7 of the Best Free Linux GPS Tools
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a
satellite-based navigation satellite system consisting
of a network of satellites which provide positioning, navigation, and
timing services in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth.
The United States government maintains the system without
levying any subscription fees or other charges.
Use of space-borne positioning and timing data is now
commonplace, in everything from freight movement to synchronisation of
computer networks. Cellular and data networks, shipping and air
transport, financial systems, railways, agriculture, and the emergency
services all make frequent use of GPS. There are also many different
recreational uses of GPS. The one that first springs to mind is for
tracking in motor vehicles. GPS helps drivers find the best route to a
specified location, summon help in the event of an emergency, plot the
location of the vehicle on a map, or find the nearest bank.
GPS is also popular among other individuals constantly on the
move such as mountain bikers, snowmobilers, hikers, cross-country
skiers. There are so many diverse uses of GPS ranging from keeping
track of vunerable members of society, finding pets that have collars
with built-in GPS, or tracking equipments while travelling. Even
footballers in training are monitored and tracked by football clubs
with GPS.
This article focuses in selecting the best free software for
undertaking a wide variety of GPS related tasks. Hopefully,
there will be something of interest here for anyone
who needs to keep track of where he or she is, to find the way
to a specified location, or determine what direction and how fast
they are going.
So, let's explore the 7 GPS tools at hand. For each
application we have compiled its own portal page, providing a
screenshot of the software in action, a full description with an
in-depth analysis of its features, together with links to relevant
resources and reviews.
| GPS Tools |
| Viking |
GPS data editor, analyzer and viewer |
| tangoGPS |
GTK+
mapping and GPS application |
| GpsDrive |
Vehicle map-based navigation system |
| GPSBabel |
GPS
file conversion plus transfer to/from GPS units |
| Navit |
Car navigation system with routing engine |
| QLandkarte |
GPS
mapping (GeoTiff and vector) and GPS management |
| Open
Cache Manager |
Easy to use program for managing your geocaches |
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Last Updated Saturday, April 13 2013 @ 06:18 PM EDT
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