using the gps

**jhef** · 05-25-2009, 06:35 PM

how do you guys use your gps to get on your waypoints,do you get close and stop short of the waypoint or try to get on it and drop a bouy, seems like everytime i get close,is all of a sudden its behind me, just cant figure it out, ive got some good numbers from friends but right now they arent doing me any good..also do i need to have the waas turned on? not even sure what it is,i know its supposed to be more accurate so i figured it owuld be on all the time, but was looking through settings on my 520 i think may be the1197 and seen a link to turn on waas? any tips for using the gps isw apprerciated...just would like to use it more then to know what general area im in and how fast im going... thanks

**ready2fish** · 05-25-2009, 07:30 PM

i have a 522 and still learning how to use it and i find the same thing when doing as you mentioned, Some say its worth taking a class to learn the gps on these units but others will say just ask and learn from here so lets hope you and others like my self can learn.

thanks

I found this on Lowrance web site
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WAAS - (Wide Area Augmentation System)
A satellite navigation system designed by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to boost the accuracy of GPS satellite navigation. Improvements in accuracy are approximated to be within 7 meters. Note: Currently, WAAS is not fully implemented. It was created for aviation applications. It uses geostationary satellites over the equator, which makes WAAS signals easily blocked in North America by terrain obstructions. Users may experience temporary loss of WAAS support, especially in wooded areas
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**jhef** · 05-25-2009, 09:18 PM

do you guys run north up ,course up ,or track up, im running course up now, whats the difference in course up and track up?

**PawPaw Gene** · 05-25-2009, 09:52 PM

jhef, north up means that no matter what direction you are traveling, looking at your screen north is at the top. On the other hand course up means that when you are traveling your boat is always pointing up. With course up lets say your going down a canal, the pointer which stands for your boat will the pointed toward the top of the screen. So if you're coming to a canal that you want to go into on your right you will see it on your right on the screen and when you turn into that canal the map will turn and again you little boat pointer will be pointing to the top of your screen. North up means the map won't turn but rather will always be at the top of your screen. So if your heading south the little boat pointer will be pointing to the bottom of the screen. Using the same scenario as above, if you want to turn right into a canal it will be coming up on the left side of your screen. Picture it this way if there is a fly walking down on your computer from the top and he turns right, from your view point he will move to the left side of you screen. I ain't no expert but I hope this helps. I always run mine in the course up position.

"gene"

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**Cane Pole** · 05-25-2009, 10:16 PM

Here is a good alphabetical glossary of GPS terms. I refer to it often.

Garmin: GPS Glossary

**speckfinder** · 05-26-2009, 04:44 AM

I use course up and when distance to go gets 10' or less I throw a marker

**ready2fish** · 05-26-2009, 08:18 PM

i was out today and tried the WAAS option, i guess i was in a bad area because i lost signal to my gps

**Arkie John** · 05-26-2009, 10:54 PM

When I approach a waypoint I kill the big motor at 30' and go in on the tm, continually watching the depth finder. At 20' I slow just a bit and watch the (with depth finder) bottom. The instant I see the brush top I toss a marker to the starboard side.

Still using the tm, I circle and come at the marker at a right angle from my initial approach. It lets me do two things: I can size up the area for more brush and can adjust my visual of where the top may be, using the marker as a reference.

I might be coming in and see that the main part of the pile is 4' south of the marker, in the 6 o'clock position. This way I am confident that I am fishing the best part of the top and might even have seen a fish or two on the cover.

Remember that most gps units work best at a speed of 4-6 mph and their accuracy is (at best) 12-20 feet. That's not too bad if you imagine your boat in the middle of a 20 circle.

Hope this helps.

aj

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using the gps

very good question

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