{"id":63022,"date":"2026-10-08T04:46:51","date_gmt":"2026-10-08T04:46:51","guid":{"rendered":"urn:motra-oct3:MOTRA:22"},"modified":"2026-10-09T21:27:21","modified_gmt":"2026-10-09T21:27:21","slug":"motra-motra-april-2006-navigation-systems-22","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/motorcyclesontheroadagain.com\/?p=63022","title":{"rendered":"The Goods \u2014 Navigation Systems"},"content":{"rendered":"

Originally published in Motorcycles On the Road Again, April 2006.<\/em><\/p>\n

One of the most exciting new technologies of the last few years has been the Global Positioning System (GPS). Brought to you by your Federal Government, GPS is based on multiple satellites that are placed about 11,000 miles up in geostationary orbits.<\/p>\n

Constant signals are beamed toward the earth from each satellite. A GPS receiver “tunes in” on at least four different satellites and measures the distance to each. It works sort of like very sophisticated triangulation; by factoring in the distances the position of the receiving unit can be very accurately determined to within about thirty feet or less (expensive advanced systems are able to use a fixed receiver in conjunction with a mobile receiver to get the accuracy down to a matter of inches). Thirty feet is close enough if you are lost in the woods, looking for your favorite fishing spot on the lake or need driving directions.<\/p>\n

The GPS is the “brains” behind the navigation systems. In addition to a GPS receiver, compatible mapping software is needed in order to plot routes and get directions. A few years ago the early navigation systems gave simple on-screen directions. Then came voice technology that allowed the system to verbally tell you where to go. Voice commands were somewhat cryptic: “turn right, 300 yards,” but they worked.<\/p>\n

The latest technology available on some models takes the voice commands to a new level by actually naming the streets as in “turn right on Broadway.”<\/p>\n

Combine the voice technology with XM Satellite radio as Garmin has done in its most recent model and the navigation system is capable of downloading real-time traffic information, considering congestion in your path, and rerouting you around the problem areas. (I sure wish I had that during the Hurricane Rita evacuations from Houston.)<\/p>\n

For people who don’t need the very highest tech solutions there are many low-cost options now available. Several systems allow you to use your cell phone screen to navigate. Palm Pilots, PDAs and BlackBerrys all are capable of functioning as a navigation system. For about $99 (including mapping software) you can buy a DeLorme USB receiver that plugs into your laptop and converts it into a navigation system.<\/p>\n

Manufacturers such as Garmin and Magellan offer small models that can easily be mounted to the handlebars of a motorcycle. Handheld units are an option but they cannot (should not) be operated while riding a motorcycle.<\/p>\n

The 2006 Gold Wing has an option of an onboard navigation system integrated into the dashboard of the motorcycle.<\/p>\n

Most models will retain positioning information that will allow the user to go back over the route taken complete with timing and speed information. Sort of like leaving a trail of cookie crumbs. In one user’s story on the Garmin website this was important where a rider had no memory of his accident. After recovering, the rider was able to review his route and speed to determine the cause of his motorcycle accident. In that case he determined he went into a curve at excessive speed. Knowing the cause gave him some much-needed peace of mind.<\/p>\n

The technology of combining a wireless GPS with a PDA and planted on a piece of equipment or vehicle can allow a company to track where their assets have been.<\/p>\n

Cheating spouses watch out!<\/p>\n

Have YOU ever looked at a photo and wondered exactly where it was taken? A photographer can capture the coordinates of a shot and file that info digitally with the picture. Want to recreate the shot, just go to the precise location.<\/p>\n

Will we lose some of the romanticism of the past with this technology?<\/p>\n

Sure, how much fun would it be to follow a pirate’s treasure map that simply said N 30.5648 W 120.5214?<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Originally published in Motorcycles On the Road Again, April 2006. One of the most exciting new technologies of the last few years has been the Global Positioning System (GPS). Brought to you by your Federal Government, GPS is based on multiple satellites that are placed about 11,000 miles up in geostationary orbits. Constant signals are … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":900710,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[153],"tags":[134,186],"class_list":["post-63022","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-spotlight","tag-motra-april-2006","tag-sl023"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/motorcyclesontheroadagain.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63022","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/motorcyclesontheroadagain.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/motorcyclesontheroadagain.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/motorcyclesontheroadagain.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/motorcyclesontheroadagain.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=63022"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/motorcyclesontheroadagain.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63022\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":900333,"href":"https:\/\/motorcyclesontheroadagain.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63022\/revisions\/900333"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/motorcyclesontheroadagain.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/900710"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/motorcyclesontheroadagain.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=63022"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/motorcyclesontheroadagain.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=63022"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/motorcyclesontheroadagain.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=63022"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}