Difference between GPS and Satellite Navigation System
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13-09-2020 - |
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Difference between GPS and Satellite Navigation System
GPS
GPS or Global Positioning System is a satellite-based navigation system developed in 1970 by the US Department of Defence for their Army needs. With time, it becomes a worldwide global utility and is used heavily from mobiles to the car system for navigation purposes. GPS has a constellation of 24 artificial satellites orbiting the earth. GPS satellites provide complete world coverage by arranging four satellites in each of the six orbital planes. Each satellite sends a radio signal to GPS receivers which then accurately determine their location as coordinates in terms of longitude, latitude, and altitude.
Satellite Navigation System
Sat Nav or Satellite Navigation System is a generic term describing the use of satellite to provide autonomous geo-spacing positioning. It is based on a wide network of satellites that sends radio signals and lies in medium earth orbits. Sat Nav is also termed as GNSS, Global Navigation Satellite System.
GPS is the most active and is widely used GNSS all over the world. Russian GLONASS, European Galileo and Chinese BDS, Beidou Navigation Satellite Systems are another popular GNSS system.
The following are some of the important differences between GPS and Satellite Navigation systems.
| Sr. No. | Key | GPS | Satellite Navigation System |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Definition | GPS is a satellite-based navigation system. | Sat Nav is a system based on a wide network of artificial satellites. |
| 2 | Process | In GPS, the satellites send radio signals continuously having two carriers. One carrier contains codes and the other contains navigation message. | Satellites send reference information from which navigation, position and timing details can be derived globally. |
| 3 | Maintained By | GPS is maintained by the US Department of Defence. | Sat Nav is autonomous. |
