Britain’s motorists are set to benefit from a globe very first in sat nav technology which will boost knowledge of level crossings and encourage more secure driving. A free downloadable app which alerts drivers with a cheery train whistle sound that they are approaching a level crossing has been produced by Network Rail and leading sat nav company Garmin.

It is hoped the new technologies will encourage safer motoring and decrease the number of incidents which cause damage, disruption plus a number of deaths each and every year. The news comes as the rail business is supporting international level crossing awareness day where around 40 countries are organising activities to promote safety at level crossings.

The no cost application may be downloaded onto Garmin nüvi or nüLink sat navs from its website. Similar to choosing possibilities that alert you to approaching speed cameras, the device whistles like a train and an ‘X’ appears on the screen using the name of the level crossing so motorists can approach and cross with care*. The organizations are also looking into creating an intelligent version where motorists can pick to set a journey to steer clear of level crossings. They also wish to create the application so the sat nav would alter your route to prevent a level crossing where the barriers are down for a significant period of time, if the alternative was quicker.

Network Rail manager of in business services Dyan Crowther stated: “Motorists that jump the lighting or smash into barriers as they attempt and beat them coming down can trigger fantastic disruption and cost to the network, so we’re always seeking at new ways in which we can minimize the danger of incidents at level crossings.

“Sat nav technologies has proved to be an incredible support to motorists in alerting them to what’s ahead on the road, so developing an app about level crossings seemed a intelligent concept and we hope it’s going to be a valuable aid to motorists as the roads and also the railway get even busier.”

Anthony Chmarny, Garmin head of communications said, “The development of this free of charge level crossing application shows the ongoing commitment we need to make sure our sat nav customers have the very very best travel details at the tip of their fingers. We believe this can aid to save time, funds and most importantly boost drivers’ safety in the course of their journey.”

Chief Superintendent Eamonn Carroll (Territorial Policing) British Transport Police stated:”This innovative sat nav technology will be a valuable extra tool in helping reduce level crossing misuse across the country. Our officers stay committed to not merely detecting offenders but working closely with Network Rail to reinforce the safety message and continue our educational approach, as a way to change motorist behaviour. The roll-out of the camera equipped level crossing vans also supplies an ideal opportunity to impact motorist behaviour and attitude when approaching level crossings.”

They have not been around that long but already sat nav’s have shot to popularity amongst the driving public. A small device which can easily be attached to the interior of your vehicle. The device will usually come equipped with some kind of suction pad of stand to place the device in.

Of course we all know what sat nav’s can do and this is why they have become one of the most common car accessories available today. Just behind mobile phone accessories suitable for cars. The overriding benefit is of course that there is now no need to take a map with you everywhere you go.

If you are travelling with someone then they have to unfold this huge piece of paper and try and hunt down where you are whilst you shout at them to hurry up. If you are driving by yourself the safest option would be to pull over, which can be very time consuming. This is most annoying when you are trying to get somewhere in a hurry.

With a sat nav you will now be able to cruise to your destination without need to check a massive map. All you do is enter a destination into the system and the little computer will pick the best route using GPS technology. Some of the latest sat nav’s allow you to pick your own route as well. This is most useful for route that you know well.

Some great systems are garmin sat nav‘s. This brand has managed to make a big name for themselves in this market place thanks to their ease of use and simplistic functionality. The best part is that these type of systems can also be loaded up with maps from all over the world allowing you to go anywhere at anytime.

Have on the internet and you will see lot of offers for sat navsystem.

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.

Many people like to get into their cars and simply go out for a drive but what happens when you go for a drive into the unknown for an afternoon or if you are thinking of driving to Spain. A map can help there’s no doubt about that but what happens if you really do get lost. It is worse if you are lost in somewhere where you are not familar with e.g a foreign country.

This is where a Sat Nav comes into the equation as they actually tell you which way to turn and if you are going the wrong way they will let you know. They can be used in the USA as well as all the major countries in Europe so if you are going away they can be used there. So if you are planning a long drive up to Spain a Sat Nav could become your best friend.

Of course when they are working they are brilliant but what happens when they go wrong? Let’s be honest everything is made to go wrong just after the warranty  is up so what it exactly can you do as buying a new one is going to be very expensive indeed, well of course the answer is Sat Nav insurance. If something bad was to happen to your Sat Nav this is the best thing to take out so it can be fixed. Nothing lasts forever and this is especially true of technology.

Of course having a Sat Nav may not replace the wife in giving the directions but it is almost sure to get them right could provide a better journey.

If you don’t have a Sat Nav it may be worth a buy, of course there are other alternatives you can get for your gadgets such as I-pod insurance or the more general gadget insurance which could in fact cover quite a few gadgets you own.

 

Nobody likes getting lost. Not only is it a waste of time, gas and energy, but it can also be quite frustrating. That is why when the first GPS (global positioning systems) were approved for civilian used at the end of the nineteen nineties people rushed out to purchase them. But as with any new technology, these early models were not especially consistent or accurate. In fact, it was not until the new millennium that military restrictions were lifted on civilian GPS units, which immediately increased the precision from 100 meters to 20 meters.

Nearly a decade later, the average GPS device can pinpoint your location almost anywhere on earth. Their most popular application, however, is simply as a guidance device for civilian vehicles. All you have to do is enter your starting location and your destination and you will receive detailed directions to anywhere you want to go.

Fortunately for consumers as GPS technology has improved and competition in the industry has increase, prices have come down quite a bit. It is now possible to purchase affordable, even cheap GPS units from some of the top companies. Presently, the most popular brands include: Bushnell, Garmin, Lowrance, and Magellan, just to name a few.

Where to Look?

The first place you should look for affordable GPS systems is on the internet. Oftentimes, companies will have promotional offers or deals for online shoppers. You may even qualify for free shipping.

Benefits

As we mentioned, GPS units are navigational devices that can help drivers get where they need to go more quickly than they ever imagined. In fact, all current models automatically calculate the shortest distance to your destination and provide detailed, step by step directions. Most models also feature audio instructions. That is, a voice will tell you when to turn and how far you must travel on a certain road before you have to make the next turn. This is an especially helpful feature because it means that the driver never has to take his eyes off the road to check the GPS screen for directions. Some of the more expensive devices will even let you know when to switch lanes for an upcoming turn.

Handheld GPS Systems

There are also handheld GPS devices that provide users with incredible amounts of information in a small rechargeable unit that can be taken just about anywhere. These GPS units are especially helpful for people who enjoy outdoor sports and activities like hiking, mountain biking, hunting or camping. So, even when you’re out in the wilderness and your cell phone gets no reception and you can’t call anyone, your Handheld GPS system will let you know exactly where you are as well as the shortest path home. And just like the GPS units that are used in vehicles, handheld devices are competitively priced.

Believe it or not, these days there are even GPS units that are sport specific. For example, there are devices for cyclists to let them know their speed, location, and distance travelled. There are even portable GPS units that can be used by golfers to tell them exactly how far they are from the hole.

That’s an awful lot of progress in just over a decade.

Since the introduction of Global Positioning Systems and the GPS being fully operational they aid worldwide navigation, land surveying and vehicle tracking. GPS has become central to transportation systems on a global scale, used widely in aviation, maritime and land navigation systems. GPS provides accurate timing and locality and has become an essential tool in many commercial and agricultural industries too.

Offering a wide variety of functionality GPS Systems are becoming more and more popular in the worldwide transport industry and penetrating into the domestic markets with hand held models and car sat nav systems growing in unit sales year on year.

The most common types of satellite navigation equipment are:-

• Portable Satellite Navigation Systems for cars
• Handheld GPS systems
• Mobile phone GPS
• Built – in Satellite Navigation Systems for cars

GPS Systems or Global Positioning Systems to give them their full name are one of the worlds most widely utilised communication, positioning and time reference technologies, expanding into homes, transportation, recreation and cellular phone arenas. Increasingly Satellite technology is becoming a part of our every day lives.

When coded reference points are received from the satellite sytems which circle the earth the GPS system is then able to pin point the exact point and location requested.Producing reference points in longitude and lattitude giving detailed information dowm to minutes and seconds.

13°19'43" N is an example of a lattitude translated it reads 13 degress 19 minutes and 43 seconds North.  The following are gps system results for well known global reference points:-

• Arctic Circle: 66° 33′ 39″ N
• Tropic of Cancer: 23° 26′ 21″ N
• Tropic of Capricorn: 23° 26′ 21″ S
• Antarctic Circle: 66° 33′ 39″ S

Whether you are on foot, in a car, on a bike…At some point throughout your lifetime you will probably use a Satellite Navigation System.