GPS Flashcards
What the 3 segments of a GPS system?
- Space segment
- Control segment
- User segment
The amount of circular planes that the satellites orbit about?
6 dedicated circular planes
The minimum amount of satellites available to a user anywhere around the world?
6 guaranteed satellites available
The amount of time it takes for one satellite to orbit around earth?
12 hours
What does the control segment consist of?
The Master Control Station(MCS), and a group of five unmanned monitor stations(MS), and on MS co-located with the MCS
What is the purpose of a monitor station(MS)?
A monitor stations is simply a very accurate radio receiver, the function of which is to monitor the satellites within its area, collect range and other data and transmit it to the MCS for processing.
The amount of satellites one MS can monitor?
Up to 11
What is the function of the MCS?
To receive data from the MS’s, the information is used to predict the satellites orbit and timing errors. Corrections are then sent by one of four ground antennas(GA) located at each monitoring station, with the exception of Hawaii and the MCS, and then transmitted to the satellites.
The base principal GPS satellites use for position fixing?
GPS positioning is based on a principle called time of arrival, or TOA, ranging which utilises the transmission of radio signals and the accurate timing of transmission and arrival.
How do GPS obtain a fix using three satellites?
Accurate position fixing is achieved by using three distances from three different satellites. The system is referred to as rho-rho-rho, is based on the position of satellites in predictable orbits.
How does a GPS receiver, and a satellite determined range?
The signal transmitted by each satellite contains the exact time the message is sent and the GPS receiver, containing its own clock, compares the time of arrival of the signal with the time it was sent from the satellite. Since we know the speed of light waves, it’s just a simple matter of converting time to distance.
The initial range obtained using a GPS system is what type of range?
The range obtained will be pseudo range, since the calculation of the distance contains certain errors that must be corrected for later.
What is the circle of distance referred to when range is obtained from one satellite?
A surface of distance
The two frequency names of the continuous satellite transmissions
L1 and L2, in the L-band(UHF)
What is the L1 frequency, and the secondary message frequency?
1575.42 MHz, and 50 Hz.
What is the L2 frequency?
1227.6 MHz.
How is access to the L1 and L2 frequencies controlled?
By modulating the two frequencies with two pseudo-random codes called P (precise) and C/A (course acquisition).
Which L-band frequency is only available for military use?
L2
Does each satellite have its own generated unique P and C/A code?
Yes
The phenomenon, or error, of a satellite not being where it supposed to be is called?
Ephemeris error
Which segment of the GPS system monitors ephemeris error, and transmits the correction to the user segment?
The ground based stations
Ephemeris error information is passed on as?
Ephemerides
How often is clock drift corrected through data signals send to the the satellite as clock bias error?
Twice a day.
What is the clock error referred to on the receiver side?
receiver clock bias error
What what causes receiver clock bias error?
receiver clock bias error is a direct result of the difference in time between the satellite and receiver clocks
How is the difference between the time of the satellite clock and the receiver clock solved, that would allow for the actual position of the GPS be determined?
The difference is calculated by the data processor in the receiver using the pseudo range of a fourth satellite.