Gps Receiver

When people talk about a GPS system, they are usually talking about the GPS receiver. The GPS receiver is the part of the whole system that receives the signal that is sent down from the satellites to pinpoint your location and get you to your pre-programmed destination. The receiver is usually mounted on the dashboard of the car or with a suction cup to the windshield. It has a display screen that will show you the route to go and many GPS receivers have voice prompts to get you along the way.

The whole Global Positioning System is a conglomeration of 27 satellites circling the Earth at a constant rate. Twenty four of them are used to receive signals sent out by the GPS receiver and three are used as back-ups in case one of the other ones malfunctions or becomes unusable. The job of the GPS receiver is to locate four or more of these satellites, figure out the distance to each, and use this information to deduce its own location. This operation is based on a simple mathematical principle called trilateration.

Trilateration basically is finding three different points surrounding you and then putting you in the middle of it. There is a bit more to it, but that is the basic principle. When the GPS receiver sends out its signal and hones in on four or more of the GPS satellites, it then looks around you to find these three points and deduces exactly where you are based on those three points.

There are three kinds of GPS receivers. The first kind – as mentioned previously – is the kind that is mounted inside your car. Most of them are easily interchangeable between vehicles because of the suction mount cups that many GPS receivers use. Another type of GPS receiver is a portable hand held device that you can take with you. These are great for use in sporting activities such as hiking, biking, and fishing. The third type of GPS receiver is one that is used for tracking purposes. This type of GPS receiver is usually mounted inside the vehicle either on its under carriage or under the seat.

The way a GPS receiver works is actually a bit more complicated than outlined above, but you get the general idea, we hope. The signal that is sent out from the GPS receiver does so automatically when the unit is powered up and when you program in your intended destination. From there, the rest is gravy!

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