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Thursday, April 9, 2009

Garmin Nuvi 760 GPS - How Does it Work?

By Selyna D.

One of the most exciting technologies on the market today is Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers, and one of the standout receiver units is the discount Garmin nuvi 760 GPS. The main use for GPS units is to help users identify their precise location on the globe. GPS units can also help locate other points of interest and plot directions between two locations.

The GPS is made up of two elements: 24 GPS satellites orbiting the earth and individual GPS receivers. The signals that travel between the satellites and a receiver enable the receiver to pinpoint its own location, with an accuracy of within fifteen meters on average. While only three satellites are needed to provide a two-dimensional (latitudinal and longitudinal) location, four receivers are needed to generate a three-dimensional location.

The 24 satellites that make up the GPS were originally placed into orbit by the United States government to provide information supporting military operations around the globe. The government opened the system to civilian use (without cost) in the 1980s. Today companies sell a wide variety of GPS receivers that provide navigation. Many models, such as the discount Garmin nuvi 760 GPS, perform many other functions as well.

The satellites that make up the GPS make a complete orbit around the earth twice each day. Each travels a path that has been carefully plotted to enable the system to provide complete global coverage. While they travel, they send signals to the ground. The signals travel via a line of sight. This means that they can pass through things like glass and clouds, but not through solid objects like mountains or buildings.

GPS receivers on the ground are always reading the signals sent by the orbiting satellites. To pinpoint a location, the receiver compares the time it reads a satellite?s signal to the time the satellite sent the signal. Using that information, it can determine how far it is from the satellite. By combining the signals from three or more satellites (triangulation), the receiver can calculate its precise position in relation to the satellites.

Once the group of satellites and the receiver have calculated the receiver's precise location, they can also determine other things helpful to the user. These include the user's distance from their destination, time to destination, speed, and bearing. The discount Garmin nuvi 760 GPS is one receiver that can perform not only these functions, but others as well.

The 24 satellites in the GPS transmit signals 24 hours a day around the world, in weather ranging from clear sunny days to rainy or snowy nights. They operate on solar power and battery backups as they travel their orbits approximately 12,000 miles above the ground. The satellites are kept on track by small booster rockets attached to their exteriors.

There are, however, times when a satellite's signal is not as strong as it could be, making it difficult for the receiver to complete its calculations. One situation in which the signal can be degraded is when it is diverted off of a mountainside or a building. In this case, the signal's travel time to the receiver is affected, which negatively affect the distance calculations. Another situation that can be challenging is when the atomic clocks on the satellites and the less precise clock on the GPS receiver are not in synch. This can also affect the calculations the receiver performs.

The discount Garmin nuvi 760 GPS unit includes twelve channels that can read multiple satellite signals at the same time. This makes the unit highly accurate in pinpointing the user's location. The twelve channels also make it more likely that the receiver can retain signals in difficult environments like forests or cities with tall buildings.

GPS technology is certain to retain its popularity, and perhaps even to gain more popularity in the coming years. As the technology continues to evolve, GPS units will become more advanced as well, and new uses for it will be found. Stay tuned to see what happens next. - 21392

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