Why GPS Devices Can Fail

All opinions are mine and mine alone.

Why GPS Devices Can Fail

I regard the GPS as the second-best invention after sliced bread. Most people tend to depend entirely on the GPS device, especially if they are driving to a new place. Other than that, buses monitoring system, for instance, include a GPS tracker to help fleet owners keep track of where their vehicles are at any given time.

However, with the over-reliance on this device, most people have found themselves driving into huge forests or lakes, bringing into question the accuracy of the GPS device stations. Additionally, GPS gadgets have made us forget how to use or read the old-school hardcopy maps.

Nonetheless, due to advanced technology in the 21st century, the benefits of GPS devices outweigh the faults. Here are some significant advantages of GPS devices:

• They help soldiers navigate with ease on hostile land in times of combat.
• They encourage you to explore unknown places without fear of getting lost.
• They enable timely rescues in situations such as natural calamities, floods, and earthquakes.
• They are cheap.

For you to understand why the GPS sometimes fails by giving wrong directions, you first need to know how it functions. How does the GPS work? Well, to find your current position and where you wish to go, the GPS doesn’t give directions on its own. Instead, it relies on a signal transmitted from a network of satellites.

So, what are some of the significant factors that make a GPS device give wrong directions?

Environmental Factors

Factors such as heavy cloud coverage, mountains, and vast forest coverage interfere with signal transmissions between the satellites and the receiver devices. This translates to weak signals or lack of clear signals, making the GPS device unable to identify the location, leading to false directions.

Overlooking Important Information

Despite how much you update your maps, according to research, it was concluded that GPS systems tend to ignore important details, such as the type of road and different speed signs, among other factors, which have resulted in technically accurate but inefficient directions.

Outdated Maps

Using old maps results in wrong directions since roads experience drastic changes in very short periods of time due to development. It is wise to download and update your maps frequently to enable your GPS device to have the most current information.

Bad Weather

Network transmissions between the satellites and the GPS devices may be affected by extreme weather conditions. These variations result in network errors, like the orbital error, which is defined as an error that makes the satellites unable to transmit their positions to the GPS device.

Technology is always bound to fail at one time or the other. As such, it is equally important to arm yourself with a hardcopy map at all times, and especially when you are traveling to new places. This will ensure that you can quickly get yourself out of a sticky situation if your GPS device fails. Equally, if you are going to a foreign place, always note significant landmarks along the road, as they can help you trace your route back in case you get lost.