Auto Transport - car news site

GPS (Global Positioning System) was developed for and is controlled by the US Department of Defense. The system utilizes GPS satellites (NAVSTAR), sending out radio waves while flying on an orbit around the earth at an altitude of approximately 21,000 km (13,100miles).
The GPS receiver calculates the vehicle’s position in three dimensions (latitude/longitude/altitude) according to the time lag of the radio waves received from four or more GPS satellites (three-dimensional positioning). The GPS receiver calculates the vehicle’s position in two dimensions (latitude/longitude), utilizing the altitude data calculated previously with radio waves from four or more GPS satellites (two-dimensional positioning) if radio waves were received only from three GPS satellites. Position correction by GPS is not available while the vehicle is stopped. Accuracy of GPS will deteriorate under the following conditions:

In two-dimensional positioning, GPS accuracy will deteriorate when altitude of the vehicle position changes.
The accuracy can be even lower depending on the arrangement of the GPS satellites utilized for the positioning.
Position detection is not possible when vehicle is in an area where radio waves from the GPS satellite do not reach, such as in a tunnel, parking lot in a building, and under an elevated highway. Radio waves from the GPS satellites may not be received when some object is located over the GPS antenna.

NOTE:
Even a high-precision three dimensional positioning, the detection result has an error about 10 m (30ft).
Because the signals of GPS satellite is controlled by the Tracking and Control Center in the United States, the accuracy may be degraded lower intentionally or the radio waves may stop.

Traffic Information (RDS-TMC)

The traffic information broadcast allows to you to avoid delays due to traffic incidents.
Traffic jams, roadwork, closed roads around your current location, etc. are represented graphically on the map I by icons depicting the nature of the event.
Incidents on the route are automatically brought to your attention when they are approached.
The Traffic Information feature gives you the opportunity to forecast traffic incidents, determine how serious they are, via the guidance mode, and allows you to detour around traffic incidents.
The navigation system receives traffic information from best available sources and enables the RDS-TMC (Radio Data System-Traffic Information Channel) to inform and guide you.
The RDS-TMC broadcast is fed by a dedicated FM tuner so that you can still tune your radio station while Traf- K fic Information is being broadcasted.