GPS Land Navigation: A Complete Guidebook for Backcountry Users of the NAVSTAR Satellite System

by Michael Ferguson

Book Overview

GPS Land Navigation is an essential reference book for anyone planning to use the global positioning system for navigating the backcountry. This book explains all aspects of the GPS system and related... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0965220257
• ISBN13: 9780965220255
• Release Date: June 1997
• Publisher: Glassford Publishing
• Length: 255 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Fundamentals are excellent, could use a 2nd edition.

I bought this book in 1999 when I first started using GPS recreationally and to record site locations. Since that time, I have looked through almost every GPS guide aimed at recreational users. This book still holds up as the best I have seen.Its primary focus is the use of GPS as a component in land navigation. The material on topographic maps, compass navigation, datums, coordinate systems, and the possible sources of error that are unique to GPS is what makes this book more than a how-to-be-a-techie recguide. It is presented and explained in such a clear and efficient manner that this book is both a valuable resource and an interesting book to just pick up and read.The chapter on GPS equipment is outdated, but that information can be obtained from salespeople or manufacturers' websites. The cautions and explanations regarding Selective Availability are no longer relevant, since SA was switched off in May 2000. The rest of the material is timeless and fundamental and applies to anything locational. Still, it would be good if a second edition could be written to get rid of the outdated material.Anyone who takes the time to learn the material covered in this book will gain much more use from a GPS unit and topographic maps. You need to know more than your latitude and longitude. This book will give you the background you need in order to know what your GPS unit is telling you and how to use that information correctly.

Comprehensive, clear, and concise!

Ferguson's writing style about the technical "how tos" of GPS use is near perfect. He packs a great deal of information into the readable volume, but is very good at chunking it up and presenting it in a format where you can either read the book straight through (which I did), or use it as a reference.I basically knew nothing about GPS or land navigation when I bought this, I know feel very confident in my ability to use my GPS (a garmin etrex), a map, and a compas (yes, you still need one) to find my way around in the backcountry. Bottom-line: the book works!

An extremely comprehensive, easy-to-read GPS reference book.

I am amazed that none of the manufacturers of hand-held GPS equipment thought to write this book before--it's what every GPS user needs! Whether you already own or contemplate buying a GPS receiver, this book is a must. It covers all levels of expertise and is well worth the asking price. It doubles the value of your GPS receiver.

Everyone interested in navigation must read this book

The book's objective is to remove the mystery surrounding this new technology so that anyone who owns a GPS receiver can become an expert in its use. GPS Land Navigation has 6 chapters that cover everything from hardware (GPS, compass, altimeter), to software (maps, coordinates, bearings, etc.), to skills (trip planning, route finding, map reading, etc.) Three appendices contain: elevation, latitude and longitude of the highest points in each county; the coordinates of each state's capital building; and, the coordinates for the junction of every U.S. Interstate with either another U.S. Interstate or an U.S. Highway. You can enter this into a GPS receiver and use it a-priori to navigate to that specific location. The last appendix has detailed comparison information for every handheld GPS in production as of early 1997.Chapter 1 Introduction to GPS discusses the NAVSTAR (U.S.) and GLONASS (Russian) satellite navigation systems. The NAVSTAR system includes 24 satellites and their coordinating ground stations. Each satellite carries four atomic clocks, and continuously sends radio signals, which GPS receivers use to calculate position. NAVSTAR is designed so that any location on earth will have line of sight access to at least six satellites at all times (as long as there is an unobstructed view from horizon to horizon). Simply stated, a GPS receiver determines its position by measuring the time it takes radio signals to travel from four satellites to the receiver. Each satellite simultaneously sends its precise location and software in the receiver triangulates these to get a fix. GPS receivers provide accuracy between 40 and 100 feet and chapter 1 provides an excellent discussion as to the determinants of precision and accuracy. Tidbit of information, GPS receivers are constantly updated by the atomic clocks in the GPS satellites, so as long as you have one you will know the EXACT time.Chapter 2 GPS Hardware discusses the essential equipment needed for navigation. Surprise! GPS does not eliminate the need for traditional navigation instruments (compass and altimeter) but rather it complements them. A GPS receiver provides three essential pieces of data for backcountry land navigation: 1) position in terms of coordinates, 2) direction between any two waypoints, 3) distance between any two waypoints. This chapter gives you lots of information about how GPS receivers generate data. One piece of data that GPS receivers don't provide is actual directions on the ground. In most field applications, you need a compass to know which direction you are facing and which way to walk. Chapter 2 discusses baseplate, mirror, and sighting compasses. It explains how to obtain, set, and then follow a bearing (either from a map or a GPS). Finally, it summarizes magnetic declination, magnetic interference, and magnetic inclination. If you already know what these are, cool. If not, you'd better read the boo

Calling all GPS fanatics: "Go To" this book!

Granted, I speak from the perspective of a techno-nerd, but with that having been said I rate Ferguson's book as a non-stop spellbinder. This guy answers almost all the GPS questions I've been mulling, and a lot more I hadn't even stumbled on. It's up to date, in depth, a relatively easy read, with good graphics and examples. Your companion text will have to be your own GPS's instruction manual, but Ferguson adds information about satellites, map systems, and practical use of the instrument. You can find a few internet web pages which are a bit more technical in their own narrow topics, but Ferguson really pulls it all together in a useful framework. Don't hesitate on this one.