For a sensor network having reference nodes and sensor nodes, A method and apparatus using a distance determining algorithm for a sensor network having reference nodes and sensor nodes. A distance determining algorithm is executed to determine an adequate distance between reference nodes within a preset error range, and a position location table is created. A sensor node sends a location information request to reference nodes, receives the position location table and location information from the reference nodes, and computes the coordinates of its position. Alternatively, without requesting transmission of the position location table, the sensor node may receive calculated coordinates of its position directly from a reference node.