GPS Almanac

An almanac is a file that a GPS receiver collects from its satellites. It takes a long time to get the first one downloaded. Once it's in memory, the receiver will take care of it.

If you want to speed up the startup of a new receiver you can download the current almanac from the US Coast Guard and then use your client software (for example Trimble's iQ_Monitor for a Lassen IQ or SQ.)