GPS devices are great because they allow you know figure out exactly where you are. But did you know that some GPS devices can help you find your friends too?

The Garmin Rino 520HCx GPS FRS/GMRS 2 Way Radio is a GPS device designed to do just that. This high-sensitivity GPS device is water resistant and it is able to pinpoint your position even in locations that would give other GPS devices trouble, like heavy cover or deep canyons.

The Rino 520HCx can not only find you, it can then tell others where you are. Its unique Position Reporting feature lets you send your exact location to your fellow Rino users. That way, all Rino users connected to your group can see your position on the map page. But the Rino does not have to do all of the talking, it will let you get a word in too. Besides being a great GPS device, the Rino 520HCx is also a standard FRS/GMRS radio. The Rino’s radio is able to communicate with other conventional FRS/GMRS radios.

The Rino 520 HCx:

-includes a built-in Americas autoroute basemap with automatic routing capabilities, including highways, exits, and tide data (U.S. only)

- has position formats including Lat/Lon, UTM, Loran TDs, Maidenhead, MGRS, a user grid, and more

-is equipped with a 10,000-point automatic track log; 20 saved tracks (500 points each) let you retrace your path in both directions

-has new high-sensitivity WAAS-Capable GPS receiver by SiRF

-has built-in quad-helix receiving antenna with remote antenna capability

-supports English, Spanish, Portugese, and French languages

-includes a large-numbers option for easy viewing

-give you the option of a dual-position display mode

-has a MicroSD card slot that allows for storage of optional MapSource detail

-comes with internal memory that is preloaded with a marine point database

-is illuminated by a LED backlit display and keypad

A visit to ActionGPS.com can keep you in the loop about the Rino 520HCx and other great GPS devices.

When it comes to navigation and giving directional assistance, GPS knows no limits. Researchers in Germany have been experimenting with how they can use GPS navigation to assist with transportation by air. They have been successful in showing that satellite navigation through GPS systems can be used for manually-flown helicopters. This makes since, since just as in a car that is on the ground, a helicopter that is being flown by a person, rather than a machine can use a little GPS assistance. The pilots how participated in these GPS tests did not report any problems with using such a system.

These experiments made use of one of the GPS industry’s top brands, Garmin. The modified Garmin navigation devices used by the German engineers are not ready to hit the market yet. However, these tests prove that GPS is not just for those who are on the ground.

Remember the Jetsons? Everyone was whizzing around in their own little flight machines, yet the traffic looked much like it does now. Well, maybe these nifty GPS devices for helicopters that were the subject of these German experiments will be available when we start flying around. But for now we are still driving on the ground and you can get a GPS navigation device to keep you on the right track. In the event that you still manage to get off course, a GPS device can re-route you.

GPS devices like the Garmin Nuvi 650 GPS Automotive Navigation System come pre-loaded with and accept points of interest (POIs), so they can point you to where you want to go. The POI database on many GPS devices also comes preloaded with information on scores of useful places like ATMs, hotels, restaurants and gas stations. Or they can help you remind you of that place you’ve been before when you can’t quite remember.

From the GPS nav unit on your dashboard to sophisticated flood prediction models, new uses for GPS technology seem to be multiplying exponentially. A new website developed by NASA and its partners — GPS Application Exchange – recently debuted that is devoted to sharing the practical uses of GPS technology.

It’s been nearly 50 years since the Navy’s precursor to today’s Global Positioning System, Transit, was developed for military use. The satellite navigation system maintained by the U.S. government, called NAVSTAR GPS, has grown from five satellites in 1960 to about 32 today. The standard term for such systems is Global Navigation Satellite System or GNSS. Similar systems are operational or in development around the world. The Russians are in the process of restoring their GLONASS network. The European Union is developing Galileo. China is working to expand its regional Beidou navigation system to global scope. Japan is one of several countries with a nationwide system, and India expects to be operational with its own regional IRNSS system by 2012.  

Since 1983 when President Regan declassified GPS for civilian use, GPS technology has become so prevalent that today it impacts our daily lives in myriad ways. NASA’s new website provides a resource and forum for exploring and sharing practical uses of GPS. Earthquake-riddled Japan is using its regional GPS array to plot physical ground movements in an effort to create an earthquake warning system. Iceland is using GPS-equipped snowmobiles in search and rescue missions. In Bangladesh, GPS is being used to develop a flood-control plan by tracking flooding caused by frequent monsoons. In the U.S., GPS systems are now used to track wildlife patterns, herd cattle and keep track of kids to protect against kidnapping.

U.S. consumers are already aware of the growing capabilities of even the most basic GPS consumer products. Handheld GPS units and automotive navigation devices can track even the most obscure locations. Naturally, they can pinpoint the locations of restaurants, stores and gas stations; but some can also tell you if there’s a bear on the trail up ahead and where the fish are biting. GPS is quickly becoming one of those “can’t live without it” necessities of modern American life. Fortunately, ActionGPS puts owning a GPS within the grasp of every consumer. Visit ActionGPS.com to check out our complete line of top-selling Garmin and TomTom GPS devices at highly affordable prices.

With higher fuel prices and more stringent shipping demands, more and more truckers are looking to GPS for assistance. In the past, truckers used GPS navigation devices to track loads and map out routes. These days they are also using GPS technology for its turn-by-turn navigation.

While there is no official survey to chart just how many more truckers are using GPS devices to find their way around, their popularity is evident by the increasing presence of GPS devices on the shelves on the trucker stops around the country. Not only are truckers trying to get ahead by buying their own GPS devices, some of their bosses are also looking to get into the act. Trucking companies are buying large quantities of GPS devices and having them installed in all of their vehicles.

Even the Federal Highway Administration has taken notice and issued reminders to truckers and all drivers that they need to program their GPS navigation devices prior to starting a trip. That way, they will not need to try to program the device and drive at the same time.

When used properly, GPS navigation devices can make the roads safer for everyone. Truckers and others can drive confident that they know where they are going. There is no need to look away to consult a paper map.
Truckers who use GPS devices can avoid making sudden lane changes that can endanger passenger cars. And with a GPS device like the Garmin StreetPilot C550 GPS Automotive Navigation System that gives traffic updates, truckers can avoid problem areas and road closures. The FM TMC traffic receiver notifies drivers of upcoming traffic delays. By just touching the screen, a driver can view traffic details or recalculate a route to avoid traffic.  The StreetPilot also come equipped for hands-free calling and an MP3 player to make long trips a little less tedious. The StreetPilot C550 and similar GPA navigation devices are available at ActionGPS.com.

The day is coming when paper maps will be no more than antique shop curiosities. Like cassette tapes, VHS movies and (soon) analog TV, roadmaps and street directories are becoming modern day dinosaurs. Maps have gone digital and GPS devices are now the preferred method of getting from point A to point B. In fact, incoming college freshman, most born in 1990, have never known a world without GPS — or caller ID, Harry Potter, Nintendo Game Boy, karaoke, plastic soda bottles, and late night TV with Leno and Letterman, according to the Beloit College Mindset List, an annually published list of common collegiate references geared to help college professors update their teaching references and make the rest of us feel old.

GPS technology was developed by the military and honed to deadly accuracy during the Gulf War. (They bragged about hitting targets the size of a 50-cent piece.) When they first hit the consumer market, GPS devices were a bit unwieldy and exorbitantly priced, kind of like early mobile phones. But like phones, which have gone from the size of a hefty brick to not much bigger than a credit card, advances in electronic circuitry have trimmed the size and price of GPS units each year. Today, you can buy a GPS unit that fits in your pocket or purse for less than the cost of your monthly cell phone bill, particularly if you live with teenagers.

GPS devices have become so popular that sales topped $4.1 billion last year, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. In a CEA survey, 18% of online adults already owned a GPS device and 24% wanted one. With online suppliers like ActionGPS offering GPS devices at highly affordable prices, there’s no reason to live with envy. Owning a GPS is within the financial grasp of even the most budget conscious, particularly if you buy one of ActionGPS’ very affordable factory refurbished models. To view our full line of GPS devices, visit the ActionGPS website.

Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? The new ActionGPS Learning Center shows you how to easily convert your Bluetooth-enabled PDA or laptop into a GPS receiver. Except for the basic Bluetooth compatibility, no special equipment is required. All you need is a Bluetooth-enabled GPS receiver. Plug it into the serial port on your laptop or PDA and voila! — you have a functioning automotive or handheld GPS device. And, best of all, you pay no GPS service fee. Your only expense is the receiver.

This simple trick — one of many handy tips you’ll find at the new ActionGPS Learning Center – allows you to use your laptop to plan your next vacation, a cross-country road trip, even an international adventure. Using expansion slots, you can enhance your trip planning capabilities by adding useful maps and navigation aids. Take your GPS-enhanced PDA or laptop along on the trip for plotting spur-of-the-moment day trips and excursions to sight-seeing gems you learn about during your travels. The data logging function on the GPS receiver allows you to record your entire trip and mark new points of interest for return trips.

Of course with versatile, pocket-sized, Bluetooth GPS units on the market like Garmin’s Nuvi 360, you don’t have to lug a bulky laptop across country or through Europe. Navigator, translator, entertainer, tour guide — the Garmin Nuvi 360 is like having a personal travel agent in your pocket.

Wireless Bluetooth technology allows the Nuvi 360 to integrate with your compatible Bluetooth phone. Use the Nuvi’s touch screen keypad to dial calls. Answer calls by tapping the screen. The powerful built-in microphone and speaker allow you to talk hands-free and stay focused on the road. Handy one-touch dialing for points of interest allows you to call ahead for reservations or information effortlessly. Sleek and slim, Garmin’s Nuvi 360 fits comfortably into your pocket or purse and has a convenient rechargeable lithium-ion battery. You couldn’t ask for a better traveling companion!

Just the other day I saw an editorial cartoon that showed a couple in a car with a GPS navigation system that seemed unsure of how to point the driver in the right direction. In the word balloon, the system tells them to take and right and then tells them no it was really a right. And it gets worse—then the GPS device declares that it is most certainly not going to ask someone else.

Well, that makes for a funny cartoon, but it would not be an amusing situation in real life.
GPS devices really do not have personalities of their own. Instead, they can take on the personality and reflect the interests of the user. You can customize your GPS navigation device you fit your lifestyle and travel needs.

Action GPS does not sell GPS navigation systems that are unsure of themselves. Yes, GPS systems do come with voice prompts that sound just like human voices. But unlike the guy at the gas station who doesn’t want to admit that he doesn’t really know how to direct you to where you want to go, GPS knows. GPS devices employ state-of-the-art satellite technology with updates. Some GPS devices can even warn you of upcoming traffic snags.

A device like the Garmin Nuvi 650 will provide you with turn-by-turn voice directions. It even announces the name of exits and streets so you never have to take your eyes off the road. Plus, it is programmable, so it will also take input from you. Add your own points of interest (POIs) like restaurants, schools, safety cameras and sports venues. You can also set alerts so that the Garmin Nuvi 650 can let you know when you are getting close to POIs.

We are pleased to announce that the ‘GPS Learning Center’ is now live at ActionGPS.com!

The Learning Center is filled with both basic and advance content to help you learn more about GPS units, help with product selection, and to enhance your user experience if you already own a GPS.

We will be adding content to this section regularly so check back often for updates.

Click here to visit the Learning Center.

- ActionGPS Staff

There’s nothing hard about geocaching, except for sometimes finding that devilishly hidden cache. You go to www.geocaching.com or any of numerous geocaching websites to find cache sites. Download the site coordinates into your portable GPS unit — and the hunt is on!

It doesn’t take much to get started (see our Aug. 5 post), and geocaching is fun for the whole family. The goal is find the cache. You use your GPS to follow the coordinates to the cache site. Using your GPS to pinpoint the site location, you then have to scan the area (think deviously), poking around under stones and inside decayed tree trunks to find the hidden container. (Beginners may want to printout the “tips” provided for many cache sites when they download coordinates.)

The rules are simple:

• Fill out the logbook with your name (or cache name), hometown and home state. Make a comment if there’s room in the logbook. Take a look at the logbook. You may see other cachers who have found the site from across the country and even around the world.
• If the cache has prizes (odd trinkets or message slips), take one.
• Add a prize of your own to the cache.
• Carefully close the container to protect the contents from the weather and return the cache to the exact position in which you found it.
• Respect the environment and other cachers. Geocache responsibly. Obtain permission before caching on private property. (Unless placed by the property owner, nearly all caches are located on public property.)

You’ll meet a lot of friendly people geocaching and discover interesting and unusual sites you didn’t know existed. Visit ActionGPS for great deals on portable, handheld GPS units perfect for geocaching.

Consumer Reports, an organization known for their rigorous testing of a variety of consumer products recently put GPS navigation devices to the test. And you will be happy to know that devices from the top-notch brands that Action GPS sells such as Garmin, Mio, and TomTom, were included in the mix. Being examined by Consumer Reports is very important because there are any number of brands that Consumer Reports probably didn’t even consider testing.  We can’t tell you exactly what they said because they save the info for paying customers only.

What was Consumer Reports looking for? Well they rated GPS devices in five categories:
Ease of Use (paying a lot of attention to how easy it was to enter a destination and look for points of interest);Routing Options; Controls; Mount Design; and Portability. They also added scoring for convenience features like USB and A/C power cables, trip computer and Bluetooth capabilities.

But really you don’t even need Consumer Reports to tell you which GPS product is the best for you. Once you figure out what capabilities best suit you and your lifestyle, certain GPS products will stand out as more suitable than others. Still, we know that you need a little help and that making purchasing decisions are much easier when you can compare. This is why Action GPS has decided to launch the Action GPS Learning Center.

Expected to be up and running next week on August 11, the learning center will provide you with the basics. You can turn to the learning center for information about GPS technology, using Bluetooth headsets and geocaching techniques. In addition to basics you’ll learn ways to enhance and make the most of your GPS device.

Many of our newer readers often ask us to provide them with basic information in helping them choose a GPS unit. We often get questions like how difficult is it to operate a gps unit? Is there a monthly usage fee? Which model is right for me? While this blog has answered all of those questions in some form, we understand that it would be beneficial to our readers to make this information available in an an easily accessible area. Therefore, we are pleased to announce that we will soon be launching ‘The GPS Learning Center’ on ActionGPS.com.

The Learning Center will include some basic information on topics such as gps technology, geocaching, and bluetooth. Additionally, the Learning Center will feature buying guides for the automotive, fitness, marine, and outdoor GPS categories. In the future, we will also be adding gps tips along with best practices to further enhance your GPS experience.

We expect the Learning Center to be live Monday, August 11th. Be sure to check the homepage at actiongps.com then.

- ActionGPS Staff

Geocaching is the hot new sport for anyone with a yen for adventure. An updated version of the old treasure hunt, geocaching replaces yellowed, hand-drawn pirate maps with sleek, portable, handheld GPS devices like the Garmin GPSMAP 60 CS Portable Handheld Outdoor GPS (shown). Instead of hunting for Spanish doubloons on deserted islands, you trek through urban jungles or into the backwoods in search of hidden caches. Geocaching won’t make you rich, but it will enrich your leisure time. It’s a great sport for singles, couples, teens and families and a fun way to get some healthy exercise.  

It’s easy to get started with geocaching. All you need is a portable GPS unit. Look for these features when purchasing a GPS device for geocaching:

• You’ll be carrying the GPS unit while hiking, so look for a model that is lightweight and compact. You want something that is easy to carry in the palm of your hand because you’ll be checking the readout constantly as you hike. Some models come with a wrist strap.
• A unit with a long battery life lets you stay on the hunt longer. You won’t have to worry about loosing juice mid-hunt if you plan a day searching for caches out in the country or want to hop from site to site around town. A long battery life also allows you to track down those special hard-to-find caches hidden deep in remote sites.
• Look for a unit with a high waypoint storage which will allow you to store more cache locations.
• Good screen readability is important. The unit’s screen should be easy to read in bright daylight. A backlit screen for night viewing allows you to keep caching through dusk and into the night.
• Geocaching is an outdoor sport so choosing a waterproof GPS just makes sense. You want your unit to work in all kinds of weather. Some caches may be hidden near or under water (creeks and rivers make great cache sites).

You don’t need anything fancy. ActionGPS has a great selection of good, refurbished handheld GPS units at great prices. (Check out the Garmin Etrex Legend Handheld Outdoor GPS Receiver. Factory refurbished, it’s on clearance for an incredible price of just $84.95. A perfect start-up model.) 

Getting to the right place on time is very serious business. So serious that you may be thinking about buying a GPS navigation device to ensure that you take the correct route.  You may choose to add the optional traffic alerts that  can accompany a device like the Garmin Nuvi 360 as an added assurance that you will arrive by the most efficient route possible. But while you’re on the road, remember that GPS devices can be fun, too.

Those of you who use GPS devices for recreational activities like geocaching and sailing already know this.

But for you commuters, don’t be afraid to let your hair down a little. When you are not running errands or going to work, you can plug in a brand-new destination and let your GPS device do the work.  You can also get a GPS device like the Garmin Nuvi 650 that you can customize with MP3 and audio book players and other forms of entertainment. No one says that A GPS device has to be button-up or only used Monday-Friday to get from point A to point B.

Since many GPS devices come preloaded with points of interest, you can use your GPS device to take a ride in the country and let it show the way to new destinations and places to eat. If you buy ab Garmin and get the  SaversGuide, your Garmin Nuvi GPS device can provide you with  information on nearby merchants that are offering discounts to customize your GPS whether you’re traveling or close to home.

Visit Action GPS today and check out your options and enjoy the ride!

Back in the day a sailor or adventurer set out with a map, a compass and a dream. These days you can hit the high seas and tough terrain with much better equipment than that. And there is no need to feel as if you are not really roughing it–they only did it back then because they had no other choice. We are certain that pirates and honest men alike would have used GPS devices if they could have gotten their hands (or hooks) on them.

Take the Garmin GPSMAP 76Cx Portable Handheld Outdoor Color GPS, for instance. Unlike a map, it is actually water resistant and provides odometer, stopped time, moving average, overall average, total time, maximum speed. Its card slot is inside of the waterproof batter compartment, so there is no worry about your stored data getting wet. It also accepts optional preloaded microSD cards with MapSource® data for your off-road and marine excursions.Plus, the Garmin GPSMAP 76Cx floats.

This device is mariner-friendly and has a ultra-sensitive receiver that can track your location in dense forests or deep canyons. It takes 2AA batteries and has a battery life of up to 18 hours.

If you are really attune with nature, you can figure out the best times to fish, or you can rely upon your Garmin GPSMAP 76Cx and let it tell you the best times to fish.

When you purchase the Garmin GPSMAP 76Cx, it comes equipped with:

MapSource Trip & Waypoint Manager

Americas Basemap

128 MB MicroSD Card

USB Interface Cable

Belt Clip

If you still think that GPS devices can only help you find a friend’s house or a well-known restaurant, think again! GPS devices have come a long way and they do some much more than just get you from point a to point b. The companies that manufacture GPS devices add more and more features each year.

Many GPS devices come equipped with pre-loaded POIs (that’s points of interest) Gas stations are included among these POIs, as a restaurants, schools, movie theaters and almost any other destination you can think of. We say they come pre-loaded, but that doesn’t meant that you cannot add your own favorite spots as well.

There was a time when drivers stopped at gas stations to get both gas and directions. And I’m sure some people still do stop at gas stations to figure out how to get where they are going, but with more people using GPS devices gas stations are probably dispensing less directional assistance.

In fact, the tables have turned: people are now using GPS devices to find gas stations. Not only are GPS devices pointing people to gas stations, you can also opt to find out which stations have the cheapest gas. Earlier this year, we reported that TomTom provides a service to help drivers find the cheapest gas. This service costs a mere $15 a year; a fraction of what you pay to fill your gas tank.

You can visit Action GPS and check out the TomTom GPS products that they have to offer. Soon you may be hitting the road, paying bargain prices for gas, finding shops and restaurants with ease, and wondering why you did not get a GPS device sooner.