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.