GPS orientation

[Dubldee17]

I apologize if this sounds stupid, but how does my Garmin Stryker fishfinder know where the bow of the boat is? Is it oriented off the transducer? Does it judge it by movement? I can turn the screen any direction I want to, right? I'm just trying to be as smart as the boat. Best, DD

 

[dingbat]

I apologize if this sounds stupid, but how does my Garmin Stryker fishfinder know where the bow of the boat is?

It doesn't.........
It's simply trending off the incoming satellite data.
Not unusual to see the "arrow" going in circles while stationary

 

[Dubldee17]

OK, so if I'm backing up for a while it would show the boat icon backwards, even though the bow is still in front of me. I've seen it spinning but I didn't know what it meant. And the screen doesn't care which way it's heading. Thanks. Best, DD

 

[dingbat]

OK, so if I'm backing up for a while it would show the boat icon backwards, even though the bow is still in front of me. I've seen it spinning but I didn't know what it meant. And the screen doesn't care which way it's heading. Thanks. Best, DD

The icon is relative to the GPS sensor. Typically, but not necessarily the bow.

In case you have not figured it out, you can change the way the display orients itself.

You have your choice of "North up" or "Track up"

I use "North up" to stop the display from spinning excessively.

 

[Dubldee17]

I'll try that. I do "north up" on the bike and it makes more sense that way. I'm real new to the fishfinder and I can do okay with the sonar but I'm still trying to get the hang of the GPS. With no roads in the lake it's hard to keep a point of reference.