Thread: A little explaination of GPS, WAAS and using Routis

WAAS capability has nothing to do with how many satellites you can lock on to. It enables the gps to track and receive corrections signals from the WAAS satellite, when available. If the gps is receiving correction signals, it can apply them to its fix solution for better accuracy. Any software you use can then use the corrected fix for its mapping. Some programs, like Street Atlas, are WAAS-aware, in that they can display the WAAS satellite information (like the differential data) and alter the track symbol to indicate that it is WAAS-corrected. I believe Routis just displays the position, corrected or not, but no other WAAS information. That's the problem - if you're receiving a corrected fix, you won't know it, other than your position will be more accurate than if you're not.