GPS Tracking Devices Questions: Coordinates 101

Nov 5
07:58

2010

Rose Lee

Rose Lee

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Coordinates are numbers produced by GPS tracking devices that show where they are. Learn what they mean here...

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GPS tracking devices are receivers for GPS signal which may tell you where you or they're in the shape of coordinates.

Like many new technologies GPS was first utilized by the army,GPS Tracking Devices Questions: Coordinates 101 Articles but is now available for any person to benefit from!

One of the profuse kinds of GPS tracking devices is the data logger. Info loggers store GPS information which can sometimes be seen later when they're attached to the computer. people find data loggers handy because they permit you to know where they've been later. In this fashion they are good for anonymously tracking an automobile or even a person! They can also be used for geo-tagging, where their data is mixed to footage that you take at the same time and will permit your pictures to be arranged by position and time.

GPS tracking devices like info loggers give you information in the shape of coordinates. Coordinates are the position on earth of the GPS tracking device at any particular time ( as seen by the network of satellites ).

GPS tracking devices like data loggers will offer the following info and coordinates :

A ) Latitude
B ) Longitude
C ) Elevation
D ) Speed
E ) Date
F ) Time

It is very easy to understand coordinates. They are latitude and longitude. The other info gives you a rounded knowledge of your position.

Latitude and longitude are presented like this by your GPS tracking device :

( LAT ) 52.26815737376817 / ( LON ) -1.7578125

Latitude always comes first and it means the distance north or south of the equator -usually along a vertical line on a map. If it is north it's going to be a positive number, whilst south is a negative.

Longitude is the second number and it implies the distance East or West of the Greenwich Meridian ( the point that we consider the middle of the Earth, London, England ) generally along a horizontal line on a map. If it is east it's going to be positive, while west is negative.

To exactly find points on the earth's surface, degrees longitude and latitude have been split into mins ( ' ) and seconds ( " ). so these coordinates :

( LAT ) 52.26815737376817 / ( LON ) -1.7578125

Would basically read :

52 16' 5.3652 ( LAT ) and -1 45' 28.1226 ( LON )

do not be concerned too much about these long numbers, there are some easy paths to take the 'position' of GPS tracking devices which we'll come on to.

Elevation is another type of coordinate that GPS tracking devices can give to you. Elevation is a GPS tracking device's height above the earth's sea-level. it is simple to read coordinates using free application software on the internet. You don't need expert software to see locations from coordinates given by GPS tracking devices. Commonest is 'Google Maps.' This gives you two boxes to type in your latitude and longitude. It will then bring up your position on the map instantly and will even permit you to zoom in to street level view so that you can see an individual building or feature!

It's free and straightforward, so now it's time to bin the dusty, old map and grab your GPS tracking devices and get out into the wide-world and start finding your location!