I have purchased a U-blox7 USB GPS/GLONASS device for AUD 27 (1 AUD = USD 0.76).
The packaging states that it has the following features. Don't blame me for the English. I have entered it as written.
* Windows 8/7 (sensor/VCP) - It is available in the Navmii Windows Store App in Windows 10 so presumably this means that it is working as a sensor.
What is VCP please?
* Adopts KDS 0.5PPM precision TXCO - I have no idea what this means.
* Built-RTC crystal and picofarad capacitance faster hot start - Presumably this means that it has a Real Time Clock with a capacitor to store charge to keep the clock running when the device isn't plugged in or the PC is switched off.
* 1 - 10 Hz update rate positioning - The English is dodgy but I suspect this means the GPS data can be supplied at 1 to / or 10 cycles per second.
As I recall AR / S&T only accept GPS at 1 Hz so how would you control the output rate?
* Support AssistNow Online and AssistNow Offline A-GPS services - I have no idea what this means.
* GPS, GALILEO, SBAS (WAAS, EGNOS, MSAS, GAGAN) hybrid engine
GPS is the American Global Positioning System.
Galileo is the European system.
There is no mention of GLONASS, the Russian system, except in the headline of the packaging.
SBAS is Satellite-Based Augmentation System. Several countries have developed their own SBAS.
WAAS - Wide Area Augmentation System (USA)
EGNOS - European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (Europe)
MSAS - Multi-functional Satellite Augmentation System (Japan)
GAGAN - GPS and GEO Augmented Navigation (India)
http://egnos-portal.gsa.europa.eu/discover-egnos/about-egnos/what-sbas
* Support NMEA 0183 and ublox binary protocol
NMEA - NMEA 0183 is a combined electrical and data specification for communication between marine electronics such as echo sounder, sonars, anemometer, gyrocompass, autopilot, GPS receivers and many other types of instruments. It has been defined by, and is controlled by, the National Marine Electronics Association.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NMEA_0183
Ublox binary protocol - no idea
I have looked at the Ublox website but it appears to only refer to commercial / professional GPS systems.
Comments on any of these items would be welcomed with particular reference to how they relate to using them in a home user navigation software environment.
I understand that there are USA, European, Russian, Japanese, Indian and Chinese satellite navigation systems but only the first three are fully developed and available for use by the general public but it would appear that this device can also access the next two systems in some way.
Correct me if I am wrong.
I thought that if I had a GPS receiver that could also utilise the European and Russian systems giving access to more satellites it would acquire satellite lock faster and have better reception in urban areas with tall buildings and in mountainous areas.
Is there a utility program that can tell me which satellite navigation systems are being used?