Posted by John Olive on January 31, 2007 at 16:45:27:
With the use of smart bombs and media coverage showing the military able to hit targets the size of a chimney or window from 5 miles away, people assume they can use a GPS to be accurate within feet. GPS units are becoming more accurate all the time but it is my understanding that the units you wear on your wrist or carry hunting or hiking do not have access to the same satellites that the military or even that surveyors use so are not as precise. That being said, it is scary just how accurate they can be! I would not expect them to be dead on when worn by a runner on a course. As Todd said, you would be amazed at how much further you run, even if you run the tangents.
To me it is similar to the CSI syndrome. After years of watching CSI, people think police can sniff a crime scene and solve the crime in less than an hour (with commercials).