Is there a GPS device that will guide me to MY way-points in a lake ?

Discussion in 'General GPS Discussion' started by swbca, Oct 19, 2020.

  1. swbca

    swbca

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    I am installing a slalom course in the middle of a large lake. The course has sub-buoys 6 feet down that I have to find every day to attach surface buoys.

    I want a device where I can save about 8 locations. Then guide me to each location when I select it (just steer the boat to the dot on a screen)

    What is best simplest way to do this ?

    Is there a phone app that can do this ? I looked at a GPS hiking app and i didn't see anything like this.

    Also, what is accuracy of consumer GPS . Recently, I checked a GPS device designed for car race tracks and GPS coordinates shown for several random landmarks matched up within a 3-4 feet with Google sat photos.
     
    Last edited: Oct 19, 2020
    swbca, Oct 19, 2020
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  2. swbca

    Nuvi-Nebie Moderator

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    Virtually any walking / hiking GPS unit will store a Waypoint that can then be used to navigate back to the same spot, they quite often have a button called 'Mark' or 'MOB' (Man Over Board) which will store your current location and a Goto Waypoint feature which will point to that location

    You can also store Waypoints on a smartphone as they all have built-in GPS, you may need two apps. to store waypoints and goto waypoints, there are also apps. that will perform both functions, take a look at GPS Waypoints and Handy GPS

    The problem you may have is accuracy, when searching for a geocache you are delivered to a general area by the GPS and then you use other pointers to get you to the exact location, however on water you have no other pointers, both dedicated GPSs and smartphone apps. can perform GPS averaging, where the GPS is placed at a location for some time and many measurements taken and averaged into a single (more accurate) location, if you can fix a GPS to a surface buoy for a period of time you will get a better measurement
     
    Nuvi-Nebie, Oct 19, 2020
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  3. swbca

    swbca

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    I Installed the GPS Waypoints Navigator on my Android Phone. After setting my current location as a Waypoint, (in the middle of a big parking lot ) later when I follow the Arrow back to my Waypoint, its always off about 20'.

    A year ago, I way using an AIM Solo racing GPS speed and lap-timer device to compare Google Satellite Coordinates on discrete landmarks visible from Satellite. I checked several landmarks and the Coordinates displayed on the AIM SOLO were always within 5 feet of the Google Coordinates. Can't use this device to find a Waypoint because it does not have any GPS navigation features.

    Are there any GPS navigation devices that are accurate to 5" or so.
     
    swbca, Oct 28, 2020
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  4. swbca

    Nuvi-Nebie Moderator

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    The short answer to your question is no, your 20 feet is about as good as it gets, there are methods of getting more accuracy, but they involve techniques such as dual band/frequently receivers (this is different to dual constellation receivers e.g. GPS + Glonass), RTK, inputs from external receivers, post processing etc.

    You may have seen a guy on a construction site carrying around a long pole with a white box on the top, this is a survey GPS such as the Trimble, these devices can do what you want but cost possibly $5000, Garmin do now sell the dual band GPSmap65 which is the most accurate unit they sell but getting someone to tell you how accurate it is isn't easy, my guess is no getter than 5 feet
     
    Nuvi-Nebie, Oct 28, 2020
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  5. swbca

    swbca

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    I have a XGPS160 SkyPro Dual Reciever that I use on the track with a bluetooth connection to my phone that runs a GPS laptimer app the uses this external receiver. Are their GPS Navigation phone apps that can use this Dual external receiver, or are there other GPS devices that can work with this Dual receiver ? .
     
    swbca, Oct 28, 2020
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  6. swbca

    Nuvi-Nebie Moderator

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    In this case DUAL is the maker's name, although it also had dual constellation (GPS + Glonass) it doesn't have dual band/frequency, here is it's spec.:-

    2020-10-28_17.45.05.jpg

    The Bluetooth NMEA can be used by smartphone apps. BUT I don't think it will be any better than the GPS you already have in your smartphone
     
    Nuvi-Nebie, Oct 28, 2020
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  7. swbca

    swbca

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    Thank You !
     
    swbca, Oct 28, 2020
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