GPS

Friday we walked the Messick-Buntyn neighborhood using the GPS handheld devices. GPS satellites circle the earth twice a day in a very precise orbit and transmit signal information to earth. GPS receivers take this information and use triangulation to calculate the user's exact location. Essentially, the GPS receiver compares the time a signal was transmitted by a satellite with the time it was received. The time difference tells the GPS receiver how far away the satellite is. Now, with distance measurements from a few more satellites, the receiver can determine the user's position and display it on the unit's electronic map.

However the GPS had certain malfunctions with its tracking system. Like when under a tree the GPS signal would fade away or have an error. There were probably eight problem properties that we mapped out during our whole experience with the Arcpad handheld. Initially I thought there were many more problem properties and it was nice to see how few there were on a map. Overall the Arcpad GPS was a very nice experience and I look forward to using it again.