by Eileen Brodie

Created on: April 29, 2008   Last Updated: May 04, 2008

Global Positioning Satellite devices have come of age for today's backpacker. If a device is designed for tracking, it can allow you to retrace your routes, and study them later on your PC. Live viewing of your movement over terrain is a compelling feature. Some GPS units merely point your way with a cursor; more enhanced devices have a map background. A GPS should not replace a compass, however. Anyone going into the backcountry should carry and know how to use a topo map and compass.

There are many different types of GPS tracking devices on the market:

For rescue capability, GPS beacons send your position to rescue personnel. One such device is the 'Spot', which can also send a status update of a non-emergency nature, using "check-in" mode. Not really a navigation device, you'd carry this in order to send reassurance to folks at home, and for an emergency. A subscription service is required, of around $100 per year.

Pure tracking modules are not much bigger than a pack of gum. These log your locations, and save them to internal memory. Low power consumers, they work in the background. Used for personal track saving, or in enterprise situations to monitor vehicles, assets, etc. You'll get little or no live feedback from these devices. One example is the Holux M-241, which at least does have a tiny LCD to display speed, distance, date, time, and available memory. Other data is unseen until you download to your computer. Just tracking your route may not be enough for the backpacker looking for a high-tech tool to use on a trip.

Cell phone based tracking uses cell tower locations to extrapolate your position, requiring you to have web-enabled cell phone service. Having nothing to do with GPS satellites, this is not reliable in the backcountry. Depending on cell tower distribution around you, your reported location will vary in accuracy much more than with GPS. For example, Google's Mobile Maps is only useful where you have adequate cell reception. This is not ideal for backpackers.

Many smartphones now have internal GPS receivers. Otherwise on smartphones and PDAs you need an external receiver. Hewlett Packard, Nokia, Mitac, HTC, and others include GPS, but it is not a standard feature yet. For this kind of GPS, keep in mind: most smartphones are heavy battery users. With non-replaceable rechargeable batteries, you will need a strategy for keeping them juiced up. (solar charger? accessory power pack?) Also, they are vulnerable to hard knocks and weather. Lastly,

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