Soon GPS will become almost as basic as the telephone, or more likely included with every mobile phone. GPS can determine positions accurate to a matter of just a few meters. In fact, incredibly with advanced equipment you can make measurements to less than a centimeter!
It’s just like assigning every square meter on the planet a unique address. GPS receivers have become extremely affordable through miniaturization to just a few integrated circuits. Nowadays days GPS is incorporated into cars, boats, planes, construction equipment, movie making gear, farm machinery, laptop computers and especially phone handsets.
Tracking cell phones is a popular topic getting a lot of interest. Much of the discussion dealing with GPS tracking, mobile GPS and mobile phone tracking software applications could be helped by a GPS Satellite introduction and glossary.
GPS stands for Global Positioning System. GPS satellites broadcast signals from space that GPS receivers use to estimate three-dimensional location (latitude, longitude, and altitude) plus precise time. The GPS network is made up of 3 main segments: Space Segment, Control Segment and User Segment.
The GPS Space Segment is composed of twenty-four to thirty-two satellites that orbit the earth at a height of about 12,000 miles. These satellites are also known as as the GPS Constellation, and they make an orbit twice a day. They are not parked over one spot, but rather move at over 7,000 mph. They are solar powered but have battery backup for when they are in the earth’s shadow. They are positioned so that there are at least 4 satellites ‘visible’ from any point on earth. Small rocket boosters on each satellite keep them flying in the correct path. The satellites last about ten years until all their fuel runs out.
GPS Satellites are not communications satellites. Geostationary or communications satellites use a higher altitude 22,300 miles above the equator. These satellites are used for weather forecasting, satellite TV, satellite radio and most other types of global communications. At exactly 22,000 miles above the equator, the earth’s force of gravity and centrifugal forces are offset and are in equilibrium. This is the ideal location to park a communications satellite. The earth rotates at about 1,000 miles an hour, and because of their high earth orbit the earth-synchronous satellites need to travel at about 7,000 mph to keep position. This is just about the same speed as GPS satellites, but since geostationary satellites are 10,000 miles further away they stay in place relative to the earth.
The GPS Control Segment made up of Master Control Station, an Alternate Master Control Station, and numerous dedicated and shared Ground Antennas and Monitor Stations that work together to ensure the satellites are functioning correctly and the data they send to earth is accurate.
The GPS User Segment made up of of GPS receivers taking the shape of devices and , laptops, in-car navigation devices and hand-held tracking units along with the people that use them, and the software applications that make them function.
GPS receivers determine position by precisely timing the signals transmitted by GPS satellites. This information includes the time the message was transmitted, precise orbital information (the ephemeris), and the general system health and rough orbits of all GPS satellites (the almanac).
Keep in mind that there is a basic difference between cell phone GPS Tracking and GPS Navigation. GPS cell phone tracking is usually related to someone maintaining records of either real-time or historical mobile phone location, while Navigation deals with the smartphone user figuring out how to get from point A to point B. Neither use works without some kind of third-party software application.
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Global Satellite System Glossary of basic terminology.
The Global Positioning System consists of 24 GPS satellites, portable GPS receivers, and various ground-based support facilities.
The GPS receiver is typically a standalone handset device or electronic unit mounted on a vehicle dashboard or other movable item such as an ocean freight container, and now particularly common to be found inside phone handsets . Abbreviated “GPS” in common use.
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