GPS Questions

stevenrp · 04-22-03, 11:14 AM

I posted this in the wrong place, sorry guys....

Thinking about picking up a GPS system for my Ax. Any opinions on which one I should get. Also, what's the average cost for using the service?
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After reading the posts I have a good idea on what to buy. But I'm new to this GPS stuff. Is there an access charge for using the satellite links? If so, about how much. This doesn't just work out of the box for free does it?

Thanks

ikehiker · 04-22-03, 11:58 AM

If you're an American citizen, you've already paid for the satellites (your tax $$$ at work :) - if you're not a citizen then you're getting a free ride, just don't let your country cross us). You will have to pay for the maps and some of them are a subscription-based service.

P.S. I've been trying to figure out (unsuccessfully) what your avatar molecule is. Any clues?

stevenrp · 04-22-03, 12:51 PM

Ok great! Thanks for the reply. I was wondering how it as all paid for. Had no idea it was our tax dollars at work! The avatar is the molecular structure of my Ax. :D Actually, I have no idea. Just found it on the web.

ikehiker · 04-22-03, 06:52 PM

GPS was originally put up for defense purposes (big surprise, eh?) but a couple of companies (Magellan is the one I had an early unit from) started selling units for outdoors people (boating especially but also for backpacker types like me). Because DOD was worried about 'enemies' using it for delivering/triggering bombs, they built a random error into the system. I don't really know how this was accomplished, I'm sure others on the site know, but it meant your GPS could be as much as 100 meters 'off.' If I remember the story correctly, it was when the system started to get use in planes that DOD gave in so the current systems are really pretty accurate. I guess they didn't want planes missing runways by 100 meters :) and I think some of the commercial units had figured out a way to counteract the purposeful error anyway.

stevenrp · 04-22-03, 06:58 PM

Yea I think you're right about the 100 meters. I remember hearing that back when they were available to the public for the first time. And I think now some of the higher end ones are accurate to a few feet if I remember right.

ikehiker · 04-22-03, 07:21 PM

BTW, have you had trouble sleeping since you started posting here? I'm pretty sure I figured out your molecule - it's caffeine. :hide:

stevenrp · 04-22-03, 07:31 PM

LOL Is it really? As a matter of fact the past couple nights I've only gotten about 4 hours of sleep. Thanks to coffee and the Axim.