Which term describes a means of determining a receiver's position on Earth using information from orbiting satellites?

Which term describes a means of determining a receiver's position on Earth using information from orbiting satellites?

• A. Personal area networks (PANs)
• B. Global Positioning System (GPS)
• C. Ad hoc network
• D. Tethering

Answer: (B)

Determining a receiver's position on Earth using information from orbiting satellites is accomplished with the Global Positioning System. GPS works by satellites in orbit continually broadcasting precise time and their own locations. A ground receiver picks up signals from several satellites and measures how long it takes for each signal to arrive. Those time measurements translate into distances to the satellites, and using at least four satellites allows the receiver to solve for its three-dimensional position and its clock error. This satellite-based navigation method is what GPS is, setting it apart from other terms that refer to different technologies: short-range personal area networks, decentralized ad hoc networks, or tethering, none of which inherently use orbiting satellites to determine location.

Determining a receiver's position on Earth using information from orbiting satellites is accomplished with the Global Positioning System. GPS works by satellites in orbit continually broadcasting precise time and their own locations. A ground receiver picks up signals from several satellites and measures how long it takes for each signal to arrive. Those time measurements translate into distances to the satellites, and using at least four satellites allows the receiver to solve for its three-dimensional position and its clock error. This satellite-based navigation method is what GPS is, setting it apart from other terms that refer to different technologies: short-range personal area networks, decentralized ad hoc networks, or tethering, none of which inherently use orbiting satellites to determine location.