Many of these so-called 32-channel GPS receivers are actually based on 14 tracking channel GPS chipset made by Mediatek.
Some Taiwanese vendor mis-interpreted "capable of acquiring 32 satellites simultaneously" as "32 channel" and put that on their brochure. Accidentally it sold quite well due to its comparable weak signal tracking capability with SiRFstarIII, lower power consumption, and claiming of having 32 channels.
Henceforth, Taiwanese makers using the Mediatek GPS chipset claim their GPS receiver to be a 32-channel GPS receiver.
With many of the GPS chipset having separate search engine from track engine nowadays, there doesn't seem to be too much of an advantage for a GPS receiver having more than 12 channels; many of the low elevation angle satellites are likely to be block in typical usage.
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Many of these so-called 32-channel GPS receivers are actually based on 14 tracking channel GPS chipset made by Mediatek.
Some Taiwanese vendor mis-interpreted "capable of acquiring 32 satellites simultaneously" as "32 channel" and put that on their brochure. Accidentally it sold quite well due to its comparable weak signal tracking capability with SiRFstarIII, lower power consumption, and claiming of having 32 channels.
Henceforth, Taiwanese makers using the Mediatek GPS chipset claim their GPS receiver to be a 32-channel GPS receiver.
With many of the GPS chipset having separate search engine from track engine nowadays, there doesn't seem to be too much of an advantage for a GPS receiver having more than 12 channels; many of the low elevation angle satellites are likely to be block in typical usage.