"Jeremy Lew" wrote in message ...

This is not scientific in any way, but judging from the maps I have made
overlaying my GPS track on geo-referenced satellite images (using
USAPhotoMaps and TerraServer), it is extremely accurate. This track data
was made using my Garmin 196, I think WAAS was active at the time (although
it was before the official rollout).

http://home.comcast.net/~jslew/Photomap2m.png

Looks like you're flying one of ECAC's Warriors? Pretty impressive.

Kind of reminds me of bringing my father's sailboat up the Connecticut
River in 1/4mi viz. fog. He has DGPS and radar, and at slack tide, if
you navigated straight to where the GPS said the buoy would be, you'd
probably hit it. Accuracy was close to that provided by the radar set,
and a lot easier to read. Of course the GPS can't tell you where the
other boats are...

Everyone agrees GPS, even if "just a handheld," is probably the most
accurate navigational system onboard. It's all a question of how far
you carry that. Me, I prefer to split differences wherever possible.
Anything to increase the odds of catching a really bad error before
it's too late.

Best,
-cwk.