GPS, GeoCaching & YOU!!

GPS, GeoCaching & YOU!! Joe Ladwig <‘)>>>>>< Lighthouse Christian Academy Bloomington, IN 

Exactly What IS GPS? Only the LATEST,high-tech Global Positioning System GPS History • U.S. Government funded worldwide navigational assistance program in ’70s • Consists of ~27 satellites in non-stationary orbits • Virtually a constellation of GPS sats if you will 

U.S. Lifts Ban On Private Use of GPS By Alex CanizaresSpecial to SPACE.composted: 06:46 pm ET01 May 2000WASHINGTON (States News Service) -- The United States has dropped its ban on the civilian use of a highly accurate satellite-navigation system, a decision which could spur commercial use. Starting Tuesday at midnight Greenwich Mean Time (Monday, 8 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time) the Pentagon will "deactivate" its exclusive use of the Global Positioning System (GPS), allowing anyone already owning a GPS device to locate their bearings to within 60 feet (20 meters).

Nice-to-Know GPS Background Stuff • The GPS system is made of 27 NAVSTAR satellites and five ground stations. • The ground stations coordinate keeping the satellites in precise orbit. • The DoD placed each satellite in a precise orbit at an altitude of 10,900 miles. • The ISS orbits at ~210 miles • Satellites weigh two tonnes, are 5.6m long, and orbit earth in ~ 12hrs. that’s 17,440 km!

Nice-to-Know GPS Background Stuff • A tool for locating any point on the earth. • It has many uses; navigation, surveying, vehicle tracking, hiking and outdoor recreation just to name a few. • In the 1970s the Department of Defense (DoD) conceived the idea of GPS. • It was born from a need to accurately determine the position of ballistic missile submarines prior to launching missiles. • And here, today, WE PLAY GAMES WITH IT!

Nice-to-Know GPS Background Stuff • EachGPS satellite transmits two low power radio signals, designated L1 and L2. • Civilian GPS uses the L1 frequency of 1575.42 MHz in the UHF band. • The signals travel by line of sight (LoS) • They will pass through clouds, glass and plastic • Like your cell phone, signals will not go through most solid objects such as buildings and mountains. • Heavy tree cover and cliffs, steep hills, or tall buildings can interfere, • Often one can move to a better location and still not be too far off the intended route. • GPS can be used in any type of weather • Its used on land, in the air, and for marine applications.

F R E E S H O P P I N G T I P ! ! Nice-to-Know GPS Background Stuff • Your GPS unit has stored in it the 24 separate "signatures" and locates each satellite. • By measuring the distance to four or more independently orbiting satellites, your GPS receiver can be pinpointed down to ~3 m. • Distance to each satellite is measured by basic geometry and the time it takes for a radio wave to reach your GPS unit. • To be able to lock onto four signals, your GPS unit needs to have at least four channels. • State of the art units have 12+ channels.

That Said… Let’s Go GeoCaching… But first a word from our sponsors…

Whoa, GeoCaching is Everywhere! • There are 451,180 active caches worldwide. • In the last 7 days, there have been 323,307 new logs written by 46,317 account holders. • We are located @ N 41° 42.297 W 085° 01.294 • There are 64 caches within 10 miles of us right now!! • GeoCaching is real • This technology is not going away! • Is not just for geeks… well maybe… BUT… • GPS activities provide teachable moments!!! OH, NO!!

What’s a GeoCache? • A hidden treasure chest • They can be BIG • They can be tiny • By definition they must be above ground and require no tools or life-threatening risk to extract them from their hidey-hole • They may be really obvious (so obvious we don’t even see’em) • They may be hidden through a complex series of clues. • You may need to be a little Sherlock Holmes-ish to find it

GeoCachers… are Everywhere!! You could be sitting next to one “a GeoGeek” this very moment… so be prepared. GeoCachers are • Excited!!! • On the move!!! • Racking up points in a global hunt where… Brace yourselves… They are the Search Engine!!!

Helpful GeoFun Links ! • Traditional • Caches • Multi-Caches • Mystery or • Puzzle Caches • Earthcaches • Event Caches • CITO Event • Caches • Geocaching.com • The Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site • The definitive resource for GeoCaching in America and across the world. • Open an account • Locate caches/ finds of interest • Log your finds • Set-up your own caches • Track your Travel Bugs • Talk about GeoCaching • (people do!)

Helpful GeoFun Links ! • GPS Adventures Maze • Learn more at GPSmaze.com • kids • parents • Sponsored by Groundspeak • and Trimble Navigation • teachers • Geocachers

Helpful GeoFun Software ! • Geocaching • Swiss Army Knife (GSAK) • FREE download from GSAK.net (21day trial) • $25 lifetime registration • GSAK101 tutorial • Very helpful program provides easy cache data management for hundreds of caches, yours or other’s. • Also VERY useful for GPS navigation of every sort.

Helpful GeoFun Software ! • GeoBuddy • $49 download from GeoBuddy.com • Seemless, GPS connectivity • Interactive program can display your live track overlain on GoogleEarth satellite imagery.

Sure, Let’s Go GeoCaching… But first let’s learn our equipment…

Gettin’ Started This is a self-paced tutorial moment… yep… STUDENT-DRIVEN INQUIRY!!! • Put in your batteries • Move the unit’s ON/OFF selector to the ON position • Find the MENU page • And the WAYPOINT icon • Select the waypoint you’re assigned to locate. • Select NAVIGATE and get ready to rumble…

GeoCache Targets of Interest • ThePatriotCache • Difficulty level: Moderate • The Shaky Cache • Difficulty level: Moderate • The Pseudo LDL-Friendly Cache • Difficulty level: Moderate • The Post-Apocalyptic Cache • Difficulty level: Challenging • The Rock Star Cache • Difficulty level: Challenging

Okay… Let’s Go GeoCaching… But let’s learn our equipment…

GPS, GeoCaching & YOU!!