| The technology behind GPS systems can be
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| | the GPS satellite itself so there is
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| complicated. However, a little research
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| | never a question of whether the satellite
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| into what the various systems are and how
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| | is working to its greatest potential or
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| they work can make choosing the right GPS
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| | not.
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| system an easier decision. If you have
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| | There are around 25 different ground
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| looked into purchasing a GPS or owned a
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| | stations, which WAAS uses as reference in
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| GPS system before then you probably have
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| | the United States alone. The GPS
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| seen the term WAAS either on packaging or
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| | satellite data is communicated to these
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| in ads for GPS systems.
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| | ground stations so the information can be
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| WAAS stands for Wide Area Augmentation
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| | monitored. Then the information is
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| System. WAAS is an intricate GPS
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| | compiled and sent to two master stations
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| technology, which was developed to
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| | (one on the east coast and one of the
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| provide locations that are more accurate.
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| | west coast), which correct any errors in
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| This is done through GPS signal
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| | the GPS satellite information.
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| corrections attained through a network of
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| | Corrections are made based on the orbit
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| ground stations and satellites. The
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| | of the satellite, clock drift, and delays
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| stations and the satellites work together
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| | in the signal caused by the ionosphere
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| to create plots on maps so GPS systems
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| | and atmosphere of the Earth. After the
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| can easily make this information
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| | corrections are made, the master station
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| available to the consumers that use these
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| | transmits this information to a
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| products.
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| | geostationary satellite (one of two),
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| WAAS is still being developed through the
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| | which are located in a stationary
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| joint efforts of the FAA (Federal
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| | position over the equator. Since the
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| Aviation Administration) and the DOT
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| | information is GPS compatible (the signal
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| (Department of Transportation). The
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| | structure is the same) a GPS receiver
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| reason the DOT and the FAA are developing
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| | with WAAS is able to read the signal from
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| WAAS is actually to make flight locations
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| | the satellite.
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| more accurate. WAAS works together with
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| | At the present time, only people in North
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| GPS because GPS does not currently meet
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| | America can use WAAS technology. GPS can
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| navigational requirements of the FAA on
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| | be used in South America. However, WAAS
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| its own.
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| | will not work to correct accuracy errors.
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| At this time, WAAS is five times more
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| | This is because WAAS enabled GPS
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| accurate than the average GPS system
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| | receivers cannot receive signals due to
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| technology. In fact, a GPS receiver with
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| | the fact that South America has no ground
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| WAAS capabilities can maintain an
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| | stations. WAAS technology is constantly
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| accuracy of three meters or less over 90%
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| | being tweaked and improved though, so in
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| of the time. Of course, the best feature
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| | time it could become available across the
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| of WAAS is that it is built in to certain
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| | world.
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| GPS systems. This means there are no
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| | For now, it is best to use WAAS enabled
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| additional fees and you do not have to
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| | GPS systems in open land or at sea. Since
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| order any additional receivers or other
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| | the stationary satellites are at the
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| equipment for WAAS to work correctly.
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| | equator, it can be hard to receive the
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| Additionally, depending on the type of
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| | transmission if you are not close to the
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| GPS device you own, you may be able to
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| | equator or if the signal is being blocked
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| upgrade your GPS system to start using
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| | by mountains, trees, or other natural and
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| WAAS capabilities if it does not do so
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| | man made objects that get in the way.
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| already.
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| | While WAAS technology is not perfect, it
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| GPS alone faces problems such as
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| | is much better than what is currently
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| ionospheric disturbances, precision
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| | available. As the system improves, the
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| timing, and orbit errors for the
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| | accuracy will improve, making WAAS one of
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| satellites used. However, when used
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| | the leading technology systems for GPS
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| together with WAAS, these three main
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| | receivers. You can find out if a GPS
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| problems, as well as smaller errors in
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| | system is WAAS compatible by looking on
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| the GPS system are corrected. WAAS is
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| | its package or searching online.
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| also capable of providing information on
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