A system and methods for reducing navigation satellite receiver power usage are presented. A wireless signal is received at a portable electronic device in a signal environment. At signal characteristic of the wireless signal at the portable electronic device is measured in the signal environment. An estimated signal strength of the wireless signal in the signal environment is estimated based on the signal characteristic. The estimated signal strength is compared to an expected signal strength of the wireless signal to calculate an estimated signal-strength-change relative to the expected signal strength. A GNSS signal is tracked at the portable electronic device, if the estimated signal-strength-change indicates an expected GNSS signal attenuation is lower than a signal attenuation threshold. The tracking of the GNSS signal is reconfigured at the portable electronic device, if the expected GNSS signal-strength-change indicates the expected GNSS signal attenuation is greater than the signal attenuation threshold.