About GPS Vehicle Navigation in Australia

Why this book?

 

 

"Use Pepper's book for all your vehicle and GPS navigation needs whether that's just for basic navigation, a more advanced route and waypoint use with a GPS, or for moving maps with a GPS connected to a PDA or a laptop." -- Ron Moon

 

GPS Vehicle Navigation in Australia is written for anyone that needs to navigate in Australia.

Whether you own a GPS receiver, or have had one for a while, you'll find something of use and interest in the book. As well as explaining the basic and advanced concepts, it is also designed as a reference and contains a comprehensive glossary, index and FAQ.

The book covers GPS theory, map reading basics, UTM, lat/long as well as computer/PDA/GPS integration, and is written for an Australian audience from a practical, what-you-really-need-to-know perspective.

Images from the book

Book information

Title GPS Vehicle Navigation in Australia
A Guide for 4WD Drivers and Other Navigators
ISBN Number 978 1 876296 38 4
Author Robert Pepper
Publisher Boiling Billy
Publication date 2007
Revisions Second Edition
Website www.gpsvehiclenavigation.com
 

 

Contents

Below is an overview of Edition II's table of contents. The book itself contains this overview, a more detailed version, an index, glossary and quick-reference section.

 

Chapter Title Page Description
1 Why GPS? 3 Why you would want to use GPS in the first place.
2 How GPS Works 5 The theory behind the magic. Essential to get the best from your investment.
3 Maps, Grids & Datums 29 A GPS receiver by itself is of little use unless you understand maps; for many people using GPS is their first real exposure to coordinates, grids and datums.
4 GPS in Practice 59 You understand the theory, you need practical tips. Signals, direction, altitude, tracks, waypoints and more.
5 GPS Equipment 85 Which receiver? And after that, it is never "just a receiver". There are always accessories to be had; which do you need, which do you want?
6 Using a Computer with a GPS Receiver 109 How to dramatically increase the usefulness of your GPS receiver by linking it to your computer.
7 PDAs and GPS 134 A Personal Digital Assistant can make a standard GPS receiver even more useful.
8 Moving-Maps: Computers and GPS on the Move 143 How to set up and use a digital, moving-map that shows your position in real-time. Why you would want to. Pros and cons.
9 Setting up a Vehicle for GPS Navigation 160 All about installing this navigation gear in your car.
10 Planning a Trip 175 Before you set off there is much planning to do. Some of this will involve navigation and your GPS equipment.
11 Out in the Field 181 What to do when you have just bought your receiver, tips for navigating. Also includes some non-GPS navigation techniques.
12 Other Fun Things to do with a GPS Receiver 191 Weird and wonderful uses for GPS!
13 Navigation Competitions and GPS 197 What to do when you have just bought your receiver, tips for navigating. Also includes some non-GPS navigation techniques.
14 Quick Reference 204 When you are pressed for time, use this section as a quick reminder of how to do key tasks.
15 Appendices 211 FAQ, GPS Software, GPS Retailers and Vendors in Australia, Internet Resources
16 Index 234 Easy find guide.

Errata

Mistaks and erors do creep in, and they're listed here if they are at all likely to confuse the reader. Some aren't errors but are clarifications, or extra information. All are corrections contributed by readers, or questions submitted; thank you all!

Edition II Errata and Clarifications

Section 2: How GPS Works
Page 12 The clock would need to slow down by only 13.33 microseconds to make all circles meet, not a full second.
Section 5: GPS Equipment
Page 102 Should be 17", not 17' -- for a 17 inch monitor!
Page 104 A point was made about laser printers vs inkjets. A laser print could be used instead of an inkjet. Laser print is less prone to running when wet. However, you're better off protecting the print in a map case or laminating it. Lasers are usually black and white, which is a disadvantage when using a map designed for colour. Colour lasers are available but are more expensive than a colour inkjet.

Edition I Errata and Clarifications

Chapter 3: Maps, Grids and Datums
Page 36 A nautical mile is 6076 feet. A statue mile is 5280 feet. The table has the two transposed, and a statute mile is 0.62 kilometers, not 0.02.
Page 47 Lat/Long Summary Although parallels of latitude are "horizontal" and run east-west, they actually tells you how far north or south you are. Lines of longitude are "vertical", run north-south, but tell you how far east-west you are. There are only 180 degrees of latitude, 90 above the equator and 90 below, both numbered from 1 to 90. 0 is the Equator. 90 degrees North is the North Pole, 90 degrees south is the South Pole. The summary bullet point mistakenly lists 360, which would make for an odd shaped world.
Page 49 "...you can see gridzone 55H covers western Victoria. 54H covers Eastern Victoria..." should read: "...you can see gridzone 54H covers western Victoria. 55H covers eastern Victoria...".
Chapter 11: Out in the Field
Page 150/151 Diagram 11.6, page 150 refers to the second reading as 258 degrees in a southerly direction; that should be west-south-west. Diagram 11.7 on page 151 refers to a west-south-west direction; that should be southerly. Point 3 and 5; the second reading should be 258 and the third 198. It doesn't make any difference to the overall technique though. Clarification; the first reading is to the junction, the second and third are from the junction.
Chapter 12: Other Fun Things to do with a GPS Receiver
Page 155 Australian Geocaching forum changed to: http://geocaching.com.au/forum/
Chapter 14: Appendicies
Page 170 Updated URL for the Palm GPS mapping software Atlas: http://www.gpspilot.com instead of http://www.gpspilot.com/Atlast.htm (which was a typo anyway!)
Page 173 Maptrax's contact details were omitted from the list of contacts, despite being mentioned on Page 172. Their address is: P.O. Box 18 Freshwater QLD AUSTRALIA 4870 Phone: +61 7 4055 2229 Fax: +61 7 4055 2229 http://www.maptrax.com.au

 

Reviews & Comments

Reviews, comments, feedback for GPSVN. Agree? Disagree? Send one in yourself via the contact page.

 

Reader Comments



"Many thanks for your great effort in writing & making this book available.

GPS is still a technology in its infancy. Also because those who are most likely to benefit by its use are not always the kind of people who readily grasp technical subjects I believe that your familiarity with the subject, & the methodology used in laying out the information will cause this book to remain the standard work on the subject for many years. I think that this is true even when one considers the throwaway nature of all things related to electronic technology.

I am in the process of attempting to install a moving map navigation system in my Transit motorhome, even though I have little knowledge of electronics or mapping for that matter. It just seemed a cheaper alternative to divorce consequent on a number of disagreements with my wife as to where we were, & our likely destination.

I bought Oziexplorer, & a short inspection of the help file filled me with despair at the magnitude of the task before me. Then I stumbled across your book. It is a life saver, (no doubt in several ways). I particularly like the way in which you have introduced complex technical matters with simple & direct analogies, & have explained not only what has to be done, but why it has to be done. After all very few of us like to be told what we should do, unless we are given cogent reasons for doing it. Many technical manuals suffer because their author assumes a didactic stance which irritates their audience until the book is closed in order that the reader may escape being preached at.

Your book is a triumph, and I should like to wish you every success with it. Grateful regards"

--Dick Erwood, Queensland, June 2003

"I have just read your book , as I am about to purchase a GPS and found it a excellent read . It has enough technical bits to satisfy my curiosity on how and why it works, plus explains all the terms and jargon in simple English. The real test on how the book is will be when I purchase my GPS unit, I am sure that it will be OK as I am confident that I will be able to use my unit with confidence."

--Paul Budd, Sydney, June 2003

"Robert! At last I found the book that I have been searching for!

Great Job. My sincere compliments and looking forward to the next edition. You have a talent for writing clearly."

--Jack Kinnear, Perth, July 2003

"It filled a gaping hole for Aussie GPS fans, and did it with great aplomb."

--Sam Reich, Newcastle, August 2003

"I have just finished you book and found a pleasure to read and use.
The detail is there to see and not hidden in a mountain of technical
mumbo jumbo.It has certainly made using my gps a lot easier.
Thanks for making it an enjoyable as well as an informative read."

--Anonymous

Dear Robert Pepper,

I just want to thank you for writing your book. You are a legend in your own time, particularly to those of us who
struggle in understanding this I.T. age and all its associated jargon. Your GPS Vehicle Navigation in Australia is my saviour.

Sincerely, John Ward

 

A friend an I were musing the other week about the availability of a TAFE course or some such thing covering GPS navigation.

Today I walked into the Map Shop in Adelaide and found that course - your book.

Fantastic.

Cheers, Huw Morgan

March 2011

 

 

"Widely acclaimed as the best, most practical and down-to-earth guide to GPS navigation.
If you feel you must have GPS, then you must have Robert Pepper's book."

--Peter Wearing Smith, Outback Australia - Still No Worries!

 

and check out these threads on Exploroz:

GPSVN is also used as a standard reference and teaching aid for the organisations such as CFA brigades.

Reviews

Reviewer Nigel Beresford
Publication Pajero Club of Victoria Magazine, "Exceed"
Date July 2003 Reference N/A
"The book certainly exceeded my expectations; it is well written and covers the subject extremely well. Attention to detail and extensive research was evident throughout the book. I can strongly recommend this book to any Club member who owns a GPS and wants to gain substantially more knowledge on its use."

"Now, with a lot of help from Robert's book, my GPS knowledge has increased dramatically. The book has also proved to be an invaluable reference and resource book which will further help broaden my good basic knowledge."

"Robert's writing talent coupled with his GPS knowledge and computer skills has resulted in what I believe to be a top book. I'm confident that the book will very quickly become the foremost GPS resource book in Australia. Don't take my word for it, have a look at Robert's web site at www.gpsvehiclenavigation.com for some more info on the book and a few other useful GPS resources."

 

Reviewer Bruce McMahon
Publication Courier Mail
Date Saturday April 3rd, 2004 Reference N/A
"A must for GPS users' glovebox"

"Robert Pepper's GPS Vehicle Navigation in Australia costs $24.95 but could save a bit more than that in time and fuel."

"...this is a concise and effective piece of literature on the subject".

"This book represents a reference that caters for levels of knowledge on how to use the GPS system but a source that can be referred back to when you are ready to step up to the next level."

"The detail is easy to understand and for the semi-competent user it will fill up many of the screen pages that users scroll past because of a lack of knowledge."

"Whether you are a bush walker, boater or bush traveller, this book will unravel some of the technology and and simplify the use of the equipment side of the equation."

Reviewer On the Road Magazine
Publication On the Road Magazine
Date May 2004 Reference N/A
"Navigate with confidence"

"If you've ever been tempted to try out 'one of those GPS things' but have been put off by AMGs, ETAs and USBs, GPS Vehicle Navigation in Australia could be the book to give you GPS confidence."

"The book takes the mystique out of this modern navigation tool and, step-by-step, leads the reader through the whys and hows to be able to utilise a GPS in the field."

"There is information here to suit first time users of GPS receivers, as well as experienced GPS navigators."

Reviewer Ron Moon
Publication Caravan World
Date June 2004 Reference Issue 406, pg 20
Where are we?

"How To Do Everything With Your GPS by Rick Broida, published by McGraw Hill Osborne or GPS Vehicle Navigation in Australia by Robert Pepper, published by Boiling Billy Publications. There's no contest as to which book to buy!

Pepper's book (rrp $24.95) is Aussie-orientated, using Aussie-available products and software while spending a bit more effort with the basics before getting into the advanced stuff. Then it does that well, without the hype or hoopla.

Use Pepper's book for all your vehicle and GPS navigation needs whether that's just for basic navigation, a more advanced route and waypoint use with a GPS, or for moving maps with a GPS connected to a PDA or a laptop.

Broida's book is too trendy, too gimmicky, too American and spends about a third of the 298 pages extolling the virtues of a Garmin iQue 3600. That's great if you have one - I don't. In fact, much of the gear mentioned I haven't even seen."

Reviewer Athol
Publication SearchSA
Date 17 June 2004 Reference SearchSA Review
"It is a very comprehensive treatise on the use of the GPS system, not only for vehicle navigation but for other navigation uses as well, eg Geocaching."

"As can be seen from the list this book covers a wide range of subjects for using a GPS. It is easy to read and explains everything in easy to understand terms which makes it ideal for everyone to use."

"I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to use a GPS, whether for vehicle navigation, bushwalking, geocaching or other non navigation uses such as setting up a go-to telescope so it knows where it is on the face of the earth. Or maybe you just want to know how the GPS system works and what it can be used for. This is the book for you."

Full review at: SearchSA

 

Reviewer Tony Miln
Publication Trackwatch
Date October 2011    

"Overall, this is the most useful, comprehensive and simply explained book on GPS navigation that I've come across and it is a must for anyone who takes their off-road GPS navigation seriously.   Every four wheel drive vehicle glovebox should have one".

Full review (PDF, 1.8Mb)

 

 

Where to buy

GPS Vehicle Navigation in Australia can be bought at most map shops and many 4WD and outdoor shops. You can also buy it online via: