GPS systems offer the most accurate position data to track the exact location of a car, object, or person, but customers frequently question how reliable the location data is. Understanding how a GPS tracker functions are essential to comprehending GPS tracking accuracy.
What Exactly Is GPS?
Three components make up the satellite-based GPS:
- Satellites orbit the earth from locations on or close to the surface. Your trackers receive the signals, analyze them, and give you the required information. At any given time, the GPS gadget can interact with at least four satellites.
- A ground station is a local radio station created for receiving radio waves from celestial radio sources or extra planetary communications with spacecraft.
- The GPS device has a receiver like the one in your phone or car and constantly looks out for transmission from these satellites to determine their proximity.
How Does GPS Operate?
The satellites make two daily orbits around the planet in a precise trajectory. GPS systems can interpret the specific signal and orbital features that the satellites broadcast to find their exact location.
GPS receivers utilize this data and trilateration process to determine a user’s location. By measuring how long it takes to obtain a radio signal, the GPS receiver then calculates the separation between each satellite.
After combining distance measurements from a few more satellites, the receiver can electronically calculate and report a user’s position, helping you to track your driving route, map a course, navigate somewhere, or go on an adventure.
To establish the 2-D position (latitude and longitude) and track movement, a GPS receiver has to lock onto the signal of at least three satellites. If it can identify four or more satellites, the receiver can locate your 3-D position (latitude, longitude, and altitude).
Based on the period of the day and where you are on the globe, a GPS receiver can frequently track eight or more satellites.
What Factors Affect GPS Accuracy?
GPS locates an object by measuring the frequency of radio transmissions. Although GPS is not weather-dependent, accuracy may be significantly affected in places without a clear view of the skies, such as in large towns, beneath bridges, within tunnels, or even far into the woods. The following are some locations where GPS location precision can be unreliable:
- Beneath tall skyscrapers
- Surrounded by trees
- Close to mountainous and valley landforms
- Inside tunnels
- Within parking lots
Sometimes the accuracy is hindered not by the environment but due to some technical issues, such as:
- Radio sabotage or interference
- Significant solar storms
- Coverage lapses caused by satellite moves and maintenance
- Devices with improper designs that do not adhere to the GPS Interface Specifications
Often, the GPS hardware is in perfect working order, but the mapping software is not functional. Users are frequently deceived, for instance, by:
- Erroneously drawn maps
- Businesses with incorrect labels and other places of interest
- Missing communities, structures, and highways
- Erroneously calculated street addresses
How Can I Enhance The Accuracy Of My GPS?
There are a few instances where the cause of your GPS being inaccurate is not due to a technical issue or something huge. It could also be a drained battery or an object covering your tracker. With these steps, you can improve your accuracy with little or no effort –
- High-Quality hardware
Your device will have trouble picking up satellite or cell phone tower signals if it is outdated or does not have adequate GPS reception capabilities. Invest in more recent equipment for more accuracy.
- Battery Options
Any device’s GPS may not function properly if the battery is low. It may interfere with its signal transmission and reception. When using a wireless GPS, check the batteries, and when using a cable GPS, check the connection to the power source.
- Several-path signals
The GPS receiver can become confused when signals from a cell phone or GPS satellites bounce off of structures due to the additional time it takes to get there. You might see abrupt variations in position in certain situations.
To reduce the impact of multipath errors under these conditions, all you can do is move from the place to open areas. Simply put, in these situations, GPS is less accurate.
- GPS signal loss
The pre/post points will be handled like every other two points (even though more time has passed between them) and connected with a straight line if a signal is lost and then subsequently recovered.
- Avoid Radio sabotage or interference
Coverage lapses caused by satellite moves and maintenance. Sometimes a device’s GPS hardware is functional, but the software running on it is malfunctioning.
- Keep your device’s GPS application open
An application frequently ceases actively tracking when it becomes stagnant due to inactivity.
- Conduct thorough research on equipment
Since various devices have distinct GPS chips, be sure to choose the right gadget if GPS is one of the essential tools you’ll need to employ.
For stronger signals, think about connecting to Bluetooth GPS receivers from third parties. It will significantly improve your location data.
You may always reset your device or toggle GPS on and off multiple times. It is frequently helpful. Rebooting the device aids in GPS calibration, which may improve signal reception.
Final Note – Why Do You Need A GPS Tracker?
Once your accurate GPS is up and running, you can perform various tasks with your tech aid.
- Get Direction
Real-time position tracking and quick alerts are two of the most popular applications of GPS. It’s a great resource for fleet management, automotive firms, and explorers. By showing them the optimum path, the Global Positioning System helps them get to their destination safely and on time.
- Preventing Car Theft
An efficient anti-theft tool could be GPS. By keeping it in your car, you can keep an eye on and find your automobile.
- Find Lost Animals
Do you adore animals a lot? If this is the case, you should equip your pet with a tiny GPS tracking device so that, if they go missing, you can quickly find them.
- Watch out for the Elderly
The capability of GPS technology to be utilized to keep an eye on elderly or disabled family members is another benefit. These devices have a tiny button that seniors can press to call for immediate medical aid in an emergency. You will be alerted when your family member pushes the SOS button.
