Garmin 530/430 Question

120@8' · Post by **120@8'** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 11:15 pm

We just got a new Garmin 530/430 package in our plane. Everything seems to be fine except that we noticed that all of our bearing's are 3-6 degrees right of what every other GPS has said. All I have been able to figure out is that the "Auto" Magnetic Variation is not the same as the CFS. I was wondering if anyone else has run into this problem.

C-GPFG · Post by **C-GPFG** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 6:28 am

We noticed that as well when our company first got the 430's. Apparently the database has more accurate magnetic variation than approach plates. So sometimes some of the magnetic tracks will show slightly off of published ones.

Howitzer · Post by **Howitzer** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 11:43 am

It will always be a few degrees off. However, make sure that you're in the NAD83 Database instead of the WGS84, otherwise your errors maybe much more significant.

co-joe · Post by **co-joe** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 5:03 pm

Funny howitzer but our company ground school teacher said either database should work. BTW we work together again you an I. See you at the Christmas party.

Perhaps this issue will be addressed with the new database updates. YYC departure has just this week started issuing "...on departure heading 013 degrees..." instead of the old 010 degrees etc... So maybe garmin is just a little behind the times.

Howitzer · Post by **Howitzer** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 8:59 pm

I'm not refuting whether or not if it works, but rather it's accuracy. I would ventre that most maps in North America are based off of the North American Datum 1983, such as our beloved CAP chart, which incidentily, has "NAD83" printed on almost every page. The NAD83 mapping model and the WGS84 model are different because the centre of earth's mass is now measured more accurately. WGS84 shifted to incoporate this, NAD83 did not. Granted, the difference is quite small.

Lurch · Post by **Lurch** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 9:32 pm

co-joe wrote:Perhaps this issue will be addressed with the new database updates. YYC departure has just this week started issuing "...on departure heading 013 degrees..." instead of the old 010 degrees etc... So maybe garmin is just a little behind the times.

Funny you should say that, I just noticed the heading differance tonight, It caught my attention for a second but then I got busy and forgot about it.

Thanks

Lurch

confuzed · Post by **confuzed** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 2:48 pm

Another quick question for those with this style of GPS. I'm reading through all the manuals and what not that was provided for training and can't seem to find two acronyms. Does anyone know what the acronyms EPE and DOP that is found on the satellite status page? Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

chipmunk · Post by **chipmunk** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 2:51 pm

Estimated Position Error

and

Dilution of Precision.

From the G1000 Pilot's Guide (downloadable for free on Garmin.com, I'd imagine there would be something similar for other common types):

The Satellite Status Page also indicates the accuracy of the position fix, using Estimated Position Error (EPE) and Dilution of Precision (DOP) figures. DOP measures satellite geometry quality (i.e., number of satellites received and where they are relative to each other) on a range from 0.0 to 9.9. The lowest numbers denote the best accuracy and the highest numbers denote the worst. EPE uses DOP and other factors to calculate a horizontal position error in feet or meters.

Kejowi · Post by **Kejowi** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 11:22 pm

For anyone who has the Garmins and flies around YVR, have you noticed on the latest database updates that 'MACAR' isn't there anymore? When I try to add it to a flightplan, it just brings up the one in Chile....with no other options.

sidestick stirrer · Post by **sidestick stirrer** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 9:30 pm

I'm just beginning to play with a 430 for the first time, and, as far as I can tell, when building a flightplan, every last waypoint has to be inserted, instead of just putting in the airways.
If that doesn't make it virtually useless for airway crawling in crowded airspace......

ahramin · Post by **ahramin** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 9:50 pm

My FMS does not have MACAR either. Is it on any of the new charts? Or was it a VFR callup?

tumbleweed · Post by **tumbleweed** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 9:26 am

I don't have any charts in front of me but is MACAR the start of a procedure? I have noticed that my Garmins will tell me that the faf I might enter into a flight plan doesn't exist. But if you use the procedure button it will pull up the approach the desired fix is used. Then you can load the approach into the flight plan then hit direct to the fix you need.

YYC the place to be · Post by **YYC the place to be** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 8:05 pm

Just for everyone to be aware that the databases for the Garmins are provided by jeppesen, and from my past experiance with Jepp sometimes they are the ones who are out of date with updates. For example, headings and altitudes etc... So maybe it could just be jepps fumble and not a issue witht he GPS itself.

Just a thought.