What Are These Things?

[Guest Paul Lamble]

What in the world do we call these devices that lead us around so much? What is the common name?

 

Is GPS a good name for the hand-held device itself? Do you commonly refer to it as something else? (Something polite, I hope.)

 

I'm writing an article about them and the sport, and I'm limited on word count, so I need some shorthand to use since I reference the device so much.

 

Thanks for any help you can give.

 

Paul Lamble

[Guest Moun10Bike]

10Bike)

26H/63F/3C/2S/2X

N 47° 36.649', W 122° 3.616'

www.switchbacks.com/geocaching.html

[Guest makaio]

John beat me to it, but that's exactly how they should be referred to, as that is all they do - receive signals from GPS satellites. You might call them 'handheld receivers' to emphasize the fact that they are mobile units versus those which are mounted in vehicle (cars,boats, etc.)dashboards, etc.

[Guest xanthari]

LONG ago they were GLIDs... Global Location and Information Devices. I personally like GPS better...the shorter the better. hehehe

[Guest Snowtrail]

I've told people about GPS systems, which is a little redundant. Doesn't really matter, most of the people I talk to have no idea even when I say the long name - and I still have to explain what it is and what it does.

[Guest barefoot]

My co-workers and I refer often refer to it as the "GPS unit" or just "the unit". I hadn't heard of GPSR before, but I like it.

[Guest dustystar]

You are way to technical! Since my etrex is yellow and it generally shows me how far a location is in a straight line or "as the crow flies", I call it the "Yellow Crow".

[Guest bunkerdave]

I have long referred to my Magellan MAP 330 as "My Little Green Buddy." It's an "LGB." Not to be confused with LGM's. I have occasionaly used the term "Gipper" or "Gips" but not as often.

[Guest Peter Scholtz]

How about: Geocaching Device.

 

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Peter Scholtz

www.biometrics.co.za

[Guest k2dave]

I call mine Jeeves

[Guest joshgray]

you beat me to the jeeves comment!!

 

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JoshGray

eTrex Basic http://joshgray.myip.org

[Guest joshgray]

you beat me to the jeeves comment!!

 

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JoshGray

eTrex Basic http://joshgray.myip.org

[Guest Cache-potato]

quote:

---

Originally posted by bunkerdave:

It's an "LGB." Not to be confused with LGM's. .

---

 

I have heard reports of LGM's using LGB's. However, I refer to mine as "THE WAY".

 

TO INFINITY AND BEYOND!!

[Guest Cache-potato]

quote:

---

Originally posted by bunkerdave:

It's an "LGB." Not to be confused with LGM's. .

---

 

I have heard reports of LGM's using LGB's. However, I refer to mine as "THE WAY".

 

TO INFINITY AND BEYOND!!

[Guest PharoaH]

Yes, we understand it should be referred to as a GPS Receiver. However, it is just plain easier to call it a GPS. While the nickname GPS may be a misnomer, it is something that new people will "pick up" and recognize because its easier to say than Handheld GPS Receiver. just my .02

[Guest geckoguy]

I have a GeoDiscovery Geode GPS Module for my Handspring Visor Platinum. I would call it the Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy, v 1.0, but I'm lazy. I call it my Geode or my GPS. Geckogirl calls it my Geo-thingy.