Best times for GPS use?

[fieldkat]

Hello. Does anybody know where someone can find out the best times to use a GPS receiver. I guess I mean when there'll be a lot of satelites in good positions over a certain area. I think that professional surveyors have some software that determines these times for them. I am looking for either a website where I punch in my location and find the times or maybe some software (cheap/free) where I hook up the GPS and it determines the best times from the almanac/something. Does this make any sense?

 

(Something like Garmin's Hunt/Fish feature, but for satelite reception)

 

...

[umc]

It makes sense what you are asking for but it shouldn't matter. What are you doing that you would need a time better than another. I never have a problem with locking on to sats no matter what time it is.

 

______________________________________________________________________________________

The 'idiot' who should be banned because he likes to spend all day annoying people while drinking beer.

[Kerry.]

There is software that does this but it's generally not free. Don't even need a GPS as updated almanac files (depending on the software) are generally available for download.

 

One is certainly always going to get some sort of satellite signal (we would hope) but the difference between say 3-4 sats and 10 is quite considerable when one considers geometry, reception, accuracy (to a point), obstructive influences and other issues.

 

This is probably one of the more important facets of planning to be in the right place at the right time (to make the most of the available conditions) as certain times of the day (and it can vary from day to day) can/are better than other times.

 

http://www.cqnet.com.au/~user/mattk/gps/gps_plan.htm

 

Cheers, Kerry.

 

I never get lost everybody keeps telling me where to go

 

[This message was edited by Kerry on October 02, 2002 at 02:30 PM.]

[+brdad]

There is a web site that does this too, and it was mentioned here, but I can't seem to find it.

 

Even more surprising, is Markwell does not have it on his FAQs page.

 

BTW Markwell, On your page you have the word "numbers" written as "numers" somewhere. (My day to be the spelling police.)

 

Women are like guns, keep one around long enough and you're going to want to shoot it.

[Couch_Potato]

I'm not sure about satellite position, but in terms of atmospheric interference the best time is early morning before sunrise. The ionosphere gets charged up during the day causing more delay in the signals from the satellites and thus more error in the position calculation. At night the ionosphere discharges and the signals are disturbed less.

 

I'm not lost!

I just don't know where I am.

[+MrGigabyte]

You can obtain positional as well as dilution of precision data from the USN's China Lake web site.

[Rubbertoe]

quote:

---

Originally posted by umc:

It makes sense what you are asking for but it shouldn't matter. What are you doing that you would need a time better than another. I never have a problem with locking on to sats no matter what time it is.

---

In areas where there is heavy tree cover, it would be best to go when you know you'd have the most satellites - therefore a better chance of getting a lock on at least 3 of them.

 

I have a cache that is hidden deep in the woods, and somewhat in a valley compared to the rest of the area - I was very lucky to get 3 or 4 signals on my Vista. It'd be in everyone's best interest if they went when more satellites were available.

 

Click the Toe...  and please stop confusing your opinion with fact, ok?