1. What is a GPS?

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a U.S. space-based radio navigation system that provides reliable positioning, navigation, and timing services to civilian users on a continuous worldwide basis. GPS provides accurate location and time information for an unlimited number of people in all weather, day and night, anywhere in the world. A GPS receiver calculates its position by precisely timing the signals sent by the GPS satellites high above the Earth.

2. Why do we need a GPS?

GPS has become a mainstay of transportation systems worldwide, providing navigation for aviation, ground, and maritime operations. Some of the advantages and benefits, Sri Lanka could achieve by introducing GPS Navigation system are as follows;

• The GPS Navigation System provides turn by turn guidance for traveling to any place along a shortest or fastest route. As a result, GPS Navigation System user will have a benefit of saving fuel and time to a greater extent. Therefore, an overall economy of resources will certainly have a significant benefit through substantial savings.
  
• You spend less time on map search or similar Internet websites to locate places before you go anywhere.
  
• You may spend little time going around or missing a turn, the name of the street are listed on the map and the navigation system will give you enough time to prepare before your reach a turn on the road. It makes navigation easier for you.
  
• You can get an address on the go and reach your destination without finding it hard to follow the directions where you need to reach. It leads you in right direction you are not lost
  
• You can seek and locate the nearest places like restaurants, libraries, hospital, police station public places of interest, or renowned places and much more from your car itself through your GPS.
  
• Shows your Estimated Time of Arrival to the destination.
  

3. How will it take for the GPS to connect to the satellite?

Cold Start (20-30mins)

• A brand new unit at its initial use.
  
• If the device is manually reset.
  
• Receiver has moved more than 100km from the current fix
  
• Incoming Signals are low
  
• The device hasn’t been switched on for a long time

Warm Start (10-15mins)

• The device is within 100km location from the last fix
  
• The device has been used within the last three days
  
• Good Signal Strength

Hot Start (1-5mins)

• The device was used within the last 3 hours
  
• Above 90% satellite strength

4. Will there be miscalculation of routes?

• The satellite status must be in the connected mode (green colour) before calculating the route or else the calculation of the route will not be correct.
  
• When travelling between high rise buildings, overcast day or close to fly over bridges, navigation system may lock into a wrong location temporarily. This situation is re-calculated automatically when you are coming back to a clear sky area. If wrong instructions appear on the screen, follow the previous instructions until you come to a clear sky area.

Important Information:

• GPS Navigation device must not be used for more than 30mins without DC power supply or else the system may get stuck or give wrong instructions when the battery level is too low.
  
• Always keep the GPS device and the mounting cradle away from sunlight, when not in use.
  
• DO NOT DELETE any original file from SD card. Deleting may cause damage to the license of the device and may have to purchase a new license to use the system again.