Getting To Know GPS Tracking Devices: What’s Inside?

GPS tracking devices are popular. Just as the map was a huge invention a couple of hundred years back, GPS devices are this century's maps! Imagine having the ability to find your location anywhere on earth with just the push of your mouse button? GPS tracking devices give you this fantastic capacity!

GPS tracking devices work by receiving signals from a net of 24 orbiting satellites which were launched by the United States in the 70's, 80's and 90's for mainly military purposes. Like most military technology, it shortly became obvious that GPS devices could have many applications in the civilian world such as maps and trackers.

Like a PC, GPS tracking devices ( and GPS devices generally ) have a central chipset like a processor. This is by a large margin the most significant part within your device as it receives the satellites' information and gives you your position based on it.

GPS satellites transmit on an especially low frequency and are very distant, so you need to make sure that your GPS tracking devices have got a good chipset in order to get a fast 'fix' on the signal and also keep the signal well amongst a large amount of other signals and 'noise.'

There are some good options for chipsets, most distinguished being the SiRFStar III chipset. Here comes the technical part! The SiRFStar III chipset has a feature called 'massively parallel correlators' which essentially allows it to receive very feeble signals well. Since GPS satellites' signals are weak, this feature permits devices powered by the SiRFStar III chipset to locate your position very quickly, faster than others!

Other good options are the Motorola Instant GPS and global locate Chipsets, both of whom have the massively parallel correlators feature.

If you choose GPS tracking devices without this kind of chipset then it can have practical effects on your user experience due to their inability to pick up the GPS satellites' signals well. For example, if you're driving in a city the signals can be influenced by the various large buildings around you or if you're hiking in deep forest or canyon this can occur too. A SiRFStar III chipset or equivalent will stop this or at the very least improve it a lot.

When you are shopping for GPS tracking devices it's critical then to double-check which sort of chipset they have. Then judge whether it will be OK for your purposes. If you use your devices in the town or cover of any type then you'll need a SiRFStar III chipset or similar, but otherwise a different kind should be fine, although may just be a little slower.