Customer Reviews

GPS Made Easy: Using Global Positioning Systems in the Outdoors

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

GPS Made Easy is great! I bought a receiver and when I got it home, I discovered the manuals explained how to press the buttons, but not really how to navigate. I had a lot of experience navigating with a compass, map and altimeter, but I did not know anything about grids, datum or the receiver's accuracy. GPS Made Easy made everything clear. I now understand how the GPS system works, what my receiver can do for me and how to expertly use maps with my receiver. The book is very understandable and informative. I especially liked the examples that showed how GPS really works in the field.

This book will not only help you figure out how to use the features of your GPS receiver but it will help you figure out what features will be important to you in a GPS receiver so you don't buy the wrong unit. All of the features of the various major consumer grade GPS receivers are explained in one chapter. Subsequent chapters illustrate how many of those features could be used in various outdoor activities. There are sections on how to get coordinates out of your receiver and onto a map or off of the map and into the receiver.

I was a little annoyed by being told repeatedly to go back to previous chapters to read something explained there when a short reminder could have been included on the spot. And none of the figures are numbered so you have to figure out which figure is being referred to. A reference section list some vendors of receivers and ancilary items along with their phone mumber but there are no Web pages listed and sometimes a product name and number are listed without the manufacturer's name. Letham tells you that antenna sensativity is important bud doesn't go on to explain what the values are or mean and whether high or low values are better when comparing units.

In spite of these annoyances this is a useful book which could keep you from making a costly mistake if you read it before you buy your receiver. And the practical examples will help you understand what techniques might work in your application.

This book was a useful introduction for someone who just got a GPS receiver. The first part of the book was a simple treatment of how the GPS system works. The second part dealt with how to work a receiver, something that is probably better handled by the user manual. Most of the book covered how to use GPS in the outdoors, going through several different examples as the pedagogical method. Perhaps the most useful aspect of the book was in understanding different grid systems, particularly UTM and longitute/lattitude.

I read the review from a reader in "ia". GPS Made Easy does explain how the eTrex receivers work expecially the eTrex models that do not have base maps; however, to help readers apply the information taught in GPS Made Easy more easily to the eTrex, I have added a section to the gps-made-easy site that shows most of the screens on an eTrex and explains where in the book you can turn to learn more about each screen.

I hope it helps. If it does not help, send me an email.

This book is the book I bought along with my Garmin etrex vista. The book covers the original generation of GPS systems and gives a thorough overview of the common (and not so common) systems adopted around the world for mapping locations.

It is invaluable as a reference and for anybody who wants to know more than how to push a button.

I would never, ever, travel to any remote area without at least two good compasses and the requisite topos. Yes, I love my GPS - but I have to replace it because it was lost (along with a daypack) in a self-arrest on Mt. Moran last summer. Batteries run down and wars may make the system less accurate (or unavailable). All of these issues are covered in this fine little book.

GPS technology is wonderful and the EU plans to launch yet another system in the next decade. The devices will become more affordable -- but the fundamental aspects of mapping and how these devices work is well explained by this fine reference and it will remain the reference for years to come.

This is a great intro book for the novice looking to understand more about GPS. It is a good start for someone wanting to purchase their first GPS receiver, or someone who already has a receiver but wants to learn more about it. The info is presented in a clear, logical way, but it tends to be a bit basic for more advanced users. I was hoping to learn more about differential GPS and post processing of data for improved accuracy. The book gave general discriptions of both, but not a lot of detail. For instance, it did not explain, as I later discovered, that low-cost consumer receivers are not compatible with post processing. The compilation of commercial receivers is a bit dated, but most of the rest of the book is still very topical.

This book is intended for a particular audience, and I think it meets the needs of that audience rather well. Frankly, if you do not have a working knowledge of basic land navigation prior to buying this book, and before buying a GPS for that matter, much of the book will not make much sense. At the same time, if what you are looking for is a detailed account of the technical side of GPS operations and use, this book won't provide what you want. What is covered well in this book is combining the use of GPS with a map for safe and accurate navigation.

The book as such is well written explaining how GPS in general works......however for the beginner it doesnt tell how to accomplish what you want to accomplish....if GPS is confusing to someone who hasnt used it before this book will not clear it up for you.....a beginner needs more in detail of what to do.

It is a good, introductory level GPS book for general users. It sets the record straight of the GPS technology limitations at present, but also describes what it can really do. Free from the usual geemicks you often read in GPS brochures. Not enough material on high precision GPS though.

I got as much from my owner's manual as I did from this book. It might have been a better value if I bought it before I bought the GPS. It is also a little outdated, but I expected that with the technology changing so rapidly.

If you want to completely understand all the techy stuff behind what makes GPS work than it just might be for you, but the owners manual that comes with your GPS will be plenty for most.