New GPS Receiver Initialization. When your GPS unit is turned on for the first time, it does not know where it is, the date or the time. To initialize a GPS unit is to basically tell the receiver where it is, what the date is, and what the time is. This allows it to know which satellites should be overhead, so it can start searching for them to lock onto them. When a new GPS receiver is first powered-up, even if it is not initialized, it can still determine its position after a few minutes. It will however, achieve a much faster satellite lock-on if it is initialized. To lock onto satellites, a GPS receiver must first find them. If you simply turn on the GPS receiver and wait, it may take more than two minutes to find and lock onto the appropriate satellites. That’s referred to as a cold start. In contrast, when initialized by the user, the GPS receiver typically takes only a few seconds to lock onto the satellites. The GPS receiver should have a clear view of the sky during initialization. Initialization requires that you provide the GPS receiver up to 3 pieces of information:
1. Your approximate present position in latitude/longitude;
2. Your approximate elevation, or altitude: and
3. The current local time and date. Normally, initialization is necessary only once, provided each subsequent time the GPS receiver is turned on it’s within approximately 300 miles of where it was last turned off. Regardless of which start up method is chosen, initialization or cold start, once the GPS receiver has achieved satellite lock on, it will typically begin tracking much faster the next time it’s turned on, often within seconds.

Tags: GPS initialization, GPS Receiver Initialization