wass enabled

all thumbs

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jan 22, 2005
Messages
438
I was looking at newer gps units. I use a garmin 72 now,which I can enter coordinates from hot spot maps then go to. With the newer units where you can enter a datta card showing structure I thought this would be a good idea. The salesman told me wass would only pick up on either coast, no good in the midwest. So getting to the structure I want to fish I could be up to 30 ft. off. Is he off base on this?
 

Boatist

Rear Admiral
Joined
Apr 22, 2002
Messages
4,552
Re: wass enabled

Yes and No. There are two WAAS birds that can be seen from the US. The west Coast of the US can see both birds the east and your location can only see one bird. The WAAS birds are Geostationary so must be over the equator and 23,800 miles high. So up north the WAAS birds are very low on the horizon and easily blocked by structure on your boat hill around the lake, trees, ect. The one you can see is called Alatinic Ocean Region West (AOR-W). It location is at Latitude 0 Longitude 54 degrees west. If you look on your Garmin satelite page on your Garmin GPS it is satellite number 35. It will show up on the satellite page only if you have WAAS enabled. Just like any of the other GPS satelites it will show if you are picking it up or not. From your location you will not be able to see Pacific Ocean Region (POR)Garmin number 47 at Latitude 0 degrees Longitude 178 degrees East.<br /><br />I am in Nothern California and can see both birds on my Garmin GPSMAP 76 but with the internal antenna out on the boat they some times do not show up. If I am out on the open water and bring the unit out from under the cab and point it in the right direction then I have alway been able to pick them up. In the car driveing I rarely pick up eather. My unit when receiving will say 3D differential. Even when picking it up best accuracy is 3 meters or 10 feet. Without picking up the WAAS birds it is 9 meters or 30 feet at best. If you hook up an external antenna I think you have a good chance of Receiving AOR-W. Without the external antenna will be more dificult.<br />Hope this helps.
 

all thumbs

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jan 22, 2005
Messages
438
Re: wass enabled

Thanks, that does help alot. Think I'll just keep using my same gps, it will get me close enough to the structure I want to fish. Then it's the sonar I'll use to keep me on structure.
 

SingleShot

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 24, 2003
Messages
113
Re: wass enabled

I live in wisconsin and pick Waas while upnorth hunting a good part of the time. I use the Garmin Map76<br /><br />JK
 

cjones4@hvc.rr.com

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Feb 8, 2003
Messages
132
Re: wass enabled

I think the dealer confused WAAS with DGPS. DGPS is a land based system (not satellite).<br />This is a description of DGPS:<br /><br />"Typically, the positional error of a DGPS position is 1 to 3 meters, Greatly enhancing harbor entrance and approach navigation. The System provides service for coastal coverage of the continental U.S., the Great Lakes, Puerto Rico, portions of Alaska and Hawaii, and a greater part of the Mississippi River Basin."<br /><br /> That info came from this site:<br /> http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/dgps/default.htm <br /><br /> You can also see coverage areas by state from this site.
 

roscoe

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
21,758
Re: wass enabled

Same here, I can usually pick up the east waas satellite.<br />I'm in north central WI, elevation 1500'.<br />It should work fine just about anywhere in WI.
 

all thumbs

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jan 22, 2005
Messages
438
Re: wass enabled

Thanks for helping me understand more about waas. This is one great site for refference! I happened on it by purchasing parts from iboats. Every time i get on computer I check it out and always seem to gain knowledge and have a good laugh.
 

Boatist

Rear Admiral
Joined
Apr 22, 2002
Messages
4,552
Re: wass enabled

A lot of infomation here but a good map of the WAAS satellites and there coverage. AOR-W and POR currently for the USA.<br /><br />scroll down until your see the color world map with the WAAS Satellites and a circle of their coverage.<br /><br /> http://www.gpsinformation.org/dale/dgps.htm
 
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