GPS Training Podcast – number 97

GPS Training Podcast

This year’s Summer Spine Race series, GPS accuracy, getting the best battery life on a GPS unit or watch whilst participating in an Ultramarathon and Andy’s Top Tips.

In this month’s GPS Training Podcast

1. We look forward to this year’s Spine Race and how our race prep is doing

2. GPS accuracy – What is good, settings and how have things changed over the years?

3. Getting the best out of your battery – during an ultra event – both units and watches

4. Andy’s top tips

1. We look forward to this year’s Spine Event

x 4 distances

Sprint – Starts Saturday afternoon – 15^th June –
46 miles
18 hours to complete
Edale to Hebdon Bridge

Spine Challenger South – Starts Saturday morning – 15^th June –
108 miles
60 hours to complete
Edale to Hardraw
CP1 – Hebdon Hay, CP 1.5 – Malham Tarn

Spine Challenger North – Starts Monday morning – 17^th June –
160 miles
90 hours to complete
Hardraw to Kirk Yetholm, Scottish Borders
CP1 – Low Way Farm, Middleton on Teesdale
CP2 – Alston YH
CP3 – Bellingham
CP3.5 – Byrness

Full Spine Race – Starts Sunday morning – 16^th June –
268 miles
156 hours to complete

Edale to Kirk Yetholm, Scottish Borders

Paul Turner, Byrness Hill – Walking an epic 1000 mile. His walk will include both the Coast to Coast & the Pennine Way (walking each twice) & finishing with the Yorkshire Dales Centurion Walk.

Paul’s Just Giving page – https://www.justgiving.com/team/pauls1000miletrek

– Training

– Doing anything different this year

– Thoughts ahead of this year’s event?

Jon’s Just Giving – https://www.justgiving.com/team/spinenorthjon

Andy’s Just Giving – https://www.justgiving.com/team/andyayrespinechallenger

2. GPS accuracy – What is good, settings and how have things changed over the years?

3 x Satellites show position 2d, 4 x Satellites 3d elevation

What is Multi GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite system)
Device picks up more than one set of Satellite Constellations
Main ones we use in devices such as Garmin, TwoNav, Coros

GPS – USA 1978 started Military – Global use 1994
31 Satellites
Glonass – Russian development 1976 – operational early 80’s
24 Satellites operational
Galileo – EU – 2016 started
26 Operational
Beidou – China – Started 2012
56 Operational
Twonav does not use duel frequency but multi-band uses 3 x satellite constellations at once, we have been using GPS, Galileo & Beidou and seeing under 10 feet and have seen down to 4 – 5 feet
GPSMap65,67 dual frequency have seen down to 6 feet
Generally we find other handhelds picking up either GPS & Glonass or GPS & Galileo around 10 – 12 feet
Garmin Watches do not show an accuracy screen
Coros has a Satellite screen where you can see how many are in view and how many are strongly locked on

What is Dual Frequency / Multi Band
Use Coros Article

GPS – 18 satellite transmit at L1 & L5
Glonass – older L1 & L2 no L5

Galileo – all E1 & E5
Beidou – all B1 & B2

Devices we sell with dual frequency Epix gen 2, Fenix 7 sapphire solar & pro models
GPSMap65,65s,66sr,67,67i

How accurate is a GPS unit/ watch video – https://gpstraining.co.uk/blogs/reviews/how-accurate-is-a-gps-unit-and-which-is-the-most-accurate-gps-unit

3. Getting the best out of your battery – during an ultra event – both units and watches

We always talk about backlight if you have option to reduce, not leaving on map page, turning off HR on watches, coros turn off stress monitoring, nighttime coros use nightmode, gesture control vastly improved or just tap backlight button etc, map North up although we do prefer track up

Handhelds use battery save mode screen off

But carrying on from the discussion about satellites
My own Epix 2 Pro 51mm
GPS Only – 82 hrs
All Systems not dual ie Multiband – 61hrs
All systems + multi-band – 37 hrs
Auto select picks satellite so battery will go up and down – 58hrs approx.

Coros Apex 2 pro
GPS Only – 66hrs
All Systems – 41hrs
All System Dual – 24hrs

4. Top Tips

View your 1:25k maps in BaseCamp – V3

Card reader on pc or adaptor like the one we stock makes maps so much quicker

Video – Taking you through the option – GPSTraining.co.uk > Product Reviews > View your Garmin 1:25k Ordnance Survey maps in Garmin BaseCamp