Gps Vehicle Tracking By Fixed Or Moving Satellites

GPS Vehicle Tracking By Fixed Or Moving Satellites

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66-Kelvin Graham-99 Web PR

The basis of realtime tracking of a vehicle s location has relied on being connected to a mobile network. However, reception may be severely inadequate in certain areas, particularly when in a different country, if a company s central server uses a mobile phone network (GSM) to pick up the en-route data.

Today, it is recognised that the most highly efficient system that can be used is GPS vehicle tracking or Satellite Communications, which provides a far wider and responsive geographic reception.

A GPS Vehicle Tracking solution offers transportation managers with comprehensive data which ensures safe, secure and faster on- time delivery services. From SMEs to large scale fleet, utilising commercial vehicle tracking is now an essential management tool.

The GPS (Global Positioning System) was first called the Navstar Global Positioning System, when the concept for an accurate and foolproof satellite system was developed at the Pentagon in 1973. The first GPS satellite was launched in 1978 and by the mid-1990s, 24 orbiting satellites were in full operation, continuously transmitting radio signals.

Continuous tracking of a vehicle s exact location along the delivery route is by an installed GPS receiver sending the data back to a company s operational centre. The GPS receiver locks on to three satellite signals and then calculates latitude, longitude and altitude by measuring the tiny time difference between signal sent and received from all three satellites to accurately plot the exact position.

There are two types of satellites in operation – Geostationary and Non Geostationary – which both have positive and negative effects.

Geostationary

At present there are around 5 or 6 key Geostationary satellites strategically positioned at a fixed height of about 36,000 km above the earth where they rotate at the same speed as the earth rotates around its axis. By remaining stationary above a fixed point on the earth, which is normally directly overhead of the equator, they can repeatedly scan the same points on the earth beneath them.

Polar orbiting satellites scan different areas at relatively infrequent periods, moving rapidly, and have a much lower orbit. Generally, Fleet GPS tracking will lock on to high orbit Geostationary satellites systems and as a consequence, always require a large amount of power.

Furthermore, Geostationary systems are affected by a shadowing effect from stationary objects such as tall buildings or mountain ranges

Non Geostationary

A non-geostationary satellite is not fixed to a position relative to the Earth and is in a low earth orbit. As a result, Vehicle tracking devices who use Non Geostationary networks require far less power although this can also lead to a restricted function.

http://www.cybit.co.uk are the UK’s Leading Supplier of Vehicle Based Telematics Services, GPS Vehicle Tracking, Fleet Tracking, Trailer Tracking with customisable added value application modules, who deliver an extensive portfolio of advanced vehicle tracking solutions to over 2,000 enterprises across a wide-range of industries. UKAS accredited to ISO 9001:2000, Cybit’s dedicated professional services team can provide guidance to legislation compliance, Human Resource Management and Duty of Care best practice.

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GPS Vehicle Tracking By Fixed Or Moving Satellites