Why do I need a Passkey for my Bluetooth GPS receiver?

You too? Seems that everyone gets stuck on the ‘Passkey’ requirement for setting up a Bluetooth GPS. Here is the scoop to save you frustration. Firstly, keep in mind that Bluetooth is like a USB cable, only wireless. That means, each device can only connect to one computer (though one computer [...]

WAAS, EGNOS, RTCM, RTK and a sea of acronyms!

Today, I received another question about the difference between differential GPS, WAAS, EGNOS, RTCM, RTK, and other “high end” tools that augment the standard GPS signal. In this blog, I will try to simplify the systems so that they are understandable.
Overview of GPS receiver function
The GPS receiver works because each satellite in the GPS [...]

I am a Google Earth junkie

It has been a while since my last blog—I hope I am not breaking some sort of blog etiquette.  I’d like to use the usual excuses (busy classes, sick kids, the government), but the truth is I am addicted to Google Earth.   I like to mock people who waste hours in front of a television [...]

Comparing sub-meter GPS accuracy

For the past year or so, I have been interested in sub-meter GPS receivers.  There are several on the market and they basically work in the same fashion.  I will write another blog later on how they work, but for now I want to focus on one particular aspect that is confusing to a lot [...]

COM ports simplified

Communication ports, or COM ports, are one-directional routes for communication. That is, they create a path for GPS receivers and other devices to communicate with the computer. If you want the details on how they work, Google away! Here, let me tell you what you need to know in order to get [...]

Feeling Blue…tooth

A few years ago, I predicted Bluetooth would die and pasture with video disks and the like. On the contrary, it is increasing in popularity as a type of connection between computers and computers and peripherals and phones, etc. I think of Bluetooth as a wireless USB cable, not as a type [...]