SpotOn is accurate to three feet under open sky and ten feet under heavy tree cover or near buildings. As a point of comparison GPS-enabled smartphones are typically accurate only to within 16 feet under open sky and greater than 16 feet near buildings, bridges, and under trees.
The accuracy of all GPS systems depends upon several factors including the quality of the GPS receiver and antenna, the number of satellites detected, and how much of the sky is in clear view from the ground. GPS satellites are continuously moving across the sky, above and below the horizon. The more satellites a GPS system can detect the greater the accuracy. GPS systems are more accurate in a large flat open field where there is a clear view of the sky. Areas with large objects like buildings, hills, and heavy tree cover can reflect GPS signals, reducing accuracy.
Unlike other systems, SpotOn can simultaneously receive and track signals from up to 30 satellites across four navigation satellite constellations including GPS (US), Galileo (European Union), Glonass (Russia), and BeiDou (China). SpotOn uses a dual feed antenna that is designed to detect and ignore reflected signals. SpotOn includes Forest Mode which improves accuracy in areas with tree cover. Click here for more information on the tech that powers SpotOn.