Basics of GPS

What is GPS?
Simply put, Global Positioning System or GPS, is a technology that can give your accurate position anywhere on earth (latitude/longitude). You need a special GPS receiver that can receive signals from satellites.

Does it work in India? What are the problems faced by GPS users in India?
Yes. It works anywhere on the planet where you can receive signals from the satellite. You will need a pretty clear view of the sky for GPS to work, so it won't work inside buildings, underground or even in a forest. Few years back, GPS wasn't available to it's full accuracy, but since the year 2000 it is available with full accuracy anywhere in the world and to anyone who buys a GPS receiver.

Who owns this system?

The Global Positioning System is owned and operated by United States Department of Defence. But it is available freely to anyone in the world for use. Other countries have developed similar Satellite Navigation Systems of their own. For example, European Union is developing a system called Galileo and Russia has an operational system called GLONASS. Many modern receivers are capable of using signals from all these systems.

Can civilians use GPS?

Yes it is allowed for civilian use, with no restriction. There are two kind of GPS signals, C/A code: which is the civilian signals and given acuracy about 8-15m P code - which is military signal and only US military can use that, which is more accurate. There are high-end civilian receivers available, called dual-frequency receivers, which uses part of Pcode, not the full signal, and gives higher accuracy than single frequency receivers.

Is there a fee for using GPS?

GPS is free for use. There is no subscription or monthly fees to pay. You need to buy a receiver that is capable of receiving the signals. But if you want to use add-on services like, differential correction for better accuracy, there may be additional fee.

Do WAAS ( Wide Area Augmentation System ) enabled GPS receivers work in India?
Unfortunately No. WAAS is a US specific system and users cannot receive WAAS signals in India. The receiver will continue to work, but without WAAS corrections. There is a WAAS-compatible augmentation system called GAGAN being implemented by the Indian government. Once ready, WAAS receivers will work in India.

How accurate is the position given by GPS?

Accuracy varies depending on the type of GPS unit. In general, you can expect the position to be within 15m of its true position on earth. Techniques like Differential GPS (D-GPS) can give accuracy less than 3m. Advanced techniques like satellite augmentation, carrier-phase GPS are used for very accurate surveys and can be accurate within centimeters. You can find links to vendors of these high end systems in Buy GPS Equipment page.

GPS for Personal Use

To use GPS, you must purchase a GPS receiver. GPS receivers are available in wide range of variety and can cost a few thousand rupees to lakhs.. depending on the use.

So, What CAN I do with my personal GPS receiver?

The most popular use of GPS is for navigation. You can buy a Car Navigation System, which can give you directions while you are travelling. Remember, that along with the receiver you will need to purchase compatible maps for the city you want to use your navigator. Car Navigation systems are still new in India, but there are some systems already available. Check the Buy GPS Navogators page for more details.

I can find my own way.. tell me other uses..

You can make accurate maps by yourself using a simple GPS device! Say you like to go trekking in mountains and want to map out the trails. Just carry the receiver with you and it will record your path. You can then download and process this data using any of the software and make a cool map of the area.

You can track your car (and your children, too!)

You can fit a GPS device in your car and can track where your car has been, how much you distance you traveled etc. For real-time positioning, you would need a 'transmitter' too, these applications are discussed in the Commercial and ServiceProviders section. GPS devices cum transmitters are also available in small sizes which can be fitted into a shoe or a watch. These are popular to keep a watch on children. These devices would automatically send you a message when your child goes outside a defined perimeter, or you can know where your child is at any time.

GPS for recreation

I am bored. Can my GPS device help?
Yes!!! You can use GPS to have some fun too. Many GPS devices come built-in with interesting 'location' games. If you are into something more adventurous, Geocaching can be a fun family activity, where people use their GPS devices to hunt for 'caches' of hidden by fellow enthusiasts. Companies also use Geocaching activities as a team building exercise!

I am not a techie. What can GPS do for artists?

Artists have used GPS in many creative ways. GPS drawing is an activity where artists move around with their GPS and create interesting 2D and 3D virtual art with their GPS tracks. GPS is a tool that enables artists to express their creativity in digital and spatial medium.

I want to connect with community, share my stories and make friends...

Degree Confluence is a project aimed at collecting an organized sample of the world. People use their GPS devices to find and visit points around the globe and share their adventure, stories and photographs from their journey. A great place to get involved if you like a little adventure. Many confluence points in India still remain to be mapped out, so this might be a perfect opportunity for taking your new GPS unit for a spin.. As GPS-enabled phones become popular and more cellphone providers give location finding services, location based social networking services are becoming popular. You can meet new people who are

near you or meet your friends who happens to be nearby your current location. Pretty soon cell phone companies in India will come out with apps that allow you to do this!

GPS for Commercial Uses

What industries can use GPS in businees?
GPS has become very popular in India among fleet management companies. GPS allows real-time vehicle tracking which enable transportation industry and delivery services. GPS can be effectively used in almost any business that relies on precise location information. Surveying, field data collection, yellow pages, tourism, infrastructure, communication -- GPS has applications in all these areas.

How does GIS ( Geographic Information Systems ) and GPS fit with each-other?
GPS is a tool for spatial data collection. It helps you accurately and quickly gather variety of location data. To organize, analyse and present this data, you can use a GIS. GPS data seamlessly integrates with all the popular GIS and can provide an additional layer of information.

We are an NGO, can GPS help us?

Yes. GPS can enable faster and accurate data collection and help communicate social issues effectively. Many non-profit groups have successfully used GPS data for activism and promoting social causes.

uy GPS Survey Equipment in India

Following listings are submitted by website visitors and are not verified (see our terms of service) Jump to A, B, C, E, F, G, I, K, O, P, S, U, V

A
Company Name Aimil Ltd. Dealers of Brand Trimble Description Contact Located in Delhi All metro cities and most major cities

Aimil Ltd. is an ISO 9001:2008 Instrumentation Company since 1932. We are authorised Distribution Partner & Service Provider for Trimble Navigation Ltd., USA for their GPS, DGPS, GNSS & handheld GIS data collection products. Complete range of Garmin GPS handheld devices. eTrex, Rino, GPSMAP, GPS 60 plus much more. Authorized dealer and service center for entire range of Garmin products in India.

Mrs. Aarti Bhargava marcom@aimil.com ritubatra@aimil.com 01130810245/ 244

A & S Creations

Garmin, Holux, Suunto

Laghu Agarwal laghu@ascreations.in sumit@ascreations.in 91-1145037658, +91-9811184437 / 9313556548

New Delhi

Aerial Services Pvt. Ltd

Garmin

asplgps@vsnl.net +91-11-2465 1445, +91-22-2611 5661

New Delhi Mumbai

Apexcomnet

Garmin, Magellan

apexcomnetindia@gmail.com 135-2724698, 2725291, 9412050173 For full range of GARMIN Amit Katyal (Delhi), Manish Baweja (Lucknow)

Dehradun

Asim

Garmin

New Delhi

Communications

handheld GPS at very competitive prices.

amit@asimcommunication.com mail@asimcommunication.com, manish@asimcommunication.co Delhi: 9818757689, 01128034223/4, 43306847 Lucknow: +91-9794664007 Sumit Katyal sumit@asimindia.com jitendra@asimindia.com 011/45558010-16, 09899676507 Fax :- 011/45558017

Lucknow

ASIM Industries

Garmin, Trimble, Brunton

For All GARMIN Portable GPS products with Most accurate Detail Maps. GARMIN GPS Map For India Available. Distributor of Trimble and Brunton GPS sells garmin Nuvi, eTrex and other GPS devices completely online!

New Delhi Mumbai, Bhopal

AUTSUN.COM Pvt. Ltd

Garmin

customercare@autsun.com info@autsun.com 91-1141639928

New Delhi

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B
Company Name Dealers of Brand Garmin Description Contact Located in

Bangalore Survey Instruments Co

Authorised Distributor for Garmin GPS Dealer of GARMIN GPS Preoducts Range in the state of Madhya Pradesh, Chattisghar & Vidharbha Region,

Elmer Pinto pintogps@yahoo.com 9844088477, 080 4152 4872

Bangalore

Bharti Communications

Garmin

bharti.communications@gmail.com info@bharticom.com 09425026187, 0755-4277684, 0755 2570721

Bhopal

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C
Company Name Careth Corporation Dealers of Brand Garmin Description Contact Located in Mumbai

Dealers of Garmin GPS Devices,supply the same ANYWHERE in India

carethcorp@carethcorp.com 91 22 67250670 / 71

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E
Company Name Elcome Technologies Pvt Ltd., Dealers of Brand Leica, Magellan Description Contact Located in

Leica Total station and GPS

S P Balan balan@elcometech.com somou.ponniyenn@leicageosystems.com +919382330363

Chennai Trivandrum, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Gurgaon, Mumbai, Kokatta Chennai

Elektronik Lab - Chennai

Garmin

We are the authorised distributors of Garmin GPS in Indian. We deal with all types of Handheld, Marine and Car Navigator GPS of Garmin. Apart from these, we are also dealing with Vehicle tracking system, GPS data logger, Car Indash units with built in GPS etc.. Garmin Dealers

Yogarajan/ Hari Rajan gps@elektroniklab.com hari@elektroniklab.com +44 2435 8288, 99401 80460, 98400 41727

Elektronik lab - Mumbai Elektronik Lab - New Delhi

Garmin

B. Sanjana elab@vsnl.com 24715115 Mr.Vijay Venkatesh vijay@elektroniklab.com kapil@elektroniklab.com 8826124865, 011-41076010

Mumbai

Garmin

We are the authorised distributors of Garmin GPS in Indian. We deal with all types of Handheld, Marine and Car Navigator GPS of

New Delhi Chennai, New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad.

Garmin. Apart from these, we are also dealing with Car Indash units with built in GPS etc.. Excellon Enterprises Garmin Authorised dealer for GARMIN GPS, working in the state of Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh as a dealer for Garmin make GPS Ravi Chandran excellon.bpl@gmail.com (0755) 3267892, 4209430, 9301145950, 9303304585 Bhopal

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F
Company Name Dealers of Brand Garmin Description Contact Located in

Future Media

We are Authorized Distributors for Garmin Hand Held Gps and Car Navigation Equipment. We are also exclusive distributors for Trimble DGPS and ETS Stations. We can provide all Gps based Survey Equipments. Provides GARMIN GPS solution, Networking Solution, Survey tools, Asset Management, Computer Peripherals etc.

Mr.Vishal Kothari vkvishalkothari@gmail.com 9849411033

Hyderabad Vizag

Friendbridge IT Solutions

Garmin

C. Krishna info@friendbridge.in +9310433337, +91-1126181965, 26171151

New Delhi

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G
Company Name Dealers of Brand Description Contact Located in

Galiakotwala Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

Satguide

Sells satguide navigation device

Rafik Inamdar gtpl@galiakotwala.co.in 022-22854072, +919867011611 VVS Bandhakavi hara1910@gmail.com info@geotrax.in 9686695677

Mumbai

Geotrax

Geotrax International Services is a Professional Surveying and Mapping Services provider across the globe. Geotrax International Sales specializes in selling a variety of Survey equipment including RTK/GPRS/Static mode DGPS; Total Stations; Levelling Equipments and accessories. We are approved by the Indian Government (National Remote Sensing Agency, NRSC, Division of Indian Space Research Organization) for Survey related activities. Garmin Garmin Authorized Dealer

Hyderabad Ahmedabad, Delhi, Jammu, Bhubaneswar

GPS India

Sushil Jolly mail@gpsindia.net 9810972144, +91-1123314855, +91-1141740346- 47, 24651445 Abinash Kumar sales@groovygpsstore.com 01126284999, Mobile-+91 99 11 11 3393

New Delhi

Groovy GPS Store

Garmin

India's first online store for GPS Devices. Complete range of GPS Devices from Basic handhelds to mapping handhelds to Data loggers to Car Navigators to Vehicle tracking devices.

New Delhi

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I
Company Name Dealers of Brand Garmin, Trimble Description Contact Located in

IGE Systems

GARMIN Handheld and TRIMBLE GPS for Survey, Total Stations and complete solutions for the Survey industry. Authorized dealers for lower AP. IGE is a 38-year old professionally managed company with multiple offices in India and USA. Call or write to us for more information

survey@igesys.com rfid-india (@) igesys.com 91 891 2754556

Vizag USA

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K
Company Name Dealers of Brand Garmin Description Contact Located in

K. D. Enterprises

We are Authorized Dealer & Direct importer of all types GARMIN GPS, Handheld, Marine,Aviation & Car Navigaton Gps. We supply Gps ANYWHERE in India.

Nitesh Mundra k_d_ent@hotmail.com (022) 22080526, 09821313908

Mumbai

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P
Company Name Pan India ElectroMech Dealers of Brand Magellan Description Contact Located in

Geodetic / GIS Professional Products GPS (Auth for Ashetech Professinoal DGPS) & Trimble. All kind of Survey Instrumnets

paie@vsnl.com paie@airtelmail.in 91(0) 124-4013954, +91(0) 1244300950

Gurgaon

M/s Paragon Instrumentation Engineers Pvt. Ltd.

Trimble, Ashetech

Mr. Tanuj / Mr. Amit delsales@paragoninstruments.com sales@paragoninstruments.com +91-120-4263386

Noida Roorkee, Pune, Bangalore, Kolkata, Lucknow

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S
Company Name Dealers of Brand Garmin Description Contact Located in

Satcom Zone

We are the authorized distributor of all Garmin GPS all over India.

Prabu info@satcomzone.com satcomzone@gmail.com 9894509993

Coimbatore Chennai, Bangalore, Tiruppur, Erode & Salem Dehradun

SCIENCE

Garmin

We are authorised for Garmin GPS for the State of Uttarakhand. We are importer and distributor of geomax range of products including DGPS, Total stations, auto levels, levelling lasers , theodolite etc. Trimble Agriculture GPS Systems

Prabir De deprabir@gmail.com science@consultant.com +919837315102

Skipper International

Geomax

Sandeep Bhasin sandeep@skippertech.com bhasinskipper@gmail.com 911332-262475,09837004702

Roorkee

SPL Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

Trimble

Jagmohan Tomer info@spltech.in jagmohan@spltech.in 9560811033

New Delhi Haryana, Karnataka, U.P., Bihar, Gujrat, A.P. Go to Top

U
Company Name Dealers of Brand Garmin Description Contact Located in

Upbeat Technologies

We are the authorized distributor of all Garmin GPS (i.e. Handheld GPS, Marine GPS, Running & Fitness GPS, Cycling GPS, Aero GPS, Car Navigation

Shiva upbeattech@gmail.com info@upbeattech.com 9962534747

Chennai Coimbatore, Bangalore

Devices & Garmin maps) all over India. Go to Top

V
Company Name Varun Enterprises Dealers of Brand Garmin Description Contact Located in Kolkata

Garmin GPS authorized distributor & Service Center

Nirmal Mundra snvr@hotmail.com snvr@hotmail.com 9830047459, (033) 22310693 Dhanish Nayak, Amit Kumar dhanish@vpcivil.co.in amit@vpcivil.co.in 01125428130

VP Civil Surveying Instruments Pvt. Ltd.

Garmin, Leica, Geomax +others

We are authorized distributor of Geomax, Leica, South, Topcon, Sokkia, Garmin & Suunto Brand Total Station, Theodolite, Auto Level, GIS GPS, Laser Distance Meters, Laser Levels & all kind of surveying instruments. Distributor of Stonex Surveying Instrument i.e Total Station , Auto Level , Ecosounder, Theodolite, GPS, DGPS etc

New Delhi

VS Engineers and Consultants

Stonex

V.K.Rai sales@vsecs.com vk@vsecs.com 9999972607

Noida Pune , Chennai

Software for GPS data processing

Quantum GIS GPSBabel JOSM Trip Tracker Sportsmate TravelByGPS: EasyGPS, ExpertGPS and Topofusion software Precision GPS: Differential GPS using inexpensive receivers OZIexplorer: Navigation and data display software for laptops GPS Mapping Studio Introduction

GPS Software for mobiles and PDA

Software that allow you to track your GPS phone or have vehicle navigation services through use of GPS. Trackut: Free application that works on variety of mobile phones.Location-based streaming application which helps people stay connected with friends and peers using their mobile phone or PC. Google Latitude: See where your friends are on a map. Supports many platforms and phones. Has maps for India. Free of cost. MapMyIndia iNav: Navigation and Maps service on any GPS-enabled phone from Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Blackberry, Samsung, or a Windows Mobile phone from HP, Asus, HTC, I-Mate, or Dopod... get India's best maps and navigation experience right on your mobile phone. Navizon: Mobile navigation with Google Maps support. Free download, works for India. GPSWatch 3.1: The ultimate mobile utility for mobile phones. 3DTracking : Free tracking software for mobile and PDAs, use with Windows,Symbian and Java sstems Gmap-track : Live tracking using mobile GPS and GPRS OZIexplorer CE: Software for Windows CE devides and PocketPCs Radhe GPS & Navigation: Sells GPS software for windows mobile and laptops. Located in Bhavnagar,Gujarat. Contact Amit Shihori, +91-9909904187, +91-278-2414333, or radhegps@gmail.co&#109 GPS Tuner: Revolutionary 3D off-road navigation software for Pocket PC and PDA

Resources for GPS Software Developers

Mobile, PDA and navigation system development
RoadNav : Open-source in-car navigation system GPSDrive : Complete linux based car/bike navigation system EPS : Java VMs and browser

Desktop and vehicle tracking GPS application development

GPSylon : Java modules for developing GPS applications TuxGPS: Open-source firmware; navigational and mapping applications using open map and database formats Trip Tracker: Real-time position tracking client-server system OpenGTS : Web-based GPS tracking framework for a fleet of vehicles GPStk : Open source library and suite of applications for GPS research, analysis and development