Mobile Phone GPS Basics
Soon GPS will become almost as common as the telephone, or more likely included with every mobile phone. GPS can calculate locations accurate to a matter of just a few meters. In fact, amazingly with advanced forms of GPS it is possible to achieve measurements to better than a centimeter!
It’s just like assigning every square meter on earth its very own address. GPS receivers have become extremely economical as they have been miniaturized to just a few integrated circuits. These days GPS is finding its way into cars, boats, planes, construction equipment, movie making gear, farm machinery, laptop computers and especially smartphones.
Tracking mobile 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 track software programs could be helped by a GPS Satellite introduction and glossary.
GPS stands for Global Positioning System. GPS satellites broadcast signals from space that GPS receivers use to provide three-dimensional location (latitude, longitude, and altitude) plus precise time. The GPS network is made up of 3 main segments: Space Segment, Control Segment and User Segment.
The GPS Space Segment includes twenty-four to thirty-two satellites that orbit the earth at a height of about 12,000 miles. These satellites are referred to as the GPS Constellation, and they make an orbit twice a day. They are not parked over one spot, but rather move at over 7,000 mph. They 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 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 force of gravity and centrifugal forces are canceled and are in equilibrium. This is the best 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 travel at about 7,000 mph to maintain position. This is just about the same speed as GPS satellites, but since earth-synchronous satellites are 10,000 miles further away they don’t move relative to the earth.
The GPS Control Segment includes Master Control Station, an Alternate Master Control Station, and a host of dedicated and shared Ground Antennas and Monitor Stations that work together to ensure the satellites are functioning correctly and the information they send to earth is accurate.
The GPS User Segment includes 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 applications that make them work.
GPS receivers calculate 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).
Consider that there is a fundamental difference between handset GPS Tracking and GPS Navigation. GPS phone tracking is usually related to a third-party keeping records of either real-time or historical smartphone position, while Navigation deals with the mobile phone 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 device 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.
Follow this link if you are interested in Mobile Monitoring Software compatible with BlackBerry and Android Smartphones, used or Parental Monitoring and Small Business Employee Monitoring .
Global Satellite System Glossary of basic terms.
GPS consists of 24 GPS satellites, portable GPS receivers, and various ground-based support facilities.
The GPS receiver is typically a standalone handset device or electronic unit mounted on a automobile dashboard or other movable item such as a shipping container, and now particularly common to be included with smartphones . Abbreviated "GPS" in common use.
Visit this link for more information regarding the latest software for GPS Tracking
Tags: cell phone tracking, employee monitoring, GPS tracking, mobile GPS, mobile phone tracker, parental monitoring