Question about GPS - which way you're facing

[markmcrobie]

How does the GPS receiver and/or the software you're using (SatNav, tracking, sports/hiking software, etc) know which way you're pointing/facing?

For example I have a Holux 236 Bluetooth receiver. If I sit it in the car at the top of my street, with the 3 LED lights nearest me, what happens if I stay stationary, but turn the GPS receiver round so the LEDs are away from me?

[gpsn3wbie]

nothing will happen essentially.
it calculates the way your face by the direction you last travelled in.

[Skippy]

Most receivers don't know which way you are facing but they can work out which direction you are travelling by comparing the current position with the last known position. You may only have to move a few feet for the sat nav to figure out which direction you are travelling.

Some outdoors oriented GPS units (eg some Garmins) come with an electronic compass built-in which can tell you which direction you are facing even if you are not moving.

Some in-car units also have a dead-reckoning system which uses a compass and/or gyroscope to figure out which direction you are heading.
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