RE: [Paddlewise] GPS & Electronic Charts

From: Blaauw, Niels <nblaauw_at_foxboro.com>
Date: Tue, 8 May 2001 03:40:32 -0400
Dan Hagen wrote:
<snip> 
<<<
The standard eTrex does not have differential (DGPS) capability
built in. Newer Garmin receivers (including the 76) can provide
differentially corrected (DGPS) fixes without the use of a separate DGPS
receiver/antenna. This improves the accuracy of the fix, and more
importantly the accuracy of the compass function and speed readout. Even
when zoomed into the "20-foot" setting on my newest receiver (where each
pixel is less than one foot), I see no significant drift when standing
still. DGPS really works! I do not see why anyone would buy a handheld
receiver without built in differential capability.
>>>

As far as I understand, DGPS is a way of correcting the Selective
Availability, the deliberate inaccuracy that was put in the data from the
satellites. Since Selective Availability is OFF since May last year, DGPS is
not needed anymore. My Etrex does not show any drift while standing still.

I agree with most of the other disadvantages that Dan Hagen pointed out for
the Garmin Etrex, but I got one thing to add: Although the Etrex shows a
minimun of data on each display, at least that data is shown clearly and as
large as possible. Inside a damp drybag under your bungies you have a chance
to be able to read the screen, which was almost impossible with my previous
GPS, a 12XL.

Niels.


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Received on Tue May 08 2001 - 00:51:04 PDT

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