Soon GPS will become almost as basic as the telephone, or more likely included with every phone handset. GPS can determine locations accurate to a matter of just a few meters. In fact, amazingly with advanced equipment it is possible to achieve measurements to less than a centimeter!
It’s just like giving every square meter on earth its very own address. GPS receivers have become extremely economical through miniaturization to just a few integrated circuits. These days GPS is finding its way into cars, boats, planes, construction equipment, movie making gear, farm machinery, laptop computers and especially cell phones.
Tracking cell phones is a active topic with a lot of interest. A lot of the discussion surrounding cell tracking, mobile GPS and mobile phone track software applications could be helped by a GPS Satellite primer 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 system is composed of 3 primary 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 are orbiting twice a day. They are not geostationary, they travel at over 7,000 mph. GPS satellites are solar powered but have battery backup for when they are on the dark side of the earth. They are positioned so that at any given time 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 have a lifetime of about 10 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 best location to place a stationary satellite. The earth rotates at about 1,000 miles an hour, and because of their high earth orbit the geo-synchronous satellites need to move at about 7,000 mph to sustain position. This is just about the same speed as GPS satellites, but since communications satellites are 10,000 miles further away they stay in place relative to the earth.
The GPS Control Segment is composed of Master Control Station, an Alternate Master Control Station, and a host of dedicated and shared Ground Antennas and Monitor Stations that work together to make sure the satellites are functioning correctly and the data they send to earth is accurate.
The GPS User Segment consists of of GPS receivers taking the shape of mobile phones and , laptops, in-car navigation devices and hand-held tracking units along with the people that use them, and the software programs that make them work.
GPS receivers calculate 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).
Consider that there is a basic difference between handset GPS Tracking and GPS Navigation. GPS phone tracking is normally related to a third-party keeping records of either real-time or historical cell phone location, while Navigation deals with the handset user figuring out how to get from point A to point B. Neither use works without some kind of third-party software program.
An impressive software package that features remote control of handset settings, and combines Cell Phone Tracking with SMS text message, Call Log, MMS multi-media message monitoring, and a web account for storage and review is PhoneBeagle.
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Global Satellite System Glossary of basic terms.
GPS consists of 24 GPS satellites, portable GPS receivers, and various ground-based support facilities.
The GPS receiver is either a standalone handset device or electronic unit mounted on a automobile dashboard or other movable item such as a shipping container, and now particularly common to be found inside phone handsets . Abbreviated "GPS" in common use.
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