One of the first things that you realize after purchasing a GPS is that the way you carry it affects its performance. This article will tell you how to get the most out of the unit you own. A GPS is a radio receiver but it differs markedly from a cell-phone or a standard FM radio in that it uses very high frequencies, only works with a line of site to a set of satellites, and uses very weak signals that would be undetectable without the very specialized techniques used in a GPS receiver. The signals are so weak that they are effectively blocked by the water in your own body. Even a fraction of an inch of solid water blocks the reception of the signals although the design of the unit makes it work fine in the rain which, of course, isn't quite solid water even in a torrent.

The first thing you need to do in order to determine the best way to use the unit is to locate the antenna and determine its type. Generally the antenna is near the top of the unit. Sometimes it can be easily recognized as a stub sticking out of the receiver, but often it is hidden under a plastic area near the top that may have a logo on it or some other decoration. You don't want to cover up the antenna or point it at the ground for good reception. The second task is to determine the kind of antenna you have. The stub antenna sticking out is a quad helix but if it is hidden in the case design you may have to look at your manual to determine what kind you have. The second kind is called a patch antenna and is a favorite type for many receivers. Both kinds of antennas work well but they are designed differently and they favor holding the GPS in different ways for best use. The patch antenna works best if the antenna is held horizontally while the quad helix antenna works best when held vertically. Either type isn't all that fussy and will work OK tilted at 45 degrees, but under difficult reception conditions the orientation can make all the difference.

If you can't find the antenna type in the manual then an experiment may be in order. Hold the unit in your hand with the top end pointed up at about 45 degrees away from you. Turn the GPS receiver on and display the status page on the screen. This is the one that shows signal bars or displays signal numbers showing the strength of the signal. After you get a lock try tilting the unit up or down and see what happens to the signal strength. There should be enough difference for you to determine which antenna you have but it might take a second or two for the bars to react to your movement. The next sections are devoted to each of the two types of antennas.

Patch Antenna

A GPS with a patch antenna is pretty intuitive to hold in your hand. The antenna works best in a horizontal position and this is likely how you would hold it anyway. The antenna is often sloped a bit to allow tilting the unit slightly to look at the screen, but it isn't that fussy and works well with a significant range of movement. You should now know not to hold the unit with your thumb over the antenna. If you only want to take a reading and then shut it off this is really all you need to do. If you want to leave it on to allow it to track your movements you might get tired of holding it in your hand so the question of where to put it comes up. The first logical place is to just stick it in your pocket. It will often work in your pocket but there are some things to be aware of. The antenna needs to be up and facing out. Your body effective shields the unit from half the sky but there are usually enough satellites available that the unit can get a fix anyway. The higher on your body the better, so a shirt pocket is better than a pants pocket. A shoulder strap carrying case is better than one attached to your belt. High on a backpack lying horizontally is ideal. Maybe it will fit under your hat! If you can't find a good place to carry it you might consider an external antenna that can be placed on your hat which provides excellent reception and permits the unit to be carried anywhere.

Some units have a lanyard attached and it is tempting to just let it hang from around your neck or wrist. The lanyard is a safety device to prevent you from dropping the unit. It is not meant to be used to dangle a unit in operation.

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