How to Use GPS Effectively

February 10, 2015

It can be impossible to find your way to a specific coordinate when traveling to an unknown or remote location. A GPS device serves as an invaluable resource to help you find exactly what you’re looking for. Not only do you always need to have one with you — it’s also important to know how to properly use it to get the most from it.

4 Tips to Get the Most from Your GPS

Not quite sure what features your GPS device has to offer? There’s a good chance it can provide the four features below. Familiarize yourself with them to ensure you’re using this invaluable tool effectively:

  1. Get a Satellite Signal: A GPS receiver must make contact with four different satellites to pinpoint your location. The signal needs to be strong, as it will be unable to communicate accurate information if it’s weak. If you’re getting a faint signal, try powering the device off and turning it back on. It’s also advisable to stand in a clear area, where there are no trees or other objects blocking the sky.
  2. Find Your Location: Locate your final destination — otherwise known as a waypoint — and save it on your device prior to beginning your journey. Directions to get to the site, the total distance and the amount of time it should take to get there will appear on your screen. The distance you’ve traveled will continue to update as you get closer to your endpoint.
  3. Map a Route: If you’re headed to multiple destinations, you can use your GPS device to navigate to all of them in the most effective manner. Simply enter the waypoint for each location and the GPS will create the shortest possible route to get you to each place. You also have the power to make any necessary manual adjustments.
  4. Track Your Path: Don’t get lost along the way! Enable your device to automatically leave trackpoints over time intervals or distance to make backtracking easy. This is a great feature if you’re prone to stepping off the path the device maps out for you to do some spontaneous exploring.

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