Handheld GPS
The reason that it is called handheld GPS is because of its small size and light weigh - the very first commercial GPS receiver available was not that small and had to be backpacked.
A GPS receiver is likened to a transitor radio. Instead of receiving signal from radio station broadcast, a handhled GPS receives signal from satellites in the sky which are some 19,000 km away. As such, a GPS cannot work indoor or under heavy foliage.
Outdoor Adventure GPS
Handheld GPS is affordable and easy to use. Previously, portable GPS receivers are mainly used for marine navigation. Nowadays, there is a model of GPS for evey outdoor activity - be it hiking, trekking, mountaineering, fishing, cross-country skiing, gliding and more.
Beside telling you where you are and giving your direction to your destination, some models even have integrated electronic compass and barometric altimeter. More expensive models come loaded with color map.
GPS for Car Navigation
More and more car owners are getting GPS vehicle navigator to help them find their way in and out of city and inter-state travel. Basic models will have street maps and on-screen direction arrow to show you the way. High-end models are equipped with voice synthisizer to give you verbal instruction so that you do not need to take your eyes off the road.
GPS for Hobby
- Geocaching - a new outdoor sport using the handheld GPS
- GPS mapping - build your own map with a GPS
- Web mapping - publishing map made by GPS on the Internet
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