Which is better - GPS or Glonass? Choosing a Glonass or GPS car navigator
Article about GLONASS and GPS systems: characteristics of satellite systems, their features and comparative analysis. At the end of the article there is a video about the principles of operation of GPS and GLONASS.
Now the spheres of influence are divided between the Russian GLONASS, the American GPS (Global Positioning System) and the Chinese BeiDou, which is gradually gaining momentum. The choice of a system for your own car may be determined by patriotic motives, or it may be based on a competent weighing of the advantages and disadvantages of these developments.
Basics of Satellite Communications
The purpose of each satellite system is to determine the exact location of any object. In the context of a car, this task is carried out through a special device that helps establish coordinates on the ground, known as a navigator.
Satellites interacting with a particular navigation system send it personal signals that are different from each other. To clearly determine spatial coordinates, the navigator only needs information from 4 satellites. Thus, this is not a simple automobile gadget, but one of the elements of a complex space positioning mechanism.
As the car moves, the coordinates continuously change. Therefore, the navigation system is designed so that at certain regular intervals it updates the received data and recalculates the distance.
The advantage of modern systems is that they have the ability to remember the satellite layout even when turned off. This significantly increases the efficiency of the device, when there is no need to re-find the satellite’s orbit each time. For motorists who regularly access the navigator, the developers have provided a “hot start” function - the fastest possible connection between the device and the satellite. If you rarely use the navigator, the start will be “cold”, that is, in this case, the connection with the satellite will take longer, taking from 10 to 20 minutes.
Creation of systems
Although the first Earth satellite was a Soviet development, it was the American GPS. Scientists have noticed changes in satellite signals depending on its movement in orbit. Then they thought about a method for calculating not only the coordinates of the satellite itself, but also the earthly objects attached to it.
In 1964, an exclusively military navigation system called TRANZIT went into operation, becoming the world's first development of this level. It facilitated the launch of missiles from submarines, but calculated the accuracy of the location of the object only at a distance of 50 meters. In addition, this object had to remain absolutely motionless.
It became clear that the first and at that time only navigator in the world could not cope with the task of constantly determining coordinates. This was due to the fact that while passing in low orbit, the satellite could send signals to Earth only for an hour.
The next, modernized version appeared 3 years later, along with the new satellite Timation-1 and its brother Timation-2. Together they rose to a higher orbit and merged into a single system called Navstar. It started out as a military development, but then the decision was made to make it publicly available for the needs of the civilian population.
This system is still in operation, with 32 satellites in its arsenal, providing complete coverage of the Earth. Another 8 devices are in reserve for some unforeseen event. Moving at a significant distance from the planet in several orbits, the satellites complete their revolution in almost a day.
Over domestic GLONASS system began to work back in the days of the Union - a powerful power with outstanding scientific minds. The launch of an artificial satellite into orbit launched the design work of the positioning system.
The first Soviet satellite, born in 1967, was supposed to be the only one sufficient to calculate coordinates. But soon a whole system equipped with radio transmitters appeared in space, known to the population as the Cicada, the military called it the Cyclone. Its task was to identify objects in distress, which it did until the advent of GLONASS in 1982.
The Soviet Union was destroyed, the country was in dire straits and could not find reserves to bring the high-tech system to fruition. The entire system included 24 satellites, but due to financial difficulties, almost half of them did not function. Therefore, at that time, in the 90s, GLONASS could not even come close to competing with GPS.
Today, Russian developers intend to catch up and overtake their American colleagues, which already confirms the faster revolution of our satellites around the Earth. Although historically the Russian satellite system has lagged significantly behind the American one, this gap is shrinking from year to year.
Advantages and Disadvantages
At what level are both systems now? Which one should the average person prefer for their everyday tasks?
By and large, many citizens do not care what kind of satellite navigation their equipment uses. They are both available without restrictions or fees to the entire civilian population, including for use in cars. If we look from a technical point of view, the Swedish satellite company has officially announced the merits of GLONASS, which operates much better in northern latitudes.
GPS satellites practically do not appear north of the 55th parallel, and in the southern hemisphere, accordingly, further south. Whereas, with an inclination angle of 65 degrees and an altitude of 19.4 thousand km, GLONASS satellites deliver excellent, stable signals to Moscow, Norway and Sweden, which is so appreciated by foreign experts.
Although both systems have a large number of satellites in all orbital planes, other experts still give the palm to GPS. Even with an active program to improve the Russian system, the Americans currently have 27 satellites versus 24 Russian ones, which gives greater clarity to their signals.
The reliability of GLONASS signals is 2.8 m compared to 1.8 m for GPS. However, this figure is quite average, because satellites can be lined up in orbit in such a way that the error rate increases several times. Moreover, such a situation can befall both satellite systems.
For this reason, manufacturers are trying to equip their devices with dual-system navigation that receives signals from both GPS and GLONASS.
An important role is played by the quality of ground equipment that receives and decrypts the received data.
If we talk about the identified shortcomings of both navigation systems, they can be distributed as follows:
GLONASS:
- changing celestial coordinates (ephemerides) leads to inaccuracy in determining coordinates, reaching 30 meters;
- fairly frequent, albeit short-term, interruption of the signal;
- tangible influence of relief features on the clarity of the obtained data.
- receiving an erroneous signal due to multipath interference and atmospheric instability;
- a significant difference between the civilian version of the system, which has too limited capabilities compared to military development.
Two-system
In total, more than five dozen satellites of both world powers are constantly spinning in orbit. As already mentioned, to obtain reliable coordinates, a good “view” of 4 satellites is sufficient. On flat ground, in the steppe or in a field, any receiver will be able to simultaneously detect up to a dozen signals, while in a forest or mountainous area the connection quickly disappears.
Thus, the design goal is for each receiving device to be able to communicate with as many satellites as possible. This again returns to the idea of combining GLONASS and GPS, which is already practiced in America for rescue services. No matter how the relations between states develop, human life comes first, and a dual-system chip will determine the location of a person in trouble with greater speed and clarity.
Such a synthesis will also save motorists from the inability to find their way in unfamiliar areas due to the fact that the navigator is too slow to establish a connection and takes too long to process information. The reason for this is the loss of a satellite due to banal interference: a tall building, an overpass, or even a large truck in the neighborhood. But if the car navigator is equipped with a dual-system chip, the likelihood of it freezing will be significantly reduced.
When this practice becomes widespread, the navigator will not care about the country of origin of the system, because it will be able to simultaneously track up to 40 satellites, giving a fantastically accurate location determination.
Video about the principles of operation of GPS and GLONASS:
Now many of us cannot imagine our lives without any devices that were born with the help of the latest technologies. A striking example is all kinds of gadgets designed to calculate location. They can be anti-theft devices, portable navigators or even entire tracking systems. They all have a number of features and differ from each other in their set of functions.
But the most important difference, which a potential buyer most often pays attention to, is the accuracy of determining the location coordinates.
All devices of this type can be divided into three groups depending on the technology that is used in their operation - GPS, GPRS and GLONASS. Each type of device has a number of advantages and disadvantages.
For quite a long time, there have been disputes between fans of satellite systems. Some believe that the Russian GLONASS system is the height of perfection, while others are confident that at the moment there is no technology that can compete with GPS. Is this true?
To give the correct answer to this question, it is necessary to delve a little deeper into history. The technology for determining location using satellites is the Doppler effect, which is known to every person from a high school physics course. The bottom line is that the frequency of a satellite's signal depends on the distance at which it is located from the Earth.
Do not forget that the GLONASS system is much younger than GPS. This is confirmed by historical dates. At the time of the launch of the first navigation system, there was an eight-year gap between GPS and GLONASS. However, our scientists and engineers have done a tremendous amount of work, so currently both systems are direct competitors. At the moment, the error in determining the location coordinates of Glonass is slightly greater than that of GPS. However, representatives of the domestic company promise that by 2020 they will be able to catch up and overtake GPS in many respects.
What is the difference between GPS and GLONASS?
Devices operating using the GPS system are very picky about the presence of active satellites. To determine the coordinates as accurately as possible, the device must pick up signals from six to eleven. But for the Glonass navigator, it is enough to have six or seven active satellites to determine the location with the same error.
What is more accurate: GLONASS or GPS? Don’t forget about those devices that have both systems on board. Their performance is one of the best. Such “double” devices cost a little more than regular ones, so to increase efficiency it is best to purchase them.
What is the difference between GPS and GPRS? There is another technology that makes it possible to determine location. It is called GPRS. This abbreviation is well known to all mobile Internet users, because until recently it was with its help that access to the World Wide Web was achieved.
The main difference between these two systems is that GPS receives signals from satellites, and GPRS uses Internet access. That is why beacons that use only GPRS technology for detection often provide data with a large error. It is also worth noting that such tracking systems are imperfect, as they often end up in coverage areas.
For increased safety, use GPS. Its cost is not very different, but the level of efficiency is an order of magnitude higher. gprs technology has taken root very well in GLONASS GPS systems. That is, the device receives location data using three technologies at once, which significantly reduces the error.
Materials from the site. When copying text, an active link is required.
So the GLONASS network has covered the world. But we are most interested in mobile devices for this network and navigators with communicators. Let's look at a little bit of what we have managed to finish up in domestic production today. There are already quite a few industrial and military devices that support GLONASS. There are many commercial devices available for free sale. Moreover, both domestic production and imported. The most famous domestic navigators with GLONASS are GLOSPACE SGK-70:
Works with all satellite navigation systems - (SNS) GLONASS (RF), GPS (USA), Galileo (European Union).
Presented to your attention car Glonass navigators— navigation devices operating in the Russian global navigation system (GLONASS). Not long ago, it seemed extremely difficult to buy a Glonass navigator - the high cost and considerable dimensions of the devices, the lack of a decent assortment. And the very accuracy and reliability of the system caused mixed reviews. But now the situation is noticeably changing for the better, positive trends in the development of the domestic navigation system are obvious. Popular and reliable manufacturers, leaders of the Russian navigation market, are picking up the baton and expanding their product range Glonass GPS navigators- modern devices equipped with dual-system receivers.
The following Glonass/GPS navigator models are discussed below:
Garmin Nuvi 2595LT
Lexand SG-615 HD
Lexand SG-615 HD
Navitel A735
Oysters Chrome 5500 3G
Shturmann Link 500GL
Price: 19782 rub.
Glonass/GPS navigator Garmin Nuvi 2595LT– a modern luxury ultra-thin car navigator, featuring a dual-system receiver and a wide range of functions. The five-inch touch display is made using “edgeless” technology: it is flush with the surface of the device body. Having dual orientation, the navigator screen is characterized by high sensitivity and a resolution of 480 x 272 pixels.
The intuitive Garmin Guidence 2.0 navigation platform provides faster rendering of maps and routes, an intuitive interface and easy search for addresses and POIs. The navigator can be controlled both by light touches and by voice commands. Innovative voice recognition technology allows you to control the main menu items, adjust the volume of prompts, set the navigation address, etc., without taking your hands off the wheel. Detailed voice navigation includes street names and advance directions for upcoming maneuvers.
The Glonass/GPS navigator Nuvi 2595LT comes with pre-installed maps of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, which allows the device to build end-to-end routes. Freely updated maps are distinguished by detail, an extensive database of POI points of interest (cafes, shops, restaurants, hotels, museums, etc.), data on radars and security cameras. The navigation page also includes information about the speed limit, photorealistic display of complex road junctions in 3D format (appears when approaching a difficult section in split-screen mode), an indicator of the recommended lane - from now on, orientation in complex junctions and exits is not difficult.
The built-in memory of the device can be easily expanded using microSD memory cards. Thanks to this, you can complement the device with detailed cityXplorer maps, additional voices, car icons or media files.
The navigator is supplied with a traffic receiver with a car power cable. This element allows you to receive information about traffic conditions. Special traffic icons are integrated with previously collected and analyzed information about street congestion along the route (TrafficTrends function). This combination allows the device to predict traffic congestion with a high degree of probability and plot a route around areas with difficult traffic.
Specifications
Screen size and resolution 5 inches (12.7 cm), 480 x 272 pixels
Screen type touch WQVGA color TFT with white backlight, Multi-touch, dual screen orientation
Receiver type GLONASS-GPS highly sensitive
Internal memory, microSD slot
Power supply Li-Ion built-in battery
Battery life up to 2.5 hours
Connectors USB 2.0 port, line-in
Bluetooth communications
Viewing JPEG images
Playing audiobooks
Features: Dual Receiver, Dual Orientation Screen, Voice Control, Line Assist, 3D Split Screen Interchange, TrafficTrends Feature
Device dimensions 13.7 x 8.3 x 1.5 cm
Weight 192 g
Navigation system City Navigator Russia 2014.40 - Navicom (Roads of Russia 5.32) with maps of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Abkhazia
Functions
Speech recognition – voice control of the main functions of the navigation device (select menu, volume level, set a new address or select from favorites)
Lane assist – recommended lane
Loading additional voices
Search taking into account the domestic specifics of addressing (building, property, structure)
Large database of POI addresses (gas stations, metro stations, restaurants, shops, hospitals, hotels, traffic police posts, etc.) with the ability to add
Save up to 1000 waypoints, favorites or locations
Saving up to 100 routes
TrafficTrends technology - the navigator remembers street congestion while driving and uses this information in the future
Junction view – road junctions in three-dimensional photorealistic display
Early indication and audible warning of speed limit areas, radars, speed bumps, etc.
Speed limit indicator
Route Planner – Automatically sort multiple destinations (getting the most direct route)
Possibility of excluding highways, toll roads, dirt roads, etc. from the route.
Selecting a route calculation criterion (minimum time or mileage, straight route not on roads);
EcoRoute – calculation of the optimal route in terms of fuel consumption
"Where am I?" feature (Were Am I?) – setting coordinates and searching for the nearest hospitals, traffic police posts, gas stations, hotels, shops, etc., addresses and intersections
Construction of end-to-end routes between Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, as well as, if there is an additional map of Europe or Asia, across the border
Bluetooth function – the ability to talk on a mobile phone without stopping driving – hands-free
Photo navigation – download your favorite photos from Google Panoramio and plot a route to the place where they were taken
Garmin Locate – the device remembers the parking spot and leads the way to the car
Garmin Garage - customizable car icons for marking on the map
Select mode for car, pedestrian, bicycle, etc. with the ability to use the navigator not only on roads, but also when walking
Audiobook player
QWERTY or ABC keyboard (keyboard selection) – the ability to switch the keyboard: ABC alphabet or QWERTY computer layout
World clock (automatic time zone change), currency and measurement conversion, calculator
Equipment
Car Glonass/GPS navigator Garmin Nuvi 2595LT (art. 010-01002-50)
Preloaded CityNavigator NT maps with the possibility of free updating on the manufacturer’s website
Digital 3D traffic receiver with car power cable and the ability to receive information for free
Quick release car stand with suction cup
USB cable for connecting to a computer
Brief instructions
Warranty card for 24 months
Price: 3750.
Description
Car navigator Lexand SG-615 HD equipped with a new Mstar 500Mhz processor with the WinCE 6.0 operating system, which allows you to receive information from both GPS and GLONASS satellites. The device has a large 5-inch anti-glare HD screen. The licensed navigation system Navitel 5.0 with maps of all of Russia is loaded onto the internal memory of the device (2 Gb). There is a slot for microSD memory cards up to 16 Gb, from which you can play multimedia files or install any other navigation systems. The “Navigation Path” button greatly simplifies changing cartography, and the convenient menu and clear interface of the Lexand SG-615 HD are easy to understand even for a novice user. The navigator has a metal (aluminum) edging, which gives an elegant and stylish look and is a fashionable addition to the car interior. Among the multimedia features, we note the FM transmitter.
Specifications
Screen size and resolution 5 inches, HD 800 x 480 pixels
Screen type “without edges” TFT, touch with anti-glare coating
Receiver type Glonass/GPS MStar MSB2521
Processor ARM9 500Mhz
Operating system Microsoft Windows CE.net 6.0
Memory 128 Mb, 4 Gb, slot for microSD memory card (up to 16 Gb).
Power Li-Ion built-in battery 950 mAh
Battery life up to 3 hours
Connectors USB 2.0 port, 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack
Communications FM Transmitter
View images in JPG, GIF, BMP, PNG format
Reading books in TXT format
Playing music files in WMA, MP3 format
Video player in MPEG-1, MPEG-4, AVI, WMV, ASF, 3GP, DivX format
Features dual-system receiver, metal screen edge
Dimensions 13.5 x 8.5 x 1.25 cm
Weight 180 g
Navitel 5.0 navigation system with a map of Russia
Functions
Automatic routing/rerouting
Voice prompts (multiple voice packs)
Estimated arrival time, display of travel time and speed
Search taking into account the domestic specifics of addressing (buildings, possessions, buildings)
Database of more than 400,000 points of interest POI (gas stations, metro stations, restaurants, shops, hospitals, hotels, traffic police posts, etc.)
Map display in 2D/3D format
Road junctions and landmarks in 3D
Service Navitel. SMS – sending and receiving SMS with the coordinates of the current location
Service Navitel. Weather – free weather forecast service
Advance warning of areas with installed speed control system (SpeedCam), radars and speed bumps
Launch any navigation programs (Navigation path button)
The FM transmitter allows you to play audio recordings and voice navigation prompts in the car through the car's audio system via an FM channel
Equipment
Car Glonass/GPS navigator Lexand SG-615 HD;
Preloaded navigation software;
Device user manual;
Navigation software user manual;
USB cable for connecting to a computer;
Car charger 12V;
Carrying case;
Car holder;
Warranty card for 12 months.
Price: 4699 rub.
Description
The Lexand SG-615 PRO HD car navigator is equipped with a dual-system Mstar MSB2521 processor running the Microsoft Windows CE 6.0 operating system, which allows the device to receive satellite signals from both GPS and Glonass. The large five-inch anti-glare screen of the device is made using “sideless” technology, flush with the body. The navigator's capabilities are complemented by mobile phone functions (including sending SMS) and the ability to receive information about traffic jams via GPRS channel (Beeline SIM card is included in the delivery package). Information about the condition of the roads is taken into account when laying and re-routing the route.
The internal memory of the device (4 GB) is pre-installed with a licensed navigation system Navitel 5 with maps of Russia with the possibility of free updating. In addition, the SG-615 PRO HD model supports the Cityguide and PROGOROD navigation packages. For ease of control, the menu has a “Navigation Path” button, with which you can easily launch any navigation program.
A wide range of multimedia capabilities allows you to play music, text files, images and video tracks. An FM transmitter allows you to output sound to your car's audio system.
Specifications
Screen size and resolution 5 inches (12.7 cm), HD 800x480 pixels
Screen type LCD-color, “without edges” TFT, touchscreen with anti-glare coating and backlight
Receiver type GLONASS/GPS Mstar MSB2521
Processor ARM9 500 Mhz
Operating system Microsoft Windows CE 6.0
Memory 128 Mb, 4 Gb, microSD memory card slot (up to 16 Gb)
Power supply Li-Ion built-in battery
Battery life up to 2 hours
Connectors USB 2.0 port, headphone/line-in
Communications FM Transmitter
View images in JPG, BMP, PNG, GIF format
Playing music files in MP3, WMA format
Reading books in TXT format
Video player in AVI, ASF, WMV, ASV, DAT, MPEG, MPG, MOV, RM, RMVB format
Features Dual system receiver, 13mm slim body, mobile phone functions
Dimensions 13.2 x 8.4 x 1.3 cm
Weight 180 g.
Navitel 5 navigation system with pre-installed maps of Russia
Functions
Downloading information about traffic jams from the Navitel.Traffic online service via GPRS (Beeline SIM card included)
Automatic routing/rerouting (taking into account traffic jams)
Launch any navigation programs using the “Navigation path” button
Search taking into account domestic specifics of addressing
Free map updates
Database of POI points of interest (metro stations, gas stations, restaurants, hospitals, shops, hotels, traffic police posts, etc.)
Displaying maps in 2D/3D format
Road junctions, highways, POIs in 3D mode
Navitel.SMS service – sending and receiving SMS with the coordinates of the current location
Service Navitel.Weather - free weather forecast service
Advance warning of areas with installed speed control systems (SpeedCam), radars and speed bumps
Possibility of connecting the Cityguide 7 package with maps of high detail and positioning accuracy
Possibility of connecting to the PROGOROD package with a unique voice prompt system and free map updates
Mobile phone functions with the ability to send SMS messages
Built-in Internet browser
FM transmitter – audio output to the car audio system
Hands-Free mode, built-in speaker and microphone - the ability to talk on the phone without stopping driving
Multimedia: audio player, video player, text viewer, image viewer, games, utilities
Equipment
Car GPS/Glonass navigator Lexand SG-615 PRO HD
Pre-installed navigation software "Navitel Navigator 5"
Preloaded maps of Russia
Car holder for car glass
Car charger in cigarette lighter
USB cable
License card for navigation software
Device user manual in Russian
Navigation software user manual in Russian
AC charger 220V
Case
Stylus
Beeline SIM card
Warranty card for 12 months
Price: 8490 rub.
Description
The Navitel A735 navigator is the latest multifunctional dual-system navigator, working both in the Glonass system and in the GPS system. The second feature is two cameras, one front and one rear - the device can be used as a video recorder. The third important feature of the model is the built-in 3G module - with its help you can go online, download games and applications, and download current information about traffic jams. The navigator has an INTEL SOFIA 3G-R Quad Atom Cores processor with a frequency of 1.0 GHz and a capacitive multi-touch sensor (up to five points) with a diameter of 7.0 inches of IPS standard with a resolution of 1024 × 600 pixels. The device has the ability to listen to music, view photos and videos, Bluetooth, an FM transmitter and a slot for two SIM cards.
Specifications
Screen size and resolution 7 inches, 1024 x 600 pixels IPS
Screen type LCD-color, capacitive multi-touch sensor (up to five points)
Receiver type 64 channel highly sensitive GLONASS/GPS chip
Processor INTEL SOFIA 3G-R Quad Atom Cores 1.0 GHz
Operating system Android 5.1.1
Memory 1 Gb, 8 Gb, microSD memory card slot (up to 32 Gb)
Power supply: 2800 mAh battery
Connectors USB 2.0 port, 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack
Communications Internet access via built-in 3G WCDMA 900\1800 MHz or Wi-Fi module
View images in JPG, GIF, BMP, PNG format
Reading books in TXT format
Playing music files in WMA9, MP3, WAV, LRC format
Video player in WMV9, MPEG4, Divx 5.0, 4.0, 3.11, Xvid, MPEG2, AVI, ASF, WMV format
Device dimensions 18.8 x 10.8 x 0.9 cm
Weight 300 g
Features dual-system system, Android 5.1.1, Internet access via built-in 3G module, front camera 0.3 MP, rear camera 2.0 MP, Bluetooth, slot for two SIM cards
Navigation system Navitel Navigator 9.6 with maps of Russia, Ukraine, the Republic of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Finland, the Baltic States, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Poland
Functions
Automatic routing/rerouting taking into account traffic jam avoidance
Voice prompts (multiple voice packs)
Estimated arrival time, display of travel time and speed
Search taking into account the domestic specifics of addressing (buildings, possessions, buildings)
Database of more than 400,000 points of interest POI (gas stations, metro stations, restaurants, shops, hospitals, hotels, traffic police posts, etc.)
Map display in 2D/3D format
Road junctions and landmarks in 3D
Service Navitel. SMS – sending and receiving SMS with the coordinates of the current location
Service Navitel. Weather – free weather forecast service
Advance warning of areas with installed speed control system (SpeedCam), radars and speed bumps
Possibility of expansion and addition with maps of other countries
Viewing videos, images, text documents
Pedestrian, truck, taxi mode
Internet browser Opera
Android App Store Google Play
Hands-free function
Equipment
Car Glonass/GPS navigator Navitel A735
Car holder for car panel and windshield;
Preloaded navigation software;
Device user manual;
USB cable for connecting to a computer;
Car charger 12V;
Warranty card for 12 months.
Price: 5990 rub.
Description
The Oysters Chrom 5500 navigator has a modern, advanced dual-system processor with a clock frequency of 1.2 GHz, which allows it to work in GPS and Glonass simultaneously. The capacitive screen has an optimal five-inch size and high resolution (800 x 480 pixels). The screen is made using edgeless technology and is housed in a stylish, strict case, the thickness of which barely exceeds 1 cm. The navigator is controlled by the Android operating system and, therefore, applications and utilities from the Android Market are available to it.
If you additionally purchase a special adapter for USB devices, you can connect a 3G modem, external Flash drives and any HID devices to the navigator. USB-Host can significantly expand the list of navigator capabilities, such as the ability to uninterruptedly receive up-to-date information about traffic jams, access to You-Tube and other online services, memory expansion for playing multimedia or other files, and many others. In addition, the ability to connect a 3G modem is complemented by a built-in Wi-Fi router.
The navigation functions of the device are based on the Navitel 5.1 system. Pre-installed detailed maps of Russia, Europe, Asia and Latin America are filled with a rich library of POIs and can be updated for free. Display of the recommended lane, voice prompts including street names, display of junctions in 3D format, extensive multimedia capabilities and much more can make traveling in a car comfortable and enjoyable.
Specifications
Screen size and resolution 5 inches (12.7 cm), 800 x 480 pixels
Screen type TFT LCD - color capacitive with backlight
Receiver type: built-in highly sensitive Glonass/GPS Rockchip 2918
Processor Rockchip 2918 1200 MHz
Operating system Android 2.3
Memory 512 MB, 4 GB, microSD memory card slot up to 16 GB
Power Li-Pol built-in battery
Battery life up to 4 hours.
Connectors MiniUSB port, headphone/line input, adapter for USB devices
View images in JPG, JPER, GIF, BMP, PNG formats
Playing music files in MP3, WAV, MIDI, WMA format
Video player in AVI, MKV, RM, RMVB, MP4, MOV, VOB, DAT, FLV, 3GP format
Reading books in TXT format
Features dual-system receiver, adapter for USB devices, On-line traffic jam detection, work on Android OS, multimedia player
Device dimensions 13.1 x 8.4 x 1.05 cm
Weight 130 g
Navitel 5.1 navigation system with pre-installed maps of Russia, Europe, Asia and Latin America
Functions
Automatic routing/rerouting
Quick route planning
Choosing a route - several alternative options
Voice prompts announcing street names
Estimated arrival time, display of travel time and speed
Database of POI points of interest (metro stations, gas stations, restaurants, hospitals, shops, hotels, traffic police posts, etc.) with the ability to add
Search taking into account Russian addressing specifics
Free map updates
FM transmitter – audio output to the car audio system
Displaying maps in 2D/3D format
Road junctions, highways, POIs in 3D mode
Indicating the recommended driving lane
Navitel.SMS service – sending and receiving SMS with the coordinates of the current location
Service Navitel.Weather - free weather forecast service
Service "Navitel.Traffic" - its own service for determining traffic conditions on-line
The Navitel.Events service is a free interactive service that allows users to mark and see on the map of the navigation device other users’ marks about various events (accidents, road works, speed cameras and other warnings)
Possibility of connecting the Cityguide package with maps of high detail and positioning accuracy
Advance warning of areas with installed speed control systems (SpeedCam), radars and speed bumps
Possibility of voice search (when connected to the Internet)
Built-in Wi-Fi module
USB-Host – function of connecting an external USB device
Built-in G-sensor
USB OTG (On-The-Go) function – allows you to connect USB peripheral devices (for example, keyboard, mouse)
Built-in Internet browsers
Downloading applications from Android Market
Quick access to popular social networks
Audio recording function
Multimedia: audio player, video player, text viewer, image viewer, utilities, games
Equipment
Car holderPreloaded maps of Russia, Europe, Asia and Latin America
Car charger in cigarette lighter
USB cable
Device user manual in Russian
Navigation software user manual in Russian
Warranty card for 12 months
The presence of a navigator even in a budget smartphone today will not surprise anyone.
We are used to using GPS to find the desired address or to determine our location. GPS is an abbreviation for the English words Global Positioning System. This is the name of the very first and most famous one, which was developed in the USA. Since 2000, it has become available to the civilian population of all countries, although until that time it worked exclusively for military structures.
Its popularity is so great that in everyday life we still call the geolocation of our smartphones GPS, although we currently use signals from other systems - the Russian GLONASS and. Today we will talk about GLONASS.
History of GLONASS
The development of GLONASS began in the Soviet Union in 1976, and in 1986 flight tests of the first satellites and their prototypes began. At the end of the 90s of the 20th century, this work was suspended due to lack of funding.
In 2001, the Russian Federation again set a course for launching its own navigation system, having adopted the federal program “Global Navigation System”. By 2010, the total number of GLONASS satellites in orbit was 26 - they provided complete coverage of the planet.
GLONASS in smartphones
Following the launch of full operation of GLONASS, the Russian cellular provider MTS introduced its smartphone of the same name in 2011, focusing on supporting the domestic satellite system. The phone itself did not receive recognition, but well-known gadget manufacturers began to implement the ability to receive signals from Russian satellites.
Apple was the first to do this after MTS, followed by Nokia and Samsung. True, for the average user this remained almost unnoticeable, since most smartphones do not have buttons in the menu directly related to GLONASS. In most of them, turning on and configuring the satellite module began to be done through the “Geodata” menu item, while previously it was called “GPS”.
Navigation applications, when launched, began to detect more satellites with an available signal, and the accuracy of the location on the map has increased significantly. The process of searching for satellites has accelerated significantly.
GPS or GLONASS
Fortunately, in everyday life there is no need to make such a choice, since geopositioning in smartphones is determined by those satellites whose signal is stronger at a given time. When comparing these two geolocation systems, it will be difficult to say which one is better. If we evaluate the accuracy of location determination, then GPS makes it more reliable - the error is 1.5 meters, while for GLONASS it is 2.5 meters. But this indicator is relative, since it can change at different times and in different places.
As for the stability of signals, in northern latitudes GLONASS is ahead of GPS, since the American satellite system is focused on temperate and equatorial zones. In general, it is convenient that GPS and GLONASS work simultaneously in smartphones. As they say, one head is good, but two are better.
To find out which satellites we are in range of, we recommend installing one of the applications from Google Play, for example “GPS Info”, “GPS test” or “GPS Status”. They monitor available satellites, their number, names of satellite systems and signal strength.
Today the political situation in the world cannot be called stable. If the United States imposes a ban on the use of GPS, then we have an excellent alternative - the domestic GLONASS system.
To determine location, global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) are currently the most widely used: Russian GLONASS and American GPS.
This is primarily due to the availability and miniaturization of navigation devices. Today, a personal navigator has become as common a device as a mobile phone or computer.
In addition, GNSS have high accuracy in determining navigation parameters and have global coverage.
How GNSS works
The principle of determining the consumer's location is quite simple, like everything ingenious. Knowing the locations of the satellites (the information is contained in the satellite’s navigation signal) and the distance to them, you can use simple algebraic calculations to unambiguously determine your location in a certain three-dimensional coordinate system. Ideally, to obtain three consumer coordinates, it is enough to know information about three navigation spacecraft (NSV).
However, not everything is so simple in practice. The thing is that GNSS implements the principle of query-free range measurements, i.e. The transit time of the information signal from the satellite to the consumer is determined. And in order to determine this time with high accuracy, it is necessary to synchronize the clocks of the satellite and the consumer’s navigation equipment (CNA). In this regard, to find the coordinates and mismatch between the NAP and GNSS clocks, it is necessary to know the parameters of at least 4 satellites.
|
When creating GNSS, the following requirements were primarily taken into account: globality, all-weather capability, continuity and round-the-clock availability, noise immunity, compactness, and accessibility. The joint functioning of three main segments allows us to ensure that all of the above requirements are met, as well as the achievement of high performance characteristics: space; ground; custom. |
| Find out more Up-to-date information on the state of the GLONASS constellation can be found on the website of the Information and Analytical Center for Coordinate-Time |
The GLONASS space segment is an orbital constellation of 24 satellites located in three planes of 8 satellites each with an orbital altitude of 19,100 km and an inclination of 64.8°. In addition, there must be one backup satellite in each plane. The satellites emit radio signals at their own frequencies.
The ground segment consists of a cosmodrome, a command and measurement complex and a control center.
And finally, the segment that is of greatest interest to the consumer is the user segment, which includes NAP.
GNSS today
Modern domestic receivers for civilian use, installed on vehicles' unmanned aerial systems, operate using GLONASS (L1-band, ST-code) and GPS (L1, C/A-code) signals and allow determination (at a probability level of 0.95 at the value of the geometric factor no more than 3):
coordinates in plan with an error of no more than 10 m and in height - no more than 15 m;
planned speed with an error of no more than 0.15 m/s.
At the moment, the use of single-system GNSS receivers in NAP (GLONASS only or GPS only) has practically disappeared. First of all, this is due to the fact that in the modern urban landscape, shadowing of the radio visibility of satellites is inevitable. An example is the operation of the NAP near the wall of a house, when physically half of the sky is closed. Ultimately, this leads to the fact that the ability to accurately position an object is reduced, and sometimes becomes impossible. The use of two navigation systems improves and expands the experience for consumers.
In such conditions, the use of GLONASS in conjunction with GPS significantly increases the reliability and reliability of the NAP in determining coordinates.