Before long GPS will become almost as basic as the telephone, or more likely included with every mobile phone.  GPS can determine locations accurate to a matter of.  In fact, amazingly with advanced forms of GPS you can achieve measurements to less than a centimeter!

It’s just like giving every square meter on earth its very own address.  GPS receivers have become very affordable through miniaturization to just a few integrated circuits.  Nowadays days GPS is finding its way into cars, boats, planes, construction equipment, movie making gear, farm machinery, laptop computers and especially  phone handsets.

Tracking mobile phones is a active topic with a lot of interest.   Much of the discussion surrounding cell tracking, mobile GPS and mobile phone tracker software programs would be more meaningful with a GPS Satellite primer and glossary.

GPS is an acronym for Global Positioning System.   GPS satellites broadcast signals from earth orbit that GPS receivers use to calculate three-dimensional location (latitude, longitude, and altitude) plus precise time.  The GPS system is composed of 3 main segments: Space Segment, Control Segment and User Segment. 

The GPS Space Segment includes twenty-four  to thirty-two satellites that orbit the earth in medium earth orbit MEO.  These satellites are also known as as the GPS Constellation, and they make an orbit twice a day.  They are not parked over one spot, but rather move at over 7,000 mph.  GPS satellites are solar powered but have battery backup for when they are in the earth’s shadow. They are placed so that there are at least 4 satellites ‘visible’ from any point on earth.  Small rocket boosters on each satellite keep them flying in the correct path.   The satellites have a lifetime of about 10 years until all their fuel is exhausted. 

GPS Satellites are not communications satellites.   Geostationary or communications satellites are at a much higher orbit of about 22,300 miles above the equator.  These satellites are used for weather forecasting, satellite TV, satellite radio and most other types of global communications.  At exactly 22,000 miles above the equator, the earth’s force of gravity and centrifugal forces are offset and are in balance. This is the ideal location to position a stationary satellite.   The earth rotates at about 1,000 miles an hour, and because of their high earth orbit the geostationary satellites need to move at about 7,000 mph to keep position.  This is approximately the same speed as GPS satellites, but since communications satellites are 10,000 miles further away they stay in place relative to the earth. 

The GPS Control Segment is comprised of Master Control Station, an Alternate Master Control Station, and a host of dedicated and shared Ground Antennas and Monitor Stations that work together to ensure the satellites are functioning to specification and the data they send to earth is accurate. 

The GPS User Segment made up of of GPS receivers  taking the shape of mobile phones and , laptops, in-car navigation devices and hand-held tracking units along with the people that use them, and the software applications that make them function.  

GPS receivers compute location by precisely timing the signals transmitted by GPS satellites.  This information includes the time the message was transmitted, precise orbital information (the ephemeris), and the general system health and rough orbits of all GPS satellites (the almanac). 

Consider that there is a basic difference between handset GPS Tracking and GPS Navigation.  GPS cell tracking is typically associated with a third-party keeping records of either real-time or historical handset  position, while Navigation deals with the smartphone  user figuring out how to get from point A to point B.  Neither use works without some kind of third-party software application.

A really great software package that features  remote control of cell phone settings, and combines Mobile Phone Tracking  with SMS text message, Call Log,  MMS multi-media message monitoring, and a web account for storage and review is PhoneBeagle. 

Follow this link if you are interested in    Mobile Monitoring Software compatible with BlackBerry  and  Android  Smartphones, used or Parental Monitoring and Small Business Employee Monitoring .

Global Satellite System Glossary of basic terminology.

GPS consists of  24 GPS satellites, portable GPS receivers, and various ground-based support facilities.

The GPS receiver is either a standalone handheld  device or electronic unit mounted on a  automobile dashboard or other movable item such as an ocean freight container, and now particularly common to be found inside  cell phones . Abbreviated “GPS” in common use.

Visit this link for more information regarding the latest software for  Cell Phone Tracking

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