In this article, we’ll find out how GPS systems, like GPS Socket Receiver, pull off this amazing trick. As we’ll see, the Global Positioning System is vast, expensive and involves a lot of technical ingenuity, but the fundamental concepts at work are quite simple and intuitive. The Global Positioning System (GPS) is actually a constellation of 27 Earth-orbiting satellites (24 in operation and three extras, in case one fails).

A GPS receiver calculates its position by precisely timing the signals sent by the GPS satellites high above the Earth. Each satellite continually transmits messages which include

* the time the message was sent
* precise orbital information
* the general system health and rough orbits of all GPS satellite

The receiver measures the transit time of each message and computes the distance to each satellite. Geometric trilateration is used to combine these distances with the satellites’ locations to obtain the position of the receiver. This position is then displayed, perhaps with a moving map display or latitude and longitude; elevation information may be included. Many GPS units also show derived information such as direction and speed, calculated from position changes.

Three satellites might seem enough to solve for position, since space has three dimensions. However, even a very small clock error multiplied by the very large speed of light[15]—the speed at which satellite signals propagate—results in a large positional error. Therefore receivers use four or more satellites to solve for the receiver’s location and time. The very accurately computed time is effectively hidden by most GPS applications, which use only the location. A few specialized GPS applications do however use the time; these include time transfer, traffic signal timing, and synchronization of cell phone base stations.

Although four satellites are required for normal operation, fewer apply in special cases. If one variable is already known, a receiver can determine its position using only three satellites. (For example, a ship or plane may have known elevation.) Some GPS receivers may use additional clues or assumptions (such as reusing the last known altitude, dead reckoning, inertial navigation, or including information from the vehicle computer) to give a degraded position when fewer than four satellites are visible.

Today we post here a short explanation of how to work with a bluetooth gps receiver.

Before we get into trip planning on your Pocket PC, let’s look at how the Bluetooth GPS receiver works. You must first charge the Bluetooth GPS Receiver using the included in-vehicle power adapter. Socket does offer an AC power adapter for an additional cost. Make sure that you fully charge the receiver before using it for the first time. On top of the GPS receiver, you will find three LEDs, the power jack and the on/off switch. The LEDs indicate Bluetooth status, GPS status and Battery status, marked with little icons. There is also an external antenna port on the right hand side of the receiver where you can plug in an external antenna for maximum signal strength.

Turn on the Bluetooth GPS receiver to get a fix before connecting to your Pocket PC. The cold start takes about 25-30 seconds and warm start only a few second. I usually can track 5-6 satellites in full signal strength with 7-8 satellites in-sight. Once you have a fix, you can pair up your Pocket PC with your GPS by performing a Bluetooth device discovery on your Pocket PC. You’ll bond the two devices, making sure that you use “0183” as the Passkey.

The Bluetooth connection was very easy to create and the process is fairly simple. You don’t need to be Bluetooth savvy to use the Bluetooth GPS. The only small issue I’ve encountered with this Bluetooth receiver is the LEDs were a bit hard to see in strong sunlight.

The Socket Bluetooth GPS Receiver is very small, almost the size of a matchbox, with a rechargeable lithium ion battery. A full battery charge lasts approximately 6 hours.

When you open the box you’ll find a leather pouch for your receiver and a car charger, with a bonus: a Y (splitter) cable that recharges the GPS receiver and an adapter to charge your iPAQ!

The accuracy according to the specs is 10m, RMS, 25m CEP without SA. Velocity: 0.1 m/sec without SA and time 1 microsecond synchronized to GPS time. The antenna is built in but there’s a plug for an external antenna. The unit has 12 Channels all-in-view tracking, and the maximum dynamic conditions are altitude < 18,000 m, velocity < 515 m/sec and acceleration < 4 g.

The unit has three LEDs: a yellow one to indicate low battery, a green one to indicate fix (blinking) and a blue one to indicate Bluetooth activity.

I was surprised with the time to get a fix. The Socket Bluetooth GPS Receiver got its first fix in less than two minutes! After this, I could turn it off and on again and a fix in around 30 seconds. I’m not very technical on GPS things, but I like these times!

The Socket Bluetooth GPS Receiver comes in two flavours: the Receiver only package (product code GP0804-405) and the Nav Kit (product code GP0805-406). The difference is that MyNavigator CD Rom comes with the Nav Kit. The MyNavigator software for Pocket PC is available in American and British versions. It includes things like destinations, points of interest, speed alert, recording and GPS Info.

According to Socket website, this is a standard NMEA GPS unit, so it should work fine with softwares like Destinator, Mapopolis and Pharos.

First surprise: no need to pair the Bluetooth devices. I just had to change my TDK Bluetooth configuration to allow any device to connect, and after my first serial connection I was up and running. That was very promissing. But, still, not very mobile. I’m not carrying my desktop computer around.

First I had to add the Socket Bluetooth GPS Receiver to the iPAQ H3970 Bluetooth Manager list. That was easy in took me less than 20 seconds, just the time to search for new devices. Then, armed with my Pocket PC and with the Socket Bluetooth GPS Receiver I was ready to go out and explore.

In summary I am very impressed with the Socket Bluetooth GPS Receiver. It’s a small product, you can easily attach to the dashboard, or have it on a bike trip. The leather pouch is great for tramping. And being a Bluetooth device you can leave the cables behind.

Global Positioning System (GPS) technology is playing an important role in our lives tracking us in travel and in social networks as well.

Technologies such as wifi and bluetooth had begin to replace the wire that bind our devices, so they are increasing becoming wireless.

A device without GPS capability,bluetooth GPS receiver is considered to have great benefits to experience new technology with extra overhead Bluetooth GPS is a wireless technology.

Unlike infrared and other predecessors, bluetooth devices don’t require strict line of sight to maintain connections. Rather, devices networked in this manner can function in separate rooms through walls at distances up to 15 meters. Bluetooth GPS is one of the sensitive technologies.

Previously, GPS technology has had many limitations and restrictions. It is common for GPS devices to lose their ability on their tracked satellites under trees, awnings or even in pockets.

Many of these limitations have vanished as GPS recivers become increasingly sensitive and they now acquire fixes even inside building, albiet less accurate data than would be gotten outside.

Often for under $100, you can purchase a small bluetooth GPS receiver that connects and acquires fixes from your pocket or backpack. Battery life is often comparable to that of cell phones, and they weigh even less.

The device is so small that you’ll likely forget that you’re carrying it, yet it unlocks large new areas of capability for anything with which it is networked.

You can turn some of your PDA systems into a full navigation platform. Though many PDAs give bluetooth connectivity and enough storage capacity to store GPS software and maps, they don’t offer internal GPS receivers.

You can experience GPS tecnology in a package that competes well with stand alone units instead of purchasing a bluetooth GPS reciever for Your PDA and required software, this has a difference of a fraction of the cost. Bluetooth GPS can be added if PDA meets these requirements.

You’ll have the power of GPS technology with you whereever your PDA may be, so no need to purchase another large device. While this may not initially seem like a huge advantage, you may reconsider when you find yourself easily consulting maps and getting directions without fumbling with another larger device.

Some cell phones still don’t include this technology, instead rely on less accurate means to locate your position, as GPS are becoming increasingly more common in cell phones.

When combined with cellular internet more intersting possibilities becomes available via blutooth GPS, this offers many of the same benefits as pda GPS connectivity.

Many social networks are beginning to incorporate geolocation, thus helping your friends locate you more quickly and surely than would be possible with verbal directions.

Cell phone GPS data also can be used by websites to provide more relevant, location-sensitive information, nearby restaurants and businesses receiving priority in search results for instance.

Finally, with bluetooth GPS data, Enhanced 911 services can more quickly and reliably locate the origin of your call, without you needing to provide an address from where you are calling.

If you have a Pocket PC or other device enabled with Bluetooth, now you can take advantage of your device’s Socket Bluetooth GPS Receiver capability to wirelessly add GPS positioning technology.

Whether you’re a traveler and need to navigate your journey, or whether you’re a field service worker and need to report your location, this is the perfect solution. It’s great for both consumers and corporate users to benefit from the many positioning applications now available for Pocket PCs.

Use it for vehicle tracking, marine navigation, aviation, topography or street-level navigation. If you have mobile Internet access, you can even combine the Socket GPS Receiver with online maps.

It’s easy to add Bluetooth functionality to a Pocket PC via Socket’s Bluetooth Connection Kit (SDIO or CompactFlash). Pair it with Socket’s Bluetooth GPS Receiver and a Bluetooth phone, and you can benefit from a real-time navigational system with access to maps on the Internet.

Before, adding the Socket GPS Receiver to a Pocket PC meant using an obtrusive GPS receiver or troubling with messy cords and antennas — reducing the portability of your Pocket PC. Besides adding bulk and weight to your Pocket PC, these solutions also consumed power from your Pocket PC. Plus you had to assemble the different gadgets every time you used them.

Using Bluetooth to wirelessly add GPS eliminates all of these inconveniences.

No cables also means you can position the Bluetooth GPS Receiver for optimal satellite reception. You can keep the Bluetooth GPS Receiver in your coat pocket or on your dashboard while you use it — as long as there is a direct line of sight to the sky. This lets you devote your hands to using your Pocket PC or driving your vehicle, instead of juggling devices.