Humminbird 1198 and UTM Coordinate System

[Tellicorick]

Anyone here know if the HB 1198 will support the UTM Coordinate System? I'm very familiar with this system and would like to run it, if possible. I've tried to go in on the Menu and select, but can't find it there.

Another reason, buddy and I put in a lot of structure in his boat and he has Lowrance and using UTM to mark the waypoints. I know there are conversions out there, but character for character the UTM system is accurate to 1 meter (3 feet) and using Lat-Long it's accurate to within 10 feet. I really need to be closer than 10 feet 'cause my structure ain't that big.

[Humminbird_Greg]

Tellicorick,
No the UTM coordinate system is not one of the selectable options in the Humminbird unit. However, if you select the DD.ddddd coordinate system you should be able to mark out to 3.65 feet according to my calculations. Would that be close enough?

Keep in mind here that the GPS system we are allowed to use my not be that accurate so you could still end up 10+ feet away from your actual structure – and that’s saying the structure does not move after you sink it…

[Tellicorick]

Greg,

Appreciate you responding to this. My structure should be stable, good weight to keep it down and it's not in any channel, so I should be okay on position. If your calculations are correct, then this will be on the order of accuracy of UTM; it's 1 meter, based on same number of characters - good enough. But what do you mean "the GPS system we are allowed to use"? I know R&D machines probably have greater accuracy, but why would HB have any reason not to sell us the most accurate machine possible? If it has to do with processing software maturity, I understand - if HB will provide these product improvements in software releases. Any potential of HB using UTM or a software update for greater accuracy?

[Allan]

I believe he is talking about the satellites that the government allows us to use.

[Humminbird_Greg]

Allan nailed it. The U.S. Government does not allow us to access the PPS (Precise Positioning Service) signal that the military uses, so we can only be as accurate as the SPS (Standard Position Service) signals allow us to be.

“Any potential of HB using UTM or a software update for greater accuracy?”
Sure there is. Not sure how far we would want to go in making an educated guess as to your position or heading though. In general we do not like to make estimates or show inaccurate data that is not ‘live’. As for adding UTM coordinates as an option, I would contact the Humminbird Customer Resource folks and suggest that as a future software upgrade. I’m going to add it to the Wish List on the Yahoo Humminbird web site for you.