Receiver Categories

Receivers are generally categorized by their physical characteristics, the elements of the GPS signal they can use with advantage, and by the claims about their accuracy.   There are receivers that use only the C/A code on the L1 frequency and receivers that cross-correlate with the P(Y)  There are L1 carrier phase tracking receivers, dual-frequency and multi-frequency carrier phase tracking receivers, receivers that track all in view, and GPS/GNSS receivers. The more aspects of the GPS signal a receiver can employ, the greater its flexibility, but so, too, the greater its cost. It is important to understand receiver capabilities and limitations to ensure that the systematic capability of a receiver is matched to the required outcome of a project. As shown in the illustration, it is possible to divide receivers into three categories. They are; recreation, mapping, and surveying.