signal reception, causing position errors or possibly no position reading at all.

• Satellite geometry/shading — This refers to the relative position of the satellites at any given time. Ideal satellite geometry exists when the satellites are located at wide angles relative to each other. Poor geometry results when the satellites are located in a line or in a tight grouping.

• Degradation of the satellite signal — Selective Availability (SA) is an intentional degradation of the signal once imposed by the U.S. Department of Defense. SA was intended to prevent military adversaries from using the highly accurate GPS signals. The government turned off SA in May 2000, which significantly improved the accuracy of civilian GPS receivers.

Tag: GPS, Gadgets

The following tips will help you fully utilize your GPS making it one of your best investments yet.

1.Read the Instructions:

We all are tempted to toss the directions aside and jump in unaware and unprepared. You may be able to get the general idea of how to work the device but you really aren’t doing you or your purchase justice without at least glancing over the instructions. Besides telling you how to properly use and care for your GPS the directions will lets you know about added features that you may not have been aware of. It’s also important to know how to use it properly so you actually find your way without any hassle.

2.Use it In a Familiar Place:

Your GPS is meant to help you find your way but before you trust it to guide you try testing it. Visit familiar places so you can get an understanding of how the device works. Let it guide you to places you know well so you can see what signals it uses, how detailed the directions are and what if any buttons you need to push or options you have to choose.

3.Download Extra Features:

Most GPS will come with upgrades and other features that can be downloaded from the manufacturer. These can update maps, give you access to new routes, and ultimately make your driving experience and your GPS use easier. Visit the manufacturers website, read the instruction book, or ask the sales representative from where you purchased your device for information about upgrades.

4.Save Routes

If you plan a trip and think you may visit that destination save the route your GPS planned out for you. This is a convenient way to keep a small library of directions so you never have to worry about entering the information again. This can also come in handy when you return from your destination. You can recall these directions and use the information to find your reverse route.

5.Program Alternate Routes:

No matter how detailed your GPS is, it will not help you get anywhere faster if you’re stuck in traffic. Unfortunately, the first route your GPS creates will be the most direct which is most likely subjected to heavy traffic. An excellent way to avoid the daily traffic if your in a hurry is to program alternate routes into your GPS.

Tag: GPS, Gadgets

I’m sure that you can guess that the accuracy of a GPS unit is dependant on the time piece in the unit that is sending the signal. If the time in GPS unit is off it can impact the accuracy of the positioning information. Clock errors are not the number one source of inaccurate information in GPS units. The number one source of inaccurate information come from the atmosphere. When the signal passes through the atmosphere to the satellites, it can encounter conditions that can speed it up or slow it down, thus affecting the time and the calculations that are given.Inaccuracies occur when a signal bounces off of a skyscrapers, mountains, or other such terrain. This will then cause distortions that are similar to those that are caused by atmospheric conditions.

Another problem occurs when the satellite updates its position, this takes place every twelve minutes. If a signal reaches a satellite near its update time, the satellite doesn’t know its correct position, and it makes a calculation that is based on bad information. These type of errors are unavoidable with the GPS systems that are being sold to consumers. However for most uses, these problems don’t amount to much.

Tag: GPS, Gadgets