Just like hands free car kits have set a trend so sat nav systems are set to do the same. Previously drivers had to carry around a multitude of maps with them and stop to check where they are. However now that satellite navigation systems have come along this is no longer necessary. Not only will a sat nav be able to plan you route, given a destination, it can also estimate the duration of your journey.

Clearly there is an advantage in a sat nav system that you are not required to plan the journey yourself. This difference is most notable when it comes to delivery drivers who often drive vans. Because delivery companies constantly travel to different locations all around the country it is never possible to be completely familiar with all of the routes available. Clearly when it comes to planning routes it is essential that you can get it right and don’t have to spend a lot of time planning your route out. The reason is because now the driver doesn’t have to plan the best route to their destination they simply enter the points into the device.

At this moment in time all satellite navigation systems use the American Global Positioning System (GPS). However there is expected to be some competition in Europe to come in 2012 when the Galileo system is set to come online. The Russians (GLONASS) and Chinese (COMPASS) also have their own positioning systems under development. With the new sat nav positioning systems there will be no compatible issues to worry about with current systems.

The GPS system makes use of a network of satellites, which along with atomic clocks are able to locate the position of a GPS enabled device. The satellites send a message containing the time, orbital position and health of the satellite down to earth. From this a device equipped with a satellite navigation receiver is able to determine its own location and relay this to the user of the device.

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GPS Devices