APPENDIX > LORAN TD SETUP
LORAN TD Setup
LORAN C is a radio navigation aid operated and maintained in the United States by the United States Coast Guard. The name LORAN is an acronym for “LOng RAnge Navigation.” The LORAN system covers the entire United States and the United States Coastal Confluence Zone. From the perspective of a mariner, the system is used for ocean and coastal navigation. It can be used as a supplemental system for harbor and harbor approach navigation, and it is used for inland navigation by recreational vehicles.
LORAN TD Feature
The LORAN TD (Time Delay) feature eases the transition from using LORAN to using GPS. The GPSMAP 296 unit automatically converts GPS coordinates to LORAN TDs for those who have a collection of LORAN fixes for favorite fishing spots and other waypoints recorded as TDs. You can show your location as a TD or enter waypoints as TDs. The accuracy to be expected from this conversion is approximately thirty (30) meters. When the unit is placed in the LORAN TD format mode, it simulates the operation of a LORAN receiver. Location coordinates can be showed as TDs, and all navigation functions can be used as if the unit was actually receiving LORAN signals.
Using the LORAN TD Format
When creating new waypoints using LORAN TD coordinates, you must set the correct LORAN chain number and secondary stations in the Setup TD field before storing the waypoint. After the waypoint is stored in unit memory, it always reference the LORAN chain number and secondary stations currently selected in the Setup TD field. If you enter a different LORAN chain number, or change the secondary stations or offsets in the Setup TD field, the active waypoint information does reflect those changes. Since the GPSMAP 296 does not rely on the LORAN signal for navigation, it can reference a different GRI chain and/or secondary stations and still navigate to the location stored in memory.
The LORAN Location Format field is located under the Units sub tab in the Main Menu. The LORAN TD Setup window contains the fields to select the Loran
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