BLUE RIDGE WINGS, VA CH Y

The Global Positioning System (GPS)

Understanding the functional characteristics and navigational attributes

of GPS devices for the motorcyclist

Rick BakerBlue Ridge Wings, VA CH Y

20-Apr-08

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CAUTION

The Blue Ridge Wings provide this information to its participants to familiarize motorcyclists with the functional capabilities and navigational attributes of the Global Positioning System. The GWRRA or VA District or Chapter Y does not render any professional navigation or piloting services or advice related to the actual use of GPS nor accepts any liability for user use of the GPS system. Use of the GPS for navigation on board a motorcycle can be hazardous if not used correctly!

Because of the rapidly changing nature of the GPS system, the wide array of GPS commercial receiver products available, and the potential interference which may degrade the accuracy on such systems, the contents and recommendations contained in this presentation may become outdated or inappropriate for situations actually encountered on the highway existing at the time of the use of any such systems.

We strongly encourage GPS users to consult their specific product documentation and GPS and Motorcycle Operator’s manuals for detailed instructions on proper operations and maintenance and for applicable precautions on the use of the product.

The Blue Ridge Wings provide this information to its participants to familiarize motorcyclists with the functional capabilities and navigational attributes of the Global Positioning System. The GWRRA or VA District or Chapter Y does not render any professional navigation or piloting services or advice related to the actual use of GPS nor accepts any liability for user use of the GPS system. Use of the GPS for navigation on board a motorcycle can be hazardous if not used correctly!

Because of the rapidly changing nature of the GPS system, the wide array of GPS commercial receiver products available, and the potential interference which may degrade the accuracy on such systems, the contents and recommendations contained in this presentation may become outdated or inappropriate for situations actually encountered on the highway existing at the time of the use of any such systems.

We strongly encourage GPS users to consult their specific product documentation and GPS and Motorcycle Operator’s manuals for detailed instructions on proper operations and maintenance and for applicable precautions on the use of the product.

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Why Rick Baker?

• 23 years of Marine Navigation, C. Bay, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Bahamas, and Caribbean

• LORAN C Navigation Since 1993• GPS and Chartplotter Navigation since 1998

• Navigation Instructor since 1992, both power and sail boats─ Classroom and On-The-Water

• Highway User of GPS since 2004 on Motorcycles and Cars

• Air Force Master Space Operator and Master Missilier Duties included:

─ Military uses of GPS─ Adjunct to DoD Office of Space Policy

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What We Covered – Part I

• An overview of the Global Positioning System (GPS)

─ What it is

─ How it works

• The Types of GPS receivers available

─ Standard GPS receivers

─ Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) receivers

─ Compared Accuracies – See next slide

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Accuracy Summary

50 ft

33 ft

DGPS 95%

< 10 feet WAAS 95%

GPS – Day to Day, No SA DitheringApprox 100 feet

6 FootM/C

Repeatability Accuracy of LORANApprox 50 – 300 feet

GPS Accuracy with SA Dithering “On” approx 330 feet

~ SA DOES NOT AFFECT THE ACCURACYSA DOES NOT AFFECT THE ACCURACYOF DGPS OR WAAS GPS SYSTEMSOF DGPS OR WAAS GPS SYSTEMSAccuracies are Radii

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Why GPS On A Motorcycle?

• Listening to GPS “Turn” Directions is the Number One Safety Feature of Using a GPS For Motorcycle Navigation vs. Looking at a Map or Turn-by-Turn Directions

• Solve “I’m Lost” Situations

• Scenic Route Choices Are Amazing and Rewarding

• Choose “Off Interstate” Routes More Often

• Eliminates “Most” Wrong Turns and U-Turns

• Better “Lead” Team Rider

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What We Will Cover Today – Part II

• Typical GPS Receiver Operation─ Basic use and layouts

─ Features

─ Screen and menu layouts

• Typical Motorcycle GPS Receivers─  Garmin 276C/376C/476C Multi-Purpose GPS Units

─  Garmin Zumo 550 Motorcycle GPS Unit

─ Honda Gold Wing Navigation System

• Route Plotting at Home or In Your Garage─ Two Waypoint Method with Robust Use of Via Points

─ Learn How To Route Plan Easily On The Road

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Routing Use of GPS

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Using a GPS Receiver to Navigate

• Where Am I?─ Addressed by the GPS unit

• Where Am I Going?─ Addressed by the Human Motorcyclist: The

Rider/CoRider

• What Route Should Be Used?─ Can be addressed by various points in the GPS─ Selected by Motorcyclist

• When Will I Arrive?─ Can be calculated by the GPS unit

• Are There Any Hazards to be Avoided?─ May be downloaded continuously by the GPS!

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Waypoints

• Waypoint─ Unique name or number ─ Latitude and Longitude─ A Point of Interest─ Somewhere We’ve Been Before─ Somewhere We’d Like To Go

• Via Point: A route point without much other meaning

• Points of Interest stored in GPS─ Points to Navigate to─ Businesses and other Community Landmarks for Reference─ Places to avoid – danger

• GPS Unit─ Total number of Waypoints depends on GPS unit─ Pre-programmed or entered with “mark” button or cursor

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Waypoints

• Once the waypoints are stored─ They can be edited

Renamed Moved Flagged with unique symbol Notes added (some units)

─ They can be called up individually

─ They can be assembled into a “route”

• Waypoints will remain in non-volatile memory when unit is turned off

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After the Waypoint is Selected

• GPS computes the course─ From your current location

Using road preferences

– Quickest (least time)

– Shortest (least distance)

– Most Scenic

Things to Avoid

– Custom Avoids

– Select Detour Zone

• Plots course

─ From current location to waypoint Map Page – On Roads

List of Waypoints

Points of Interest

Finds

• The GPS Unit DOES NOT:

─ Qualify the path for hazards or

traffic jams, unless you: Use FM Traffic Radio Service

Use XM Traffic Radio

Use “DASH” GPS Unit

• You need Maps to:

─ Plan your trip

─ Back up your GPS Unit

─ See the bigger picture

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Creating a Route

• GPS can store a route─ Sequence of waypoints or via points─ Creates a sequence of “legs”─ Route may have a name

• Routes─ Can be edited ─ Can be activated – forward or reverse

• Waypoints are just─ Names, Numbers, or L/Lo coordinates─ Important to not overly rely on waypoints─ Use Via Points instead of multiple Waypoints

For turnpoints without much further meaning─ Should scrutinize route for accuracy before using!

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Planning a Trip

• A Trip Usually Consists at Least Two Points:─ Starting and Stopping Points >> Waypoints

• An Interesting Trip Consists of Varied Roads and Sights─ GPS can determine quickest, shortest, and scenic route─ You can Custom Build A Route with Waypoints and Via Points

Use Via Points for Trivial stops and turns Best Done Prior To Trip (Home, Office, Garage)

• You Can Change A Trip’s Route─ In Your Hotel Room: On the GPS, On A Laptop – New Planning

─ On The Motorcycle: Just Do It – The GPS “Recalculates” The Route Based On Last Route

Preference: Quickest, Shortest, or Scenic Add or Delete Via Points and Waypoints - Careful Make A Detour Around Construction or Traffic Delays

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376C & 550 – Traffic Radio Options

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GPS Review

• Garmin x76 Series Multi-Purpose GPS Units─ 276C─ 376C + Adds XM Weather and Traffic─ 478C + Adds Better Marine Charting

• Garmin Zumo 550 Motorcycle Specific GPS Unit─ XM Wx, XM & FM traffic, MP3, Cell Phone & BT

Connect

• Honda Gold Wing Navigation System

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Garmin x76C Series

• Sunlight Readable Screen

• Marine and Land

• 512 MB Data Memory Card

• Voice Prompts

• Voice Interface to M/C

• Waterproof

• 3000 WPTs; 50 Routes

• 2-D Map View

• XM Wx and Radio

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x76 - Power, Brightness, & Volume

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x76 - Satellite Reception & Menu Page

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x76 - Pages

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x76 – Waypoint Page

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x76 – Turn Direction Page

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x76 – Trip Computer Page

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x76 – Route List Page

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x76 – Waypoint List Page

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Garmin Zumo 550

• White Backlight Screen• Motorcycle GPS • SD Memory Card• Voice w/ Street Names• Bluetooth Phone• Needs “Talk” Interface

for Cell Phone• Can Listen on Aux• Waterproof• 500 WPTs; 50 Routes• 3-D Map View• XM Wx and Radio• MP3 Player• Audio Books• Gloved Touch Screen

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Zumo – Menu Page

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Zumo – Map Page

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Zumo – Fuel Gauge Feature

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Zumo – Going To A Destination

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Garmin – Route Following

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Zumo – Map Page Features

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Zumo – Other Pages

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Zumo – Communications

• Can Use Zumo’s Built-In BlueTooth Interface to Phone and/or Helmet

• Interface Zumo to Gold Wing Commo:• Listen Only to Aux • Add Talk with

Interface Box• Listening to GPS Turn

Voice Prompts is the Number One Safety Feature of Using a GPS For Motorcycle Navigation

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Garmin Traffic Information

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Zumo – Traffic Codes and Symbols

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Garmin – Using XM Weather and Radio

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Zumo – Supported Files

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Zumo – Set Up Information

Select Track Up or 3-D

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Zumo – Set Up Information

Choose:• Time Format• Time Zone (ET)• DST – Auto• Units - Miles

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Garmin – Avoidance SetUps

NO DIRT ROADS!

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Zumo – Display Options

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Zumo – Keyboard Options

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Interfaces

• Gold Wing Aux Jack

• Blue Tooth To Helmet

• Kennedy Technologies Interface to Aux and/Or Intercom

• J&M Electronics

• “Aux” is Listen Only – Great for Music Players─ Not So Good For GPS

• “Intercom” is Talk and Listen – Best for GPS and Must Use for Cell Phones─ Not So Good For Music

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Garmin GPS276c

Yellow Box

FRONT OF

BIKE

REAR

’03 GL1800A Gold WingElectronics Additions

Roady2 Antenna

Aux Input

Intercom

Speedo

Cell Phone

Bike “Switched”Power (ACC Connector in Left Pocket

SpeedSensor

OwnBattPwr

XM Sat Rcvr

Isolator

J&M Filter

1.

2.

1. Cell Interface2. GPS Interface

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Kennedy Technologies Interfaces

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Honda GL Navigation System

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Honda Nav System

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Honda Nav – Operating Controls

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Honda Nav - Menus

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Honda Nav – Map Screen

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Honda Nav – Map Screen Choices

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Honda Nav – Map Turn Prompts

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Honda Nav – Zooming In and Out

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Honda Nav – Typing Names

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All GPS System Limitations

Honda Nav System Manual

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GPS Review

• Garmin x76 Series Multi-Purpose GPS Units─ 276C─ 376C – Addition of XM Weather and Radio─ 478C – Charting addition not useful to motorcyclist

• Garmin Zumo 550 Motorcycle Specific GPS Unit─ XM Wx, XM & FM traffic, MP3, Cell Phone & BT Connect

• Honda Gold Wing Navigation System

Shop For Best Prices: Costco, West Marine, Best Buy, PriceGrabber.com, etc.

XM Radio or FM Traffic Alert Feature adds to initial cost and requires a monthly user fee

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GPS Rough Price Comparison

• Garmin x76 Series Multi-Purpose GPS Units─ 276C $419 + M/C Interfaces* + Commo Interfaces**─ 376C $614 + M/C Interfaces* + Commo Interfaces**

• Garmin Zumo 550 Motorcycle Specific GPS Unit─ $615 + Potential Commo Interfaces to Intercom or Bluetooth**

• Honda Gold Wing Navigation System~ $1,000, but comes bundled with other great accessories for ~ $2,000

* M/C Interfaces: Power and Voice Wires + Mounts ~ $150** Commo Interfaces ~ $175

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How To Make Navigation Easier

• Using GPS ─ Precise Position – continuously – It’s Thing!

• Best Rider User Approach:─ Create pre-qualified routes at home

String Via Points together to create Routes Qualify them to be free of obstacles, on the roads you want

to ride, and within ride timelines

─ On-the-Road – follow the routes Only need to refer to maps on occasion Key – stay on course to next Waypoint or Via Point Remember – You are the human in the system!

– If you want to deviate, let GPS recalculate your route on the “fly” Use the “Detour” function in traffic back ups

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How To Make Navigation Easier

• Read the GPS Operating Manual─ 1st Read It Through The First Time Alone─ 2nd Read It Through Alongside The GPS Unit─ 3rd Read It Again After Your First Long Ride─ 4th Read It Again After Your Third Long Ride─ 5th Read It Before Every Summer Riding Season

• Learn To Use The Companion PC/Laptop/Mac Navigation Planning Software Program─ Practice In The Winter By Building Routes For The Summer─ Use Via Points and “Click and Drag” Routes─ Learn How To Interface with GPS Easily

• Take A Small Laptop On The Road: GPS Route Planning, Photo Capture, Email, and Internet

• Take Small Scale, Large Area Maps of Your Route For Planning and Emergency Purposes Only

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How to Use GPS Better

• You Are The Human!

• A “City’s” Waypoint Is Its Main Post Office Downtown

• Sometimes You Build In Error Into Your Routes─ Pre-Qualify the Route On a Computer or Zoomed “In” Map

• If You Reroute “On-The-Fly”:─ A Pre-Planned Route: GPS Will Try To Get You Back On Course

Patience If you turn GPS volume OFF; Remember to turn back ON later!

─ To A Waypoint: GPS Will Simply Recalculate a New Route

• You Are The Human!

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What’s New? DASH

• Newest GPS and Realtime Networked Traffic Service

• Internet Connected GPS In Your Vehicle

• Each User’s GPS Transmits Its Speeds

• GPS Will Route Around Current Traffic Tie-Ups

• GPS Will Download New Map Updates

• GPS – Laptop Wireless Interface

• $399.99 + Monthly Service Plan

• Not Yet Motorcycle Friendly─ Not Waterproof─ No Waypoints─ Built In Speaker─ Unusual Shape

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What We Covered Today – Part II

• Typical GPS Receiver Operation─ Basic layouts

─ Features

─ Screen and menu layouts

• Typical Motorcycle GPS Receivers─  Garmin 276C/376C/478C Multi-Purpose GPS Units

─  Garmin Zumo 550 Motorcycle GPS Unit

─ Honda Gold Wing Navigation System

• Route Plotting at Home or In Your Garage─ Two Waypoint Method with Robust Use of Via Points

─ Learn How To Route Plan Easily On The Road