GPS handheld - how it works - the satellites

There are two major parts to a gps system. The first part are the satellite systems.

The GPS satellite system consists of a large number of satellites that orbit the earth. The system is designed so that there are 9 or more satellites visible to your location at all times. They may not be the same satellites all the time but that part doesn't matter.

The satellites send a signal to earth that is received by your GPS handheld unit.

Part 2 will cover the roll of the consumer GPS devices in the GPS system.