GPS Navigation System [merged threads]

**knights** · July 27th, 2004 11:38 PM

Hi!

I just wanted to know if somebody already uses GPS (navigation systems) here in the Philippines? and if there is a shop that sells this one locally..

For the mods.. I am quite new here hopefully this is the right posting area... please move if it is not.. thanks.

This is one devise I am really looking forward on having when I can afford already (and if it is available locally). again thanks.

**cyberdoc95** · July 28th, 2004 03:21 AM

I exactly have the same question! I've been searching around the internet for any information about using GPS in the Philippines coz I've been hooked to my GPS since I got it August of last year here sa States. I couldn't go anythere without my GPS. It gets the anxiety out especially when driving to a destination that you barely know the way around.

Anyway, here is what I think. What I know is that for a Global Positioning System(GPS) to work, at least 3-4 satellites should be on the line of sight for the GPS receiver. Only with this number of satellites that GPS will be able to triangulate your precise location on the map. From what I read, Philippines has one satellite. Tama' ba ako? Sa nabasa ko, Philippines has a satellite called AGILA 2.

The last time I was there, I brought my receiver coz I had a stop-over in San Francisco for 12 hours and did some driving around the city. However, I haven't tried to see if my GPS receiver would work in there.

Hopefully, some of our fellows here would enlighten us about this!Thanks!

**111prez** · July 28th, 2004 03:34 AM

i do not really have what you may call an onboard navigation gps system that you see on new vehicles now but rather, i have the handheld garmin gps III plus. its a rather old model but still functional

unfortunately, wala pa akong nakitang city map of any city in the philippines that you can upload.

the map i am using now is the WGS 1984 geographic survey and its accurate to about 80% of provincial roads in the philippines, or least what is reflected in the map. if you are looking for nlex or slex, forget it

likewise, if you are looking for specific city streets, forget it also

i mean, great sayote of zapote, even my waypoint of picc and the other buildings nearby including the senate are on the water, mwahahahaha :D

perhaps buti nga nasa ilalim ng tubig yung senado natin but that is another topic. eh hehehehehe

anyway, i have tried using this as far as baguio, candon, cebu, negros and panay and with the provincial roads, okay so far

**afrasay** · July 28th, 2004 03:56 AM

eto GPS for sale.

**pparado** · July 28th, 2004 05:27 AM

cyberdoc:

yes, your GPS will work in the Philippines, yun nga lang....as benderbot has mentioned, walang local map of the Phils to upload to the GPS.

I use the Garmin GPS III. I have been as far up north as Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, and south to Laguna, and yes Baguio. it works fine! Just make sure you create waypoints as you go. It may not be as accurate in relation to the map installed on the GPS, but that is just because the maps are 'approximates' since it is a world map. In the US, there are maps that can be purchased that are updated yearly to include new roads and establishments. There isn't one for the Philippines yet, though. (that I have heard of)

yung agila 2 sattelite is a telecommunications satellite (pls correct me if I am wrong) The GPS recognizes geostationary positioning satellites, which are all around the earth (there are 32 I think) and your GPS will recognize a few of those at a time. The more satellites it locks into...the more accurate your position will be. That is why a clear view of the sky is essential. Before using your GPS in a different region of the world, make sure that you choose your location correctly. This will orient the GPS to the satellites it must look for or 'see' in order to give you a precise location.

Hope This Helps....

**cyberdoc95** · July 28th, 2004 06:52 AM

Thanks Pparado for shedding some light about this! This is good information!

**conzky** · July 28th, 2004 12:24 PM

sir knight, very sorry to inform you that GPS wont work here in the Philippines for the simple reason that, so far, there are no digitized maps of any locations here in our country, not even metro manila. we are a third world country, remember?it is so pathetic, if i may say.

**111prez** · July 28th, 2004 02:03 PM

knights -- if you do not have a loaded world map with the philippines, then hanggang marking of waypoints ka nalang sa gps mo. functional but it wont excite you. mag sasawa ka rin. i remember this when i had my very old garmin II. its nice for hikes and, just in case, a back toy for mountaineering. but for city navigation, well huwag nalang. mawawala kalang, he he he he

**knights** · July 28th, 2004 02:29 PM

conszky and benderbot.. yeah sayang,I am really facinated by its use and really would love to have it...sana...well.... we still have the old way of navigation.... asking the kanto boys

thanks for the information guys...

**luckytruck** · July 28th, 2004 03:29 PM

i am going to use my garmin gecko handheld to look for costal area dive sites in Mindanao versus US published satelite nautical charts. hopefully the combination of a satelite nautical map and a fairly accurate handhelp GPS will help me find the dive sites.

i have tested the GPS versus the GPS o my friend's yacht and the speed that each showed was spot on. i guess it is accurate. and if it is not acurate because of lack of triangulation of satelites, it will tell you by how many meters it may be off.

andy