Mobile Phone GPS Primer
Before long GPS will become almost as common as the telephone, or more likely included with every mobile phone. GPS can determine locations accurate to a matter of. In fact, incredibly with advanced forms of GPS it is possible to make measurements to less than a centimeter!
It’s just like assigning every square meter on the planet its very own address. GPS receivers have become very affordable as they have been miniaturized 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 popular topic with a lot of interest. A lot of the discussion dealing with GPS tracking, mobile GPS and mobile phone tracker software applications could be helped by a GPS Satellite introduction and glossary.
GPS stands for Global Positioning System. GPS satellites broadcast signals from medium earth orbit that GPS receivers use to estimate three-dimensional location (latitude, longitude, and altitude) plus precise time. The GPS system is composed of 3 main 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 geostationary, but rather move at over 7,000 mph. They are solar powered but have battery reserve 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 flying in the correct path. The satellites last about ten 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 gravitational force and centrifugal forces are canceled and are in equilibrium. This is the ideal location to park 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 maintain position. This is approximately the same speed as GPS satellites, but since geostationary satellites are 10,000 miles further away they don’t move relative to the earth.
The GPS Control Segment includes Master Control Station, an Alternate Master Control Station, and a host of dedicated and shared Ground Antennas and Monitor Stations that work together to ensure the satellites are working correctly and the information they beam down to earth is accurate.
The GPS User Segment includes of GPS receivers taking the shape of devices 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 data 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 cell phone tracking is typically related to a third-party keeping records of either real-time or historical cell phone location, while Navigation deals with the cell phone user determining how to get from point A to point B. Neither use works without some sort of third-party software application.
A really great software package that features remote control of mobile phone settings, and combines Mobile Phone Tracking with SMS text message, Call Log, MMS multi-media message monitoring, and a web account for storage and review is PhoneBeagle.
Follow this link if you are interested in Mobile Monitoring Software compatible with BlackBerry and Android Smartphones, used or Parental Monitoring and Small Business Employee Monitoring .
Global Satellite System Frequently Asked Questions
Why does GPS receiver only work outside?
GPS satellites are positioned in their orbits to be sure that from any location on the globe there are at least four satellites visibile at all times. Although the satellites use radio signals, 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, it can calculate the distance from the satellite.
How do GPS satellites know their location?
The satellites keep location archived internally in calculated tables. But satellites can get off course over time. To make adjustments, the satellite communicates with ground stations positioned around the globe. Whenever it touches base with the ground stations, the satellite adjusts its internal location tables.
Does a GPS receiver transmit information back to the satellite?
No, they don’t do that. GPS equipped mobile phones will send information but not to the satellite.
Visit this link for more information regarding the latest software for Cell Phone Tracking