GPS Based Radio Station Selection.

The technology assists an operator using a vehicle mounted or portable wireless communications device in selecting devices to communicate with while traveling. This will lessen operator work load and distractions and improve safety. For example, the vehicle radio location relative to the locations of other radios can be used to assist a user in the vehicle in selecting one or more of those radios which are in range of the vehicle in order to receive transmitted information and/or engage in two way communications. The technology is useful to users of automobiles, aircraft, boats, mobile radios and other devices which incorporate a wireless communications capability to assist user selection of various communications. A pop up warning may be provided when the user attempts to select a radio which is not in range because of distance, altitude, obstructions, direction or other things which affect reception. The technology can be used to assist an automobile driver in selecting entertainment broadcast radio stations which are in range while driving. The technology can also be useful for automatically displaying navigation aids, weather broadcasts, two way communications wireless radio stations and the like which are used by aircraft pilots. These stations may pop up on a GPS moving map display as the aircraft flies into range. For example a destination airport's weather broadcast frequency will pop up when the aircraft comes in range as it flies to and nears the destination airport. The technology can also be coupled to the communications device to facilitate the operator's selection via a touch screen moving map display to automatically tune the radio device to the selected station.