eTrex Touch 2 Firmware 11.07

[WallyGator]

I am back to running v10.13 and couldn't be happier...I am just declining the offer to update the unit software at power-on.

There is definitely something very wrong with v11.07's satellite constellation page and constellation selections. Using it under v10.13, swiping between the constellations is instantaneous, not the herky-jerky mess that v11.07 provides.

Map layers work correctly and stay assigned to their activities (after a bit of fiddling). I could get nothing to stick correctly under v11.07.

[GPSrChive]

1. Despite Selecting GPS only, the QZSS constellation still shows under the satellite constellation view page.

There may be some nuance here.

GPS is a global constellation, while QZSS is very localized. QZSS is actually a Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS), similar in nature to the WAAS and EGNOS SBAS systems used by previous devices that do not have Multi-Band capabilities. I suspect that, when in range, QZSS will always be displayed.

More info here.

[WallyGator]

Sounds like a more modern version of WAAS

I remember when WAAS was released from back in the day. It's use was geared more towards boating and aviation since the birds were very low on the horizon. I'd be able to periodically pick up a couple of birds from the second story window (facing the correct direction of course) with the early GPS units I had at the time (can't recall which). Not really that useful for other than boating and aviation.

[GPSrChive]

Sounds like a more modern version of WAAS

Not exactly.

WAAS

• WAAS satellites have a geostationary orbit, so they always appear in the same location over the Earths surface.
• WAAS satellites broadcast correction data collected by a network of ground based reference stations that monitor GPS satellite signals for variations caused by atmospheric disturbances, clock drift, and satellite orbit errors.
• WAAS satellites are not used to directly calculate the users position, they only provide correction data for the satellite signals that are being used.
• A GNSS receiver will only use one WAAS satellite at any given time to apply correction data.

QZSS

• QZSS satellites employ inclined elliptical geosynchronous (Tundra, or figure eight) orbits for optimal high-elevation visibility.
• QZSS primary purpose is to increase GPS availability in Japan's numerous urban canyons, where only satellites at very high elevations are visible.
• QZSS satellite are used to directly calculate the users position.
• A GNSS receiver will use all available QZSS satellites to assist with device position calculations.