General Discussions

**ForrestCroce** · 06-01-2008, 04:19 PM

I'm saving my pennies for a GPS unit, but know very little about them. I'll be doing some homework, when the time comes, but I'm hoping people might be able to share their experiences. Not so much how it works, as what you do with it? And then any advice that follows from that.

I've been slowly geocoding my photos. Here's an example of how I use this data: a blog post with the photos themselves, their story, and a map showing where each comes from. I also keep a map of my travels; this one is a bit out of date, but...

I know people put GPS to more sophisticated use than I'm planning to. There's probably a good split between things I haven't imagined, but could benefit from, and things I'm just not interested in. So I'm curious what other people do with it?

And then how do you use the data? I'm thinking about collecting waypoints every few minutes, then using software when I get home to match this up to the photos, based on time. Probably find the two closest points, and take a weighted average, then build a KML file for Google Maps. What are the tricks I haven't even dreamed of yet?

**Ana Kephra** · 06-01-2008, 04:45 PM

I use GPS, but I really had no idea there are so many things that could be done with it o.o
I use it only to prevent myself from getting lost now (which still happens!).
Then again, GPS in Brazil is something you can't really trust in. Many state governors ask for money to build roads and such that never gets built. Still, the project they presented to get the funds are added as oficial, and appear on the GPS. Many times, when you're trying to reach a small town, huge roads appear on the screen, right next to the path you're. But in reality, there's nothing but an empty field there. It is ridiculous.

**KML9870** · 06-01-2008, 06:31 PM

We bought one a few months ago. I don't use it that often yet, but the main reason we bought it is for when we take road trips on the bikes. We bought a garmin that will go in the car, but will also run on an internal battery so I can use it on the bike. We are hoping to get in some good road trips and 1) I don't like to be lost; 2) My hubby has the typical male affliction of being incapable of asking directions

.

**peterlh35** · 06-01-2008, 09:51 PM

without gps i be always lost when i travel.

**jabo** · 06-02-2008, 02:42 AM

GPS aren't that precise as with maps. Well, they can be useful but not all the information given out are correct. There are different landmarks, or roads, or the condition of the road. But all in all, it is helpful. you wont get lost.

**kenpachi** · 06-02-2008, 04:05 AM

I has a plan to use GPS for my cat, hope she will easily been catch back after running away from home.

**ForrestCroce** · 06-02-2008, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KML9870

We bought one a few months ago. I don't use it that often yet, but the main reason we bought it is for when we take road trips on the bikes. We bought a garmin that will go in the car, but will also run on an internal battery so I can use it on the bike. We are hoping to get in some good road trips and 1) I don't like to be lost; 2) My hubby has the typical male affliction of being incapable of asking directions

.

How long do the batteries last? I saw a nice looking one that mounts to the handle-bars on a bike, and has a cadence sensor ... but it's only a 15 or so hour battery, with no fall back. Which means taking it camping would be really frustrating...!

**KML9870** · 06-02-2008, 09:33 PM

The battery last about 12 hours, but it has an adapter for a car cigarette lighter and doesn't take long to charge. If you are driving where you camp you can charge it over night. We have an adapter that plugs into the wall and accepts the cigarette lighter charger so we can charge it in a regular outlet too.

That's also 12 hours of using it. It recharges (slightly) when you have it off.

**jabo** · 06-03-2008, 02:52 AM

I wonder if there are options for GPS devices that lets you locate where the fun parties are at or where the beautiful people are at.

**johnlloyd** · 06-03-2008, 07:01 AM

i'd rather use my old maps manually, for me gps is a waste of money!

**LadynRed** · 06-03-2008, 11:18 AM

I'm with John Lloyd -- I'll hang onto my MAPS, thank you. I can just see it, the next generation of techno kids who won't be able to read a map when the power on the GPS fails - or the satellites get blown out of the sky, or they fail, for whatever reason. Technology is wonderful, I love technology.. but it runs on things like batteries that have a limited life and depend on other technologies that can fail all too easily.. and then where are you ?

They're neat, they do 'stuff', but I can't see wasting my money on one.. why spend $100+ on a GPS when I can buy a road atlas for less than $20 ? If I want to know where traffic is, I'll turn on my CB .. lol (yes, they still exist and they still work!).

**KML9870** · 06-03-2008, 01:13 PM

I was content with maps and/or using expedia maps or mapquest. I think the main reason we ended up with a GPS is because one of my hubby's friends had one and he didn't. It was a "have to keep up with the Jones' " moment

**Aleker** · 06-03-2008, 07:46 PM

I have one on my phone. It costs me $10 a month, its not as good but it dose the job.

**ForrestCroce** · 06-03-2008, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadynRed

They're neat, they do 'stuff', but I can't see wasting my money on one.. why spend $100+ on a GPS when I can buy a road atlas for less than $20 ? If I want to know where traffic is, I'll turn on my CB .. lol (yes, they still exist and they still work!).

Thanks for helping me try to hold onto my pennies! The thing is, I already have plenty of atlases. Rand McNally, National Geographic, and too many others, plus folded up individual maps. They're great when you want to hold a piece of paper in your hand, or if all you want to do is figure out where you are. I prefer the fold-out ones for this, to get a better sense of context, to see what's around me. But that only does so much.

I remember taking this photo in Wyoming and that one in Montana ... I use push-pins in a paper map up on the wall. I need precise coordinates for Google Maps; so far I've been looking them up on a map, online, one-by-one.

A database that can pull the location out of the photos automatically would be a big help, too. I don't know if that's possible? Does anyone know how to use a computer to know that 37.878715, -119.276623 is Yosemite National Park?