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any GPS hobbyists here?

R

rnmcd

Platinum Member
I used to read tons about handheld GPS systems about three years ago and I even took an class or two.

I never got around to buying one.

So what's new in this arena in the last few years. Has the technology improved for the personal users very much?

Are there advancements in features or functions?

I don't come across as much new literature on things like geocaching anymore....has this hobby kind of died off?

Thanks.
 
I didn't even know GPS itself was a hobby. The core technology doesn't change, and the protocols it uses don't either really (e.g. NMEA 0183). I wrote a simple fleet tracking system a few years back using an OEM Garmin GPS antenna, and I used that same antenna with MapPoint on a laptop while traveling through Europe; we would have been lost without it.

So, no, I don't see it as dead at all. GIS systems are increasingly pervasive, increasingly capable, and it's only a matter of finding a potential use (e.g. fleet tracking as I did).
 
Originally posted by: Descartes
I didn't even know GPS itself was a hobby. The core technology doesn't change, and the protocols it uses don't either really (e.g. NMEA 0183). I wrote a simple fleet tracking system a few years back using an OEM Garmin GPS antenna, and I used that same antenna with MapPoint on a laptop while traveling through Europe; we would have been lost without it.

So, no, I don't see it as dead at all. GIS systems are increasingly pervasive, increasingly capable, and it's only a matter of finding a potential use (e.g. fleet tracking as I did).
Click to expand...

There used to be a growing segment of recreational users that used GPS--maybe that kind of slowed down.
 
Originally posted by: rnmcd
Originally posted by: Descartes
I didn't even know GPS itself was a hobby. The core technology doesn't change, and the protocols it uses don't either really (e.g. NMEA 0183). I wrote a simple fleet tracking system a few years back using an OEM Garmin GPS antenna, and I used that same antenna with MapPoint on a laptop while traveling through Europe; we would have been lost without it.

So, no, I don't see it as dead at all. GIS systems are increasingly pervasive, increasingly capable, and it's only a matter of finding a potential use (e.g. fleet tracking as I did).
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

I agree! 🙂
 
Originally posted by: rnmcd
Originally posted by: Descartes
I didn't even know GPS itself was a hobby. The core technology doesn't change, and the protocols it uses don't either really (e.g. NMEA 0183). I wrote a simple fleet tracking system a few years back using an OEM Garmin GPS antenna, and I used that same antenna with MapPoint on a laptop while traveling through Europe; we would have been lost without it.

So, no, I don't see it as dead at all. GIS systems are increasingly pervasive, increasingly capable, and it's only a matter of finding a potential use (e.g. fleet tracking as I did).
Click to expand...

There used to be a growing segment of recreational users that used GPS--maybe that kind of slowed down.
Click to expand...

I guess I still don't know what you mean. What do you mean "recreational users?" Hikers? People who just like to play around with them? People who search for points of confluence? It's a tool used all the time, so I guess I don't understand the question in the context of dying down. Does that make sense? With some kind of GPS unit in commercial trucks, navigation systems, etc. it seems it's more popular now than ever. I think the difference is that most don't know what GPS is, that it's in the tool they're using, etc.
 
There was an excellent article in Scientific American a few months aog about upcoming GPS tech. Sorry don't remember which issue.
 
Originally posted by: Descartes
I didn't even know GPS itself was a hobby. The core technology doesn't change, and the protocols it uses don't either really (e.g. NMEA 0183). I wrote a simple fleet tracking system a few years back using an OEM Garmin GPS antenna, and I used that same antenna with MapPoint on a laptop while traveling through Europe; we would have been lost without it.

So, no, I don't see it as dead at all. GIS systems are increasingly pervasive, increasingly capable, and it's only a matter of finding a potential use (e.g. fleet tracking as I did).
Click to expand...
Yup, GIS Programmer here 🙂 We're using GPS to track flight paths in a real time system, but if I tell you anymore I'd have to kill ya 😉
 
Originally posted by: SP33Demon
Originally posted by: Descartes
I didn't even know GPS itself was a hobby. The core technology doesn't change, and the protocols it uses don't either really (e.g. NMEA 0183). I wrote a simple fleet tracking system a few years back using an OEM Garmin GPS antenna, and I used that same antenna with MapPoint on a laptop while traveling through Europe; we would have been lost without it.

So, no, I don't see it as dead at all. GIS systems are increasingly pervasive, increasingly capable, and it's only a matter of finding a potential use (e.g. fleet tracking as I did).
Click to expand...
Yup, GIS Programmer here 🙂 We're using GPS to track flight paths in a real time system, but if I tell you anymore I'd have to kill ya 😉
Click to expand...

Sweet! I was on an international flight with a few friends a month ago, and they were taken aback by the real-time flight system. "How does it know where we are?" I tried to explain to them the fundamentals of GPS, but... the eye candy was too much for them I guess.

I hope to do some more GIS work in the future.

:beer:
 
Originally posted by: sygyzy
If you really want to learn and use GPS's, check out Geocaching.
Click to expand...

I was just going to post this. I'm in the market for a handheld soon.

Actually, when I've been around and made stops, I'd like to have had a GPS so I can log exactly where I was at what time.

I'm getting one. Any recommendations?
 
Originally posted by: Descartes
Originally posted by: SP33Demon
Originally posted by: Descartes
I didn't even know GPS itself was a hobby. The core technology doesn't change, and the protocols it uses don't either really (e.g. NMEA 0183). I wrote a simple fleet tracking system a few years back using an OEM Garmin GPS antenna, and I used that same antenna with MapPoint on a laptop while traveling through Europe; we would have been lost without it.

So, no, I don't see it as dead at all. GIS systems are increasingly pervasive, increasingly capable, and it's only a matter of finding a potential use (e.g. fleet tracking as I did).
Click to expand...
Yup, GIS Programmer here 🙂 We're using GPS to track flight paths in a real time system, but if I tell you anymore I'd have to kill ya 😉
Click to expand...

Sweet! I was on an international flight with a few friends a month ago, and they were taken aback by the real-time flight system. "How does it know where we are?" I tried to explain to them the fundamentals of GPS, but... the eye candy was too much for them I guess.

I hope to do some more GIS work in the future.

:beer:
Click to expand...
Yes I originally started out as a GIS Analyst/Specialist and transitioned into the programming side. It's a field that's been rapidly expanding for the past decade or so, and only gettin' bigger. I think eventually it will get to be so sophisticated that it will combine virt reality with spatial functions. For instance, you could pull up an aerial simulation of real time traffic conditions as they occur, and see if there's any delays 😉
:beer:
 
Originally posted by: sygyzy
If you really want to learn and use GPS's, check out Geocaching.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup: geocaching is alive and well to us that know about it!!!!!!!!
Its fun, hiking/exploring and then finding the cache, take something leave something for the next guy

theres tons of websites and plenty of spots in every state . But Im not gonna tell you about them :Q
 
Originally posted by: Descartes
Originally posted by: rnmcd
Originally posted by: Descartes
I didn't even know GPS itself was a hobby. The core technology doesn't change, and the protocols it uses don't either really (e.g. NMEA 0183). I wrote a simple fleet tracking system a few years back using an OEM Garmin GPS antenna, and I used that same antenna with MapPoint on a laptop while traveling through Europe; we would have been lost without it.

So, no, I don't see it as dead at all. GIS systems are increasingly pervasive, increasingly capable, and it's only a matter of finding a potential use (e.g. fleet tracking as I did).
Click to expand...

There used to be a growing segment of recreational users that used GPS--maybe that kind of slowed down.
Click to expand...

I guess I still don't know what you mean. What do you mean "recreational users?" Hikers? People who just like to play around with them? People who search for points of confluence? It's a tool used all the time, so I guess I don't understand the question in the context of dying down. Does that make sense? With some kind of GPS unit in commercial trucks, navigation systems, etc. it seems it's more popular now than ever. I think the difference is that most don't know what GPS is, that it's in the tool they're using, etc.
Click to expand...

A lot of new media artists are using them and playing around with them. Two of my professors were involved in this project. Using a GPS system and a tablet PC with headphones, they walked around a small area in Los Angeles. When they reached certain points, they would hear a story regarding the history of that location.
 
Originally posted by: Descartes
I didn't even know GPS itself was a hobby. The core technology doesn't change, and the protocols it uses don't either really (e.g. NMEA 0183). I wrote a simple fleet tracking system a few years back using an OEM Garmin GPS antenna, and I used that same antenna with MapPoint on a laptop while traveling through Europe; we would have been lost without it.

So, no, I don't see it as dead at all. GIS systems are increasingly pervasive, increasingly capable, and it's only a matter of finding a potential use (e.g. fleet tracking as I did).
Click to expand...

I didn't know it was a hobby either. What do you do, look at your GPS device and go "yep...there I am! Now I'm here! ....aaannnnd now I'm here!" ???
 
Originally posted by: SoylentGreen
Originally posted by: sygyzy
If you really want to learn and use GPS's, check out Geocaching.
Click to expand...

I was just going to post this. I'm in the market for a handheld soon.

Actually, when I've been around and made stops, I'd like to have had a GPS so I can log exactly where I was at what time.

I'm getting one. Any recommendations?
Click to expand...

If you don't want maps, but something small and cheap take a look at the Garmin Geko 201. It'll store 10,000 track points and you can set it to record points as distance or timings. So you could set it to record a breadcrumb every 5 seconds and have enough space for 13 hours. Pretty useful for Geomarking your photographs.
Only downside is it uses 2 AAA batteries which only last for a few hours, so you'd want to get a cig-lighter adapter for use in the car.

I also have a Magellan Meridan which has maps, but Magellan seems to be lagging behind in Canadian maps. So I'm starting to look at the Garmin Quest for my next unit.
 
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