An elevator system (10) includes an elevator hoistway (12) having a plurality of landings (14), an elevator car (16) configured to move within the elevator hoistway (12), and a position determining system (40) having a plurality of landing position indicators (48) and a plurality of dummy position indicators (50). At least one of the landing position indicators (48) is mounted proximate to each of the plurality of landings (14). Each dummy position indicator (50) is mounted within the elevator hoistway (12) at a predetermined vertical position between various of the plurality of landing position indicators (48). The position determining system (40) additionally includes a sensor (42) configured to determine when the elevator car is adjacent one of the plurality of landing position indicators (48) or one of the plurality of dummy position indicators (50). The plurality of landing position indicators (48) and the plurality of dummy position indicators (50) are positioned to form a sequence of unique patterns. The position determining system is more cost effective and timesaving than the absolute position reference systems.