Garmin GPSMAP 232 - Manual (Page 62)

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Reference
Main Menu:
GPS Tab
GPS Tab— provides a visual reference of satellite acquisition, receiver status, and accuracy. The
status information will give you an idea of what the 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 will appear
for each satellite in view. 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 signal strength bars— the receiver has collected the necessary data and the satellite(s) are ready
for use.
As soon as the GPSMAP 182/182C/232 has collected the necessary data from the best satellites in
view to calculate a fix, the 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 receiver’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 182/182C/232 is capable of receiving WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) sat-
ellite signals. 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 may be limited by your geographic location in relation to those satellites, now in devel-
opmental service. WAAS satellite signal reception requires an absolute clear view of the sky and works
Sky View
Signal Strength
Bars
Receiver Status
Differential
Status
Accuracy
DOP
45°
90°
Outer ring -
the horizon
Inner ring- 45°
above the horizon
Center dot - 90°
above the horizon