GPS:

Global position system has three segments being 1. Space 2. Control 3. User.

The GPS of the USA is the only fully functional and fully available local
navigation system as of date. It consists of 21 + 3 satellites (32 as of date) in six
different orbital planes at an altitude of 20200KM (10900NM) above the eart,
orbiting at 55degrees to the Earth’s spin axis to give the best combination and good
coverage. Each orbit taking 12 hours.

All satellites send their positions and time of transmission on the same
frequency but each sends its own different identification codes at the start of
transmission. Every satellite carries 4 atomic clocks accurate to a nano second.

ALMANAC:

The transmission from every satellite includes the orbit that each satellite is
following and its appropriate position in the orbit. The receiver was the almanac to
calculate where each satellite should be in its orbit so it knows which satellite will
be view and what approximate range and ranges to expect from each one. This
allows faster acquisitions of each satellites signal and selection of the most
appropriate satellite fixing.

EPHEMERES:

The satellite transmits its own exact position and path (spot) from which
ranges must be measured.

CONTROL SEGMENT:

This consists of the master station and other ground station located around
the world Master station does all the calculation and ground stations provide
communication between satellite and the master stations.

The master station with its extremely accurate atomic clock compares each
satellite clock tie with its own. It then transmits all the clocks errors for
retransmission by every satellite.

If any satellite is transmitting false information or is in the wrong orbit the

master station tells every other satellite about the unserviceable satellite. Each
satellite transmits information about its own and every satellites health, clock
correction and ephimeres. So the unserviceability will be retransmitted in that
message.

USER:

The GPS receiver is a simple device with a small screen aerial mounted
under skin of the aircraft, on the deck of the ship and the dash board top in a car.
The computers and other associated software from the rest of the equipment. They
can calculate actual track. Speed, intended to the way points. A receiver which has
no knowledge of the position of the satellite, it must download a full set of almanac
information. Before it can receive navigation information signals from the
satellites. When first switched on the receiver will search for any signals and the
correct frequencies. Once the almanac message is received from any satellite. It is
loaded in its own computer. The receiver selects one satellite who’s signal it
should be able to receive and calculates its range and then looks for signals from
other satellites and so on.

The time can be reduced if the receiver knows its position either from having the
correct information fed by the operator. It can be reduced even more if the almanac
which it used last is still the current almanac, so that it can select the satellites
without waiting for downloading the new almanac.