Snow Blowing Community grabbing GPS again -

GTG is happy to be the Ottawa source it seems for 3 of the cities top snow removal companies - with 2 new GPS tracker installations of the Beacon Wireless Nav & Track system sold this week -thanks to all

GPS to GO is a Finalist -Ott Chamber of Commerce

We try not to toot our own horns here too too much - but - We are very proud to have nominated & then become a fianalist in the Ottawa Chamver of Commerce 2009 Biz Achievements Awards as new Small Business of 2009

Snow Blowing Season is comming -

BTW -if you're reading this and you are one of my many Snowblowing customers it's time - that we'll be calling you to make sure those GPS units -connections -ect ect are all working & ready for ol man winters gripppp!

GPS to GO at CANASA

How does GPS figure into the world of Home Security? Well we saw a whole range of great new companies & good folks with great ideas -Security Canada Central is the industry marketplace offering networking, valuable business opportunities, and excellent education programs on a variety of industry issues. World-class exhibitors with the latest equipment, products, services, technology and innovative ideas make this the security event of 2009!

GPS to GO picks up new Global Eyewear!

Well no these really aren't GPS Glasses - just way cool Charlie & the Chocolate Factory costume glasses -here's Co. President Russ Salo & son richard hamming it up -

GPS Scooter Nav & Track

Here we have the good folks over at Goodbye Graffiti with what we believe to be North Americas only GPS Navigation & Tracking Scooters -now the work of cleaning up graffiti is done 3 x faster than before -
See Goodbye Graffiti Ottawa at http://www.goodbyegraffiti.com/

TOW Bike -with Nav & Track -

This is not a hoax -this is Canada & USA's
first & only TOW Bike -a Honda Goldwing
outfitted with a very ingenious folding-
colapsable tow mechanism.

Here we see the local operator Charles towing the GPS to GO command vehicle -we'll be on the A channel morning show Tuesday July 28th -read below more about this ultra cool motorcycle

Retriever North America is proud to introduce the Retriever is the most revolutionary advent in the recovery vehicle industry since the tow truck. It has the agility and economy of a motorcycle yet the utility of a wrecker. The Retriever folds up neatly on the back of a Honda Goldwing. It's mission it to enhance safety on our roads, relieve traffic congestion, and make our customers more money.
This double patented device is specially designed to safely tow cars just like a truck. When stowed, the device is folded together making it exceptionally agile and efficient in dense traffic. As traditional tow trucks get stuck in traffic on their way to the customer, the Retriever will smoothly cut through and gets to the scene first.
This makes the Retriever the quickest and most efficient recovery vehicle in the world! This remarkable piece of engineering comes to market after 10+ years and 6 generations of prototype development and testing. The extensive engineering effort required to achieve this remarkable technology was significant. Over the 10 years, each generation of prototype produced significant improvements in the technology with respect to payload, ride-ability, durability, and stability.
http://retriever-na.com/

GTG Golf's for Alzheimers Society

Here we have a shot of our new pop up tent & Elder, Child & Family tracking div. banner at the Bitheads Charity Golf tourney in support of the Alzheimers Soc. in wich GTG was a sponsor & demo'd the GS-TRAQ at the 2nd hole -

http://www.bitheads.com/golf/

GPS to Go-mobile gets a wash

Here we have the kids from the City of Ottawa's "Young Leaders" course I believe washing up the ol command vehicle -$5.00 donation to them for thier grad party -congrats kids!

NEW Way to see the City MAP

Here & There is a project by S&W exploring speculative projections of dense cities. These maps of Manhattan look uptown from 3rd and 7th, and downtown from 3rd and 35th. They’re intended to be seen at those same places, putting the viewer simultaneously above the city and in it where she stands, both looking down and looking forward. http://tinyurl.com/odkbnt

Courtesy Navigadget

Google Trike -Pedal Power GPS

You’ve probably already seen many images of the Google Street View Car, or similar Navteq vehicles but probably never a tricycle with Google equipment on top. Let’s just call this the Google Trike from now on. It is now going to map streets of UK - specially narrow ones, and places where motor vehicles are not allowed - starting with historical landmarks that public voted to the top. Google Trike weighs about 250 lbs and allows for 360 degrees images to be taken with the on board cameras and processed with the on board image software. It is currently being tested somewhere else in Europe - namely Genoa - and will arrive in Britain this summer.

Courtesy of Navigadget

GPS to GO & the Geocube on A Channel

We had a great time on the A Channel Morning news show Tuesday. A very big thank you to show producer Kent & the behind the scenes staff who made us at GTG look good. As well thanks to the lovely & talented ladies on camera Angie Porier ( thanks Angie for doing a great job in the interviews) , Lianne Lang & Sandra Blakie even popped over to say hello to me -very nice people-

GPS Helmet -Safety -Fire -Rescue- Police -

This GPS helmet manufactured by Japanese NEC is called U-met. Not only GPS, but the helmet also incorporates a camera, and a microphone to communicate with a base station over 3G networks. We had actually talked about this GPS helmet back in July 07 but there are a few differences now, such as the front warning lights and the communication headset.
Anyways, the device is designed for security personnel, rescue workers, and fire fighters. It is very unlikely that you’ll actually get your hands on this

Courtesy of Navigadget

Hey I can See CALIFORNIA !

Why use GPS Tracking in your business? Well a new client of ours here has asked for help -

"My guys are delivering a housefull of furniture from the east coat here to California" -

"How would you know when they arrivced at the new home -& when they left the clients site & headed off to the Hotel -how can you verify those hours?" Did they finish unloading at 7 -8 - or maybe 9 pm? Hmmmm?

We've installed GPS tracking & now when the truck is unloaded & the crew is off ( they're not going to sit around in the clients driveway for 2 extra hrs of overtime - they need to head off to the Hotel & the business owner can see when they really left site & hence when they really finished for the day -

China GPS Satellite going UP!

China just put a new navigation satellite in orbit. This the first one of ten scheduled to be put in space before the end of the year. Called Compass-G2, the satellite is part of a plan to free China from American dependence when it comes to global positioning. China’s navigation satellites are part of the Beidou project which has been underway for a quite a while now.

http://tinyurl.com/cpn92c

With thanks to Navigadget.com

GPS Quick CONNECT -Car to CAR

GTG has been installing GPS tracking units for our customers with "Quick Connect" --connectors allowing the business owner to move the GPS units around from vehicle to vehicle if you want to keep costs down

Indoor GPS- The new Standard we think!

Imagine finding someone anywhere -even if they are indoors with GPS -Seems this is the future of things to come - Public and commercial services such as search-and-rescue, firefighting, and location-based services (LBS) require accurate indoor position determination.

The United States and Japan have passed emergency-call legislation requiring third-generation cell phones to have functions determining their positions. Rapidly increasing numbers of cell phones with built-in GPS capabilities stimulate the LBS market, which is expected to be the dominating market for GNSS receivers in the future.

With thanks to GPS World Magazine -

Why is my OVERTIME so BIG

Pl;ease vote -what is the most pressing reason an employer or business would track it's employees? we feel from our interviews of business owners it's theft of OVERTIME -that they feel is much tooooo BIG!

Find out how to reduce overtime and padded timesheets with GPS fleet tracking for more accurate driver hours recording.

Black EYE Marketing

Business owners love us -Employees -not so much. GTG is going to embark on a marketing campaign showing the Monkey business that follows a business with a fleet of vehicles & employee's foolong around all day with the time & vehicles -The Black Eye comes in - well you can guess how & why!

GPS Hide & Seek in Ottawa -Fast Foot Challenge

5 Runners searching for a 6th player marked as "X" outdoors in the Urban landscape -Meet other players, choose your terrain and experience the real world with different eyes. You are live on FastFoot-Challenge! Watch games on Google Earth - live and replays. GPS to GO will host a new "Real World Game" called "Fast Foot Challenge" here in Ottawa -read more here -http://www.fastfoot.mobi/

Please register by emailing sales@gpstogo.ca with the subject line of "Fast Foot Challenge" FREE to enter & Prizes will be awarded to winners.

Testing the TWITTER Feed -

GPS to GO just loves all of the Twitter folks now following us here -I hope we'll be able to keep you comming back with interesting Tweets!

World’s Smallest GPS Unit

A lot of you are probably going to say things like “This will only make it easier for the goverment to track me!”, or “My wife will always know where I am!!” Fear not. While it may be the world’s smallest GPS receiver, this little marvel by New Zealand based Rakon still has to be paired up with an ostensibly larger transmitter for anyone to be able to “track” you.

With thanks to http://www.ohgizmo.com/2006/01/23/worlds-smallest-gps-unit/

GPS Enabled Asthsma Inhalers?

In order to track possible danger zones that trigger asthma attacks, the Deapartment of Health Sciences of the University of Wiconsin-Madison is working on a GPS-enabled inhaler that could potentially help asthmatics everywhere.
With this technology, every time asthmatics use their rescue inhalers, the inhalers—with built-in GPS—will be able to pinpoint exactly where they are. This lets doctors and researchers know where to study, allowing them to detect what is triggering the attacks and possibly even uncovering why people suffer from the lung disease in the first place. So basically, frequent asthma attacks at a local park could mean an excess of allergens and pet dander. But what will asthma attacks in your home tell the doctor? Thanks to Gizmodo

http://i.gizmodo.com/5207511/gps+enabled-inhalers-help-doctors-pinpoint-asthma-triggers-and-causes

GPS with No monthly FEE

How'd you like to see everything that's going on without the reccurring monthly fees? Powered by the Geotab system of high resolution data comparison that analyzes GPS signals each second and records data as vehicles and drivers turn, stop, accelerate and brake - Geotab GO platform options can store up to 1 month's worth of trip data before sending that data to your computer database for reporting.

http://www.geotab.com/Products/GORF/tabid/67/Default.aspx

Privacy Commissioner- Monitoring of employee’s e-mails OK

An Indian and Northern Affairs employee complained that the institution did not have the authority to restore 35 months of the employee’s e-mails and then review all of the messages contained in the departmental account. The employee alleged that as a result of the department’s actions, the employee’s personal information was improperly accessed. The employee was the subject of an administrative investigation into allegations that the employee was misusing the department’s network.
During the course of its investigation into the complainant’s actions, the institution restored the complainant’s e-mail account and found pornographic e-mails.

http://www.privcom.gc.ca/cf-dc/pa/2007-08/pa_200708_05_e.asp

Match-Head SIZED GPS -

Epson and Infinion’s XPOSYS PMB 2540 chip is world’s smallest A-GPS ( Assisted GPS, generally abbreviated as A-GPS, enhances the startup performance of a GPS satellite-based positioning system. It is used extensively with GPS-capable cellular phones as its development was accelerated by the U.S. FCC's 911 mandate making the location of a cell phone available to emergency call dispatchers.[1] thank you Wikipedia.com) receiver ever. Unless that’s a giant match we can see this fitting into every gadget that you carry.

more here -& thanks to Navigadget.com

http://www.navigadget.com/index.php/2009/02/14/smallest-gps-receiver-ever

OVERTIME THEFT -Ranks #1

Last week a new client of GTG's saw right out of the gate over an hour of unauthorised idling on the side of the hwy DURING WORKING HOURS.

GTG has found in simple terms that this padding of extra OVERTIME is the number one biggest problems fleet managers face today.

Many companies report to us that the situation is a BIG excess in UNVERFIFIABLE OVERTIME -resulting in some employees making over $800.00 per month in EXTRA wages -PER MONTH!!

Athletic Rentable GPS -Myathlete

Oct 2008 - GTX Corp and myathlete today officially announced gpVector and it is expected to ship early 2009.
Before you ask gpVector is a tracking platform for athletes which offers the shown device worn by the racer (even if they’re in the water) and transmits their location determined by the GPS technology onboard via wireless carrier networks every minute they are on the course - which in English means you’ll able to track your loved one from the comfort of your house while he/she tortures themselves running the last 20 miles of an ultra-marathon. They don’t need your support anyways.
Offered by myatlete this device will cost $350 plus monthly fee for purchase but you’ll also be able to rent it for your event:
$20 - Half Marathons
$30 - Marathons & Half Ironman Triathlons
$40 - Ultra-Marathons & Adventure Races
$50 - Ironman Triathlons, Ultra-Ultra Marathons and multi-day events

With credit to Navigadget.com

DOGGIE --GPS -Pamaper the pooch wherever they are!

Still on the way to Canada for the pampered pooch in your life -a relatively new gadget that combines a hanheld GPS location screen unit ( like a chunky blackberry ) with a GPS enabled Dog collar - The RoamEO Location System is designed for pet owners to quickly and accurately locate their pets by using state-of-the-art GPS technology. RoamEO displays the concise, easy to read information on a LCD screen that allows you to locate your pet and shows you his current movements.

http://www.roameoforpets.com/index.php

GPS Cocktail Conversation-

Thanks to Wikipedia -So on the Cocktail circuit you find yourself in a crowd of folks & the conversation will eventually turn to that "New GPS I just bought at Future Shop the other day & boy does it have great GPS reception don't you know" Well to show people all about how & why that consumer grade navigator works read here

Beginning with Navstar 1 in 1978, ten "Block I" GPS satellites were successfully launched. One satellite, "Navstar 7", was lost due to an unsuccessful launch on December 18, 1981.[1] The Block I satellites were launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base using Atlas rockets that were converted intercontinental ballistic missiles. The satellites were built by Rockwell International at the same plant in Seal Beach, CA where the S-II second stages of the Saturn V rockets had been built.[2] The final Block I launch was conducted on October 9, 1985. The last Block I satellite was taken out of service on November 18, 1995. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPS_satellite

EU- Plans own GPS Satellites- Galileo

Galileo is a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) currently being built by the European Union (EU) and European Space Agency (ESA). The €3.4 billion project is an alternative and complementary to the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS) and the Russian GLONASS. On 30 November 2007 the 27 EU transportation ministers involved reached an agreement that it should be operational by 2013

more on this from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_positioning_system

GPS III - Next GEN GPS comes out in 2012

The Next Generation GPS Control Segment (OCX) will provide significant benefits to military and civilian users around the world, as well as to GPS operators, maintainers, and analysts. With a planned initial operational date in 2012, OCX will begin a phased transition of the next generation of GPS services and capabilities. Like the GPS III satellites, OCX capabilities will be developed and deployed as a series of block upgrades. The block approach will incorporate new technologies and requirements in response to changing world events.

With thanks to GPS World Magazine

GPS Rentals take off in OTTAWA

Business owners- are you thinking you'd like to TRY a real proper treatment of Professional GPS without the 3 year term other companies lock you in to -GTG is happy to say since Jan 2009 we've signed 4 new customers up on month by month RENTAL plans -convertible to capital purchase at anytime or can be cancelled at anytime.

Learn more about our GPS fleet tracking solutions!

Unleash the Power of the USA -LBS Market

http://w.on24.com/r.htm?e=135567&s=1&k=E033F58D7967B122546CB5B280FCAB4E

Listen to this podcast that's a real eye opener -

US Privacy & GPS Tracking at pbs.org

The use of Global Positioning System Technology (GPS) in cars and phones to help parents track where kids are and how fast they're driving has sparked heated debates about the lines between privacy and safety.

One of the most popular applications of GPS technology for parents has been a small box that is plugged into a car dashboard, allowing them to remotely download data, including the car's location and speed, from the box onto their computer.
In fact, some of these devices automatically email or call parents when their child is speeding or has entered a location previously designated as off limits. In some cases, parents can remotely sound an alarm, honk the horn or flash a light when their teen is driving too fast.

read the full article http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june07/gps_2-19.html

GPS with TEMP Sensors- Zoom 7 is here!

GTG & Beacon Wireless are just about to complete a large order for 33 complete installations of the new BEacon Wireless Zoom 7 GPS device. What sets this unit apart is the ability to record 2 temperature zones at the same time. Alarm thresholds are set & the dispatcher, administrators will be automatically alerted when temps rise / fall ect out of range. These will be going into one of Ottawas premiere food distributors. As well there are some new controls built in that I'll cover in future posts.

Advice for new Bloggers -by Jim Estill

Here's a great post for all of you out there thinking of getting a blog going -This is written by a great gent named Jim Estill CEO of Synnex Canada ( annual sales over 2 Billion)

Advice for New Bloggers
I am often asked for blogging advice by new bloggers. I thought it would be more efficient for me to post suggestions and refer people to this blog post rather than email each person. I welcome comments and feedback from you, my readers. Take what I have started with and add please.Advice for new bloggers:· Don’t start blogging unless you like to write. It is a bit of an obligation. · I like keep blog postings short (400 – 500 words) and this seems to suit the attention span of most readers. · Just to it. It is easy to start and in the worst case, you can stop. · You are not really considered to be a blogger until you have blogged from 4 – 6 weeks. I think it is a great idea to have a strong first post because some people read first posts but the next 4 – 6 weeks, you don’t really need to have tremendous depth or substance. I would suggest copying things that you find interesting but not pouring too much of your heart in to it for the first while.· I suggest installing a www.statcounter.com. This tells you what your traffic is and where they come from. It is free.· Some people think blogging is technical; it’s not. Anyone can learn how to BLOG in about 5 minutes. · I suggest finding a blog mentor – someone who can help you with the simple set-up and give you a little bit of support through the early days.· I would not try to do anything to generate traffic in the first 30 days as you are really not a blogger until you have reached that point.I am off on more travel today. Conference in California and while I am there, I will stop by Fremont head office.

Trucking Routes GPS for JULY

from GPS Magazine http://www.gpsmagazine.com/ I receive a fairly steady flow of questions from people looking for a truck-specific GPS tracking (i.e. a GPS that knows about road restrictions that impact truck drivers), and until now the options were pretty bleak. Thankfully, Garmin has responded to the demand, and released the trucking industry focused nuvi 465T.
In addition to lane assist, subscription-free traffic, speed limit indicators, Bluetooth and text to speech, this nuvi features exclusively points of interest and location information from NTTS Breakdown. Currently, drivers carry around a phonebook-like directory with this NTTS (National Truck & Trailer Service) Breakdown information - this nuvi now provides driver's that information with the tap of the screen.
The pre-loaded NTTS database includes long-haul focused POIs, such as truck repair, towing and recovery, tire sales and repair, glass repair, fuels stops and more.
The nuvi 465T includes free lifetime traffic service (no word yet if will be ad-supported, as current 2x5T and 7x5T models are), and will also display warning information of upcoming road conditions to help aid driver awareness of possible truck hazards along the route such as sharp curves, steep grades, road narrows and more.
Garmin's press release states that the 465T will feature a "high resolution 4.3-inch display that is easily read from the driver's seat of a long-haul vehicle." That's the same size as Garmin's current wide-screen GPS devices, so it's not clear if this will be a higher resolution LCD or not.
On top of the trucking-specific features, the 465T will sport the usual nuvi features, such as lane guidance, text-to-speech, multi-destination routing with route optimization, and Bluetooth for hands-free calling. Suggested retail price is $499. Available in the second quarter of 2009.

**Also story from Navigadget http://www.navigadget.com/index.php/2009/03/17/nuvi-465t-gps-navigation-for-trucks

GPS to GO on CTV's Tech Now

GPS to GO had the recent good fortune to be interviewed for CJOH's Tech Now. Since 2001 CTV News has been the only Ottawa TV station to keep a special focus on the capital's technology sector. Every Sunday, as part of the 6pm news, watch TECH NOW. http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20080213/ott_technow_semihub_1_080213/20080213/?hub=OttawaHome

CTV's local Ottawa affiliate came out to see how the good folks at Worry Free Snowblowing http://worryfreesnowblowing.com/( now Ottawa's largest snowblowing provider with almost 3000 driveways) uses the GPS to GO Fleet Navigation & Tracking system to get to thier customers faster & save the company BIG $$ in the process.

GPS in 30 Seconds? No WAY!

All things evolve dont they? Thats a given in the GPS field of course -GTG will be investigating a NEW GPS platform that plugs into the OBD ( On-Board Diagnostics ) Port of most light vehicles & provides truly excellent "Light" real time tracking -The feature set is not nearly as robust as our full service Enterprise goodies but all accounts are looking good thus far - more to come -

Funny -like we're ol friends

On a Sales note to anyone out there who sells to clients -never assume that someone who din't -wouldn't buy 6 mos or a year ago or more is still not interested -just rec'd a call from an OLD prospect who called & is placing an order & spoke to me like we were old fishing buddies- never assume -good selling -

( this is not me BTW)

Away at the Spa & Horseback Riding

I've got to thank the fantastic staff at the Wakefield Mill Spa in Wakefield QC for a unique & seductive experience as stated in thier Mission Statement -my wife & I spent the weekend there & as always ( we go every year) it was superb!http://www.wakefieldmill.com/home/index_e.php

As well my first time out on a Horse -the March weather was spectacular & warm as we rode the trails in the Wakefield QC area at Captiva Farms http://www.captivafarms.com/home.html

We had a great little adventure. Thanks to Jenn for the lesson & guiding us on our little 1 hour trail ride. I was up on "Power Ranger" a BIGG beautiful all white male horse- I'm hooked & we'll be back!

Calls from the Road

Funny how the look of our GPS to GO "Command Vehicle" - ha ha - draws attention whereever we go -well it is a pretty striking little SUV. Got a call even from someone claiming to be a "Landscaper" wanting to know all about the GTG lineup -So if you see us out on the streets of Ottawa- Toronto or Montreal give us a honk & a wave!

Ottawa's GPS Fleet Tracking 

Oooops -that's DOT C A

Met a nice gent here in Ottawa at my weekly Kiwanis luncheon with my club http://www.ottawakiwanis.org/kco.nsf

who was telling me about how he's happy to have bought my gps system from hearing my local Radio adverts on News Talk Radio 580 CFRA http://www.cfra.com/

Hmmm I said - we've never met - seems that he may have contacted the people who run gpstogo dot COM - not sure - he's looking into it -this is what happens when GM's buy on behalf of the boss - ooops!

TV News people chase news faster

Have a look here & comment on the TV News advert we did in the good ol USA on the Beacon Wireless system promoted by GTG for chasing the news. We're making in-roads into news orgs in the lower 48 using this system -Assign -Arrive & File First!

GPS to GO & Geotab RENTALS

Russ here -for any of my customers here that are now rentaing the Geotab brand of GPS black boxes please give us here at GTG ( GPS to GO) your thoughts thus far on the solution from end to - well where you are so far. Since Geotab has only just started this new rental program we've not got alot of data yet so please comment -

TV signals instead of GPS?

TV signals instead of GPS? This I found really neat -TV signals I hear are stronger -& more abundant -sooo - could be better all around -read more here -thanks to http://www.dailywireless.org/

Rosum, a startup founded by the original architects of the GPS, hopes provide accurate indoor location fixing by using television signals instead of GPS signals.