I have a question about the 16-channel GPS receivers that are becoming
popular. What, if any, is the practical benefit of having 16 channels?
Are such receivers more accurate or stable in operation? Can anyone
point me to a source of details about the differences in operation?
Best regards Alexander Nikolayev

hamilton wrote:
> I have a question about the 16-channel GPS receivers that are becoming
> popular. What, if any, is the practical benefit of having 16 channels?
> Are such receivers more accurate or stable in operation? Can anyone
> point me to a source of details about the differences in operation?
> Best regards Alexander Nikolayev
>

What 16-channel GPS receivers are becoming popular?

I don't have any specific information. I seem to be seeing them
advertised with greater frequency.

>> What 16-channel GPS receivers are becoming popular?

I did a google search and found a bunch, mostly in bluetooth GPS and
GPS integrated into astronomy telescope. It appears that the latest
chipset can accommodate 16 channels.

>>What, if any, is the practical benefit of having 16 channels?

I guess the more channel the better when it comes to GPS. Right off
the bat, if you have a 12-channel GPS and you use WAAS, two channels
are used for this (Garmin units at least). So you are left with 10
channels to track satellites. In some cases the receiver can see more
than 10 satellites. The ability to see more than 4 satellites needed
for 3D navigation is helpful when one or more satellites (being used)
are blocked by trees and bridges, etc. I'm not sure you'd need 16 but
since it's available on one chip...why not?

Mike R. wrote:
>>>What 16-channel GPS receivers are becoming popular?
>
>
> I did a google search and found a bunch, mostly in bluetooth GPS and
> GPS integrated into astronomy telescope. It appears that the latest
> chipset can accommodate 16 channels.
>
>
>>>What, if any, is the practical benefit of having 16 channels?
>
>
> I guess the more channel the better when it comes to GPS. Right off
> the bat, if you have a 12-channel GPS and you use WAAS, two channels
> are used for this (Garmin units at least). So you are left with 10
> channels to track satellites. In some cases the receiver can see more
> than 10 satellites. The ability to see more than 4 satellites needed
> for 3D navigation is helpful when one or more satellites (being used)
> are blocked by trees and bridges, etc. I'm not sure you'd need 16 but
> since it's available on one chip...why not?
>
In the old days, there were 24 active GPS satellites. Usually half of
them are on the other side of earth so they are useless. So we got a
channel for every visible satellite, that's a total of 12. You mention
WAAS using two channels, that's 14. Then the EU is still developing
Galileo which brings some more satellites in orbit, so in a few years
you might be able to use ~26 channels at the same time. Every used
satellite adds a (every time a bit tinier) bit to accuracy.

--
Hans Fleischmann

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Hans, we are talking about GPS satellites, right? Unless Galileo
satellites are identical...that's not the same. The existing
16-channel GPS can't understand Galileo signals I don't think.