GPS for PC

[davidfox]

looking through the latest compass catalogue that came through the door this week it had advertised a tiny GPS thing that plugged in via the usb port and was also powered by this. - 1. they advertise a 12 channel and a 16 channel (i think they were called channels) 2. Do they work? 3.whats the difference between the 2, should I spend the extra for the 16 channel. --- advice please

 

[moodycruiser]

see the post by iangrant today /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[iangrant]

Same box is a lot cheaper on Ebay!!!

Ian

 

[jfm]

12 channel is fine. They work well. I use one. Much easier than buying a lead for a handheld and hooking that up, and hooking up a 12v supply too.

 

[henkm]

JFM wrote:
"12 channel is fine"
Agree. Waas/Egnos would be nice, but is not essential.

JFM wrote:
"Much easier than buying a lead for a handheld and hooking that up, and hooking up a 12v supply too."

I usually advise people to buy a handheld GPS.
Reasons:
- USB-GPS useful only if laptop on board
- and laptop must always be 'on'
- when laptop fails... no GPS
- when power fails (or boat sinks!) ... no GPS (a handheld GPS has batteries)
- no possibility to store waypoints, last track etc. in a USB-GPS

But I must admit that a USB-GPS as a third (not: second) GPS is a good choice for the reasons you mentioned.

I know that a lot of people will not agree with me on (second/third).
Anyway, the first or second GPS should be totally independent of computers and 12 Volt failures.
(and not only because you will want to take it with you in the life raft).

henk

--
http://www.filo.nl/zeilen/

 

[davidfox]

what is difference between 12 and 16 channel?

 

[Spyro]

[ QUOTE ]
what is difference between 12 and 16 channel?

[/ QUOTE ]

4 channels /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[rjp]

[ QUOTE ]
what is difference between 12 and 16 channel?

[/ QUOTE ]

The number of satellites the GPS can handle 'at the same time'. For a 3D fix you need to be able to see at least four.

 

[davidfox]

Just bought the 12 channel one on ebay - hong kong (gulp) hope it turns up - if it does will have saved £35 on compass (inc postage) hope it works!

thanks for help

 

[Oldhand]

And a waste of money as you will never have 16 useable satellites in view at any one time

 

[Avocet]

I have a handheld as the primary GPS (small boat) and have one of these as the secondary one. I only bought it to shut the DSC radio up (it beeps if it doesn't get a GPS position input). I made up a little battery carrier for it (4 AA alkaline ones) and it works really well. I get permanent positional data on the radio display and the batteries last all season! In fact, it has now become my primary GPS on board!

 

[hightech]

Generally, once you get a unit saying it uses more than 12 channels, the additional ones are for the WAAS/EGNOSS to work. As a previous post said, you only need 3 sats for a 2D fix and 4 for a 3D fix, but this assumes the sats are randomly spread around and not all sitting in a bunch!

The more sats your set locks on to the better the position given out should be.

 

[davidfox]

What is WAAS/EGNOSS Please

 

[BrendanS]

A short simplistic answer, is that these systems provide extra error correction, giving more accurate position fixes.

Waas is the US version and has been in use for some while. Egnos is the European version, and is still in test mode at the moment, and due to go live shortly

 

[Guest]

When you get your GPS ....

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/

For all your questions and tips ...