GPS Sensitivity

Jaz · 07-20-2005, 08:10 AM

im trying to find a gps reciever thats better than the one i alraedy have.

[Receiver]

- Frequency: L1, 1575.42MHz
- C/A code: 1.023MHz chip rate
- Channels: 12
- Sensitivity: -170dBW

is sensitivity better if its a higher or lower number?

i have an igps at the moment from linitx, but it doesnt like my windscreen (2 other gps recievers ive used worked fine behind windscreen).

Marvin Hlavac · 07-20-2005, 08:40 AM

Hi Jaz,

The most common chip in today’s GPS receivers used for car navigation is the SiRFstarIIe/LP. The tracking sensitivity of the units containing that chip is usually quoted as -172dBW (or sometimes -142dBm).

The best what you can buy these days is a GPS receiver unit containing the newest SiRFstarIII chip which has a tracking sensitivity of -189dBW (or -159dBm).

The tracking sensitivity number is not the only indicator of how a GPS unit performs. SiRFstarIII chip is capable of performing a much grater number of calculations per second than its predecessors.

Jaz · 07-20-2005, 09:21 AM

do they come cheap? to be honest im lookin aroudn the 40-50 quid mark really.

Marvin Hlavac · 07-20-2005, 09:57 AM

If I had to buy something in the $40 - $50 price range today I'd go with one of these: http://tinyurl.com/awn9z , but you seem to already have at least one GPS unit at this moment, so perhaps you could use what you already have.

Jaz · 07-20-2005, 11:03 AM

i think im going to buy one of these....
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...789835719&rd=1

the on i have just doesnt work properly at all!

thanks for your help.