Language Guide™ software (optional)
Users can access an optional Garmin Language Guide, with data provided
by Oxford University Press. This software suite contains a multilingual
word bank, phrase bank, and five bilingual dictionaries. The
multilingual word bank and phrase bank supports nine languages and
dialects, including American English, British English, French, German,
Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, European Portuguese, European Spanish,
and Latin American Spanish. The Language Guide lets travelers look up
and translate more than 17,000 words or 20,000 phrases per language.
Travel Guide™ software (optional)
The new Garmin Travel Guide is loaded with information provided by
Marco Polo. These guides put in-depth travel information—such as
reviews and recommendations for restaurants, tourist attractions, and
more—at the user’s fingertips.
The origins of WAASThe Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) are developing the WAAS program for use in precision flight approaches. Currently, GPS alone does not meet the FAA's navigation requirements for accuracy, integrity, and availability. WAAS corrects for GPS signal errors caused by ionospheric disturbances, timing, and satellite orbit errors, and it provides vital integrity information regarding the health of each GPS satellite.
How it Works ?WAAS consists of approximately 25 ground reference stations positioned across the United States that monitor GPS satellite data. Two master stations, located on either coast, collect data from the reference stations and create a GPS correction message. This correction accounts for GPS satellite orbit and clock drift plus signal delays caused by the atmosphere and ionosphere. The corrected differential message is then broadcast through one of two geostationary satellites, or satellites with a fixed position over the equator. The information is compatible with the basic GPS signal structure, which means any WAAS-enabled GPS receiver can read the signal.
Who benefits from WAAS?Currently, WAAS satellite coverage is only available in North America. There are no ground reference stations in South America, so even though GPS users there can receive WAAS, the signal has not been corrected and thus would not improve the accuracy of their unit. For some users in the U.S., the position of the satellites over the equator makes it difficult to receive the signals when trees or mountains obstruct the view of the horizon. WAAS signal reception is ideal for open land and marine applications. WAAS provides extended coverage both inland and offshore compared to the land-based DGPS (differential GPS) system. Another benefit of WAAS is that it does not require additional receiving equipment, while DGPS does.
Other governments are developing similar satellite-based differential systems. In Asia, it's the Japanese Multi-Functional Satellite Augmentation System (MSAS), while Europe has the Euro Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS). Eventually, GPS users around the world will have access to precise position data using these and other compatible systems.
It just keeps getting better
| 100 meters: |
Accuracy
of the original GPS system, which was subject to accuracy degradation
under the government-imposed Selective Availability (SA) program. |
|
| 15 meters: |
Typical GPS position accuracy without SA. |
| 3-5 meters: |
Typical differential GPS (DGPS) position accuracy. |
| < 3 meters: |
Typical WAAS position accuracy. |
Frequently Asked Questions1. What is the difference between Garmin Nuvi 300 and Nuvi 350 apart from the price?
Garmin Nuvi 300 and 350 have the same hardware specification. The main difference is the map data that comes with it. Nuvi 300 comes with UK and Ireland maps alone, Where as Garmin Nuvi 350 comes with street level maps of European countries (Italy and Greece, Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Czech Republic, U.K. and Ireland, France, Spain and Portugal, Nordics, Benelux)
2. Can I add traffic module to Garmin Nuvi 300/350?
Yes you can. You need GTM 12 traffic module .
