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GPS – Bringing The World Together

admin — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:36:55 +0000

GPS, or Global Positioning System, has become for the 21st century what bloodhounds and used to be for police forces and bread crumbs were for Hansel and Gretel: both a way to find a person or target, and a way for a person to keep from becoming lost. GPS uses its “eyes in the sky”, a group of twenty-one operating and three backup satellites in orbit nearly twelve thousand miles above the Earth, to interpret the signals sent from GPS devices down below.

GPS translates those signals into information about the latitude, longitude, and altitude of the device that sent it, and beams the information back to a GPS receiver in the same device. The whole operation is done in split seconds, accurate to within five meters, and is the result of over three decades and twelve billion (and rising) dollars spent by the US Department of Defense.

Military GPS Applications

While the DoD initially installed GPS systems in their Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles to help them locate their targets with pinpoint accuracy, the GPS technology has now fund applications far beyond its use in weapons systems. The US military used it once again in 1991, during the first Gulf War, when GPS was essential for the mapping of huge uncharted tracts of desert.

Because GPS information can be provided as a readout, interpreted, and printed as a map of the target terrain, it saved the military countless man-hours and risk to the personnel who would otherwise have had to map the desert while airborne. GPS has its defensive purposes as well; it allows a country to monitor the movements of military troops in another country across the globe and to prepare for an attack well lin advance.

Commercial GPS Application

The first non-military use of sGPS was for marine applications; those lost at sea and unable to navigate by traditional means could simply push a button to signal the GPS satellites and have their latitude and longitude appearing on a screen in a matter of seconds. Today GPS is most widely used in the aviation industry, as an aid to routing aircraft.

GPS technology has advanced so much, in fact, that it is now possible for ships’ computers to be linked to a GPS system which automatically navigates to a preprogrammed destination. GPS can function as both s ship’s navigator and captain, although it is highly improbable that it will replace them.

GPS, in both its military and commercial applications, has made the world a much smaller and safe, place!

By: David Faulkner

What Is GPS and How Can It Be Used?

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:48:48 +0000

GPS stands for Global Positioning System and was initially designed to be used by the U.S. military and is operated by the U.S. Defense Department. This system consists of 24 satellites, these satellites are 12,000 miles above us, are constantly moving in a precise orbit, have an atomic clock, and are solar powered. They do have a battery backup so they will continue to run in the event of a solar eclipse, and each satellites has a small rocket booster to maintain their orbit. The first satellite was launched in 1978 and it wasn’t until 1994 when there were a total of 24 satellites. Each satellite has a life expectancy of about 10 years, so new satellites are constantly being built and launched. Each satellite weighs about 2,000 pounds and is approximately 17 feet in width when the solar panels are extended. In the 1980s the GPS became available to the public, and although it is still maintain by the U.S. Defense Department there is no charge for its usage by the public.

These 24 satellites orbit the earth twice a day and continuously sends the location of the satellite. A GPS system can tell how far a satellite is away by comparing the time difference between the time a signal was transmitted and the time it was received, the longer it takes the signal to be received by a receiver, the farther away the satellite is. If a GPS is receiving signals from three satellites it can calculate latitude and longitude. Altitude can be determined if the GPS is receiving signals from four satellites.

GPS can be used for navigating your car through traffic day-to-day or tracking a fleet of vehicles. Not only can a driver use a GPS for directions the main office knows where that vehicle is and the speed of the vehicle. GPS can be used while on vacation for activities such as hiking, camping, or hunting. Is your passion fishing but get frustrated trying to find the fish? With a fish finder which uses both GPS technology and sonar you’ll know exactly where to go to find those fish. GPS technology is also being used as a way to track your pet if he wanders off or to safeguard a pet from being stolen.

Another use for GPS is as a child finder with a receiver in a child’s cell phone or wristwatch to ensure a child’s safety. It can be used in a teenager’s car in order to both know where they and how fast they are driving. This could also be used to keep track of someone who tends to ‘roam’ but is not capable enough to find there way back; i.e. someone with Alzheimer’s disease.

As GPS technology improves, it uses will increase. Who knows where it will take us next?

Copyright 2006 Angela Carter

By: Angie Carter

GPS And How It Works

admin — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 22:22:09 +0000

GPS stands for Global Positioning System, a satellite navigation system with twenty-four satellites in orbit. These satellites were put in place by the United States Department of Defense for military uses, and were called NAVSTAR. The first satellite was launched in 1978 and the twenty-fourth and last satellite was finally in place in 1994. In 1980 NAVSTAR was made available to the general public for commercial use.

GPS works 24 hours a day in any weather. The satellites orbit the earth twice a day in a specific orbit that is about 12,000 miles above us. In orbit, the satellites travel as fast as 7,000 miles an hour. As they are orbiting, they transmit information to receivers on earth. The receivers use this information to calculate the user’s location. This calculation is made by determining the difference between the time a transmission was made and when the receiver received it. This is then used to calculate the distance and the position is displayed on the receiver.

For a receiver to calculate a latitude and longitude position is to receive information from three satellites. To calculate latitude, longitude and altitude a receiver must be able to receive information from four or more satellites. After position is known the GPS can then tell the user information about speed, trip distance, the distance to a desired destination, sunrise and sunset times, bearing and other information.

While in orbit, the satellites are powered by solar energy. They also have backup batteries that are used in the event of no solar power such as an eclipse. The energy is used to power small rockets on the satellites that keep them in the proper orbit. At any one time only about 50 watts of power or less is used to transmit information. The satellites are designed to last about ten years, and the U.S. Department of Defense is constantly making and launching replacement satellites. Each satellite is about 2,000 pounds and seventeen feet across when the solar panels are out.

GPS receivers are generally accurate within 15 meters. Other than investing in a receiver there are no fees or other equipment required to access the GPS signal. If very accurate readings are needed, Differential Global Position Systems (DGPS) will provide accuracy within three to five meters. The United States Coast Guard operates the most popular DGPS.

Two power signals are transmitted and are referred to as L1 and L2. The L1 frequency is used for civilian purposes. These signals are relatively low power signals and travel by line of sight, so they can go through clouds, glass, and plastic, but not solid objects like buildings or mountains. In every transmission the satellite sends three types of information, its pseudorandom code, ephemeris data and almanac data. The pseudorandom code is an I.S. code that identifies which satellite the information is being sent from. Ephemeris data tells the receiver where the satellite should be at any time of the day, and almanac data sends information about the status of the satellite, the current date and the time. The almanac data is the part that is essential for determining the user’s position.

By: Chris Simons

GPS Systems Make Life Easier For All of Us

admin — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 10:48:55 +0000

GPS – Global Positioning System is a satellite navigation system. First conceived as navigation aid by the military now number of GPS satellites broadcasts accurate timing signals by radio to GPS receivers.GPS provides a set of coordinates which represent the location of the GPS unit with respect to its latitude, longitude and elevation on planet Earth thus allowing them to accurately determine their location anywhere on the earth at anytime. It has become an important tool for map making and land surveying and is also used for very precise time reference needed for scientific research like the study of earthquakes. GPS receivers come in various formats, from devices integrated into cars, to phones to watches.

The GPS satellites broadcast accurate clock information in two forms:

Coarse Acquisition code/C/A-This is used mainly for civilian navigation which broadcast at 1,023 MHz repeating every millisecond. Each satellite sends a distinct C/A code, which allows them to be identified.

Precise code/ P-code- The P-code broadcast at 10.23 MHz, but it repeats only once per week. The P code is first encrypted into the Y-code, or P(Y), which can only be decrypted by units with a valid decryption key.

Applications of GPS:

There are number of fields where GPS has been used such as:

Military

It plays an important role in the military by helping to find precise targeting of military weapons such as missiles and precision guided munitions. It also provides good location awareness thus helping in controlling of forces and command.GPS satellites also carry nuclear detonation detectors.

Navigation

If you are someone who are likely to always get lost while driving then GPS is what you need in your car. It is used as navigation aid in cars, ships and planes. Hikers and trekkers use hand held GPS receivers to find their way. Even visually impaired people use this GPS equipment to guide their way.

Surveying

Construction workers also use GPS receivers for surveying the land to locate boundaries, structures, and survey markers, and for construction of roads.

Geocaching

GPS receivers are also used in recreational activities like geocaching where a hand held GPS receiver is used. Geocachers use this to travel to specific longitude and latitude walking or hiking to natural locations, searching for particular objects hidden by the other geocachers.
Aircraft passengers

Airline passengers can use GPS units in some airlines inside the aircraft except while landing and taking off as they have very little risk of interference. These airlines integrate aircraft tracking into the seat-back television entertainment system, available to all passengers even during takeoff and landing.

Precise time reference

For accurate time GPS is used. In time code generators GPS is used as a reference clock and also when sensors are deployed they are used to provide accurate time for each recording apparatus. Even atomic clocks are set to GPS time.GPS time is counted in days, hours, minutes, and seconds, in the manner that is conventional for most time standards.

Location-based services

Location based services also use GPS to locate all mobile phones. It provides a location solution is dependent more on mobile phones and less on telecommunications network topology. This also helps to provide specific location information to the mobile phone.

The biggest problem faced in GPS is that the atmospheric conditions can change the speed of the GPS signals while passing through the ionosphere. This effect gets minimized when the satellite is directly overhead and becomes greater toward the horizon.

By: Jeffrey Meier

Marine GPS

admin — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 23:23:45 +0000

Marine GPS systems have become most boaters’ best friend. Depending on the reasons you need GPS Navigation, they can make it easy to find your way back to shore in unknown waters, navigate at night, and find large fish or avoid debris. History of Marine GPS: While it wasn’t that long ago that boaters or mariners consulted star charts and latitude/longitude numbers to figure out their way back to land, Marine GPS navigation changed the need for the inaccurate tracking system that some could not figure out. GPS or global positioning systems came into vogue after the launch of satellites that could send a signal of latitude and longitude locations to figure exactly where anything was back on Earth.

This principal has been used in fishing sonars and marine GPS systems, that use anywhere from 12 to 24 satellites to figure out positioning. Why Using Marine GPS Navigation Systems? The answer is simple, it is more accurate, less hassle than previous methods to find out where you are on the open sea or any body of water for that matter. Also, the most important reason is for safety. Not only can it keep you from getting lost, but you can chart ways around tropical storms at sea, or alternate routes, for whatever reason.

The Future of Marine GPS: These GPS systems continue to get more sophisticated, and come in hand-held models, all the way up to marine GPS navigation lap top computers. Depending on the functions you want, you can find a marine GPS that can do whatever you want it to, when it comes to navigation, topography in foreign water bodies, or take it hiking and camping with you, if it is a hand-held portable marine GPS. Some of the larger cruisers and yachts use it to “auto-pilot” a ship, and navigate back to port in the dark of night. Advice On

Buying a Marine GPS: Be sure and research all of the models and functions for the type of Marine GPS navigation you are going to be doing. In other words, certain factors, like whether it will be for river fishing or ocean adventures can determine the model you need and the number of functions. If you are looking for a fish finder, you may not need an expensive Marine GPS system with all kinds of bells and whistles. Commercial fishermen, for example, would need them to not only get them back to shore, avoid the paths of storms, and find fish, but might need alarms for shallow reefs or other alarms where a normal recreational fisherman might not need these features.

Marine GPS navigation systems have gotten to be almost a requirement for all types of water navigation, and finding a marine GPS unit is easy at retailers, but especially online, where the choices are unlimited. As more manufacturers have gotten into the GPS systems, even cell phones are GPS capable now. It’s all a matter of the number of functions you need for what you are going to be doing, when it comes to marine GPS navigation.

By: Alexis Kenne

What is an Car and Truck GPS?

admin — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:07:33 +0000

Do you travel a lot? Have you found yourself wishing you had a better way of finding your end point instead of using old fashion paper maps? If so, then you need an Car and Truck GPS. If you don’t know a lot about these devices, then you should know that they are the most modern way to find your way away. They can tell you exactly how to reach your end point by giving you precise directions. These directions are so advanced that it can even tell you when you need to make a turn and in which direction you are traveling. Choosing an Car and Truck GPS that is right for you will depend on how you plan on using the system.

These navigational systems work by using satellites to find your location and then mapping out a route to your end point. Without pinpointing your current location a new end point cannot be found. The system uses latitude and longitude to determine where you are and then to find the location you programmed as your end point. These systems can give you several routes to the location that you are searching for and it is your choice which one you decide to use. There are several different types of Car and Truck GPSs that you can choose for your vehicle.

There are both cheap and expensive Car and Truck GPSs available. Some of the cheaper models plug into the cigarette lighter of your vehicle and is great for the occasional use. However, these are a little harder to use than some of the other types. If you plan on using your system often, then you may want a bigger one with more features. There are several styles and sizes of these to choose from, so make sure you pick one that is suited for your vehicle. You wouldn’t want to choose a system that makes it uncomfortable when passengers are riding.

Some of these systems feature several different ways for you to find your end point. In other words, you can find a end point by using things like the address of the place you are searching for, a street name or choose a location from the map. These systems can use voice commands to help you find your end point. Many of them will also tell you the location of the nearest airport, bus station, train stations, ATM’s and banks. The Car and Truck GPS is a great asset to any vehicle that can ensure you never get lost or miss a turn again.

By: James Kronefield