Welcome to How-GPS-Works.com
You're at the right place for quick & easy answers about GPS. We answer basic questions about how GPS works and point you to other helpful resources on the net.
How does GPS work?
(the really simple answer)
- GPS satellites broadcast the time and data about their location
- a GPS receiver compares signals from at least three or four GPS satellites to determine it's own location
How does a GPS receiver calculate its location?
(the simple answer)
- A GPS receiver figures out how far away it is from each satellite based on how much time it takes a broadcast signal to travel from the satellite to the receiver. (A signal takes more time to reach you if you're farther away.)
- Since the location of each GPS satellite is known, the receiver's location can be determined by "triangulating" the distances from several satellites
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