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The ABC of GPS

Never lose a favourite campsite, nest site or other birding location by harnessing the technology of Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites orbiting the globe.

How does GPS work? GPS units track a couple of satellites to receive locational data, the unit then calculates its location and passes the info onto you in a number of different formats via the large, clear display. The unit is also able to calculate your speed and your bearing from information received from the GPS satellites.

How easy are they to set up? Magellan GPS units are very easy to setup and operate. The key to receiving accurate information is to set the unit up correctly and the instruction manual and video included makes that task a breeze.

Do I really need one? If you journey a little off the beaten path when camping, hiking 4Wdriving, or boating then a GPS unit will help you identify just where you are, ensuring you can make it back again. Also, Magellan GPS units enable you to log multiple routes and landmarks along those routes so you'll find what you're looking for first time - every time. And if you wander a long way off the beaten track then you should consider investing in an EPIRB unit, which, when activated, emits a signal to alert search authorities to find your location.

Introduction

The Global Positioning System is a constellation of satellites, which orbit the earth twice a day, transmitting precise time and position (latitude, longitude and altitude) information. With a GPS receiver, users can determine their location anywhere on earth. Position and navigation information is vital to a broad range of professional and personal activities, including boating, surveying, aviation, national defence, vehicle tracking, navigation, and many more.

The system became fully operational in 1993-94. The complete system has 21 satellites plus three spares, all orbiting at about 20,200 km above the Earth. These satellites provide 24-hour-a-day coverage for both two and three-dimensional positioning anywhere on Earth.

The US Department of Defence began development of the US $10 billion GPS satellite navigation system in the 1970s. They continue to manage the system to provide continuous, world wide positioning and navigation data to US military forces around the globe. However, GPS has an even broader civilian, commercial application. To meet these needs, GPS offers two levels of service, one for civilian access and the second encrypted for exclusive military use. The GPS signals are available to an unlimited number of users simultaneously.

The basis of GPS technology is precise time and position information. Using atomic clocks (accurate to within one second every 70,000 years) and location data, each satellite continuously broadcasts the time and its specific position by listening to three or more satellites at once, it then determines the user's position on Earth.

By measuring the time interval between the transmission and the reception of a satellite signal, the GPS receiver calculates the distance between the user and each satellite. Using the distance measurements of at least three satellites in an algorithm computation, the GPS receiver arrives at an accurate position fix.

The position information in a Magellan GPS receiver may be displayed as longitude/latitude co-ordinates, Universal Transverse Mercator co-ordinates or Military Grid co-ordinates. Information must be received from three satellites in order to obtain two-dimensional (latitude and longitude) fixes. Four satellites are required for three- dimensional (latitude, longitude and altitude) positioning.

Each satellite continuously broadcasts two signals, a CIA code signal for world-wide civilian use, which is referred to as the Standard Positioning Service (SPS), and a P- code signal, Precise Positioning Service (PPS), for military use. The SPS signal will provide a civilian user an accuracy of up to 15 metres. Because they are so accurate, civilian GPS receivers using the SPS signal are sometimes subjected to 'Selective Availability' (SIA) interference by the United States Government. This is done in order to maintain optimum military effectiveness of the system. When engaged, SA inserts random errors into the data transmitted by the satellites. As a result, SPS signal accuracy can be reduced to 100 metres.

However, using a technique called differential GPS (DGPS), the user can overcome the effect of SA interference and increase the overall accuracy of the GPS receiver. With DGPS, one GPS receiver unit is placed at a known location and the position information from that receiver is used to calculate corrections in the position transmitted by the satellites. This corrected information is then transmitted to other GPS receivers in the area. The resulting real-time accuracy is 1 to 5 metres. Sub-metre accuracy can be obtained by using DGPS and post-processing calculations in static positioning. By 1991, GPS had achieved 24-hour-a-day world-wide 2D coverage and GPS sales in excess of US $300 million. The US Department of Commerce projects that GPS will become a five-billion-dollar-a-year industry by the year 2000 and employ as many as 100,000 people.

Magellan Systems' GPS receivers provide positioning, velocity and navigation information for a variety of markets and purposes. Anyone who needs to know the precise time or the exact location of people or objects will benefit from GPS. In turn, this information can be used in charting and mapping, plotting a course, navigating from point to point, tracking vehicle movement, locating previously identified sites or any number of similar functions. For example, Magellan's DGPS Skystar and NAV 6500 receivers, are proving to be invaluable aids in general, marine and aviation positioning and navigation.

A whole host of land-based professions from surveying to exploration employ GPS to provide vital positioning and location information. Surveyors, natural resource managers, wildlife managers, geologists, geographers, mappers, forestry managers, search and rescue teams, public safety professionals, archaeologists, utility managers and oil, gas and mineral explorers are just some of the people taking advantage of GPS. Source: Magellan

Please note: Selective Availability was removed in August 2000.

*Contact us for a copy of our 14 page GPS catalogue featuring our full range of GPS products, explanations of how the GPS system works, and a guide to which unit will most suit your needs.

	Satellite GPS from Magellan

EXPLORIST 100
Small rugged and waterproof IPX 7. Large high resolution backlit display for night vision. 169 x120 pixel screen display, front housing keybord, 500 waypoint, 20 routes & 3 track log files. $AUD $250.00 ID: 9-080

EXPLORIST 200
Small rugged and waterproof IPX7. Large high resolution backlit display for night vision. 169 x120 pixel screen display. Front housing keyboard 500 waypaoint, 20 routes & 3 track log files with 8mb Australian base map including roads, highways and cities. AUD$390.00 ID: 9-082

EXPLORIST 300
Small rugged and waterproof IPX7. Large high resolution backlit display for night vision. 169 x120 pixel screen display. Front housing keyboard 500 waypaoint, 20 routes & 3 track log files, 2 axis compass, barometer and 8mb Australian base map including roads, highways and cities. AUD$480.00 ID:9-083

EXPLORIST 400
SD card expension slot. Compatible with Discover Australia mapping. Li-ion rechargeable battery, 17 hours battery life, USB port, bulit in australian base map, rubber armoured and waterproof. Quick access to key features through full keyboard with joystick on front housing AUD$675.00 ID: 9-084

EXPLORIST 500
2.2" color high resolution display with w/backlight . Built in Australian base map SD card expansion slot, compatible with Discover Australia mapping. Li-ion rechargeable battery, 17 hours battery life, USB port, rubber armoured and IPX7 . Quick access to key featured through full keyborad with joystick on front housing AUD$875.00 ID: 9-085

EXPLORIST 600
3-axis compass, thermometer, barometrer pressure and altimeter. 2.2" color high resolution display w/backlight. SD Card expansion slot, compatiable with MapSend mapping, Li-ion rechargeable battery, 17 hours battery life, USB port, built in Australian base map, rugged, rubber armoured and IPX7. Quick access to key features through full keyboard with joystick on front housing. AUD$950.00 ID:9-086

	EXPLORIST 210 An incredible value: 22 MB of available memory, USB port and MapSend compatibility for topo or street navigation. Large backlit display and customizable navigation screens show your GPS information the way you want it. Easy-to-use keypad and joystick. $440.00 ID:9-087
EXPLORIST XL The 3.5" color display is the largest of any rugged outdoor GPS. A remarkable 30 MB available memory, SD card expandability, plus high-speed USB data port and MapSend ® map compatibility make your eXplorist XL the ultimate multi-use GPS. $975.00 ID: 9-086

ALSO AVAILABE ACCESSORIES AND CHART PLOTTERS. PLEASE EMAIL OR GIVE US A CALL.

GPS Accessories

Vehicle Mount Bracket $55.00 ID:9-066
Swivel Mount Bracket $112.00 ID:9-030

Maps

We stock a whole host of maps covering most of Australia's byways and highways. We'll get you to the Gunbarrel Highway in remote Western Australia, the famous Ooodnadatta Track in South Australia, the Tanami Track in the Northern Territory/Western Australia, and places like the Simpson Desert, the Birdsville Track, and outback Victoria.

Westprint Maps

Maps at a scale of 1:1,000,000 by Westprint Heritage Maps are an important addition to your travel planning. Prices all $7.20, ring or email us for a complete brochure of Westprint Heritage maps and 4wd books.

Maps available:Dalhousie and Simpson Desert, Outback Victoria, Alice Springs-Ayers Rock, Birdsville and Strzelecki Tracks, Tanami Track, Alice Springs-Oodnadatta, Plenty Highway, Anne Beadell Highway (minimap series), Oodnadatta Track, Gunbarrel Highway, Flinders Ranges, MacDonnells Ranges, Gulf Country Queensland, York Peninsular, South West Queensland. All ID:4-144

State and Territory Sheet Maps - Explore Australia Series $6.95 each. Please see books section of website to order.

	EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) - Personal Satellite Alert Unit
	Guarantee your safety and security in Australia's remote areas by using the EPIRB unit to alert authorities to your peril. Government penalties apply for misuse. Weighs just 260 grams and comes with case. $294.80 ID:9010 As above but with strobe light for extra safety and security. $319.00 ID:9-028

Weather Stations

Ever had that one-off birding excursion changed because of rain, excessive heat or a howling gale? The Birding Shop is pleased to present a number of tools to help you gauge atmospheric conditions on short birding trips and when camped in the wilderness. Truly, battery-powered birding at its best.

Silva Windwatch
Portable wind gauge for all outdoor activities. Wind speed and temperature measuring, wind chill calculation. Long battery power. Programmable to suit individual requirements $242 ID:9-076
	Silva ALBA Windwatch Hand held weather station. Windspeed, Temperature, Wind-Chill, Barometer, Time & Altitude. Long battery power. $395 ID:9-093

	Oregon Barometer/Altimeter with Memory EB833 Hand held accurate altitude measurement, weather forecasts, time, alarm clock with calendar and temperature readings. Memorey function to record maximum and minimum altitude. Includes batteries. 110 grams. $214.20 ID:9-095
Oregon Travel Barometer EB312E Hand held unit displaying weather forecast, barometric pressure trend, alarm clock and calendar, temperature with memorey function. Features a strong backlight and includes batteries. 100 grams. $101.95 ID:9-094

Petzel Headlamps

Explore and discover the bush after dark by using lightweight, easy to use headlamps manufactured in France and guaranteed for 3 years. Hands free illumination means you can use your binoculars long after the sun has gone down. Headlamps are also useful when camping and have unlimited applications around the house and in the car - ever tried changing a tyre in the dark using just one hand?

Tikka Headlamp

The lightest and most compact headlamp available. 150-hour burn time, it is ideal for long term close-up work, as it gives a very white light,, or for use around the campsite, car or home. The reliability and long life of the LED makes it very safe. It weighs in at only 100g - including 3 x AAA batteries. $55.00 ID:9-048

Duo LED Headlamp

Change between the standard bulb (ranges up to 20m), and the halogen bulb (up to 100m) at the flick of a switch. This is the most versatile member of the Petzl range as it also features water resistance. Now with LED lights for longer battery life. 200g without the required 4AA batteries (not included). $128-95 ID:9-039

Micro Headlamp

This directable and focusable light source weighs only 100g. Uses 2AA batteries (not included). Includes spare standard bulb. Light range up to 10m with the standard bulb and 80m with an optional halogen bulb. $37.95 ID:9-048 or $49.50 with halogen bulb. ID:9-081

Headlamp	Power Source	Bulb Type	Distance	Duration	Weight
Tikka	LR3/AAA X 3	Stand	1-2.5 / 10 m	150 h / 12 h	70g (incl. Batt.)
Micro	LR6/AA X 2	Stand / Hal*	10 / 80 m	7 h 30 / 1 h 15	100g (exc. Batt.)
Duo	LR6/AA X 4	Stand / Hal	20 / 80 m	12 h / 3 h	200g (exc. Batt.)

Bulb Type

Stand = Standard

Hal* = Halogen (available as an optional extra)

Hal = Halogen (included)

Headlamp Accessories

Optional Halogen Bulbs

Suits Micro FR0030 BLI $11.35 ID:9-042

Suits Zoom FR0025 BLI $11.35 ID:9-041

Suits Duo FR0500 BLI $11.35 ID:9-035

Replacement Standard Bulbs

Suits Micro FR0161 BLI $2.50 ID:9-047

Suits Zoom FR0021 BLI $2.50 ID:9-046

Suits Duo FR0490 BLI $2.50 ID:9-044

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