3 ms·

Will existing devices benefit from the improved accuracy?

• nikcub 15y ago
  Yes, but the receiver clock plays a large part in accuracy (as does software). With the satellites travelling at 14,000km/h, even being accurate to 10^-6 seconds means you can be off by 280-300m. This new series of GPS satellites will have more accurate atomic clocks, and some other changes (such as being upgradable remotely). So I doubt older devices would be a lot more accurate since they still have clocks that are orders of magnitude less accurate than the clocks on the satellites. With these fine measurements, even the smallest delay or inaccurate measurement in software or hardware can make a big difference. There is a better technical description of the new series here: http://www.dailytech.com/First+Block+2F+GPS+Satellite+Launched+Needed+to+Prevent+System+Failure/article18483.htm http://www.dailytech.com/First+Block+2F+GPS+Satellite+Launch... and description and more details about the project straight from Boeing: http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/gps/index.html http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/gps/index.html