Garmin GPS III - Manual (Page 16)

Let’s start with the Satellite Status Page, which is the page you’ll view while your
unit is getting a position fix. If you’re not already on this page, press PAGE or QUIT
until it appears. The Satellite Status Page shows you status information that helps
you understand what the receiver is doing at any given time, and it’s a page that
you’ll want to occasionally refer back to as you use your unit. It features a sky view
of available satellites, corresponding signal strength bars, the status of your current
position fix (acquiring, 2D, 3D, etc.), and your estimated position error (EPE). You
can also tell how much battery power is remaining, and you can adjust the screen
contrast by pressing the rocker keypad.
Satellites are indicated on the sky view and the signal strength bars by their cor-
responding number, from 01 through 32. The sky view shows where it is looking in
the sky for each satellite, by indicating the direction and elevation (angle above the
horizon). The signal strength bars depict the relative strength of the signal from each
satellite being received. The taller the bar, the stronger the signal.
The signal strength bars give
you an indication of what
satellites are visible to the
receiver, whether or not they’re
being used to calculate a posi-
tion fix, and the signal quality.
If satellite reception is lost, or
an insufficient number of
satellites are available, you
will be alerted with a ‘Poor
Coverage’ receiver status and
message.
8
GETTING STARTED
Satellite Status Page
Satellite Status Page
Receiver Status
Battery Level
Indicator
Signal Strength Bar
Sky View
GPS III A 7/21/98 8:51 AM Page 8