GPS's came into use with the militatry about the time of the first Gulf War. Befor that it was only a grid map, compass and protactor that got us to where we were going. I still can get within about a meter of anywhere in the world that way. It just takes more practice. I get all my grid maps from www.usgs.gov (a grid map is a fancier version of a topo map that is used for navigation) If you look around the sight they will also have referances to how to use them, and what the terms and symbals are. If you want to look at it this way, what came befor the computor? Pencil paper and slide rule. What did we have 20 years ago befor the gps? map and compass. If you want to play in your area for $20 or less give that a try.