Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I have a Nextar p3 GPS. For my science project, I have to be able to have a reading of longitude, latitude, and altitude with and without the WAAS system on. How do you turn the WAAS system on and off, and take the reading? Is there any other GPS model I can use that is able to turn the WAAS system on and off?

Hi,

I recommend contacting Nextar Customer service with this question at

1-888-849-0846 open(M-F, 9AM - 8PM EST, closed holidays)

Or emailing your question to

[email protected]

I could not find an online manual having the answer using Google. You may need to register your unit with Nextar to get an answer, as there seems to be a number of models of hardware and software available, and you did not give complete configuration information.

Best wishes for a great project!

Best regards,


Barrett L. Tomlinson

We tried calling nextar, but they didn't tell us anything useful. Fortunatley, my dad's friend had a GPS that can turn WAAS on and off.

I'm doing a project about how GPS errors correlate to geomagnetic storm activity in the ionosphere. The problem is that I have been getting same results with the WAAS turned on and off (resulting in 0 error). Is there a way I can fix this?

Hi,

Please do not post multiple copies of your questions, and please combine all questions on one project in a single thread. This helps experts understand your whole situation much more quickly.

As to getting the same results with WAAS on and off, this is a roblem?? My guess is that you are making measurements in a high signal strenght area with good reception. Try working in an area with poorer reception, such as inside a building or in a downtown area with lots of tall buildings around. I think that will imrove your odds of seeing errors, but that is just a guess.

Best regards,

Barrett L. Tomlinson

Hello Shayne,
Thank you for your post on Science Buddies. I'm a little unclear as to what your project is and how I can help you. But, I will do my best. WAAS accuracy is much better (more precise) than GPS, because the points are cross referenced and compared to GPS, and take into account changes in atmospheric particles, timing, and satellite errors and positioning, among others. That is why the FAA uses WAAS, not GPS. But turning off the WAAS shouldn't give you a problem, because it is still tracking by GPS, it just won't be as precise, which is, I'm assuming what your project is all about? What is your project testing, meaning, what is your hypothesis?
Is this the project you are doing? https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p009.shtml
If your device is locking up when you turn off the WAAS, could this be due to the device? I'm not a technical support person, so what does user manual tell you to do? What is the device you are using?
Also, there are plenty of apps that do the same functions as a GPS, have you checked into any of those?
Here are some resources on GPS/ WAAS:
http://www8.garmin.com/aboutGPS/waas.html
http://www.gps.gov/systems/augmentations/
http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/hea ... gnss/waas/
http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/hea ... /index.cfm

Let me know if any of that was helpful and if you have further questions, please post them in this same thread. Thanks!