Pack your old sextant before this weekend cruise. GPS System Time rolls over at midnight Saturday. Newer receivers should be OK but old ones may think it's 6 January 1980, and heaven knows where it thinks you are. For more info check the USCG web-site: http://www.navcen.uscg.mil/gps/geninfo/y2k/ USCG Groups have broadcast announcements this week but the weekend sailors probably haven't been warned. Even owners of new GPS units should be prepared with alternate nav aids this weekend. But isn't that what the 'startup' page always told us? Ken S/V Wouff Hong
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Don't think so!
The previous response will cause you to end to in Timbuktu. The programmed almanac in the GPS units undoubtedly will not match the satellite orientation from 1990. You will know immediately if your unit is not compliant. Break out the old LORAN just in case. BTW, I can't even change the date on my GPS.
The previous response will cause you to end to in Timbuktu. The programmed almanac in the GPS units undoubtedly will not match the satellite orientation from 1990. You will know immediately if your unit is not compliant. Break out the old LORAN just in case. BTW, I can't even change the date on my GPS.
No can do!
I've never seen a GPS that you can change the date on. Unless you have a really old GPS don't worry they should be fine. MPJ
I've never seen a GPS that you can change the date on. Unless you have a really old GPS don't worry they should be fine. MPJ
For more info...
Hate to refer people to another site, but in this case www.sailnet.com has a good article on the GPS rollover that will occur this weekend. There are also links to sites where you can check your units compliance. Suggest that if you are going cruising this weekend that you check your unit. Even some of the newer units will experience some problems. Scott 83-H34 Island Hops
Hate to refer people to another site, but in this case www.sailnet.com has a good article on the GPS rollover that will occur this weekend. There are also links to sites where you can check your units compliance. Suggest that if you are going cruising this weekend that you check your unit. Even some of the newer units will experience some problems. Scott 83-H34 Island Hops
Garmin GPS Site
If you have a Garmin GPS, contact their site [www.garmin.com] for info on the GPS rollover this weekend. They've got a listing of all their products, and whether each is compliant or not, and what to do if it isn't. Michael O'
If you have a Garmin GPS, contact their site [www.garmin.com] for info on the GPS rollover this weekend. They've got a listing of all their products, and whether each is compliant or not, and what to do if it isn't. Michael O'
Well it came
It's after 5pm PCT and my GPS's worked just fine. I was watching both my Megellan 5000 (92) and my Garmin 220 (95) and nothing happened. I turned them off and they came back on line right away.
It's after 5pm PCT and my GPS's worked just fine. I was watching both my Megellan 5000 (92) and my Garmin 220 (95) and nothing happened. I turned them off and they came back on line right away.
Roll your leg over....
The first reply (Rick's) probably meant to say change the date to 1980 (Y0K for GPS). GPS uses a memory block of 1024 weeks (just like your computer's memory of 1 Kbts=1024 bytes). Since the GPS week started on Jan 1, 1980, 1024 divided by 52 weeks/year equals about 19.7 years or Aug 22, 1999. This is a simplification of the issue. And even if you could set your GPS to 1980, I don't believe your GPS unit would work right. My Garmin GPS 75 was running at midnight GMT (8 PM East Coast time) and did all right. I did not notice anything wrong but I only left it running about 10 more minutes. Restarting it the next day and it took a long time to acquire the satellites. I had to restart it with the zero held down (just like Garmin said in their web page) and it acquired the satellites in about 15 mins. I could have downloaded some software to solve this problem but I don't have a computer to GPS cable. I could also do a master reset but that would wipe out all my stored waypoints. I will live with a slow start up for the next month when this problem inside my GPS unit will no longer be an issue. This EOW (End of Week) is not a GPS problem; it is a problem with how my GPS UNIT deals with the GPS calendar as it is!
The first reply (Rick's) probably meant to say change the date to 1980 (Y0K for GPS). GPS uses a memory block of 1024 weeks (just like your computer's memory of 1 Kbts=1024 bytes). Since the GPS week started on Jan 1, 1980, 1024 divided by 52 weeks/year equals about 19.7 years or Aug 22, 1999. This is a simplification of the issue. And even if you could set your GPS to 1980, I don't believe your GPS unit would work right. My Garmin GPS 75 was running at midnight GMT (8 PM East Coast time) and did all right. I did not notice anything wrong but I only left it running about 10 more minutes. Restarting it the next day and it took a long time to acquire the satellites. I had to restart it with the zero held down (just like Garmin said in their web page) and it acquired the satellites in about 15 mins. I could have downloaded some software to solve this problem but I don't have a computer to GPS cable. I could also do a master reset but that would wipe out all my stored waypoints. I will live with a slow start up for the next month when this problem inside my GPS unit will no longer be an issue. This EOW (End of Week) is not a GPS problem; it is a problem with how my GPS UNIT deals with the GPS calendar as it is!
Micrologic failed
Micrologic sportsman GPS bitten by the GPS rollover bug. Time/date ok but it doesn't have a clue where I am. Estimate to upgrade is $150 - I guess it's time for a new unit.
Micrologic sportsman GPS bitten by the GPS rollover bug. Time/date ok but it doesn't have a clue where I am. Estimate to upgrade is $150 - I guess it's time for a new unit.
Micrologic failure
sure enough, our Micrologic failed with flying colors. It couldn't pick up any satellites at all and had no clue as to where we were. Micrologic's out of business so I guess it's time to hit West Marine.
sure enough, our Micrologic failed with flying colors. It couldn't pick up any satellites at all and had no clue as to where we were. Micrologic's out of business so I guess it's time to hit West Marine.
Garmin 45 Failed
My GArmin 45 did not pick up any satellites. Garmin has a software to download to the GPS but I have got no cable. Will wait for a month to see if things works otherwise it might be time for a new unit but that will be after Jan 2000!
My GArmin 45 did not pick up any satellites. Garmin has a software to download to the GPS but I have got no cable. Will wait for a month to see if things works otherwise it might be time for a new unit but that will be after Jan 2000!
Micrologic in business !!
Micrologic is back in business after a near Chapter 11. They are backing all their products' warranties. This past winter I had them add differential to my 350 and it works beautifully. I now have accuracy to 9 feet !! The 350 has tides and 15,000 lights and buoys built in. You should check it out if you're considering a new model. The new 360 has a keypad for waypoint entry which is a nice feature. I purchased their Waypoint Manager software and I can now upload and download waypoints from my CO.
Micrologic is back in business after a near Chapter 11. They are backing all their products' warranties. This past winter I had them add differential to my 350 and it works beautifully. I now have accuracy to 9 feet !! The 350 has tides and 15,000 lights and buoys built in. You should check it out if you're considering a new model. The new 360 has a keypad for waypoint entry which is a nice feature. I purchased their Waypoint Manager software and I can now upload and download waypoints from my CO.
Garmin 48 Fine
No problems with the G48. Why wait until Jan, 2000? The year already rolled over for the GPS.
No problems with the G48. Why wait until Jan, 2000? The year already rolled over for the GPS.
Address for Micrologic Please!
If anyone has a phone number or e-mail address for micrologic please let me knoe. Thanks, Gene Roberts eroberts@crosslink.net
If anyone has a phone number or e-mail address for micrologic please let me knoe. Thanks, Gene Roberts eroberts@crosslink.net
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