Suddenly Strong, Many GPS Signals

[jstevens]

"I really can't see how the USB port can have an effect."

The effect is likely from the power supplied by the port. If it's low or noisy I guess it could have an effect. Don't know much about USB ports or the internals of the GPS receivers. Just a guess on my part.

John

[KS_Sailor]

Originally Posted by jstevens

For some reason my little puck GPS receiver is reporting 15-18 satellites in use for a fix with SNR values above 40db. This from the GSV and GSA sentences received from the receiver. i noticed this a few days ago. Previously I was lucky to have 5 satellites in use for the fix with SNR values around 15DB. Nothing, I am aware of, has changed in the interim.

Here is a screen capture of software I wrote which displays the satellites. 10 GPS satellites and 8 Glonass satellites. Never saw this in the past. Anyone else having the same experience or have an explanation.

https://www.screencast.com/t/jZAmR2E8riy

Elon Musk and Space X is launching new communication satellites by the hundreds. Signals are reported to be eight times stronger.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by KS_Sailor

Elon Musk and Space X is launching new communication satellites by the hundreds. Signals are reported to be eight times stronger.

But not GPS satellites.


He is launching Starlink Low Earth Orbit broadband communication satellites. Similar in concept to the existing 03B but much closer to the earth so even less latency compared to traditional telecommunications satellites, but requiring many more satellites(thousands rather than hundreds)

[gamayun]

You know they're gonna have to kill us if you guys figure out what-all's going on up there....

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Chuck Hawley

Interesting comment. I am not sure how the Russians would keep their satellites in the northern latitudes. Are the orbits of the Russian satellites inclined like the GPS orbits are? Are the orbits and placement of the satellites in the orbits such that they only have enough satellites available at certain times of the day?

Just asking.

Chuck

Some future GLONASS satellites will be put into "tundra orbit" -- extremely cool:





https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tundra_orbit


Wonder who dreamed that up. This is like something out of Tsiolkovsky.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Some future GLONASS satellites will be put into "tundra orbit" -- extremely cool:


Attachment 218648


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tundra_orbit


Wonder who dreamed that up. This is like something out of Tsiolkovsky.

Japanese QZSS SBAS satellites uses the same type of orbit. They even show it in their logo:


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quasi-...tellite_System


QZSS uses one geostationary satellite and three satellites in Tundra-type highly inclined, slightly elliptical, geosynchronous orbits. Each orbit is 120° apart from the other two. Because of this inclination, they are not geostationary; they do not remain in the same place in the sky. Instead, their ground traces are asymmetrical figure-8 patterns (analemmas), designed to ensure that one is almost directly overhead (elevation 60° or more) over Japan at all times.

[Trekka]

Why would truckers use gps blockers?

[BluegillBoy]

Some trucking companies track their drivers via GPS systems that auto-report to the dispatcher. Some drivers resent that.

[betwys1]

Originally Posted by ShoreFun

GPS signals are very small signals.
It might be that the change to USB-C Hub is offering power with less interference and so your receiver can hear lower signals.

Basically the previous power source has RF noise getting into the GPS or the proximity to a computer that is generating noise.

What he said!

PCs RasberryPi and arduinos are well known to put up plenty of interference, but if the puck is a decent distance away - then it would be power line interference

[Trekka]

Originally Posted by BluegillBoy

Some trucking companies track their drivers via GPS systems that auto-report to the dispatcher. Some drivers resent that.

I wonder if this why sometimes my routing pgm goes loopy while driving down a highway?

Are these transmitters, jamming?

[Wildcats]

The U.S. government has been launching their version III of GPS satellites since December of 2018. These are three times more accurate and 8 times more "jam proof" likely because of a stronger signal. This may explain the noticeably stronger signal.



I am grateful to the Federal Government and taxpayers for funding this. It certainly makes every boaters life better to know exactly where you are!

[s/v Jedi]

I recommend to read up on Glonass. It achieved global coverage in 1995, then there was lack of funding in the late ‘90s but in 2011 full coverage was restored. That was 9 years ago gentlemen, you need to keep up better
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GLONASS

[Sailorman4009]

China just activated their new network designed for their military. Perhaps.....

[edthec]

It's possible that you are seeing the result of a resicent launch by the USAF of several new GPS satellites to replace aging older ones.

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by jstevens

For some reason my little puck GPS receiver is reporting 15-18 satellites in use for a fix with SNR values above 40db. This from the GSV and GSA sentences received from the receiver. i noticed this a few days ago. Previously I was lucky to have 5 satellites in use for the fix with SNR values around 15DB. Nothing, I am aware of, has changed in the interim.
Here is a screen capture of software I wrote which displays the satellites. 10 GPS satellites and 8 Glonass satellites. Never saw this in the past. Anyone else having the same experience or have an explanation.
https://www.screencast.com/t/jZAmR2E8riy

Prolly your puck was trying to pick the GPS signals out of a deafening roar of L band noise from your old USB hub


And now your new hub, serendipitously, is quieter, at least in the L band



The number of active satellites listed in the GPS almanac hardly ever changes because the full constellation is deployed and the design of the system doesn't allow for additional active satellites. Sometimes they will take one out of service and move a replacement in place but that's not going to change your SNR across the whole constellation.