Garmin Launches New Handheld Devices Enabled with ISRO NavIC

Garmin, a renowned manufacturer that delivers innovative GPS technology across diverse markets, including aviation, marine, fitness, outdoor recreation, tracking, and mobile apps, has launched new ISRO NavIC enabled handheld devices GPSMAP 66sr and GPSMAP 65s in India. ISRO states that NavIC will enhance the accuracy and availability of signals in the hilly terrain as well as the urban canyon. The organisation also acknowledged Garmin’s initiative to incorporate NavIC in these handheld devices.

Some of the Key Features of the Garmin Handheld Devices with ISRO NaVIC

• Garmin says that the devices are Made for India, and made for NaVIC.
• Users can lock their devices with a four digit password.
• Additional language support has been added in Hindi and English.
• Usability with night vision goggles has been supported.
• Free lifetime offline satellite imagery is being offered.
• The devices work on multiband L1 and L5 GPS.

NavIC also recently adopted indigenously developed digital codes designed by ISRO and IISc, and some of the new features introduced with regard to this development are as follows:

• NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) is currently functional with signals in L5 and S bands.
• A new civilian signal is being introduced in L1 band in the upcoming NavIC satellites.
• ISRO and IISc have jointly designed innovative spreading codes having better even-correlation performance than the existing spreading codes.
• These codes will now be used in the new L1 signal.
• This is a significant achievement in the navigation signal domain.
• A patent has been filed and reviews are encouraging.
• This development further strengthens the Government of India’s initiative of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

ISRO NavIC, which is the operational name for the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), has also been recognised by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) as a component of the World-Wide Radio Navigation System (WWRNS). This recognition was awarded to ISRO NavIC in the 102nd meeting of the Maritime Safety Committee of IMO (MSC 102) held last year in November 2020.