The Global Positioning Systems
by Ken Sturdivant
Southern Fishing Schools Inc.
The lakes around the south are
lower than normal from a three year drought. With little rain expected
until early next year now is the time to head to your favorite lake
with a camera and a hand held Global Positioning unit. Want to fish where
the
fish live eleven months of the year? Now is the time to find great
locations and log the lakes. The G P S units are light and will fit in
a shirt pocket.
These tiny receivers will now take you back to the road bed, the humps
or the brush piles on the lake with amazing accuracy.
The Global Positioning
Systems use satellites that are maintained by the United States Air
Force. These satellites have been in outer space since 1970 to provide
accurate, reliable and continuous position reporting. This system is
available 24
hours a day and can be used on land, sea and air. The signal is unaffected
by weather.
There are 24 satellites that are 11,500 above the earth
and their movements are in a precisely controlled orbit. The satellites
circle
the earth every 12 hours.
Global Positioning Systems are affected by
the surrounding terrain. Sharp angles such as rock ledges and mountains
can
affect this unit. Heavy tree cover can also affect this system. Global
Positioning Systems today will allow the user to find any location
in the world.
The Global Positioning Systems today lock on to as many
as
8 to 12 satellites. Only three are needed to fix your position. If
the
unit has an altitude feature, four satellites are required. Do not
be concerned on how many satellites you have. These current units are
called parallel channel receivers. Speed can be measured as close as
one tenth
of a mile per hour.
The Global Positioning units will get you as close
as 20 feet back to the location you originally marked. These units
are
easy to use and come in either a mapping unit or plotting unit.
For
the money it's worth it to get the mapping unit. These web sites have
additional detailed information on the Global Positioning Systems.
See www.igeb.gov and www.lowrance.com.
