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Configure the output of your GPS, Plotter or PC
Activate NMEA-0183 output:
It is important to make the necessary set-
tings on your Nav equipment (GPS, Plotter or
PC), to activate the transmission of the route
data towards the Tecnautic autopilot and in-
struments. Here are a few hints, for your con-
sideration:
** The Tecnautic autopilot and displays use
magnetic bearings, not true bearings. It is
recommended to select also magnetic bear-
ings in the setup of your GPS or Plotter.
** Create and activate a route in your Nav
equipment. Verify that bearing "C", cross track
error ("r" or "L") and distance to the active
waypoint are displayed on your Autopilot Dis-
play. At least bearing and cross track error are
required to permit the use of the autopilot NAV
mode.
** If your Nav equipment permits, activate
only the following output sentences: APB,
VTG and WDC. If this selection is not avail-
able, use other sentences from the table on
page 28 (lower left), to receive the required
data. For example VTG can be substituted by
RMC, APB can be substituted by (BOD+XTE),
BOD by (RMB+RMC).
** Select a repetition rate of the sentence
output as high as possible on your Nav
equipment. This might be once per second,
depending on your equipment.
** The accuracy of the cross track error
data (XTE) of the Nav equipment can be se-
lected on some models. Select three (or
more) decimal digits, if possible.
The autopilot LAND mode must only be
used, when at least three decimal digits of
the cross track error are received. That has to
be verified on the AP-Display. The third deci-
mal remains always zero, if it has not been
received by the autopilot - do not use the
LAND mode in this case.
The autopilot NAV mode can be used with
only two decimal digits received. The resolu-
tion of the cross track error is only 0.010NM in
this case.
** The Law of way point switching has to be
set up properly in your Nav equipment. It is
recommended to select (switching to the next
leg) "when abeam", or better "before abeam",
where "before" should be set to 5 seconds (or
0,005 NM to 0,010 NM).
Without verifying this setting, your Nav
equipment might switch too early to the next
way point, already far ahead of the active way
point.
** Curved tracks: If the Nav equipment
does not support curved tracks, you may split
a curved approach into a series of consecu-
tive short tracks. The difference to the next
track should not exceed 20 degrees, when
requiring accurate tracking in Land-Mode.
Contemporary Nav equipment:
All modern Nav equipment (GPS, Plotter,
PC) can provide the required basic sentences
for the autopilot.
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