From 128a5bfb2cf3572443f72dcaabf64c13276a885e Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: "Eric S. Raymond" Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2006 14:17:40 +0000 Subject: Update some documentation. --- www/gps-hacking.html | 37 +++++++++++++++++++++---------------- 1 file changed, 21 insertions(+), 16 deletions(-) (limited to 'www/gps-hacking.html') diff --git a/www/gps-hacking.html b/www/gps-hacking.html index bbe8bbab..6372b200 100644 --- a/www/gps-hacking.html +++ b/www/gps-hacking.html @@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ position with respect to an imaginary ellipsoid called the "WGS 84 geoid" which closely fits the mean sea level of Earth.)

There are presently 28 dedicated GPS satellites, 11,000 miles up in -high-inclination orbits so that their trajectory wraps around the +high-inclination orbits so that each one's trajectory wraps around the Earth like a ball of yarn as the planet spins beneath them. The inclinations are tuned to guarantee that about twelve will be visible at any given time from anywhere on Earth (coverage falls off a little @@ -140,8 +140,9 @@ time and 2 meters 50% of the time.

radio signals work at the GPS FAQ; note however that their accuracy estimates are from the Selective -Availability period and expected error has decreased quite a bit -since (the WAAS system they talk about is now generally deployed).

+Availability period and expected error has decreased quite a bit since +(the WAAS system they talk about as a future plan is now generally +deployed).

DGPS, WAAS, and EGNOS

@@ -157,14 +158,15 @@ and adds integrity checks making it possible to detect when the GPS location is totally wrong. Unlike DGPS, your GPS will generally use these systems automatically whenever it can see the satellites.

-

WAAS/EGNOS data starts out as normal DGPS stations observing the errors. -That data gets processed and interpolated into a grid which models -ionospheric and tropospheric delay over the WAAS/EGNOS . The GPSes then -interpolate into that grid to get an estimate of lag for their current -position. For points close to a DGPS station, raw DGPS should give better -accuracy than WAAS/EGNOS. For points far between any reference stations, -WAAS should be more accurate than software arbitrarily choosing one -'nearby' DGPS station or another.

+

WAAS/EGNOS data starts out as normal DGPS stations observing the +errors. That data gets processed and interpolated into a grid which +models ionospheric and tropospheric delay over the WAAS/EGNOS coverage +area. The GPSes then interpolate into that grid to get an estimate of +lag for their current position. For points close to a DGPS station, +raw DGPS should give better accuracy than WAAS/EGNOS. For points far +between any reference stations, WAAS should be more accurate than +software arbitrarily choosing one 'nearby' DGPS station or +another.

The definitive FAQ says this: "On the average, WAAS and DGPS accuracy are virtually the @@ -182,11 +184,6 @@ as the user moves away from the transmitting site."

You're too far away from any DGPS ground stations for the WAAS birds to interpolate a good value for atmospheric display.

- -

How GPS Hardware Talks To Computers

From a software designer's point of view, a GPS sensor is an @@ -396,6 +393,14 @@ the non-technical description

David L. Wilson's GPS Accuracy Web Page
Goes in-depth on accuracy, with the math.
+
Sam's GPS Raw +Data Pages
+
A useful view of some GPS technical arcana from a programmer. +Includes the best short +description I've seen of the GPS Navigation Message as it comes +down from the satellite.
+
GPS interfaces and software
Linux and open-source resources for working with GPSes.
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