Wassup with WAAS?

If you’ve experienced odd problems with your GPS lately, you’re not alone. A number of sailors have reported that after booting up their GPS recently, the screen simply goes blank.

According to several cruisers in-the-know, the problem has to do with a recently launched satellite whose software affects GPS units which employ the WAAS protocol.

While we have not yet had confirmation from manufacturers, word on the docks is that the quick fix is for affected users to simply disable WAAS from within their unit’s set-up menu. But that’s a band-aid approach, of course. The complete fix will occur when users download new software from their unit’s manufacturer. However, in some cases, we’re told, that software may not be quite ready for distribution. Obviously, those affected should check with their GPS suppliers for a more detailed explanation.