Can I use my GPS in ASIA

[GTABuySell]

I am travelling to asia and wonder if my locally purchased GPS (Toronto) can be used in Asian countries such as Hong Kong and China?

I did some searching on the web and found maps for some big cities (such as HK, Shanghai etc.), but still not sure about the GPS receiver itself is compatible or not.

Thanks!

[mystical2003]

The GPS hardware can be used anywhere in the world as long as you have the right software and maps to go with it.

[Outsider]

The GPS will work anywhere in the world. Period.
Maps are another issue. The GPS will still give you your position regardless of map or no map.

[Gee]

Global
Positiioning
Satellite

It wouldn't be very Global if it didn't work in Asia.

[Oni-kun]

If your GPS reciever has WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) correction, if you leave that feauture on while you're in asia its gonna mess it up. WAAS are 25 relay stations in north america that give you your location through real-time differential GPS positioning. The ASIA equivalent is the MSAS (Multi-functional Satelite Augmentation System) and Europe EGOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service). If your unit doesn't have any of these features I wouldn't worry about it. If it does I'm not sure if you can switch it to the ASIA one instead. I don't have a lot of experience using many different GPS devices but perhaps it will detect it is not in North America and will not try to use WAAS. Even without differential correction it should be accurate. Hence "GLOBAL" positioning satellite.

[Sylvestre]

as others said, you'll know your UTM (or whatever coordinates you choose) but it's kind of useless if you don't have a map overlay.

odds are, you'll need to buy a map.

[Kasakato]

What kind of GPS is it? With my Garmin I just got some world maps and uploaded them as I flew over using my laptop.

[Oni-kun]

Oh also you should find out what UTM zone you are in. Some GPS units don't automatically select it. I suggest you buy a UTM map for the zone you are going to be in. Do not rely on the electronic map of your GPS unit, if it has one. But then again if you have no idea how to read a map i suggest you dont.

[GTABuySell]

If your GPS reciever has WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) correction, if you leave that feauture on while you're in asia its gonna mess it up. WAAS are 25 relay stations in north america that give you your location through real-time differential GPS positioning. The ASIA equivalent is the MSAS (Multi-functional Satelite Augmentation System) and Europe EGOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service). If your unit doesn't have any of these features I wouldn't worry about it. If it does I'm not sure if you can switch it to the ASIA one instead. I don't have a lot of experience using many different GPS devices but perhaps it will detect it is not in North America and will not try to use WAAS. Even without differential correction it should be accurate. Hence "GLOBAL" positioning satellite.


Thanks for giving me the details. My GPS is a Holux GPSlim 236 and have been using iGuidance with North American Maps on a PDA. I don't think I will be able to get maps for most of the places I will be visiting except for HK.

If I can mark a location and be able to back track to this same location, I will take my GPS with me. I am wondering if I use iGuidance without a map, will iGuidance (or any other GPS software) will still let me mark a location on (a blank map of course)?

Thanks everyone for sharing info with me!