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  #17  
Old April 25th 06, 05:16 PM posted to rec.aviation.ifr
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Default Accuracy of GPS in Garmin 430/530

"* It helps to educate me about GPS and conditions in my immediate
surroundings that might affect accuracy of the technology.
* It helps to alert me about possibly deteriorating conditions, before
I get into a situation where I needed to rely on the instrument and
suddenly I cannot."

In an airplane, your immediate surroundings should have no bearing on
your GPS accuracy unless you're flying under bridges, trees, through
tunnels...you get the idea. Keep in mind that the GPS constellation is
constantly moving so there are no dead areas, like you might have with
a VOR signal. I'm not sure what you mean by deteriorating
conditions...how is your meter going to predict ionospheric activity or
a satellite going off line? It's not like bars on a cell phone.

Regarding standards for handheld GPS, who would enforce the standards?
What if a particular receiver did meet the standards?