What Is a Handheld GPS Receiver?

Handheld GPS receivers tell you where on Earth you are.

Global positioning system (GPS) devices come in a variety of types, with handheld GPS systems being one of the most popular. Handheld GPS receivers are more often used by hikers, geocachers or land surveyors to determine their position on the globe by latitude and longitude.

Origins of the Global Positioning System

The global positioning system (GPS) was originally developed by the U.S. Navy to help guide submarines. The GPS system was opened to nonmilitary uses starting in 1983, even though the system wasn't declared fully completed until 1995. A handheld GPS receiver is one type of device that uses the GPS satellite system to determine its location on the globe.

How the Global Positioning System Works

GPS devices work by receiving position data from satellites that orbit the earth. They use their satellite connections to triangulate their position on the Earth. The more satellites a GPS receiver can connect with, the more accurately it can determine its position. A handheld GPS unit receiving signals from at least three satellites can determine its longitude and latitude. If the unit has contact with at least four satellites, it can also provide altitude.

Uses for Handheld GPS Units

Millions of handheld GPS receivers are in use, along with millions of other types of GPS units. Most handheld GPS units plot position and store local or regional maps. Handheld GPS receivers can plot the location of coordinates entered by the user or tell the user his location. Hikers and campers use handheld units to plot their position on a map, and fans of geocaching use them to help find caches. Mapmakers use handheld units when surveying land. Handheld units may offer navigation, but most are designed simply to determine the unit's position very accurately.

References

• Time: A Brief History of GPS
• Handheld GPS Information: What is GPS?

Resources

• Time: A Brief History of GPS