How Dependable Is The Accuracy Of Modern GPS Trackers?

Using GPS technology has become a part of our daily life. We use it almost every day- to reach our offices, to ensure our kids have reached school safely, to track our orders, to ensure the elderly in our families are safe, and so on. We trust GPS technology with our loved ones because it is a reliable source of information. It rarely gives us a reason to question its accuracy. A typical GPS provider has a positional accuracy of 5 to 7 meters. This data is correct 95 percent of the time and remains consistent for almost everyone on Earth. 

But what about the other 5 percent? Is there a chance that the GPS could be wrong and provide inaccurate data? Yes, it is possible. The chances of receiving inaccurate data are not much, but there is still a possibility that it may happen. So what causes the tracking to go wrong, and what can you do about it? We will discuss that in the article below. But let’s understand how the GPS works in the first place and what factors impact its performance. 

How does the GPS work? 

The GPS consists of three essential components- satellites, ground stations, and receivers. As stated before, a typical GPS provider offers around 5 to 7 meters. 

Around 32 GPS-supporting satellites are currently in space. These satellites emit signals that allow receivers to determine their location and time. At least four satellites give combined signals to a receiver at all times. The four satellites communicate the latitude, longitude, time, and altitude. These satellites use atomic clocks, which ensure the accuracy of time. These devices also coordinate the information sent by the four satellites. 

The signals sent out by the satellites have data that the receivers use to track locations and make the adjustments required for accurate tracking. The receiver then uses the time difference between the signal reception and broadcast to compute the distance between the receiver and the satellite. The tracking interface (usually an app) intercepts this data. Users use this app to track objects, people, vehicles, etc. It displays location and time in a simplified format. 

Due to its complex nature, the discovery of GPS was a marvel in its time. In the 1970s, GPS was limited to the government and defense officials. As time passed, technology became accessible to all. Today it is used by almost everyone with an internet connection.  

GPS was initially used for military guidance only (for activities like launching missiles) in the past. Today, we use GPS in almost all sectors of the world. Without it, industries like transport and logistics would not be as advanced as they are today. 

Can GPS be wrong? 

A variety of factors can deter GPS signals. These signals are transmitted from space to the ground, leaving room for interference with the process. Some factors that interfere with GPS transmission are listed below. 

Weather Conditions 

This factor is the most natural cause that affects GPS. Weather conditions directly impact a GPS. The signals that come from the satellites go through many layers of air. Calamities such as storms, heavy rains, and snow can potentially hamper the accuracy of your tracker.

The Surrounding Environment 

It’s not just the environment on the ground that will affect the tracker. These signals come a long way and cross a lot of barriers in space as well. This problem affects the signal strength and positioning as well. Many errors can occur in the layers of air. For example, the troposphere sometimes causes radio reflections that distort the signals. Sometimes, the ionosphere (the layer between the exosphere and thermosphere) tends to slow down the process. Humans cannot control such interferences.

Satellite Positioning 

Satellites transmit the data required for GPS systems to function with precision. At every moment, at least four satellites give coordinated signals for a device. They cover the latitude, longitude, time, and altitude. 

If more satellites determine the device’s position, the navigation will be more accurate. Usually, seven to eight satellites give signals to position one object. So, if you have a small number of satellites communicating with your tracker, the results might not be very accurate. 

The distribution of satellites also matters. Having an evenly distributed set of satellites provides more precise results.

On the other hand, if the distribution is random, you might receive mixed signals. It will hamper the precision of your GPS tracker. 

Congestion 

Congested locations also hamper the reliability of a GPS tracker. The population and traffic of a location also affect the precision of this navigation system. Being under an open sky will give you a better connection and accuracy.

 For example, you are less likely to get perfectly accurate signals in a crowded city. But near the countryside or in an open field, you will receive strong GPS signals. City traffic and skylines distort signals, as tracking signals sometimes bounce off buildings. Also, due to the high population, with so many people using GPS- the messages can crash with each other.

It is only in remote areas where you might not have connectivity. A GPS cannot operate without stable internet. 

Family1st 4G LTE GPS Tracker- Accuracy and Benefit 

The Family1st GPS tracker has been consistently rated no.1 on Amazon. It is one of the best trackers in the market with the perfect accuracy and precision- with more than a thousand positive reviews supporting its claim! You can track almost anything with this tracker- your vehicle, kids, spouse, pets, grandparents, golf carts, etc. It is portable and comes with a magnetic case, so you can attach it to any metallic surface and enjoy real-time tracking. 

The quality of service is the most crucial factor of any business. At Family1st, we have dedicated our services to protecting your families. Your family comes first to us. Our accurate GPS technology can support your needs in many ways. Personal tracking is meant to ensure one’s safety and promptly send help when needed. GPS trackers also help elderly family members dependent on others for support. They assist with teenage driving and children with special needs as well. The spectrum of assistance that Family1st offers is extensive. 

For example, your teenage son has just turned 16 and is excited to learn how to drive! Of course, independence is crucial, but as a parent, you will be concerned about your son’s driving habits as a beginner. You also would not want them to go too far at first. So what do you do? 

With our GPS tracker, you can keep an eye on the location of your son from wherever you are. You can also monitor his driving activity- our tracker records behaviors like harsh driving, rough acceleration, or breaking. You will be notified of the same immediately if it occurs. 

And that is not all: What if your pet runs out of the lawn when you are not looking? Pets can be impulsive sometimes; while they need to get their exercise, they might be in danger if they run too far away. With the Family1st GPS tracker, you can eliminate this danger. Not only can you track your pet, but also you can set up geofences. A geofence is a boundary set on an online map. You will get a notification whenever your pet enters or leaves this area. So, as soon as your pet enters a territory marked dangerous by you, you will know. Hence, you can monitor your pet’s safety with this tracker.  

There are so many other situations where a GPS tracker can come in handy. Suppose you are traveling and your luggage gets lost in transit. The airport authorities might take hours or even days to locate it. If you attach our GPS tracker to it, you can take care of this issue. Are you suspecting your spouse of cheating on you? You can easily find out —- track them using our GPS tracker, and you will know if it is true. Of course, this is subject to the federal regulations in your state, and you should check if they permit the same. 

To ensure the safety of those you love and care about, you need a reliable tracker with the best accuracy and customer support. Therefore, the Family1st tracking solution is the best choice for you. 

The Family1st trackers include an app that you can install on your phone. The app has a user-friendly interface- you can use it to keep track of your vehicles, objects, and family members. Our products also come with a lifetime warranty and 24×7 customer support, ensuring that we will always be there for you when you need us! 

Bottomline

Your GPS tracker can be inaccurate sometimes due to technical or other reasons. However such information can cause chaos and panic. So to ensure the safety of your loved ones and assets and to protect your peace of mind, you can follow these steps to improve the accuracy of your GPS tracker. 

• Invest in high-quality hardware.
• Look for a GPS tracker with good battery backup.
• Move to an open space to reduce the impact of the multi-pact error.
• Ensure that your GPS tracker has stable internet connectivity.