GPS Question

[nofearengineer]

Okay, you speed demons...I've been looking at upgrading my helm fishfinder. I've heard some guys talk about how much more accurate GPS speed measurements are than the pitot tube in your outboard. However, all of the fishfinder GPS units I've come accross simply have the paddle wheel sensor attachment. Is this paddle wheel what you guys are referring to, or are you talking about taking a hand-held GPS unit with you on the boat just for speedometer purposes?

Honestly, I can see the need for the paddle wheel when and if I troll for stripers or walleye, getting the speed just right.

[zooker]

nosteeringengineerin
the gps uses a white cup antenna. when in operation you will have direct feed to at least 6 satillites all the time. because of this they can triangulate your location to with in 20 feet of so. if you move they follow. givin speed, heading,distance..

why they send a paddle wheel with these units i don't know...it is a useless add on in my opinion. since the gps will give as lil a speed as 0.0mph...

zooker

[nofearengineer]

Puker,

I think they give the paddle wheel as a option for when you want to know your speed relative to the water, as in when the walleye will hit the lures best at exactly 1.4 mph on a given day. If the water is moving, real "land speed" wouldn't mean as much.

I do know they advertise the new WAAS system as having "within less than 3 meters" accuracy, but I would bet on average, it's probably more like 20 feet, like you say.

Hmmm...the Lowrance 642ci I was looking at has GPS, but only has speed from an optional paddle wheel sensor. My stupid boat speedo starts at 20mph, so under that, I have no idea how fast I'm going.

I should probably get a handheld unit I can also use in my truck....and to calibrate my fish finder speedo, hopefully.

[JB]

my hand held or dash mount tells you the speed you're going nofear, I should have brought it out last time we fished, I was telling woody I'd be able to see how fast his boats goes.

[nofearengineer]

Originally Posted by JB

my hand held or dash mount tells you the speed you're going nofear, I should have brought it out last time we fished, I was telling woody I'd be able to see how fast his boats goes.

I don't think your gps goes fast enough for Woody's boat...j/k LOL. That boy loves his speed, he sure does. He should have been a hydroplane driver.

Anyways, I'd love to check out your GPS the next time I see you...another Brookville excursion early Fall isn't out of the question. I really don't need it just yet...I'd just like to see some hard numbers for before and after I upgrade my outboard...kind of justify it to myself a little better.

[JB]

I'll bring it, this has been the deadest june and july at the lake that I can ever remember, I'm hearing not even bluegills in farm ponds are hitting lately

[carolina-rig-01]

zooker is right about the satillites. the more satillites your unit links to the more accurate it is. i think that my side imaging unit links up to 16 at one time and gets you within 3 feet of a waypoint, if i remember right.