About GPS and GPS Accuracy

What is GPS?

The Global Positioning System is a network of 27 (24 in operation and three extras in case one fails) satellites in six different orbital paths. A GPS unit measures the speed of each satellite and compares it relative to your location. Once it has established contact, the device reads out the altitude, longitude and latitude. The unit keeps taking measurements and averages them constantly, which means that as time passes the device determines a more accurate position. A GPS device must acquire at least three satellites to determine a two-dimensional reading; four satellites are required for a 3D reading; and the accuracy grows as more satellites are acquired. GPS satellite signal are notoriously weak, and obstructions like dense tree cover and tunnels can impede the signals. GPS works anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day. There are no subscription fees or setup charges to use GPS.

How accurate is GPS?

Today's GPS receivers are extremely accurate, thanks to their parallel multi-channel design. 12 parallel channel receivers are quick to lock onto satellites when first turned on and they maintain strong locks, even in dense foliage or urban settings with tall buildings. Certain atmospheric factors and other sources of error can affect the accuracy of GPS receivers. Most GPS receivers are accurate to within 15 meters on average.

Newer GPS receivers with WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) capability can improve accuracy to less than three meters on average. No additional equipment or fees are required to take advantage of WAAS. Users can also get better accuracy with Differential GPS (DGPS), which corrects GPS signals to within an average of three to five meters. The U.S. Coast Guard operates the most common DGPS correction service. This system consists of a network of towers that receive GPS signals and transmit a corrected signal by beacon transmitters. In order to get the corrected signal, users must have a differential beacon receiver and beacon antenna in addition to their GPS.

Multi Fuel Camping Stoves

What are multi fuel camping stoves and why is it important to have? This is a very good question and it all depends on what your requirements are. Seasoned campers and their camping family will understand their needs for a very good camping stove. Camping stoves come in several different variations, especially with the types of fuel source. Most often the traditional fuel source will be propane. While others can use unleaded gas, wood, or even wax fuel. The best way to ensure that you have the correct stove is to review the rules and regulations for the location of your camping trip. Different camping parks have their own requirements regarding what kind of stove you are allowed to use.

Multi fuel camping stoves are important if you travel abroad to other countries. Some countries do not have unleaded gas to use. While other countries or parks will not allow the use of propane gas for safety considerations. Thus a good multi fueled camping stoves can be essential for you. This way you can be very versatile and not have to buy different kind of camping stove for every different camping trip.

There are many things to consider when you purchase your multi fuel camping stoves. Most camping stove should be very easy to set up and take up little space. Ensure that your stove is very stable and avoid anyone that tends wobble because this can be a safety concern. Try to get good reviews on a camping stove. Look for stoves that are dependable, strong, light, compact, and easy to clean.

A very good multi fuel camping stoves are made by Coleman. Coleman is one of the largest camping goods manufacturers. They have camping products from sleeping bags to lanterns. Anything that you need to for camping Coleman can provide. One of their great multi fuel product is the Coleman 2 Burner Multi Fuel Premium Compact Liquid Fuel Stove. This stove is a very reliable liquid fuel and propane camping stove. Use it while you stay in a tent or just while you cook under the stars. This two burner multi fuel camping stove will be perfect for your next camping trip. One tank of any liquid fuel can give you roughly 2 hours of cooking time with both burners on at the highest settings.

Finding Cheaper Camping Accessories

This article is all about how you can find cheaper gadgets, kit and camping accessories. But we'll begin by thinking about whether cheap is always best. Should you really buy the cheapest product, even if you suspect that it is not of a high quality?

It's an interesting issue and one that you may have given some consideration in the past. The problem with buying cheap products can be that they are likely to break quickly, or that they may simply not be up to the job. This can be frustrating and can also mean that you end up making a false economy.

As a result of these concerns, we feel that the key should be to buy quality camping accessories at the lowest possible prices. So don't just buy the cheapest product that you can find - make sure that it's going to be up to the job.

Fortunately, you won't have to leave things to chance. The internet provides a wealth of information on a wide range of products. Indeed, you'll be able to read reviews of specific items and individual stores, ensuring that you know whether you are buying something of the quality that you require.

But should you be buying online in the first place? Wouldn't you be better to use a traditional camping store? While this could be a better option in some circumstances, we believe that the best deals are usually to be found online.

Internet retailers are generally able to keep their prices low as a result of the fact that they have lower overheads. That's because they don't have to maintain expensive premises or have lots of sales staff.

It may not always be the case that the cheapest items will be found online, but they probably will be available 9 times out of 10. Luckily, shopping online is often more convenient too.

If you're looking to find camping accessories at low prices then it makes sense to shop online. Make sure that you're buying good quality products though - you don't want to be having to replace poor quality products.

How to Waterproof a Tent

Tent without waterproof based will give big trouble during raining.

Most tents are waterproofed when you buy them, at least the good ones. This doesn't mean that they will stay that way, though. Over time tents will start to degrade and the chemicals that prevented them from leaking water will start to lose their potency. In the event that this occurs it is important that you familiarize yourself with the process of renewing the waterproof seal on your tent.

There are chemicals that you can buy that replicate the affect of waterproofing that your tent had when it was brand new. Some waterproofing kits are solvent-based, while others are water-based applications. Naturally, anytime you work with chemicals, there are some precautions that you need to observe before you begin to waterproof your tent.

The first thing that you need to do is read the directions that come with a tent waterproofing kit. It's important to read the directions thoroughly before starting, to ensure that you are applying the chemicals to the best of your abilities and in the way that is laid out by the manufacturer.
If the instructions tell you that you need to apply the chemicals to your tent in an area that has no shortage of ventilation, then you would do well to heed this warning. Apply tent waterproofing outside if possible, and if not, wear a chemical respirator to protect yourself from noxious fumes.

Before spending money on a kit, determine whether or not you actually need to do any sort of waterproofing. There is a chance that you have purchased a commercial grade tent that never needs to be waterproofed again. It may in fact be that durable. If you try waterproof something like this you may just find that you hurt the integrity of the tent more than you actually help it. Canvas tents often don't require waterproofing, as the cotton material proves to hold up well without any treatment.

Once you've decided that your tent needs waterproofing, you need to pay particular attention to the seams of the tent, the most likely place to suffer from wear and tear, allowing water to creep in. Use the waterproofing sealer liberally and don't miss an inch. You may also need to coat the rain fly. In general, the easiest way to make sure you get every inch of the tent coated in waterproofing is to set it up before you start. Not only will you get every spot, but the coating will be more even.

So for future reference, for the well being and happiness of both you and your family, check to see if the tents you use need to be water proofed once again. It's smart to make waterproofing and repair an annual tradition.

7 Tips on Camping and Hiking

One of the least expensive but most exciting types of vacation is a camping and hiking trip. It's the type of vacation that all family members can enjoy. And it's also such a great way to connect with nature.

The cost to have a hiking and camping trip is quite low compared to other types of vacation. The basic needs are a high quality backpack, tent, and stove. And these items can be used over and over again in your future trips.

Here are some tips you can use to have a great and exciting camping and hiking vacation:

1. Get a good map of the area you're planning to travel to. Make sure the terrains are not too hard for you to hike through.

2. Get all the necessary permits to have a camping and hiking trip in the area you're planning to go to. Also, make sure you check all the regulations concerning fires, cleanups, etc.

3. Dress with the appropriate clothes for hiking and camping. Make sure the clothes are made from material that's suitable for hiking and camping in the wilderness. And bring enough extra clothes with you in case you need them.

4. Know how to operate the equipments that you bring. Try setting up the tent once or twice at home to make sure you don't run into difficulty when you set it up in the camping site.

5. Pack sufficient foods for the trip. You're going to burn a lot of calories during the hiking, so make sure you bring enough foods that are high in carbohydrate, protein, and fat.

6. Find out where the water sources are in the trail. Drinking plenty of water is important in a hiking trip because it'll prevent you from dehydration, so you'll need to stock plenty of water in your backpack.

7. Take a first aid kit with you in case you'll need it in the trip. You might also want to bring a GPS system or a satellite phone if you're planning to travel far into the backcountry.

Choosing a Torch

Now when the evening begins to set in you are not going to be able to just reach over and flick on the light switch. You will need to have some form of portable lighting with you. There are many different forms of lighting you can take, each with its own benefits and disadvantages. The first step in choosing your lighting is to decide what you are going to need it for. Write yourself a list of requirements and then scroll down the page to see which item suits your needs.

Torches

Torches tend to be lightweight and durable making them ideal for walking to and from the toilet block at night and spotting guy ropes when walking across a busy field. They come in many different forms and the more you pay the more durable and powerful the torch is. Below I have selected a few torches I believe are good examples of what you can buy within a certain price range to meet certain requirements.

At the lower end of the price scale is the Uniross Compact Torch which retails on Amazon for £6.04 and acts as an affordable, compact torch that is extremely lightweight with reasonable durability. This kind of torch comes with rechargeable batteries that can be charged 500 times saving you money in the long run.

For a few more pounds you can invest in a really durable torch like the MAGLITE TORCH BLISTER 4D BLACK which I have included as it comes with the benefit of the excellent Maglite reputation. Retailing at £21.91 you do pay extra for durability but the Maglite range are made from 'aircraft' grade aluminium and are water and shock resistant. You do have to compensate with weight but it is a small price to pay for an excellent torch. I always keep a Maglite with me.

The Dynamo wind up led flashlight torch*Silver/Black retailing at £5.99 is an example of an emerging technology proving popular amongst campers; A wind-up torch requiring no additional batteries! If you are unfamiliar with wind-up torches then the basic principle is that you wind a dynamo for a few minutes, storing energy as you do, which then powers the torch for a few minutes. These torches are great because you can just leave them with your camping stuff and not have to worry about the batteries running out over long periods of time. They can also be more cost effective in the long term ; £5.99 is effectively the cost of two sets of batteries so within a year you will have recouped the costs I'd imagine! These torches can be just as durable as regular torches but again you pay extra for this durability.

The 16 LED ULTRA BRIGHT HEADLIGHT HEAD LIGHT TORCH retailing at £6.99 is a battery powered head torch and is excellent in situations where you want your hands free. This can be on night walks, when your outside re-setting guy ropes in the middle of a stormy night, or when you just want to read your book as the night draws in. I have deliberately selected an affordable version but as always if you want longer lasting, brighter, more durable versions you will pay more.

The key factors you need to be accessing are 'Is it durable enough?' , 'Is it bright enough?', 'Does it last long enough?' , 'Is it cost-effective?'. By weighing up your requirements against the specification for a torch will easily allow you to determine which is best for the job.