GPS – How it works and its capabilities

What is GPS?

GPS stands for Global Positioning System. It consists of a worldwide radio-navigation system made up of 24 satellites and ground-based receivers used to “locate” objects on earth.

How does GPS determine the location of an object on earth?

GPS determines location by triangulation. Triangulation is a method of calculating an object’s location by measuring the distance between it and other reference points, such as satellites, which locations are known. Triangulation requires a minimum of three known reference points.

Distance = Speed x Time
Calculating the distance between the radio and three separate satellites allows triangulation of the radio’s location on earth. KorKor radios are located by multiplying the time it takes for the radio signal to travel between a satellite and the radio’s GPS receiver, with the speed of the radio signal (near the speed of light).

How can GPS location errors occur?

Factors such as moisture in the atmosphere, nearby buildings and frequency interference (such as radio, television) can affect the amount of time it takes for a signal to reach the GPS receiver, resulting in an inaccurate location calculation.

How do I ensure my radio gets the best signal?

Ensure the radio’s antenna has a clear view of the sky. Where adequate signals from multiple satellites are not available (usually because the KorKor radio cannot establish a clear view of open sky), the GPS receiver may not work, for example:

• Underground locations.
• Inside buildings, trains, or other covered vehicles.
• Under metal or concrete roofs or structures.
• Near powerful radio or television towers.
• When the GPS antenna is covered or facing the ground.

KorKor is displaying a radio in an emergency status, but I know the emergency status within the radio handset has been reset. Why hasn’t this updated?

Trackor will continue to display a radio in an emergency status until the computer operator clears this emergency status within the application. The necessity of doing so ensures that the operator must manually acknowledge the emergency status of the radio. An emergency status cannot be cleared in tracKor until it is first cleared in the radio handset.

Why isn’t tracKor displaying data updates for my radios?

There could be several causes for this issue:

• Check with your dealer to ensure your radios have been programmed and logged into the tracKor database.
• Proxy servers (firewalls) can sometimes disallow the type of data that tracKor uses to update maps, known as AJAX. If you have a proxy server at your work site, speak with your IT administrator to ensure it allows this type of internet traffic.
• Ensure your radios are in full view of the sky to establish a GPS lock. This may take up to 15 minutes the first time.