Garmin GLO Portable GPS and GLONASS receiver: location refresh rate 10 times faster than typical GPS
Maps. Everyone loves 'em. But while plenty of companies are showing off some very fancymap updates, we're still being left somewhere, staring at tall buildings, waiting for our location to update and lead the way. Garmin reckons it's solved the problem with its first GPS and GLONASS-compatible receiver, which can connect to both iOS and Android devices. Initial lock-on times are apparently 20 percent faster than typical GPS, while GLONASS' additional 24 satellites will make faring through canyons and urban sprawls less of a struggle for signal pick-up. Garmin has also upped its position refresh rate to 10 times per second: typical GPS receivers will update just once every second. It connects to devices through Bluetooth and will offer a 12-hour navigation boost on a single charge.
If you're a pilot, there's even a GLO for Aviation package, which throws in a mount, power cable and six-month trial for its Pilot navi app. The standard receiver will launch in August, priced at $99, while those with wings can skip the queue and nab their version now for $139.
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Garmin® GLO™ Portable GPS and GLONASS Receiver Brings High-Integrity GPS Capability to Mobile Devices
OLATHE, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced GLO™, a portable GPS and GLONASS receiver that brings Garmin's industry-leading GPS technology to mobile devices.
"GLO solves that problem by leveraging two independent satellite networks and Garmin's industry-leading GPS technology to provide the most accurate and most frequent position updates available for a mobile device in the cockpit."
"As the first wireless GPS receiver with the ability to receive signals from both the United States' GPS satellite network and Russia's GLONASS satellite network, GLO provides the most comprehensive satellite coverage available," said Dan Bartel, Garmin's vice president of worldwide sales, "Whether you're driving through an urban canyon or flying an airplane at any altitude, GLO ensures that your mobile device maintains a strong, reliable GPS signal."
When using both GPS and GLONASS satellites, the time it takes for the receiver to "lock on" to a position is (on average) approximately 20 percent faster than using GPS alone. Furthermore, when using both GPS and GLONASS, the receiver has access to 24 more satellites than using GPS alone. This is particularly helpful for users who need reliable satellite navigation in challenging environments such as deep canyons or urban environments where a large portion of the sky is blocked by solid objects.
GLO wirelessly connects to Apple® and Android™ devices via Bluetooth. It offers a 12 hour battery life and a position update rate of up to 10 times per second (update rate may be limited by the host device). This is 10 times faster than the internal GPS receivers of most mobile devices.
For pilots, an exclusive GLO for Aviation package is available, which comes with a mount, power cable and a free six-month trial of Garmin Pilot, Garmin's aviation navigation app for Apple and Android mobile devices, available in the App Store℠ and Google Play.
"GLO will be especially popular with pilots. Mobile applications such as Garmin Pilot™ have further advanced the use of iPads® and other smart devices as navigation tools in the cockpit. But because the internal GPS receivers in these devices are not optimized for use in flight, the GPS signal can be less accurate and slow to provide updates," said Carl Wolf, Garmin's vice president of aviation sales and marketing. "GLO solves that problem by leveraging two independent satellite networks and Garmin's industry-leading GPS technology to provide the most accurate and most frequent position updates available for a mobile device in the cockpit."
GLO is expected to be available in August at a suggested retail price of $99. GLO for Aviation is available immediately at a suggested retail price of $129. For more information, visit www.garmin.com.
