Mobile Spy Phone Glossary

Cell Phone GPS Primer Cell Phone GPS Basics Soon GPS will become almost as basic as the telephone, or more likely included with every phone handset. GPS can determine locations accurate to a matter of. In fact, incredibly with advanced equipment it is possible to make measurements to less than a centimeter! In a sense it’s like giving every square meter on earth its very own address. GPS receivers have become very 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 smartphones. Tracking cell phones is a active topic with a lot of interest. A lot of the discussion dealing with cell tracking, mobile GPS and mobile phone track software applications would be more meaningful with a GPS Satellite primer and glossary. GPS stands for Global Positioning System. GPS satellites broadcast signals from medium earth orbit that GPS receivers use to provide three-dimensional location (latitude, longitude, and altitude) plus precise time. The GPS system is made up 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 at a height of about 12,000 miles. These satellites are also known as as the GPS Constellation, and they make an orbit twice a day. They are not geosynchronous, 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 placed so that 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 runs out. 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 canceled and are in balance. This is the best location to place a stationary satellite. The earth rotates at about 1,000 miles an hour, and because of their high earth orbit the earth-synchronous satellites need to travel at about 7,000 mph to keep position. This is just about the same speed as GPS satellites, but since earth-synchronous satellites are 10,000 miles further away they stay in place 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 send to earth is accurate. The GPS User Segment is composed of 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 function. GPS receivers calculate location by precisely timing the signals sent 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 mobile phone GPS Tracking and GPS Navigation. GPS mobile phone tracking is usually related to a third-party keeping records of either real-time or historical handset position, while Navigation deals with the smartphone user determining how to get from point A to point B. Neither use works without some sort of third-party software program. 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 handheld device or electronic unit mounted on a automobile dashboard or other movable item such as a shipping container, and now particularly common to be found inside cell phones . Abbreviated “GPS” in common use. Global Satellite System FAQ Why does GPS receiver only work outside? GPS satellites are orbiting such that from any location on the globe there are a minimum four satellites in site at any given time. Even though they send signals by radio wave, they needs a clear of site to the receiver. If the GPS satellite drops behind the horizon, or a building, or even heavy cloud cover, the radio signal may not reach the receiver. 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 measuring 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 position 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 world. 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.