Which statement is true regarding satellite positioning and PDOP?

The statement that evenly distributed satellites yield lower PDOP values is accurate because PDOP, or Position Dilution of Precision, is a measure of the geometric strength of the satellite configuration used to determine a position. Low PDOP values indicate that satellites are well-distributed in the sky, which leads to better accuracy in determining position. When satellites are evenly spaced, they provide different angles of observation to the receiver, which enhances the overall precision of the location fix.

Conversely, high PDOP values suggest a poorer geometric configuration, typically characterized by satellites that are too closely spaced or clustered together in the sky, leading to ambiguity in determining a precise location. Clusters of satellites do not improve PDOP; rather, they can create situations where the receiver may struggle to differentiate between signals from nearby satellites, which increases the potential for errors in location calculations.

Overall, a configuration with an even spread of satellites minimizes any potential errors and results in a more accurate positional fix, thereby yielding lower PDOP values.