- About this item Turn your laptop into a powerful GPS tracking device Shows your real-time position on detailed Street Atlas USA s Create address-to-address routes in the U.S. Find more than 4 million places of interest Includes both GPS receiver and software.
Product description
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The Earthmate LT-20 GPS System is a powerful, portable
tool for in-vehicle GPS tracking. This WAAS-enabled receiver has
DeLorme's proprietary Kalman filter for superior accuracy and
fast acquisition. The 12 channel, low power chipset provides
improved GPS tracking in weak signal conditions, plus a cold
start time of less than 45 seconds.
.com
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This package of the Earthmate GPS LT-20 GPS receiver and
Street Atlas USA 2005 software can turn your laptop into a
powerful GPS tracking device. The GPS LT-20 is a
high-performance, easy-to-use link to the satellite navigation
technology of the Global Positioning System (GPS). Accessing
these satellites is available for no additional charge.
Earthmate, connected to a USB laptop PC, shows your real-time
position on detailed Street Atlas USA s anywhere in the U.S.,
so you will always know where you are and where you need to go.
Compact and Powerful
This new GPS unit is one of the smallest on the market,
measuring just 1 7/8" w x 2 5/8" h x 9/16" thick. It comes with
an attached 5' cable with a suction cup on the cable designed to
hold the GPS against the windshield or on the dash for optimum
performance. Just plug the other end of the cable into the USB
port of your laptop PC. It is best to avoid rapid and far-ranging
temperature extremes, bringing the GPS indoors when not in use,
just as you would a cell phone. The yellow reflective casing
helps reduce high temperatures while on the dash. (Phone shown
for size comparison only)
Getting Started Is Easy
Plug the Earthmate GPS LT-20 into the USB port of your laptop
PC. The low-power chipset draws power from your laptop, meaning
no GPS batteries are needed. Install the Street Atlas USA 2005
software, and load the entire second data disc onto your hard
drive if you want. The software also includes over 4 million
places of interest. Place the GPS as close to your front
windshield as possible, ideally using the enclosed suction cup on
the attached cable to hold the GPS against the glass. Click on
the software GPS tab and you'll see your position updated in real
time on the s as you drive. There are many custom GPS options
included within the GPS tab.
Abilities at a Glance
* Create address-to-address routes in the U.S. (and major and
secondary routes in Canada)
* Calculate overnight stops and fuel stops, including fuel costs
* Find more than 4 million places of interest located from your
GPS position, including hotels, , food, lodging, banks/ATMs,
schools, colleges, hospitals--and also named places such as
Wal-Mart, Starbucks, and UPS Stores
* GPS track using the Show Turns window and see large arrows
with your next two upcoming turns shown with large text
* Select high-contrast colors for improved in-vehicle
visibility, helping to reduce in-vehicle glare
* Listen to spoken directions calling out upcoming turns
* Issue spoken commands (microphone recommended for best
performance) and receive replies to common travel questions such
as "How far to the next turn?"
* Add and name new local roads to the s and these new roads
will be included in automatically generated routes
* Use VIAs to select individual road segments to force the
automatic routing to recalculate to your preferences
* Automatically receive new route updates when you stray off
course, selecting the distance off course you want to be before
the software recalculates your directions
* Add Notes, measure distances, and much much more
* Access the GPS satellite system for no charge beyond the cost
of the receiver Hear samples of Spoken Directions using Earthmate
GPS with Street Atlas USA 2005 * Turns in Washington, DC (MP3) ( http://www.delorme.com/earthmatelt20/voicefiles/DC_turns.mp3 )
* Nearest fast food (MP3) ( http://www.delorme.com/earthmatelt20/voicefiles/Nearest_FastFood.mp3 )What Is WAAS?
WAAS stands for Wide Area Augmentation System and is a system of
satellites and ground stations that provide GPS signal
corrections. As is true of the GPS satellites, there is no extra
charge or equipment required to take advantage of WAAS. Because
the new Earthmate USB GPS is WAAS-enabled, it is possible where
WAAS is available to experience accuracy of under three meters
for the majority of tracking time.
How WAAS Works
The system consists of roughly 25 ground reference stations
positioned across the United States. These ground stations
monitor GPS satellite data. Two master stations are located on
each coast and these collect data from the reference stations and
create a GPS correction message. This correction takes into
account GPS satellite orbits, clock drift, and signal delays,
typically caused by atmospheric conditions. The corrected
differential message is broadcast through one of two
geo-stationery satellites or satellites with a fixed equatorial
position. Any WAAS-enabled GPS, such as the Earthmate USB GPS, is
able to read this signal and benefit from the enhanced accuracy.
WAAS Performance Considerations
As is true for all GPS usage, the location and environment of
the user will cause variability in WAAS performance. For
instance, the position of the satellites over the equator make it
difficult to receive the signals when ains or trees obstruct
a clear view of the horizon. Therefore, it is safe to say that
WAAS provides the best performance in open-area situations.
Unlike DGPS (differential GPS), WAAS does not require additional
receiving equipment.