Raymarine has released software updates for C- and E-Series multifunction displays, fixing some of their GPS receivers that were affected by the FAA’s decomissioning of two WAAS satellites (as discussed previously).
Just to clarify, this software upgrade is needed to keep your GPS position data ultra-precise (within 1 meter almost all the time), but if you don’t update, you’ll still have plain old ordinary GPS accuracy (within 15 meters almost all the time).
You’ll need a CompactFlash (CF) memory card, and in my experience, if you’ve ever used the card for other data (in a camera, for instance), it’s a good idea to completely reformat it before copying the software upgrade package.
…This just in…
One early report from C-Brat Merv indicates that you’ll need to go in and turn WAAS on after you’ve upgraded the software. In the GPS status screen…
You need to press the second soft key from the right “OTHER” and you will get a series of options where the top one is “WAAS” : On/OFF
If you select WAAS:ON and go back to the GPS Status screen it will shortly thereafter go and find [WAAS satellites].
Intuitive, it is not.
Work, it does.
May the force be with you.
Thank you, Yoda…er…Merv.
…And another update…
I just got back from installing it on my C-80, and just as Merv says, you need to have both “WAAS” and “Diff GPS” set to “On” for things to work right. If you turn either off, the WAAS satellites won’t appear.
