How does the GPS receiver work?

This article explains the basic operating principles behind the GPS receiver and how these are integrated with some clever features to make the units more useful and attractive to the consumer. There was a time when the technology that drives the GPS receiver was military grade, and not available to the general public. Certainly, the original investment made was by the military, and for the military, but it was not long before the commercial possibilities were realized.

In fact, the GPS receiver works because there are a number of satellites which orbit the Earth, all beaming signals towards it. The initials GPS stand for Global Positioning System, and part of the attraction is that the 12 satellites really do cover the entire globe, between them. Unless you happen to be in a very built up area, or in a cave, the signal will probably reach you.

Given that the GPS receiver is capable of receiving a signal from a satellite, it is a simple matter to explain how they can work out their position. They do it in the same way that a human can work out where they are from a set of known points and their position in relation to them. Triangulation is the key, and the clever electronics inside the GPS unit can work out the position of the unit to within several feet.

Once you know where you are, it is an easy matter to transpose that onto a map, and the most modern GPS receiver has some kind of built-in map which the user can refer to in order to know where they are, rather than just reading the co-ordinates from the GPS screen.

For more information on related products and services, please choose from the following menu of items.

GPS
Maps / Software
Tracking

About The Author:

Guy Lecky-Thompson is a successful author and publisher at www.1st-at-gps-tracking.com. Recommending gps equipment and associated products
25-06-04