<h3>Definition</h3><p>Time to First Fix (TTFF) describes the time and process required for a <a href="https://www.lifewire.com/global-positioning-system-gps-1683311" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="1">GPS</a> device to acquire enough usable satellite signals and data to provide accurate navigation.</p><p>A GPS must have three sets of data before it can provide accurate position: GPS satellite signals, <a href="https://www.lifewire.com/gps-almanac-1683312" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="2">almanac</a> data, and ephemeris data.</p><p>If a GPS is new, has been turned off for a long period of time or has been transported for a long distance since it was turned on, it will take longer to acquire these data sets and get a &#34;Time to First Fix&#34; (TTFF). GPS manufacturers use various techniques to speed up TTFF, including downloading and storing almanac and ephemeris data with via wireless network connections (faster than acquiring via satellite).</p><p>A &#34;cold&#34; start refers to a situation in which the GPS must acquire all data in order to start navigation and may take up to 12 minutes.</p><p>A &#34;warm&#34; start means the GPS has most of the data it needs in memory, and will start quickly - a minute or less.</p><p><strong>Also Known As: </strong>TTFF</p>