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Information on the GPS Diagnostic View

Updated

In order to provide information on GPS signal quality and position error, our Humminbird units have a designated GPS view to display this. 

On the HELIX series, this is called GPS Diagnostic View. APEX and SOLIX models have a GPS Widget on the Home screen. 

HELIX GPS Diagnostic View

Getting there:

There are two methods:

  1. Power unit on in Normal Mode > press the MENU button twice to open main menu > use LEFT or RIGHT cursor to select Views > use the DOWN cursor key to select GPS Diagnostic View > use RIGHT cursor key to set to Visible > press the EXIT button twice to leave the main menu > press the VIEW or EXIT buttons to cycle through the views until you land on the GPS Diagnostic View screen.
  2. Power unit on and start in Normal Mode > hold down the VIEW button until the "Views" menu appears on screen > select System and press the RIGHT cursor key > select GPS Diagnostic View and press the RIGHT cursor key.

What does the information on the GPS screen mean?

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  1. This section is the unit's Data Boxes that can be displayed as an optional data overlay. These are managed in the Setup menu.
  2. This area displays the satellites your unit is currently pinging off, which ones it is monitoring, and the signal strength for each satellite. The distinction is represented by the color of the signal strength indicator: gold for active and gray for monitoring.
  3. This area show two things:
    1. Fix Type: Your overall position accuracy represented by 4 reports: Enhanced, 3D Fix, 2D Fix and No Fix. Enhanced or 3D Fix are required for normal operation of GPS related functions including marking waypoints and displaying chart data. 2D Fix indicates that you have a very weak satellite signal resulting in a high degree of error, and No Fix indicates that there is no consistent satellite communication.
    2. Source: This will display either Internal GPS or External GPS; showing whether your unit is using its own internal GPS antenna or and external antenna such as the AS GPS HS.
  4. This area shows the unit's current global position indicated by the Latitude (NORTH) and Longitude (WEST) coordinates.
  5. Current date and time provided through the GPS are displayed here.
  6. The four data boxes in this section reflect the overall GPS signal quality of your Humminbird.
    1. HDOP: stands for Horizontal Dilution of Precision and this is used to calculate the Estimated Position Error. The smaller this number is, the more accurate your position reading.
    2. Est Pos Error: This is the estimated position error of your GPS. The example above shows 17.4 ft which means the vessel's position on the screen or any waypoint marked can be 17.4ft off from the actual.
    3. Average CNO: This is the average Carrier to Noise Ratio of all satellites in use, measured in dBHz.
    4. Top 4: This is the average CNO of the 4 strongest satellites in use. 
      • When using the unit's internal GPS, it is desirable for this number to be 30 or higher.
      • When using an external GPS, it is desirable for this number to be 35 or higher.
      • Important! Lower numbers could indicate the GPS antenna's view of the sky is physically blocked or the presence of RF or electromagnetic interference.
  7. Two items in this area:
    1. Speed: This is your vessel's current travel speed measured by the GPS.
    2. COG: This stands for "Course Over Ground" and it represents the vessel's direction of travel measured in degrees.
  8. This section reflects the storage capacity and card type inserted into each card slot on your Humminbird. Three dashes is displayed when the unit does not detect a card in that slot. Also, in units that have only one card slot, there will be only one box shown.
    • For more information on how different card types are displayed, please visit our article on this topic. 

APEX and SOLIX GPS View

Getting there?

  • Power the unit on in Normal Mode > Press the HOME key > select the GPS widget.solix-gps_widget.png

What does the information on the GPS screen mean?

The GPS view is divided into two screens shown below: Satellites and Signal Strength

Figure A- Satellites 
solix_satellites_diagram.jpg

Figure B- Signal Strengthsolix-_signal_srength_diagram.jpg

  1. Source: This displays the antenna currently selected as the GPS source for the data displayed.
  2. Fix Type: Your overall position accuracy represented by 4 reports: Enhanced, 3D Fix, 2D Fix and No Fix. Enhanced or 3D Fix are required for normal operation of GPS related functions including marking waypoints and displaying chart data. 2D Fix indicates that you have a very weak satellite signal resulting in a high degree of error, and No Fix indicates that there is no consistent satellite communication.
  3. Position: This area shows the unit's current global position indicated by the Latitude (NORTH) and Longitude (WEST) coordinates.
  4. This area displays the satellites your unit is currently pinging off and which ones it is monitoring. The distinction is represented by the color of the circle: gold for active and teal for monitoring.
  5. GPS Source: Here you can change the GPS source selected for your GPS (1) and GPS (2). 
  6. These data boxes display the following GPS related data:
    • Heading: The direction the boat is facing measured in degrees.
    • HDOP: stands for Horizontal Dilution of Precision and this is used to calculate the Estimated Position Error. The smaller this number is, the more accurate your position reading.
    • GPS COG: This stands for "Course Over Ground" and it represents the vessel's direction of travel measured in degrees.
    • GPS SOG: This is the vessel's current speed of travel.
    • Average CNO: This is the average Carrier to Noise Ratio of all satellites in use, measured in dBHz.
    • Top 4: This is the average CNO of the 4 strongest satellites in use. 
      • When using the unit's internal GPS, it is desirable for this number to be 30 or higher.
      • When using an external GPS, it is desirable for this number to be 35 or higher.
      • Important! Lower numbers could indicate the GPS antenna's view of the sky is physically blocked or the presence of RF or electromagnetic interference.
    • Pitch: The rotation angle of the boat from front to back (bow to stern).
    • Roll: The rotation angle of the boat from side to side (port to starboard).
  7. Signal Strength: The gold bars represent the signal strength (CNo) for each active satellite, and the teal bars represent the signal strength (CNo) for each monitored satellite.
    • Measured in dBHz on a scale from 0 to 50. 
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