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Reference
GPS Info Tab—
Provides a visual reference of satellite acquisition, GPS receiver status, and accu-
racy. When the unit is powered up, a GPS Info window appears after the Warning screen. This window
automatically disappears when the unit is ready to navigate. The status information will give you an idea
of what the GPS receiver is doing at any given moment. The sky view and signal strength bars give you
an indication of what satellites are visible to the receiver and whether or not they are being tracked. The
signal strength is shown on a bar graph for each satellite, with the satellite number below. As the receiver
locks onto satellites, a signal strength bar appears for each satellite in view, with the appropriate satellite
number underneath each bar. The progress of satellite acquisition is shown in three stages:
• No signal strength bars— the receiver is looking for the satellites indicated.
• Light signal strength bars— the receiver has found the satellite(s) and is collecting data.
• Dark (or green) signal strength bars— the receiver has collected the necessary data and the
satellite(s) are ready for use.
As soon as the GPS receiver has collected the necessary data from the best satellites in view to calculate
a fix, the GPSMAP 2006/2010 status field will indicate a 2D or 3D status. The unit will then update the
position, date, and time.
You can use the sky view to help determine if any satellites are being blocked, and whether you have
a current position fix (indicated by a ‘2D’,‘2D Differential’,‘3D’, or ‘3D Differential’ in the status field). The
sky view shows a bird’s-eye view of the position of each satellite relative to the GPS antenna’s last known
position. The outer circle represents the horizon (north up), the inner circle 45º above the horizon, and
the center point a position directly overhead. You can also set the sky view to a ‘Track Up’ configuration,
causing the top of the sky view to align along your current track heading.
WAAS Capability
The GPSMAP 2006/2010 is capable of receiving WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) satellite
signal input. WAAS is an FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) funded project to improve the overall
accuracy and integrity of the GPS signal for aviation use, but land/sea based users may also benefit from
this system. At this time, the system is still in the development stage and is not fully operational. There
are currently two WAAS satellites that can be received in the U.S.A., one over the Atlantic Ocean and one
over the Pacific Ocean, in a geo-stationary orbit over the equator. Effective use of the WAAS satellite signal
45°
90°
Outer ring -
the horizon
Inner ring- 45°
above the horizon
Center dot - 90°
above the horizon
Main Menu: GPS Info Tab
Accuracy
Receiver Status
DGPS Status
Signal Strength
Bars
Sky View
DOP
