Gone are the days of printed maps. Obviously map makers must have assumed we would always know where we are when using their maps. A printed map does little good when we don't have a clue where we are. With a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver you will know where you are. Most general-use GPS receivers can locate your position with an accuracy of around 10m. The quality of the receiver and your geographic location will determine how long it takes the device to get a fix on your position. GPS receivers require a clear view of the sky to get a fix on your position. It’s therefore harder for the receiver to lock onto and hold a signal if you're traveling through a dense forest or an urban area with tall buildings.
The GPS system was originally developed by the United States Department of Defense for military applications; however, today this system is used, free of charge, by anyone with a GPS receiver unit to track their own position on earth. The Global Positioning System is a satellite based navigation system consisting of 24 satellites orbiting the Earth at 12 hour intervals. Signals from these satellites make it possible for people on the ground with receivers to pinpoint their geographic location by a system of triangulation.
