How does a GPS tracking device work?

Question

Does it narrow down to the area, like surveillance cameras, to the exact location? Or is it like a road atlas, when it gives you the town the target its being tracked down in? Does it beep when it moves? Can it go out-of-state and even out-of-country? How small is it? I know this is a lot. But this is for research purposes for my novel.

Answer 1

first off all:GPSis A system of satellites, computers, and receivers that is able to determine the latitude and longitude of a receiver on Earth by calculating the time difference for signals from different satellites to reach the receiver.

secondlly there is a larg brand of GPSs for variuos applications e.g:Applications
Military Applications
GPS allows accurate targeting of various military weapons including, cruise missiles and precision-guided munitions, as well as improved command and control of forces through improved locational awareness. The satellites also carry nuclear detonation detectors, which form a major portion of the United States Nuclear Detonation Detection System. Civilian GPS receivers are required to have limits on the velocities and altitudes at which they will report coordinates; this is to prevent them from being used to create improvised missiles. [2]

Navigation

This taxi in Kyoto, equipped with GPS navigation, is an example of how GPS technology can be applied in routine activities. Main article: Automotive navigation system
GPS is used by people around the world as a navigation aid in cars, airplanes, and ships. The system can also be used by computer controlled harvesters, mine trucks and other vehicles. Hand-held GPS receivers can be used by mountain climbers and hikers. Glider pilots use the logged signal to verify their arrival at turnpoints in competitions. Low cost GPS receivers are often combined in a bundle with a PDA, car computer, or vehicle tracking system. GPS equipment is even available for the visually impaired.

Surveying
More costly and precise receivers are used by land surveyors to locate boundaries, structures, and survey markers, and for road construction.

Geocaching

GPS receivers come in a variety of formats, from devices integrated into cars, phones, and watches, to dedicated devices such those shown here from manufacturers Trimble, Garmin and Leica (respectively, left to right).The availability of hand-held GPS receivers for a cost of about $90 and up (as of March 2005) has led to recreational applications including Geocaching. Geocaching involves using a hand-held GPS unit to travel to a specific longitude and latitude to search for objects hidden by other Geocachers. This popular activity often includes walking or hiking to natural locations.

GPS usage by aircraft passengers
Most airlines allow passenger use of GPS units on their flights, except during landing and take-off when other electronic devices are also restricted. Even though inexpensive consumer GPS units have a minimal risk of interference, there is still a potential for interference. Because of this possibility, a few airlines disallow use of hand-held receivers for safety reasons. However, other airlines integrate aircraft tracking into the seat-back television entertainment system, available to all passengers even during takeoff and landing.[3]

Answer 2

GPS is basically a receiver. The transmitter is one of the satellites in space. Navigation software is installed on the GPS unit, so when it tracks/acquires the latitude and longitude, the software locates the area nearby and provides a map that can be used to find directions, etc.

Answer 3

GPS tracking systems used in commercial fleets are often configured to transmit location and telemetry input data at a set update rate or when an event triggers the unit to transmit data. Live GPS Tracking used in commercial fleets, generally refers to systems which update regularly at 1 minute, 2 minute or 5 minute intervals, whilst the ignition status is on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeFmZxsEHbY
Some tracking systems combine timed updates with heading change triggered updates. GPS data pullers are also known as GPS transponders. Contrary to data pushers, that send the position of the devices at regular intervals , these devices are always-on and can be queried as often as required . This technology is not in widespread use, but an example of this kind of device is a computer connected to the Internet and running gpsd.

Answer 4

There are around 30 GPS Satellites in space. The GPS device recievs signals from the ones that it is closest to. Then triangulates your location based on how many satellite signals it is recieving, and signal strength.

Answer 5

Cada vez que he necesitado un GPS para una actividad en especial me lo he comprado de sitios web y siempre he acertado. Cuando decidimos hacer una excursión a la montaña he comprado un GPS especial para esto, la entrega ha sido en el plazo cosa muy buena y el GPS lo he utilizado desde el segundo día, una compra muy buena porque el GPS es de gran ayuda, te enseña exactamente los opciones de camino y puedes visualizar antes el camino que has elegido, una buena compra de un buen producto.

Answer 6

http://gps-navigation.50webs.com

Answer 7

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gps.htm