Magellan GPS

[Engineman1]

I bought a Magellan GPS Sportrak Pro. I drove along a road that was about 500
feet from the ocean and it showed that I was 250 feet out in the water. I took
it back and they gave me another. It was just as bad. Were both of these
devices defective or is that all the accuracy I can expect? The mfgr. claims it
to be sensetive to within 3 yards.
Engineman1

 

[Duncan McNiven]

I bought a Magellan GPS Sportrak Pro. I drove along a road that was about 500
feet from the ocean and it showed that I was 250 feet out in the water.

Were your feet wet?

I took
it back and they gave me another. It was just as bad. Were both of these
devices defective or is that all the accuracy I can expect? The mfgr. claims it
to be sensetive to within 3 yards.

The accuracy varies, but is typically a few yeards. However, the map is
often very inaccurate, as you have seen. According to my Garmin, my home
is in the middle of a lake.

On some GPS there is an option to lock your position to the nearest
road. Does your Magellan offer that?

The alt.satellite.gps group is (or was when I lurked there) very active
with some knowledgable people who might help more.

 

[MetalHead]

I bought a Magellan GPS Sportrak Pro. I drove along a road that was about 500
feet from the ocean and it showed that I was 250 feet out in the water. I took
it back and they gave me another. It was just as bad. Were both of these
devices defective or is that all the accuracy I can expect? The mfgr. claims it
to be sensetive to within 3 yards.
Engineman1

Were there high hills or maybe a cliff on the inland side of the road?
Blocking the satellites in one direction can give you poor accuracy like
that. If there is a number labeled DOP on the display, it is a measure
of goodness of the position fix. DOP numbers above 4 or 5 start giving
poor accuracy. Another thing to try would be to get out of the car with
the GPS and see if the accuracy improves. The car roof will block
satellite visibility.

If there weren't hills or a cliff blocking the sky view, it is probably
either a poor map or a poor unit.

Bob