How Does a GPS Work?
Thursday, October 23rd, 2008The modern world is full of amazing technology that makes our lives all the more easier. With the rapid rate of growth of technology, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep up with the ever changing gizmos and gadgets. One of the nicest technological advancements of modern day is GPS. GPS allows you to know where you are in the world at any given time with accuracy from a few meters to even a few centimeters. Imagine the possibilities. You can know exactly where you are, allowing you to get directions and go to any location via the fastest and safest route while getting constant tracking ensuring you are on course. You can even know where you car is if it gets stolen. They can even be put in cell phones. The possibilities really are endless.
For people who are less techno-savvy, GPS may come as a weird new gizmo that is difficult to understand. What exactly is GPS? GPS stands for Global Positioning System. GPS was made by the army for use in military applications, but now it is being used for everyday life. It is basically made up of 24 satellites that orbit the Earth. These satellites orbit over 12,000 miles above us and circle the Earth twice per day in extremely precise routes. The satellites transmit low power radio signals that any GPS device on Earth can receive and interpret. The satellites relay information between each other giving a pinpoint location on your signal. Think of it as giving every square meter in the world a unique address. When you step into a new area, it senses the change and relays it back to your GPS device. The GPS device just takes the information sent by the satellites and transforms it into geographic information. To calculate your exact 2D location, the GPS device must be in communication with at least three satellites. If your GPS device is communicating with four or more satellites, then your 3D location (Longitude, Latitude, and Altitude) can be calculated.
GPS is very accurate, but exactly how accurate can they be? Most affordable GPS devices on the market are accurate up to a 15 meter radius. Newer more high-end receivers can increase this accuracy up to a 3 meter radius, which is great for all of your geographical needs. GPS Manufacturers use different types of antennas that can play a part in holding a satellite signal and its accuracy.
GPS devices are becoming increasingly more affordable as time goes on. There are many great products that can suite all of your needs for under $200, making GPS devices great for all styles of life. There are handheld GPS units or portable GPS units and there are also boat and car GPS devices. Pick the one that suits your needs. As far as brands go, Garmin and Magellan are the Coke and Pepsi of the GPS wars.