WAAS question....

[jwalker2063]

On my new 60CSX I know that on the satellite page having a "D" in the bars means I am recieving a signal in WAAS. If I have WAAS enabled, then why am I sometimes not seeing the "D"s in the bars?

Thanks,

JWalker

[Glenn W]

Only certain satellites carry the WAAS correction signal. If you have a limited view of the sky, it is possible you are not "seeing" any WAAS satellites.

 

Also, make sure you have the latest firmware. One of the earlier versions for the 60CSx did not correctly show the "D" labels even though the WAAS correction was being applied.

Edited June 1, 2007 by Glenn W

[QuigleyJones]

I believe that if you have a limited signal, having WAAS on can create greater inaccuracy, and therefor its not used in calculating position unless you have a strong enough signal.

 

Of course I could be completely wrong.

[+EraSeek]

The first time you enable WAAS you need to be in an open area with good sky view. You need to allow up to about 20 minutes for your unit to download the WAAS almanac and institute it. It will cycle through the sats for some time. Once you have it the sats bars will show the "D's". After that first time, it will only take a few moments to lock on WAAS.

Yes, you should also have the updated firm and software. As I recall when the model first came out getting WAAS to show was an issue.

 

In Florida you should have no problem getting WAAS, nor in any part of the US except maybe way up in Maine at times.

Here is the current realtime WAAS service area: http://www.nstb.tc.faa.gov/vpl.html

Edited June 1, 2007 by EraSeek

[+imajeep]

WAAS satellites show up fairly low in the sky in the Northern hemisphere. The farther north you go, the less chance of good reception. In Chicago, I often don't get WAAS signals.

[+poohstickz]

On my new 60CSX I know that on the satellite page having a "D" in the bars means I am recieving a signal in WAAS. If I have WAAS enabled, then why am I sometimes not seeing the "D"s in the bars?

Thanks,

JWalker

 

When you "enable WAAS" what you are really doing is allowing the receiver to use WAAS / SBAS (Satellite Based Augmentation Systems) corrections if they are available and if they yield a better solution.

 

Consequently, you answered your own question in that the "D" shows when SBA is being used and doesn't when it isn't.

Edited June 1, 2007 by poohstickz

[+EraSeek]

On my new 60CSX I know that on the satellite page having a "D" in the bars means I am recieving a signal in WAAS. If I have WAAS enabled, then why am I sometimes not seeing the "D"s in the bars?

Thanks,

JWalker

 

When you "enable WAAS" what you are really doing is allowing the receiver to use WAAS / SBAS (Satellite Based Augmentation Systems) corrections if they are available and if they yield a better solution.

 

Consequently, you answered your own question in that the "D" shows when SBA is being used and doesn't when it isn't.

 

Oh! I didn't see that part. He said sometimes. Yes you are right.

[+Mach2003]

If you "see" a WAAS correction sat, then ALL sats will have correction data applied to them.

The correction factors incluse errors from the sats themselves, drift, and delays caused by "earth bound" factors.

The "D" shows that that sat has a correction applied to its signal.

If you can not "see" a WAAS sat, then NO corrections are applied to ANY sat signal.

Having WAAS turned on, with out getting correction data, will have NO effect on the other sats.

[Iwuzere]

Two other tidbits for you:

 

WAAS sats are numbered above 32 and show up as hollow bars on some receivers, showing that they aren't providing conventional fix data.

 

WAAS sats are geostationary (effectively don't move) whereas the other sats move about in far lower orbits.

 

(far more info at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wide_Area_Augmentation_System )

 

I don't give a stuff about extra battery usage (I take spares) so I keep WAAS on all the time, and it certainly helps the shown accuracy distances here. It's usually around 17ft without it at best, and sometimes about 6ft with. That may not actually help all that much with finding a cache though, if the hider hasn't provided a very accurate position!