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Posts: 717
Location: Grand Rapids, MI | I have a Lowrance H2O. I did some night fishing during the past few months, and noticed something strange. I would make a trail while fishing during the day, and then went back at night to follow the trail again. But, if I would've followed the trail I made, I would've been over 100' off, and up in the street! It has done this about 6 times in a row. Flawless during the day, then at night, it's all off. My waypoints are still on for structure (mostly) but the trail is just totally messed. Anyone have this happen to them? |
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| GPS has a lot error over even short periods due to satellite movement. On some units you can add GPS position error to your overlay data. I highly suggest doing this so you can be aware when there are significant error rates in play. I have seen up to 250ft on some outings. That could be the difference between hitting and not hitting a little island in the dark. |
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Posts: 304
Location: Lino Lakes, MN | Disclamer --- the uncorrected postion on a gps reciever in your phone, in your boat or even a $30,000 survey grade reciever is still no better than 300 feet--- however many times -most of the time it is WAY better than that.
Do not navagate by GPS in the dark--- Know where you are at all times. Boats run aground every year because someone is following a plotted trail-----
I surveyed in the field for several years and our corrected accuracys were incredible but there were times durring each and every day that the accuracy was poor.
the GPS uses the constalation of moving satelites in different orbits coming into and out of the field that the gps reciever uses. Trying to over simplify things IF all the satelites are in one direction or low on the horizon you will have poor accuracy. If the satelites were evenly spaced all around you you would generally have very good accuracy. Your reciever probably is a 12 channel reciever meaning that it will track 12 satelites at a time. If half of those are in poor position they will affect your accuracy.
Sorry if this is a poor example- How old is your H2O? it may be an eight channel reciever-
Be safe
Steve |
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Posts: 717
Location: Grand Rapids, MI | I want to say it's around 5-6 yrs old... It's just very frustrating when you are trying to troll some structure, and you run too shallow and have to pull in all your lines. >:( I always thought GPS was used as a "tripod" positioning. I guess that would be the minimum that you need for a reading, but if there is at least 8?? You would think it would be spot on.
So, if it's a satellite/horizon thing, I guess I'm wondering if there are other Lowrance users out there having the same issues? Or is it just my "older" unit? |
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Location: 31 | JimtenHaaf - 10/2/2012 9:13 PM
I want to say it's around 5-6 yrs old... It's just very frustrating when you are trying to troll some structure, and you run too shallow and have to pull in all your lines. >:( I always thought GPS was used as a "tripod" positioning. I guess that would be the minimum that you need for a reading, but if there is at least 8?? You would think it would be spot on.
So, if it's a satellite/horizon thing, I guess I'm wondering if there are other Lowrance users out there having the same issues? Or is it just my "older" unit?
WOW that's weird and I don't think the problem is because you have an older unit. Heck, even even with the black-and-white X-15 the icons and trails have been spot on for me. I would add that I pretty much fish with icons and don't even use the maps or sonar once I get to know an area well.
AND YIKES... if these things can be that inaccurate, what does this say about using the MOB feature?
There's got to be a problem with your trails... considering you know what the problem is, why not just delete the trails each time out and substitute them with icons that you know will be accurate for now? |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | We were out on the Larry yesterday and a few times the unit showed us running over the channel bouys and fortunately we missed them by 30 feet |
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Posts: 717
Location: Grand Rapids, MI | Well, part of the other problem that I have, is that the screen will skip around sometimes too. It won't tell me I've lost my position, but I'll be heading straight north, let's say, and the screen will turn to the East and West. So, I'll be heading straight for some icons that I have while trolling, then the screen says I have to turn right. No, back straight. No, left. No, left more *&#%@ I just ran up on 5' instead of 18' like I was shooting for! |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | Phone lowrance possibly the unit needs a reboot. Save your icons because a reboot will wipe them. |
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| In my experience, if I am moving very slow with the boat it will not save the trail correctly.
Edited by Baby Mallard 10/3/2012 6:47 PM
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Posts: 537
Location: Gilberts IL/Rhinelander WI | Scary thought actually, I follow my trails at night, going way too fast and way too close to hazards. Something to think about... |
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Location: 31 | JimtenHaaf - 10/3/2012 5:45 PM
Well, part of the other problem that I have, is that the screen will skip around sometimes too. It won't tell me I've lost my position, but I'll be heading straight north, let's say, and the screen will turn to the East and West. So, I'll be heading straight for some icons that I have while trolling, then the screen says I have to turn right. No, back straight. No, left. No, left more *&#%@ I just ran up on 5' instead of 18' like I was shooting for!
Yeah, sounds like you have more issures there than just the trails. Might need service or it's just time to pitch it.
Edited by Jerry Newman 10/4/2012 7:44 AM
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Posts: 128
| A few things I can think of. Probably already thought of it but you never know.
Make sure your amount of zoom is the same every time. That will introduce a bunch of error.
Make sure your update time is turned to as fast as possible. I think it's every second with that unit. If you have a power cord it's no issue, if you are using batteries (I lost my cord) it will eat up batteries much faster when doing the faster position updates.
If you are looking for another H20 let me know I have one, and could trade ya for a few baits or something. |
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Posts: 717
Location: Grand Rapids, MI | smallmouth/musky - 10/4/2012 10:01 AM
A few things I can think of. Probably already thought of it but you never know.
Make sure your amount of zoom is the same every time. That will introduce a bunch of error.
Make sure your update time is turned to as fast as possible. I think it's every second with that unit. If you have a power cord it's no issue, if you are using batteries (I lost my cord) it will eat up batteries much faster when doing the faster position updates.
If you are looking for another H20 let me know I have one, and could trade ya for a few baits or something.
Thx! And no... I haven't thought of any of those! LOL. But I will give them a try. I DO have a power cord. I wasn't aware that the update times are adjustable. |
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Posts: 128
| JimtenHaaf - 10/8/2012 9:23 PM
smallmouth/musky - 10/4/2012 10:01 AM
A few things I can think of. Probably already thought of it but you never know.
Make sure your amount of zoom is the same every time. That will introduce a bunch of error.
Make sure your update time is turned to as fast as possible. I think it's every second with that unit. If you have a power cord it's no issue, if you are using batteries (I lost my cord) it will eat up batteries much faster when doing the faster position updates.
If you are looking for another H20 let me know I have one, and could trade ya for a few baits or something.
Thx! And no... I haven't thought of any of those! LOL. But I will give them a try. I DO have a power cord. I wasn't aware that the update times are adjustable.
I would have to get my H20 out to double check but I think that you adjust position updates in "power save mode". When you get in there you can change it from updates 1/second to as slow as 1/10 or 15 seconds.
Also if you mark a position and fish it zoomed all the way in, then the next time you go back you are zoomed farther out, the screen will put you on the spot......Until you zoom in further and you will see you are farther away. |
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GPS different during night?