INDEX

Basics
What it is used for ?
What it needs to work?
How GPS works
GPS RECEIVER
THE SATELLITE
RADIO SIGNALS (EXTENDED )
TRIANGULATION METHOD (EXTENDED)

Summary
Deterrents to the process
Errors in transmission
SA
DGPS

Basic Information
GPS is used to

find your exact

location on the
world, to help you
navigate.
It is a complex
system developed
by the military for
their use.

What GPS is used

GPS is used in boats
for
for navigational
purposes.
GPS is used in
airplanes for navigation,
and it plots a course for
the plane.
It is also used in cars
for the same purposes.
It is used for hikers in
the woods to give them
their location.

What GPS Needs to

Work
A receiver
Three or four

satellites visible
for the GPS
receiver to use to
collect data
The correct time

How GPS works

The GPS satellites

send radio signals

to the GPS
receivers
The signals are at
1575.42 MHz for
civilian receivers
The radio signals
have information
for the receiver

The GPS Receiver

It determines where

you are, as it works

with the satellites,
providing latitude,
longitude, and altitude.
It receives radio
signals from the
satellites to help get
this information.

The Satellite
System There were 24 satellites in use
at the start which has now
increased to 30+ for the GPS
system, and at least three
spares in case of errors.
They weigh 1 to 2 tons. They
orbit the earth twice a day at an
altitude of about 22,000 feet.
They orbit in geosynchronous
orbits, which means that they
are in the same position above
the Earth at all times.

The Radio
Signals

They are high-

frequency, lowpower signals

transferred between
the satellite and the
receiver.
They relay the
information such as
location to the
receiver, who then
makes a calculation.

What is in the Radio

(1) Pseudorandom
Signals
code, which is the
satellites ID.
(2) Ephermis data,
which shows the
condition and time.
(3) Almanac data,
where the satellite
should be in orbit at
any particular time.

With the Radio

After the receiver gets
Signals
the radio signals from the
satellites, it then
determines where it is
using the principle of
triangulation.
The data from the radio
signals leads the receiver
to a clue where all three
satellites meet. That is
where the triangulation
comes into play.

Triangulation-How GPS
Triangulation is the
works
mathematical principle
that explains how GPS
works.
There are two types of
triangulation: 2-D and
3-D.
GPS uses 3-D
triangulation. 3-D has
the capability to tell
altitude or height, while
2-D doesnt have that
capability.

More about
Triangulation is what
Triangulation
the receiver does after
it gets the signal.
The radio signals give
it the three possible
spherical locations.
Then, with the
triangulation principle
in place, it determines
where you are, your
longitude, latitude and
altitude.

What Triangulation does

for GPS
Say youre 10 miles from

B
C

Satellite A. You are in a

sphere with a radius 10
miles away from satellite A.
If youre 15 miles from
satellite B, then there is
another sphere drawn.
And the same for a third
satellite and its sphere. At
the common point of the
satellites is your location.

Once you get

There should be a
that.
point where all the
spheres meet from the
triangulation principle.
Using the information
from the radio signal
and the triangulation,
the receiver can
determine your location
on Earth with latitude,
longitude, and altitude.

When it finds your

location...
The GPS receiver

knows it is the one on

the Earths surface.
The Earth can act as a
fourth sphere, and this
also helps it find the
location on Earth and
not the one in space.

So in a Nutshell...
The GPS receiver

receives radio signals

from three or more
satellites.
The signal tells you
information from the
three satellites, which
helps the receiver to
find a common point
from where the signals
meet. This is where the
receiver and you are
located.

Deterrents to the
Process
Problems to the radio
signal (There are
several examples).
SA, selective
availability.
Inside buildings.
Problems with the radio
signals can be fixed
with DGPS, though.

Errors in
Method of transmission
Transmission
assumes that it will stay
at a constant speed.
Speed is affected when
the signal travels
through the parts of the
atmosphere.
Problems also occur
when signals bounce off
skyscrapers, which
makes the receiver think
it is in a different place.

SA

SA stands for

Selective
Availability, which is
a weakening of the
GPS satellite
signal.
This was made to
stop military
enemies from using
the highly accurate
and available GPS.

DGPS
Differential GPS (DGPS) help to

correct these problems.

The stations for DGPS are located
in several different places.
DGPS receivers are more accurate
than regular GPS receivers.