This course is not currently offered by Vancouver Squadron

This course is the first of a series of courses dealing with Electronic Navigation.

Covers the fundamentals of operating a GPS receiver, navigating with GPS, sources of error, selecting units and importance of chart datum. A demonstration of how to interface a GPS with a PC is included. The CD that comes with the course materials includes a GPS simulator.

Course Outline

1. Introduction
   • What is GPS?
   • Who can use GPS?
   • Aspects of Navigation
   • • Why Electronic Navigation
     • The Challenge of Navigation
   • A Brief History of GPS
   • The Components of the GPS System, and How They Work Together
     • The Space Segment
     • The Operational Segment
     • The User Segment
   • How a GPS Knows Where You Are
   • How does the Satellite Kow the Exact Time?
   • Acquiring Position
2. How to Use a GPS
   • Turning on Your GPS
   • The User Interface
     • Man Overboard
     • Looking Around
   • Simulator Mode
   • Basic Setup
     • Datum Settings
     • Distance Settings
     • Directional Settings
     • Latitude, Longitude and UTAM Format
     • Time Displays
   • Digital Displays and Course Deviation Indicator
   • The Main display
   • Zoom Capabilities
   • Satellite Transmissions
   • Features, Functions, and Capabilities of a GPS
   • Unit Sensitivity
   • Screen Displays
   • Standard Symbols
   • Icons You May Place on a Screen
   • The GPS as a Compass
   • Time and Distance for Two Legs of your Trip
   • Setting Alarms
   • Interfacing Your Unit to a PC or to a NMEA Device
   • Sun/Moon Data
   • Installing a GPS
3. The Basics of GPS
   • Categories of GPS
   • The Hand-Held GPS
   • Fixed-Mount GPS Units
   • PDAs, Palm, Tablet PCs
   • Global Positioning
     • Navigational and Positional Capabilities
     • Converting GPS Positional Information to a Postion on a Chart
     • Charts
   • Waypoints
     • Setting a Pre-Trip Waypoint
     • Mark Present Position
     • Using a Chartplotter to Enter a Waypoint
     • Setting Waypoints Underway
     • Naming Waypoints
     • Projecting a Waypoint
     • Editing Wapoints
   • Routes
     • Grouping Waypoints into a Route
     • Activating a Route
     • Running a Route
   • Dangers while running a Route
   • GPS Screens
     • Customizing a Screen
     • The Highway Screen
     • The Compass Screen
     • Cross-Track Error
     • Data or Naviational Screens
     • The Mapping Screen
   • Heading Home
4. Navigation
   • Navigation
   • GOTO
   • Time, Speed and ETA
   • The Navigation Screen
     • Using the Cross-Track Navigation Screen
     • Correcting for Cross-Track Error
   • Chartplotting Versus a GPS Display
   • "Bird Dogging "
   • Key Points to Remember
   • Summary
5. Limits of Accuracy
   • Accuracy
   • Some Background
   • Selective Availability
   • DGPS and WAAS
   • Errors
   • Dilution of Precision (DOP)
6. Other Uses for GPS
   • Measuring Current/Wind
   • Propeller Efficiency/Speed Curves
   • Setting Trim Tabs
   • Is your Prop Fouled?
   • Speed in River and Tidal Currents
   • Sailboat Tacking
   • Compass Heading
   • Sail Trim
   • Replacing Racing Instruments with a GPS
   • Tidal Waters and Leeway
   • Leeway Due to Wind and Current
   • Wind, Current, and Tide Determination
   • Use of Velocity Made Good Calculations

• Appendix 1: Latitude and Longitude
• Appendix 2: Buying a GPS
• Appendix 3: Mapping/Chartplotters
• appendix 4: Alphabet Soup - Acronyms
• Appendix 5: Useful References