HOW TO USE THE GPS

Using a GPS is quite simple, your GPS receiver is designed to ‘listen’ for the signals from four of those satellites, and use the info provided to determine your latitude and longitude. It overlays that unique point onto a map that resembles your surrounding area to help you to navigate your way to anywhere in the world. Although GPS receivers are affordable, many consumers still wonder if they have the skill to use one. When you consider that the GPS must send a signal to satellites orbiting the Earth, wait to receive a signal back, and then convert that signal to not only your location but the speed at which you're travelling and how long it will take you to reach a particular destination, the gadget can seem pretty fantastical and intimidating. But the truth is, the receiver does the bulk of the work itself. If you can navigate by map and compass, reading a GPS will be an easy skill for you to learn. Let's get started...

Operating a GPS unit is very simple

• Let the receiver “wake up”.
• Read the coordinate.
• Check the sky map and signal strength.
• Mark waypoints.
• Alternatively, begin a track.
• Record the waypoint and notes in the field notebook.

In more detailed form OF HOW TO USE THE GPS …

GPS Waypoint and Go-to

To accurately determine your location, a GPS receiver needs to lock onto four different satellites. The signal it receives from these satellites must be strong. If the signal is weak or the GPS receiver cannot lock onto four satellites, the information you receive may not be accurate.

To get a signal, turn the GPS receiver on and push the satellite button. It may take a few minutes, but you'll be able to see the number, location and strength of the satellites that the GPS receiver is locked onto. If the signal is weak, or there are less than four satellites on the screen, you should navigate using a map and compass.

Sometimes the area where you're standing can have an effect on your signal strength. If the signal is spotty or weak, try moving to a location without any overhead obstructions. Both trees and canyon walls can interfere with the GPS's ability to communicate with satellites. Move into a meadow or a parking lot while the GPS system locks onto the satellites. Once it has locked on, the receiver usually can maintain a connection when you enter the woods.

Two important functions of a GPS receiver are the waypoint and the go-to functions. Waypoints are points that you can enter into the memory of your GPS for a particular activity. They may be the spot you plan to start cultivating or planting, where you start levelling the field or irrigating the crop. You can enter more than one waypoint for each activity. As you proceed with the activity, you can see the waypoints and your relationship to them on the GPS screen.

The go-to function guides you exactly where you want to go. When you're ready to head to any point in your field or another field, simply press the go-to button, and a selection of waypoints will appear on your screen. Select the waypoint you want, and the GPS receiver will immediately let you know how far away it is and what direction you need to travel to get there. It will continually update as you move, so you'll know if you're drifting off course and how much farther you need to travel.

Laying a Track with GPS

Laying a track is another important GPS receiver skill. You can use your GPS to leave a virtual trail, which allows you to follow your trail out if you become lost. Your GPS will have a button that's responsible for dropping track points. You can drop the track points as close together or as far apart as you like. The closer together you place your track points, the more accurate this trail will be if you have to follow it out. When you use the tracking feature, you don't need to manually enter the track points, the GPS will automatically mark them for you at the distance you specify before your trip.

All of the features available on GPS receivers are nice to have, but these features come with a drawback. GPS receivers can be hard on batteries. Lithium batteries have the longest battery life, but may cause distracting lines across the GPS screen when they're new. To eliminate this problem, many people use lithium batteries in another piece of equipment for a few minutes before putting them in their receiver.

You can prolong the life of your batteries, no matter what type they are, by turning off nonessential functions. Backlighting, compass mode and other auxiliary functions can be switched off. Also, if your GPS loses its satellite lock, turn it off to conserve battery power until you find an open area to lock in on the satellites again.

IT'S NO MAP AND COMPASS: A GPS receiver is many things, but it's not a replacement for a map and compass. Batteries can die, satellite lock can be lost, and many other things can happen that render the GPS receiver ineffective.

Loading Maps onto GPS

GPS receivers are only as good as the maps they're used with. If you're proficient with a map and compass, then you're probably familiar with the various types of topography maps. Regardless of where you plan to travel/work on, it's important you have accurate and easy-to-read maps.

Your receiver will come loaded with a variety of maps. If the maps you want aren't preloaded onto your GPS, you can probably purchase them in CD-ROM format and load them onto your receiver. Some companies also provide microSD memory cards that are preloaded with maps that can easily be added to your GPS. Finally, the Internet has a wealth of downloadable maps available for receivers.

GPS receivers are bound to become a more intimate part of our lives as more people become comfortable with the technology. Some people first learn to use them through their jobs. More and more workplaces are using GPS to track company vehicles or employees who work outside the office.

Once you become proficient with a GPS receiver, you may find you're interested in adding one to your vehicle. GPS receivers are not capable of recognizing obstacles in their paths, so both a road detour or a rushing river will require you to reconsider your route. For this reason, it's unlikely that maps will become obsolete any time soon.Farmers and agriculture service providers can expect even further improvements as GPS continues to modernize. In addition to the current civilian service provided by GPS, the United States is committed to implementing a second and a third civil signal on GPS satellites. The new signals will enhance both the quality and efficiency of agricultural operations in the future.