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A GPS tracking device
helps to detect exact locations on earth. Although it was not just until a few
years ago that people became very familiar with the technology, the global positioning
system has actually been around for quite some time now. The United States government
developed the technology through the Department of Defense.
The first global positioning system satellite was launched in February of 1978.
The innovation was primarily intended for military use. However, President Ronald
Reagan decided to open it for civilian use after a Soviet jet shot down a passenger
aircraft for allegedly entering a restricted portion of its airspace in 1983.
The technology is mainly composed of a constellation of satellites above the
earth and by small receivers or stations on the ground. There are currently
29 satellites orbiting the planet that send and receive data from the ground.
Only 24 are needed to fully cover the globe, though. The other five serve as
backups. They complete 2 sets of rotations everyday.
A GPS receiver tries to look for signals from at least four satellites. The
device then computes its exact location on the ground by determining its distance
from each of the satellites. This method was derived from a mathematical precept
called trilateration.
The global positioning system is extremely accurate. Its precision could be
narrowed down to within 4-20 meters from the object or person that is bearing
the receiver. However, atmospheric conditions sometimes distort the strength
or accuracy of the signals.
Inaccuracies due to weather and other events are easily remedied by Differential
GPS (DGPS). This basically involves a comparison of past recorded data to the
new ones being shown by the signals. During fair conditions, DGPS can further
increase the precision of the signals to just 1-3 meters.
Ther are many options available for when you are looking to buy
a GPS tracking device.
- Laptop
GPS: Attaches to your computer and with special software can turn your computer
into a powerful GPS system.
- Cellular
GPS: More and more this technology is being included with cell phone. Know
where you are and your loved ones.
- Marine
GPS: Never get lost on the big bodies of water again.
- and many more...
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