GPS in foreign countries

[ducktapeguy]

This may be a dumb question, but how well do GPS's work in foreign countries? Is there a limitation to using them over there? I have an older Garmin GPS and am planning on taking it on a trip to China. Since I'll be in one of the small, non touristy areas where language is definitely going to be a problem, I just wanted it to be able to get back to a known location after a day of exploring.

I did find this article after a quick search, but I'm not sure if the information is still current

http://gpsinformation.net/main/gpstravel.htm

Anyone have any comments?

[cruiser guy]

I had 6m accuracy with my Garmin Geko in Guatemala and Mexico.

[whitethaiger]

This may be a dumb question, but how well do GPS's work in foreign countries? Is there a limitation to using them over there? I have an older Garmin GPS and am planning on taking it on a trip to China. Since I'll be in one of the small, non touristy areas where language is definitely going to be a problem, I just wanted it to be able to get back to a known location after a day of exploring.

I did find this article after a quick search, but I'm not sure if the information is still current

http://gpsinformation.net/main/gpstravel.htm

Anyone have any comments?

Your GPS will work in China as it does here.

The article makes some good points. In a country like China there are areas where one probably should not use a GPS. These restricted areas are not always easy to identify for a traveller and people get "interviewed".
Over at the Degree Confluence Project we deal with visits all around the world, including 300+ in China, and there are some stories where people were interviewed. One guy had his GPS confiscated in China for some time. Generally GPS use does not appear to be a problem in China. Use common sense.

[Robthebrit]

It works fine, you don't get WAAS accuracy because that satellite is geostationary above the US. I believe in some areas of the planet SA is still enabled.

Rob

[BajaTaco]

Is there a limitation to using them over there?

I just might also add (for those with a GPSR that has mapping capability - most new ones do) that unless you have detailed maps for wherever you visit, you may only have your coordinates and a bread-crumb trail of your track to use as a reference on the otherwise relatively blank map screen.

[ducktapeguy]

Thanks to everyone for all the help.

It works fine, you don't get WAAS accuracy because that satellite is geostationary above the US. I believe in some areas of the planet SA is still enabled.

Rob

This is what I was wondering. If the satellites are geostationary above the US, I wasn't sure how that would work on the opposite side of the world. I didn't know if China had their own satellites, whether they were a different format,etc. Don't really need the accuracy, just need an arrow to tell me how to get back

I just might also add (for those with a GPSR that has mapping capability - most new ones do) that unless you have detailed maps for wherever you visit, you may only have your coordinates and a bread-crumb trail of your track to use as a reference on the otherwise relatively blank map screen.

This is exactly what I'm planning on using it for. Don't really need the detailed maps, just need to set a home waypoint so I know which direction to go.

[devinsixtyseven]

All American satellites are of course only allowed to fly over American airspace .

Actually...theyre in a medium orbit (not geostationary--theyre IIRC 50 or 55 degree inclination), repeating ground track, so you won't see the same birds at the same time from, say, China, but you'll still have system access providing it isn't being actively jammed.

In a place like China, I'd be more inclined to pick up a tourist map in China, make obvious public use of it, and use GPS and other resources in private.

-Sean

[Robthebrit]

When I said geostationary I was talking about the WAAS satellite, not the main constellation, WAAS is operated by the FAA.

WAAS is nothing more than a satellite that uses a phony position and time rather than the actual satellites position and time. A ground stations with exact known location measure the error in the standard GPS signal and compute what needs to be broadcast to correct that signal. Broadcasting a signal very similar to the existing GPS signals allowed older GPS units to be upgraded, all it took was a software upgrade to include the new satellite. Its a very clever system.

Europe, Japan and some others have similar systems that are either already online or are coming online soon. I am not sure whether a US WAAS receiver will work with those other systems without any software upgrades.

Rob

[GeoRoss]

This may be a dumb question, but how well do GPS's work in foreign countries? Is there a limitation to using them over there? I have an older Garmin GPS and am planning on taking it on a trip to China. Since I'll be in one of the small, non touristy areas where language is definitely going to be a problem, I just wanted it to be able to get back to a known location after a day of exploring.

I did find this article after a quick search, but I'm not sure if the information is still current

http://gpsinformation.net/main/gpstravel.htm



Anyone have any comments?

Where in China? Different areas have different rules. Be prepared for all sorts of conflicting rules and what not. I have always had a hard time getting straight answers there on even the lamest of things.

There is no SA in China. I routinely can get equal accuracy in NA and Asia.

As for getting back to where you started, I find the easiest way is to get the business card for the hotel or the address I am staying out written down. Then I just hand it to the taxi or ask how to get back.

You will really get an understanding of what it is like to be illiterate when you go there and try to get around. I couldn't make sense of the simplest of signs.

Have fun.

[ducktapeguy]

Thanks again for all the responses. I can honestly say my knowledge of GPS units has increased a hundred-fold. I was planning on being in a small rural town about an hour outside of Guangzhou, so tourist maps and such are pretty much non-existant, even if i could understand them. I've used the hotel address and business card trick before, but I this time I wouldn't have been staying at a hotel, and even sometimes that doesn't work if the person doesn't know the address, or can't communicate directions to you.

Unfortunately, my trip has been cancelled for the time being, but I might be traveling to a different part of China next month. I'm hoping to be able to take some time off and do a backpacking trip along a remote section of the Great Wall, so a GPS unit might come in handy there. I'll still be carrying my compass and maps (if I can find them), but it's still nice to have a backup. I'll just keep it low key and hidden in my backpack, and just use it sparingly. Thanks again for all the help