Mobile Spy Phone Glossary

Smartphone GPS Primer Cell Phone GPS Basics Soon GPS will become almost as basic as the telephone, or more likely included with every smartphone. GPS can determine locations accurate to a matter of. In fact, amazingly with advanced forms of GPS it is possible to achieve measurements to better than a centimeter! It’s just like assigning every square meter on the planet its very own address. GPS receivers have become extremely economical through miniaturization to just a few integrated circuits. These days GPS is becoming integrated into cars, boats, planes, construction equipment, movie making gear, farm machinery, laptop computers and especially phone handsets. Tracking mobile phones is a active topic with a lot of interest. A lot of the discussion surrounding cell tracking, cell phone GPS and cell phone track software programs could be helped by a GPS Satellite primer and glossary. GPS is an acronym 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 network is made up of 3 primary segments: Space Segment, Control Segment and User Segment. The GPS Space Segment is comprised of twenty-four to thirty-two satellites that orbit the earth in medium earth orbit MEO. These satellites are referred to as the GPS Constellation, and they are orbiting twice a day. They are not parked over one spot, but rather move at over 7,000 mph. They are solar powered but have battery backup for when they are in the earth’s shadow. 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 properly positioned. The satellites last about ten years until all their fuel is exhausted. GPS Satellites are not communications satellites. Geostationary or communications satellites are parked in space 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 gravitational force and centrifugal forces are offset and are in balance. This is the ideal location to position a communications satellite. The earth rotates at about 1,000 miles an hour, and because of their high earth orbit the geostationary satellites need to travel at about 7,000 mph to maintain position. This is just about the same speed as GPS satellites, but since earth-synchronous satellites are 10,000 miles further away they don’t move relative to the earth. The GPS Control Segment made up 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 working to specification and the information they beam down to earth is accurate. The GPS User Segment incorporates of GPS receivers taking the shape of smartphones 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 sent 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). Keep in mind that there is a basic difference between handset GPS Tracking and GPS Navigation. GPS phone tracking is usually related to someone keeping records of either real-time or historical smartphone position, while Navigation deals with the handset user determining how to get from point A to point B. Neither use works without some sort of third-party software application. Global Satellite System Glossary of basic terminology. GPSThe Global Positioning System consists of 24 GPS satellites, portable GPS receivers, and various ground-based support facilities. GPS receiverThe either a standalone handset device or electronic unit mounted on a vehicle dashboard or other movable item such as a shipping container, and now particularly common to be included with cell phones . Abbreviated “GPS” in common use. Global Satellite System Frequently Asked Questions Why does GPS receiver only work outside? GPS satellites are orbiting such that from any point on the globe there are a minimum four satellites visibile at all times. Although they send signals by radio wave, the signal needs a clear of site to the receiver. If the GPS satellite slips below, or a building, or even heavy cloud cover, the radio signal may be lost. What do the satellites do? The GPS satellites are broadcasting the time. Both the satellite and the GPS receiver use atomic clocks for extreme accuracy. By comparing the difference between the time given by the satellite and the time in the GPS receiver, the GPS can calculate the distance between it and the satellite. How do GPS satellites know their location? The satellites keep location stored internally in calculated tables. But satellites can deviate off course over time. To make adjustments, the satellite communicates with fixed reference stations located around the globe. Whenever it touches base with the ground stations, the satellite adjusts its internal position tables. Does a GPS receiver transmit information back to the satellite? No, they don’t do that. GPS equipped cell phones will transmit data but not to the satellite.