Plans and History

Plans

GPSVN II

This is what has changed:

All chapters have been reviewed for improved clarity and any technological change since the first edition, with some new or replaced diagrams and text, and many updates. Reader feedback has also been acted on.
More FAQs (and answers)
Most examples now use both Garmin and Magellan GPS receivers.
Pages up from 194 to 243.

The chapters which have changed the most are:

Chapter 4, GPS in Practice, has an expanded section on dealing with difficult fix situations and many smaller updates.
Chapter 5, GPS Equipment, has been comprehensively updated with information on the latest GPS kit.
Chapter 7, GPS and PDAs, has been updated with information on newer PDA options such as storage choices.
Chapter 8, Moving Maps, includes more information on autorouters and laptops, a special section on Bluetooth, information on laptops in vehicles and general updates.
Chapter 9, Setting up a Vehicle for GPS Navigation, has a section in in-car compasses, expanded section on mounts and more examples of in-car setups.
NEW Chapter 13, Competitions and GPS, is all about tips and tricks for vehicle-based navigation competitions.
Appendix B, GPS Software, has been updated.
Appendix C, GPS Navigation Retailers, has been updated.
Appendix D, Internet Resources, has been updated.

Other chapters also contain additional paragraphs, for example extra detail on UTM zone differences, contours, mils/radians, norths, other GPS systems and more.

International Versions

If you would like to help produce a version of GPS Vehicle Navigation in Your Country, in English or otherwise, please contact me. The book structure and the majority of the text can remain the same but localisation will be required with the examples. Versions for New Zealand and the USA are being considered.

History

After 4WD trips in the forests around Melbourne, I would email everyone with a "where-we-went" image showing our track superimposed on a digital map of the forest.

4WD vehicles in a forest Some people wanted to know how I did that, so I began to write an article for the club about how to use a computer with a GPS receiver.

As I wrote it, I thought I'd best explain how GPS worked before I started on how to use it with a computer

Then it occured to me that it would be a good idea to explain UTM, and lat/long.

Before I knew it, I had a book on my hands. So I began to call publishers, and ended up with a published book!

The book was written in Microsoft Word on my home computer. Ideas were jotted down on my PDA(a Palm Vx, then m505, now iPaq 3870). PaintShopPro 7 was used for the graphics, many photographs were taken with a Canon IXUS digital camera, the scanner is a HP 4200c and the primary GPS receiver used was a Garmin eMap. My trusty 1996 Pajero NJ featured in the book and provided transport for field trips.

Thanks to...

Everyone that helped me with this book, specifically:

Andrew Pepper
Peter Broughton
Muriel Pepper
Heather Low Choy
Rob France
Brian Sommerville

for variously reviewing, critiquing, photographing and allowing me the time to work on this book.