My company gave me a free GPS receiver as a pat on the back, job well done, moral booster type thing. Other than Geocaching what other fun activities can one do with GPS? Any ideas?

So far I have:

- Calculated my average speed during LA rush hour (34mph)
- Recieved ETA times to and from work
- Found my car, after forgetting where I parked

You can send it to me so I can have another neat toy that I really don't need.

http://www.gpsgames.org/

looks interesting.

I've used GPS for mapping tree plots.

What kind did you get?

My came with games where you actually had to walk around to play, like getting through a maze and a whack-a-mole type thing.

You can use it as a vital component in your home-made cruise missile!

Join an orienterring club

Place it hidden on our Vice President Dick Cheney to see where he always disappears to.

I second the cruise missile idea.

You could save the position of every toilet you come across and rule the world by impressing people with your knowledge of where the nearest toilet is.

That's amazing! I'll have the closest 500 toilets saved in mine within the week!

I use mine when I'm off-roading so I don't get lost hard to find decent places to challenge your 4wd vehicle in LA though.

Actually, civilian GPSs aren't really accurate enough for that use. Now if you don't really care what you hit then go right ahead.

My Dad's GPS is accurate to within 3 feet. How much closer do you need to get than that with a large explosive?

Yeah. They used to be really poor, with even a 10 meter inaccuracy years ago. However, like Rogue Leader said, they are much better nowadays. And if you are really worried, just increase the payload a bit! :p

They do report grid coordinates that are within a meter (approx 3 ft) just like military systems however they lack the capability to receive an additional signal. I'm trying to use layman's terms here. Basically, even though they report to the same level they lack the error checking that military systems are capable of. Its because military systems are capable of receiving an additional encrypted signal. That difference also makes it possible for the military to send faulty signals to GPS that are incapable of receiving the encrypted signals. Remember that the next time your GPS steers you to the wrong side of Hollywood!

Thats the best thing I ever heard.

note to self: Faulty GPS signals fault of military conspiracy to send me to the wrong side of Hollywood. Got it!

He's right. Although many newer models DO recieve this extra signal, it is artificially less accurate for non-military units. I forget what it's called. Wide Area something something.

I got a Garmin eTrex. The accuracy is stated as 3-15ft. I am kind of tempted to use it on a rolllercoaster. Six Flags Magic Mountain this weekend?

GO eTrex VISTA!! I love mine. Topo map CD is great too.

I believed him. That was sarcasm.

I knew that.