When is a cell phone a GPS? The first requirement is a GPS receiver. GPS signals originate concurrently from 3 to 12 satellites revolving about 11,000 maritime miles from the earth. The GPS receiver and software straighten out the signals from the different satellites and target the receiver’s location on earth to within a couple of yards, sometimes closer.
Increasingly more cell phones are produced with GPS devices included. Mobile phones without built-in GPS devices can also act as GPS units by hooking up with separate GPS receivers via USB or serial ports or via wireless connections. Bluetooth is a wireless, short-range communication of voice and data between two devices.
Both techniques can offer turn-by-turn driving instructions, frequently with voice and highlighted maps that show where you are on the cell phone screen. The built-in GPS receiver technique is easier. You will find no wires or products to connect and there’s absolutely nothing to download from your desktop. Attach your GPS enabled cell phone to the car windows holder or pull it from your pocket if you’re by walking, push a couple of buttons and there you go.
You’ll, however, require a special cellular plan from your mobile phone company and you might also need to sign up for their data service. The typical price is between $10 and $25 monthly, but varies depending on usage. Sprint/Nextel and Verizon provide GPS cell phone service with various features.
In addition to convenience, this provides greater precision and less lost signals from overhead obstructions. The phone utilizes a signal from the cell phone tower to fix or boost the satellite signal. This wireless aided GPS, or enhanced GPS, can occasionally work inside structures or under heavy forest canopy, which are usually shielded from direct line of sight satellite signals. A disadvantage with the cellular plan is your GPS works only in with cellular telephone service.
If you are using another GPS receiver that connects to your mobile phone, then you’ll still receive GPS signals no matter the supply of cellular service as long as your receiver and the satellites can easily see one another.
Separate GPS devices usually come bundled up with software on the SD or similar card that you simply place into a slot on the phone. The software has the maps that display on your phone screen. You can keep getting cell phone calls or connect to the internet together with GPS working, presuming obviously you have the correct monthly subscriptions for doing this.
The separate GPS receiver method eliminates monthly plan costs but you’ll have to balance that against the price of the GPS receiver and software, which is from $100 with respect to the features you need to add.
If you reside in an area with good cell phone service and you’re a non-technical person, or you’re purchasing GPS for an individual who has never read a manual, then the Sprint/Nextel and Verizon cellular GPS plans make the perfect choice. When bought together with a cellular plan, the price of a GPS enabled smartphone isn’t much different from a normal phone, and $10 – $25 monthly isn’t uncommon for the service.
