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Sources of GPS Signal Errors |
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Written by Eric M. Hutchinson
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Saturday, July 18 2009 10:18 |
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Factors that can degrade the GPS signal and thus affect accuracy include the following:
- Ionosphere and troposphere delays — The satellite signal slows as it passes through the atmosphere. The GPS system uses a built-in model that calculates an average amount of delay to partially correct for this type of error.
- Signal multipath — This occurs when the GPS signal is reflected off objects such as tall buildings or large rock surfaces before it reaches the receiver. This increases the travel time of the signal, thereby causing errors.
- Receiver clock errors — A receiver's built-in clock is not as accurate as the atomic clocks onboard the GPS satellites. Therefore, it may have very slight timing errors.
- Orbital errors — Also known as ephemeris errors, these are inaccuracies of the satellite's reported location.
- Number of satellites visible — The more satellites a GPS receiver can "see," the better the accuracy. Buildings, terrain, electronic interference, or sometimes even dense foliage can block signal reception, causing position errors or possibly no position reading at all. GPS units typically will not work indoors, underwater or underground.
- Satellite geometry/shading — This refers to the relative position of the satellites at any given time. Ideal satellite geometry exists when the satellites are located at wide angles relative to each other. Poor geometry results when the satellites are located in a line or in a tight grouping.
- Intentional degradation of the satellite signal — Selective Availability (SA) is an intentional degradation of the signal once imposed by the U.S. Department of Defense. SA was intended to prevent military adversaries from using the highly accurate GPS signals. The government turned off SA in May 2000, which significantly improved the accuracy of civilian GPS receivers.
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Article Courtesy: http://www8.garmin.com/aboutGPS/ |
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Last Updated on Saturday, July 18 2009 19:04 |
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What Makes Up the GPS System |
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Written by Eric M. Hutchinson
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Saturday, July 18 2009 10:17 |
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The 24 satellites that make up the GPS space segment are orbiting the earth about 12,000 miles above us. They are constantly moving, making two complete orbits in less than 24 hours. These satellites are travelling at speeds of roughly 7,000 miles an hour.
GPS satellites are powered by solar energy. They have backup batteries onboard to keep them running in the event of a solar eclipse, when there's no solar power. Small rocket boosters on each satellite keep them flying in the correct path.
Here are some other interesting facts about the GPS satellites (also called NAVSTAR, the official U.S. Department of Defense name for GPS):
- The first GPS satellite was launched in 1978.
- A full constellation of 24 satellites was achieved in 1994.
- Each satellite is built to last about 10 years. Replacements are constantly being built and launched into orbit.
- A GPS satellite weighs approximately 2,000 pounds and is about 17 feet across with the solar panels extended.
- Transmitter power is only 50 watts or less.
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Article Courtesy: http://www8.garmin.com/aboutGPS/ |
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Last Updated on Saturday, July 18 2009 19:05 |
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Written by Eric M. Hutchinson
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Saturday, July 18 2009 10:03 |
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GPS is a space-based radionavigation system designed to provide worldwide, all-weather, passive, three-dimensional position, velocity, navigation, and time data to a variety of civilian and military users.
GPS does this by providing a constellation of at least 24 satellites, in an orbit 12,000 miles high and inclined at 55˚, which continuously broadcast their position, a timing signal, and other information.
By measuring the time it takes this signal to travel from a given satellite to the user’s receiver, the receiver can determine how far from the satellite it is.
For a single satellite, the receiver can determine the range, but not the direction, from the satellite. Thus, he receiver has identified a sphere, centered on the satellite, on which the receiver is located. From a second satellite, the receiver could can identify a second such sphere with the receiver location being somewhere on the circular intersection of these spheres. A third satellite provides a third sphere, which reduces the possible receiver location to only two points. A fourth satellite narrows this to a single point.
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Article Courtesy: http://www8.garmin.com/aboutGPS/ |
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Last Updated on Saturday, July 18 2009 19:05 |
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