GPS and GLONASS: "Dual-core" location for your phone

Most smartphones provide access to the Global Positioning System (GPS)—a network of 27 satellites used to pinpoint your location. But there's a second network of 24 satellites called GLONASS. Combined access to GPS and GLONASS can improve location accuracy, reliability and speed. Any device with Qualcomm's Snapdragon S2, S3 or S4 processor is capable of accessing both satellite networks. Watch the video to see how it works.
For more information about Snapdragon: http://www.qualcomm.com/snapdragon

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  Science & Technology

[3ucMeHTypA]

глонасс рулит!

[RedostarFirst]

2 meters accuracy, it's very impressing

[Patryk Szymczak]

Note that a few GPS chips providers are working on GLONASS support, e.g. Telit SL869. What is more, Cloud Your Car providing simple tool optimizing fuel economy for international trucks supports GLONASS because it boosts positioning accuracy. While development we found out that with traditional GPS we could have usualy 8-12 satellites on the sky. With GLONASS we see at least 20 (!) satellites that makes obtaining first fix much faster and boosts its general performance.

[dnnswlvs]

Theoretically, you only need 3 satellites to get your location. The principle of GPS is based on finding a point with other 3 reference points in 3D coordinate system using time, distance & reference points.

But since it's difficult to find the precise times and there's a transmitter-receiver time error (or something like time difference), it needs 1 more satellite to fix that time difference error. That's why you need minimal 4 satellites. More satellites only makes the accuracy better.

[Der Ter]

Одна из немногих радостей России.

[NightHawker258]

uhhh cool!

[FilRuss101]

thank you Russia for giving the people of the world 24 more sattelites

[Neojhun]

WRONG, civilian GPS like Trimble Survey Equipment can be under 10cm accurate. Anybody can by them for a few thousand USD. The problem is that they require large pieces of equipment and large antennas to get that kind of accuracy. I got to borrow two sets for a environmental survey I was technical consultant.

[Neojhun]

Altitude is kind of very useful especially aviation, thus need more than 3. I was hiking a mountain, great to see my phone report Altitude live as we walked.

[chasiu75]

I have never been able to get a lock on GLONASS with my LG 4X HD. I can see the satellites there but will never lock. Is there a way to force it to lock on GLONASS? I just want to see it work once.

[Jake TiDe]

3 is enough only to show your position on map without height, to show height you need at least 4 signals. It's math, to calculate exact position on 2 dimensional plane you need at least 3 points of reference, to do the same on 3 dimensional - you need one more. Simple as that ;)