What is a GPS locator and how does it work?

Answer 1

GPS: Global Positioning System satellites in space transmit signals to equipment on the ground. GPS receivers receive satellite signals...GPS satellite transmits data that indicates its location and the current time. All GPS satellites synchronize operations so that these repeating signals are transmitted at the same instant. The signals, moving at the speed of light, arrive at a GPS receiver at slightly different times because some satellites are farther away than others.

Answer 2

When people talk about "a GPS," they usually mean a GPS receiver. The Global Positioning System (GPS) is actually a constellation of 27 Earth-orbiting satellites (24 in operation and three extras in case one fails). The U.S. military developed and implemented this satellite network as a military navigation system, but soon opened it up to everybody else.

Also look up WAAS or Wide Area Augmentation System. A sublemental and improved communication system for GPS receivers.

Answer 3

Its a radio receiver and box of electronics that gives you your position in latitude, longitude and height above sea level anywhere on earth. It receives signals from a network of satellites orbiting the earth, containing accurate atomic clocks all set to the same time. It works out your position from the time differences between the clocks at your receiver, which indicates that the radio signal from each satellite has traveled a different distance from the satellite to you than another satellite. The radio signals travel at the speed of light and the time-difference between 2 signals is proportional to the difference in distances to the 2 satellites. It actually needs to receive signals from 4 satellites to fix your position.

Answer 4

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