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Your receiver must pick up at least 4 to get an accurate 3D lock.
If your receiver can safely assume you are on or near surface of earth it can get a good 2D lock with just 3. This is usually a safe assumption to make, especially with civilian receivers.
Less than 3, all it can do is set its clock.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 7y agoThe US Air Force maintains a minimum of 30 satellites in orbit, 24 of those active with the others in standby mode as spares should any active satellites fail. There will be 12 active satellites above the horizon and thus receivable at any point on the earth.
A GPS receiver needs to receive a minimum of 3 satellites' signals to determine latitude & longitude and a minimum of 4 satellites' signals to determine latitude, longitude & elevation; if more than 4 satellites' signals are received these coordinates can be determined to greater accuracy.
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoAll of the GPS satellites are sending out a signal all the time. In order to
calculate your latitude, longitude, and altitude, your receiver needs to hear
at least four (4) of them. Most receivers are capable of processing the signals
from 12 satellites or more at the same time. The more satellites yours can hear,
the more accurate the calculated position is.
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago-- At the present time (last gasp of 2013), there are 36 satellites in orbit,
operational, and healthy, in the GPS 'constellation'.
-- If your hand-held receiver can see four (4) of them, it can give you
a pretty accurate readout of your latitude and longitude, plus a readout
of your purported elevation.
-- The more satellites your receiver can see, the more accurate the readout is.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago- There are 6 satelites that make up the gps
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoMinimum - 3
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago3
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Do weather satellites take pictures of cloud cover?
Yes, most do.
Why does it take your tomtom gps device so long to get a valid signal?
Because GPS devices operate by using unobstructed signals from satellites, which can take several minutes to acquire.
What causes GPS interference?
GPS units calculate your position by measuring the distance to four satellites. Your GPS receiver does this by knowing the exact pattern that the satellite transmits, allowing you to know how long the signal took to arrive. Since the receiver knows exactly where the satellites are, it can figure out where you are. If the radio signal bounces from something like a mountain or a building, then it will take longer than expected for the signal from the satellite to reach your receiver. The receiver may calculate your position incorrectly.
Which planet has the most eclipses?
Without checking the orbital inclinations of all the known planetary satellites, I'll take a rough guess that it's nominally the planet with the most known satellites, which is Jupiter, with at least 63 satellites presently known. If you want to go to the extreme, you might say that each and every stone in the rings of Saturn can certainly pass through the planet's shadow, causing a 'calcular eclipse', and there are billions of those.
How often do satellites take pictures?
every 6 months, to keep things more updated, it used to be every 12 months. by: Dr. michaelson (retired scientist)
How do you know the shape of the milky way if you are in it?
we send satellites out into space and take pictures with cameras on the satellites
What are the uses of educational satellites?
Mostly to study other planets and to find out about our solar system. They are used to take pictures of planets as well.
Give some reasons why artificial satellites are launched?
Satellites are used for a great many things. Communications satellites beam TV, radio, and telephone signals all around the world. Navigational satellites help people know where they are and get where they are going. Weather satellites take pictures of clouds and storms from above to help make weather forecasts. Spy satellites look down and snoop on other countries. Other satellites help scientists to study Earth and other planets
What measurements are made by weather satellites?
Satellites take satellite pictures of the cloud cover, I don't think any other measurements are taken by satellites. You can do a lot with weather satellites, like looking into hurricanes. Other tools are used to take measurements with to determine the path or strength of a hurricane.
Are there any world maps drawn before Satellites were found?
Yes, it may take time to find on the Internet but at a store you can find one. My civics teacher has one as well!
What is the difference between weather satellites from communications satellites?
Wheather satellites are used to take close pictures of the earth . Communication satellites are used for communication. Ex(in the old days if you sent a letter from Canada to Russia it would take 25 days. Now you write in MSN, it goes to the satellite and to the reciever.)
How long will it take to travel to space?
Who high the satellites
What do satellites do during hurricanes?
Take pictures of the hurricane. Satellites are outside the atmosphere. Hurricanes only affect things in the atmosphere.
Do artificial satellites travel around the moon?
We have used artificial satellites in order to take pictures and study the moon and they did travel around it.
How is find and replace the same?
"find " and "replace" are not the same. -Find is to come upon something, often by accident. Replace is to take something away and put something new in it's place.
What are facts about satellites?
Satellites send information. They can also take pictures of different items. Also, Satellites can help stranded boaters as well. They can also relay signals, which is what makes satellite T.V. possible.
How do satellites get the weather?
Satellites take pictures and accumulate other information into the computer. They analyze the data and send it back to weather stations on earth.
