The GPS has changed our lives in a big way. From the fact that you now always know how to find this or that address, to the many taxi or delivery services that work using GPS. Of course, it has had a great impact on humanity and the technology works quite well, but it has its disadvantages.
Modern GPS has a lot of problems related to different signal interruptions and interference in positioning. The new GPS standard L5 should solve most of the imperfections and problems of modern GPS.
How GPS works
The Global Positioning System is a development of the U.S. government. At first it was used for military purposes, but later it became available to ordinary users. Its essence is that a group of stupors transmits a signal to your device and uses it to determine your location.
Today, GPS is very closely integrated into many areas of our lives and into many applications and gadgets. Nowadays, the GPS L1 network is mostly used. It has a few problems related to the fact that if you are in a building or are surrounded by large geographical objects, the network can work intermittently.
In fact, the GSS has not been updated globally for quite some time and has a number of shortcomings. Other than that it is not the only satellite-based positioning system. Countries such as China and Russia also have similar systems.
What is GPS L5
At the moment there is the development and testing of two GPS networks – L2 and L5. By all parameters, L5 is better than L1 or L2. However, L2 has been tested for several years and has more satellites and compatible devices.
L5 will still take some time to become available for general use. In fact, the technology will work in the same way as the usual GPS. It will also take your GPS coordinates and transmit them to a map app such as Google Maps.
For now, it is only a matter of time before the L5 networks are launched for mass use. First, you need to prepare the equipment and create compatible devices that can work with this standard.
When GPS L5 starts working
In fact, the truth is that the L5 GPS network has been in operation since 2014. However, few satellites have been launched so far. The network is being tested and is constantly being improved. It will take a little more time for the developers to bring it to mass use.
In order to use the GSS networks, 18 to 24 satellites that support this network must be put into orbit. In this case, it is considered reliable enough for public use. At the moment there are only 17 satellites with the L5 GPS network
That means that there is only one launch left before the L5 GPS goes from limited use to public use. There are also plans to launch 24 satellites by 2027. So in the near future, you will be able to use all the advantages of this network.
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What devices supporting GPS L5
In fact, devices that support the L5 GPS signal are already on the market. At the moment it is used for various emergency programs and searches for missing people. However, in time it will be more widely used in your smartphones.
One of the first L5-enabled smartphones was the Xiaomi Mi8 back in 2018. Other smartphones like Google’s Pixel 4, 5, and 6-series phones, and Samsung’s Galaxy S22+, S21+, and S21 Ultra also support this technology.
Some smartwatches also have L5 GPS support. For example, a novelty recently announced by Apple is – Apple Watch Ultra. They are positioned as a watch for travelers and it is not surprising that they need the most advanced GPS technology. They also support such devices as Garmin’s GPSMAP 65, 65s, and 66sr handheld GPS trackers. This list is not complete and every month new devices are released that support this technology.
