Garmin GPSMAP 3205 Owner's Manual

Also see for GPSMAP 3205 - Marine GPS Receiver: Installation instructions Installation instructions Quick reference guide Template manual Owner's manual

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Garmin GPSMAP 3205 Owner's Manual Manual pdf 107 page image

GPSMAP 3205 Owner’s Manual aPPendIX > dIgItal selectIve callIng (dsc)WAAS CapabilityThe GPSMAP 3205 is capable of receiving WAAS satellite signals. WAAS isan FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) funded project to improve the overallaccuracy and integrity of the GPS signal for aviation use, but land and sea-basedusers can also benefit from this system. There are currently two WAAS satellitesthat can be received in the USA, one over the Atlantic Ocean and one over thePacific Ocean, in a geostationary orbit over the equator. Effective use of theWAAS satellite signal may be limited by your geographic location in relation tothose satellites, now in developmental service. WAAS satellite signal receptionrequires an absolute clear view of the sky and works best when there are nonearby obstructions such as buildings or mountains.WAAS satellites are numbered 33 or higher when viewing the sky view on yourGPSMAP 3205. Initial reception of the WAAS signal may take up to 15-20minutes, then 1–2 minutes afterwards. When WAAS differential correction hasbeen received for GPS satellites (numbers 32 or below), a “D” appears in thesignal bar of the sky view and “Ready For Navigation with WAAS” appears inthe Status field. To learn more about the WAAS system, its satellite locationsand current state of development, visit the FAA web site (gps.faa.gov). BecauseWAAS requires CPU resources of the GPSMAP 3205 to search for and trackthe satellites, you can disable the WAAS feature to improve unit performance ifWAAS reception is not available in your area.To disable or enable WAAS capability:1. On the GPS tab, highlight the Setup sub tab.2. Use the ROCKER to highlight the WAAS field, and press ENTER.3. Highlight On or Off, and press ENTER.Digital Selective Calling (DSC)Digital Selective Calling (DSC) uses marine VHF radio and Global PositioningSystem (GPS) technologies to transmit and receive location information. DSC isused by mariners to assist them in two major areas: Distress Calls and PositionReporting.A non-emergency DSC Position Report allows mariners to exchange and displaythe positions of one another. When a DSC position is received, the mariner canchoose to create a waypoint or to show the received position on an electronicmap.An emergency DSC Distress Call allows a vessel in trouble to transmit asubstantial amount of information in a single transmission or “call,” withoutthe need for voice communication. When any nearby rescuer receives the DSCsignal, an alarm sounds and they immediately receive the position of the caller.The rescuer can then choose to navigate (Go To) the callers position to assist orforward the call on to the Coast Guard. When the Coast Guard receives the call,they can immediately access the callers information (such as who they are and thetype of vessel) in their database while they are in transit to the callers position.Any time a vessel receives a DSC call, they can store that location and quicklynavigate to that position using a Go To. This makes DSC a time-saver, especiallyin an emergency situation. To use DSC, users must first register their VHF radiowith the FCC and receive a Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number.