Early Planning

The GPS units require signal from the open sky.
I have only ever had issues where the GPS unit was on the dash and overheated.
If you are in the open and the unit antenna has un impeded access to the sky, you should have no problems.
Cheers
Duncan

The GPS satellites fly around the Earth at a fixed altitude. Therefore, the signal is the same everywhere at sea level. There is a very small signal increase as you gain altitude but as the satellites orbit at an altitude of 21,000 km, you have to fly at a very high altitude to make any noticeable difference in signal strength. See GPS Satellite Power Output.

If you are travelling in open county with few or no trees, you should not experience any change in the signals you receive from any of the birds. If you are travelling in very hilly country or where there is significant tree coverage then you may experience difficulties. When you have a high cliff beside you, it will block signals coming from low angle signals from that side and also you may have signals bouncing off the rocks that will change the timing of received signals thus causing problems. I regularly pass through a cutting on the M1 motorway near Tuggerah. Each time I drive through it, the GPS speed increases, although I am travelling on cruise control.

When travelling in forest country you will also get problems. In Tasmania, some roads have so much tree cover that you totally lose sight of nearly all the satellites that could have otherwise been in view. You need to see a few of them at all times if you wish to have continuous guidance.

When you are out west of Hillston the country is devoid of big trees, hills and big rocks. You should have excellent GPS signal coverage out there. Where were you when you were experiencing GPS problems?

Michael

From what you have said in your original question, do you really know what you are on about?

You say your GPS has sent you off to the wrong place…..

This has nothing to do what so ever with a GPS, but rather the navigation system you are using.

As for relying on your in car navigation in your Toyota and your big Garmin, it sounds like you are using navigators that are only designed for city use and true remote locations around Australia.

I suggest that you get yourself a true moving map setup with a dedicated GPS receiver that will talk only to your dedicated moving map system and give you extremely accurate details of your exact location.

I have been using OziExplorer for nearly 20 years, with dedicated, topographical maps of the area we are travelling through a laptop computer coupled with a GPS received.

This system is not used as an go to system, but purely a moving map to give my precise location on the map. If you did not want to use a system like I use, the HEMA HX2 is a very simple plug and play system with accurate maps.

Modern true standalone GPS receivers have changed over the years and depending on the receiver you are using, you will have an accuracy of 4 metres or less.

There has only been one time ever when we were doing a 15 kilometre hike to a degree confluence location near Woomera where my GSP started off with an accuracy of 2 metres and then an hour into the walk blew out to 150 metres accuracy and as quick as it blew out, returned to normal when we arrived at the confluence.

Further enquires after the walk through other sources, I found out that the US were going GPS jamming texting in Woomera.

As has already been mentioned, all the GPS are at set, fixed location in spaced, and that data is then received anywhere on the earths surface that can receive GPS Data, the very same data that is used for PLB’s that are used in life threatening situations, SPOT GPS trackers etc.

So rather blaming the GPS system, blame the systems you are using and upgrade to a true moving map system.

Day
I have no trouble with my navigator , if she says turn left , that's where I go even if it is the wrong way. It all come good in the end,