GPS works with weak signals. The signal strength on earth is approximately 15dB below the thermal noise floor. In order to design a reliable GPS enabled system, the following parameters have to be considered carefully during the design phase as they may significantly degrade the GPS performance.

  1. Antenna shortcommings
    • Poor Gain fo the GPS antenna
    • Poor directivity(radiatin pattern) of the GPS antenna
    • Improper orientatin of the antenna to the sky
    • Poor matching between antenna and cable impedance
    • Poor noise performance of the receivers input statge or the antenna amplifier
  2. Electrical Environment
    • Jamming form external signals
    • Jamming form signals generated by re receiver itself
  3. GPS related effects
    • Signal path obstruction by building, foliage, covers, snow,etc
    • Multi-path effects
    • Satellite constallation and geomatry