Does Fog effect GPS? - The Hull Truth

KVRSOS · 08-01-2002, 12:32 PM

I was out last weekend off Long Island in a heavy fog. I used the GPS to put me back into the inlet. My Garmin 176c was off by about 100-200 feet, was this a result of the weather conditions or possibly something else wrong with the unit? It is usually good to about 20 feet.

TL- Capt. Kirk

Mumblerone · 08-01-2002, 03:43 PM

Fog has never been a problem with GPS...I use Garmin, Raytheon, and Magellan currently. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Montauk Joe · 08-01-2002, 05:04 PM

Fog or clouds will not hurt the accuracy, so long as you have a good signal you're fine. What does hurt it is the pattern of the satellites. The Garmin will tell you what the accuracy is at any given time. Is the 176 WAAS capable? IS it turned on? What did you use to judge the accuracy? If a buoy, remember that they move and are moved. Heck, out in the Race the Valient Rock buoy is nearly under water some times.

Kerry · 08-02-2002, 11:57 PM

No fog isn't a problem but others navigating in fog primarily with GPS are but.

Cheers, Kerry.

I never get lost, everybody tells me where to go!

Mumblerone · 08-05-2002, 08:41 PM

Kerry-we then crank up the radar after a couple of near misses. Seriously, I know what you mean...GPS doesn't tell what's in front of you. The good ear was great in fog when we all sailed but the motor makes it hard to hear those bells, horns, whistles and the like. Nothing like modern technology. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

nick7744 · 08-06-2002, 08:51 PM

Gosh I hope fog does not effect the GPS. I fly instrument approaches in all kind of weather with GPS and the Runway is always where the GPS says it is.