A global positioning system (GPS) receiver and method of acquiring and
tracking GPS signals comprises an antenna adapted to receive GPS signals;
an analog radio frequency device operatively connected to the antenna and
adapted to convert the GPS signals from an analog format to a digital
format; a plurality of GPS signal tracking correlators operatively
connected to the analog RF device; a GPS signal acquisition component
operatively connected to the analog RF device and the plurality of GPS
signal tracking correlators, wherein the GPS signal acquisition component
is adapted to calculate a maximum vector on a databit correlation grid;
and a microprocessor operatively connected to the plurality of GPS signal
tracking correlators and the GPS signal acquisition component, wherein
the microprocessor is adapted to compare the maximum vector with a
predetermined correlation threshold to allow the GPS signal to be fully
acquired and tracked.