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GPS For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) | 
 enlarge | Author: Joel Mcnamara
Publisher: For Dummies
Category: Book
List Price: $24.99
Buy New: $13.78
You Save: $11.21 (45%)
New (40) Used (10) from $13.78
Avg. Customer Rating:  10 reviews
Sales Rank: 65724
Media: Paperback
Edition: 2
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 408
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 7.3 x 1.1
ISBN: 0470156236
Dewey Decimal Number: 621
EAN: 9780470156230
ASIN: 0470156236
Publication Date: October 13, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW
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Product Description
Need directions? Are you good at getting lost? Then GPS is just the technology you’ve dreamed of, and GPS For Dummies is what you need to help you make the most of it. If you have a GPS unit or plan to buy one, GPS For Dummies, 2nd Edition helps you compare GPS technologies, units, and uses. You’ll find out how to create and use digital maps and learn about waypoints, tracks, coordinate systems, and other key point to using GPS technology. Get more from your GPS device by learning to use Web-hosted mapping services and even how to turn your cell phone or PDA into a GPS receiver. You’ll also discover: - Up-to-date information on the capabilities of popular handheld and automotive Global Positioning Systems
- How to read a map and how to get more from the free maps available online
- The capabilities and limitations of GPS technology, and how satellites and radio systems make GPS work
- How to interface your GPS receiver with your computer and what digital mapping software can offer
- Why a cell phone with GPS capability isn’t the same as a GPS unit
- What can affect your GPS reading and how accurate it will be
- How to use Street Atlas USA, TopoFusion, Google Earth, and other tools
- Fun things to do with GPS, such as exploring topographical maps, aerial imagery, and the sport of geocaching
Most GPS receivers do much more than their owners realize. With GPS For Dummies, 2nd Edition in hand, you’ll venture forth with confidence!
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| Customer Reviews: Read 5 more reviews...
 Good Helpful Book October 7, 2008
This is a very helpful resource for those of us who are new to GPS.
All the information you would ever want or need. March 28, 2008
This is a great font of GPS information. You can get the basics of a GPS and begin to enjoy It. Then as you get more proficient with your GPS, you can return again and again to the book for in-depth information about the many different uses for a GPS and of course, a chapter on geocaching.
Great Place to Start August 31, 2007
I have had a GPS unit for almost a year now with no hope of understanding just what it can do or how to use it due to the arcane nature of the owner's manual.I have no clue as to why the manufacturer's write such poor manuals but they do. In response to my frustrations I decided to try Joel's book as a means of understanding what this small device could do and just how to get it to do what the promotional materials say it does. After reading most of Joel's book I was able to go to work using my GPS unit and understand how to negotiate its features with relative ease. Realistically it isn't perfect but it sure is a great place to start if you are like me, clueless as to how to interpret the gibberish in the owner's manual.
 Interesting but... February 3, 2007
14 out of 15 found this review helpful
I bought this book because I had recently purchased a GPS and was frustrated by the techno speak in the manual. I was looking for something to help me through the jargon.
Only about 1/3 of the book is specificallly about your GPS. A small section is about cartography and the rest deals with "digital mapping" (more jargon for computer software dealing with maps). All of the information is at least loosely tied to a GPS. There is no glossary section but the author does embed many clarifications of technical terms that are helpful for dummies like me.
The GPS sections are an improvement over my manual but still only partially sucessful. Priorities in choosing and mastering a GPS are miniscule. The cartography portion has information that is both interesting and helpful and does not bog the reader down with irrelevant information. These two topics are discussed in the first seven chapters.
The book then turned to digital mapping and I almost gave up on the book. I had no interest in mapping and I wasn't totally satisfied with the previous sections. Luckily I continued on. The mapping chapters are almost exclusively about mapping software (and little utility programs that help). The software information includes commercial, shareware and freeware programs. It discusses programs for the beginner on up to some heady stuff. You may want to take up the subject as a hobby even if you never were interested before. If I had the time I would be tempted to just play with this stuff because it is so cool.
If you buy the book, I would first just skim this "software" portion of the book when you go through it the first time. I think there are 14 chapters. It is amazing what is available but also sometimes redundant. I would use it only as a reference and study only the sections you need at that moment. Reading it word by word might be wasteful.
I do wish that the author had separated the utility software into a separate chapter so that those jewels could be returned to easily. I found them very useful.
The book is a mixed bag. The software chapters are the best part. The GPS info is not going to thrill you. The reading is pretty easy for a technical book.
Good for entry into GPS use January 16, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Copywrite date was 2004. Seems a little outdated in some places. Other than that, it was very helpful and full of useful Websites.
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