On Sat, 25 Jun 2016 22:00:25 -0400, time-nuts-request@febo.com wrote: > > Message: 3 > Date: Sat, 25 Jun 2016 10:07:30 -0400 > From: Steve <steve65@suddenlink.net> > To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement > <time-nuts@febo.com> > Subject: [time-nuts] over-determined clock solution > Message-ID: <9d1c7e89-c192-36bc-8f93-7ebac3d293d9@suddenlink.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed > > The phrase "over-determined clock solution" is used in the Trimble > Thunderbolt user manual in describing operation of the Thunderbolt GPS > receiver. The manual does not discuss the phrase in any detail, > appearing to assume the reader understands its meaning. An internet > search on "over-determined clock solution" did not turn up any > substantive hits. > > What does "over-determined clock solution" mean? > > Thanks. > > Steve, K8JQ > > End of time-nuts Digest, Vol 143, Issue 41 > ****************************************** As others have said, it means that there are more satellites than the minimum required to compute a fix. The minimum for a full fix is four, to cover x, y, z, and t. The term "over determined" comes from Linear Algebra, and this is the best place to look. I am partial to Intro to Linear Algebra, 5th edition, by Gilbert Strang: <http://www.wellesleycambridge.com/images/linearalgebra5_Front.jpg>. Strang is a MIT Math Prof, and his lectures are all available gratis on the MIT website. The classic application leading to an over determined linear system is least-squared fitting. Joe Gwinn