EGNOS

[johntd]

can I use egnos in the UK, and is it any better than normal gps system, I have a Navman S90i

[philpugh]

EGNOS (and it's US 'sister' WASS) provide additional information on top of the standard GPS system. Simply put they provide a positional correction signal to allow suitably equipped GPS systems to get a better positional fix. Google for it and you will (more than) enough info on them. Try here to start. The signal from them is much weaker as they are in geostationary orbit and here in the UK, quite low down towards the South. Most new GPS systems will probably include the facility to enable EGNOS/WASS reception. I've tried it on mine and had reception on a couple of times - but it wasn't reliable enough reception and for most personal use apps the new, sensitive receivers (SiRF III and MTK) seem to do a decent enough job of a position fix. FWIW GARMIN models equipped with EGNOS/WASS capability warn you that enabling it will reduce battery life. Whether it's the radio reception part or additional CPU power that causes this I'm not too sure.
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Phil

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