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Now that the term “GPS” is a part of our everyday vocabulary, some of you may not think twice about what it really means. Perhaps for you the term “GPS” is the same as saying navigation. That is okay because if that’s how this particular technology shows up in your life, then you may not need a precise definition. But just in case you want a little bit of background about how it is that you can use a GPS tracker to keep up with vehicles, parcels, and the people using these things, here are some basics:

The letters “GPS” stand for Global Positioning System. The U.S. Department of Defense owns the system and makes it available for people anywhere in the world to use if they want. It has been fully operational since 1995.

The system consists of satellites that are in orbit more than ten thousand miles about the Earth and each one has a computer atomic clock and a radio. These satellites are spaced out so that no matter where you are on the planet, four of them will be stationed above the horizon.

The GPS receivers we use (such as tracking devices, cell phones, etc.) also have computers. The computers in our receivers triangulate to give data on their position after getting bearings from the GPS satellites about the Earth. Receivers can also give you information on speed and direction. This is why some GPS navigation tools are able to reconfigure directions, even when you get off course.

At first this system was used by scientists for research purposes, but now it is available to consumers for everyday use. Rocky Mountain Tracking has a great selection of GPS navigation and tracking tools to choose from. Now that you understand a little about how it all works, you’ll really appreciate the convenience of the Global Positioning System.