GPS Tracking 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 you can make measurements to less than a centimeter!

In a sense it’s like giving every square meter on the globe a unique address.  GPS receivers have become very affordable through miniaturization to just a few integrated circuits.  These days GPS is incorporated 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 GPS tracking, cell phone GPS and cell phone tracker software programs would be more meaningful with a GPS Satellite primer and glossary.

GPS is an acronym for Global Positioning System.   GPS satellites broadcast signals from earth orbit 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 made up of twenty-four  to thirty-two satellites that orbit the earth in medium earth orbit MEO.  These satellites are also known as 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.  GPS satellites are solar powered but have battery reserve for when they are on the dark side of the earth. 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 flying in the correct path.   The satellites last about ten years until all their fuel is exhausted. 

GPS Satellites are not communications satellites.   Geostationary or communications satellites are at a much higher orbit of about 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 equilibrium. 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 geo-synchronous satellites need to move at about 7,000 mph to keep 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 incorporates 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 functioning to specification and the information they send to earth is accurate. 

The GPS User Segment consists of of GPS receivers  taking the shape of cell phones 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 determine location 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 fundamental difference between cell phone GPS Tracking and GPS Navigation.  GPS mobile phone tracking is normally related to someone maintaining records of either real-time or historical handset  position, while Navigation deals with the smartphone  user figuring out how to get from point A to point B.  Neither use works without some sort of third-party software application.

An impressive software package that includes  remote control of cell 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. 

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Global Satellite System Frequently Asked Questions

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. Although the satellites send signals by radio wave, they needs a clear of site to the receiver. Once the GPS satellite slips below, or a building, or even heavy cloud cover, the radio signal may not reach the receiver.  

What do the satellites do?
Each satellite is 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, the GPS can calculate the distance from the satellite.

How do GPS satellites know their location?
The satellites keep position stored inside in calculated tables. But they can get off course over time. To make adjustments, the satellite communicates with fixed reference stations positioned around the world. Each time it touches base with the ground stations, the satellite adjusts its internal position tables.

Does a GPS receiver send information back to the satellite?
No, they don’t do that. GPS equipped mobile phones will transmit information but it isn’t going back to the satellite.

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