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I read in Stephen Hinch's book, Outdoor Navigation with GPS, that an additional signal will be available for civilian GPS use in 2012. It will be called L2C. Does anyone know if any GPS manufacturer plans to produce a handheld model capable of receiving this new signal? Also, does anyone know if the addition of L2C will improve my effective accuracy very much? (My principal use of a GPS unit is for hiking and backpacking.)
Grant

I'm not sure about the accuracy aspect but remember that the new satellites capable of transmitting the signal will be launched over many years. It will be quite a while before there are enough in orbit to allow the signal to be used.

Given the short life expectancy of consumer electronics I'm sure that new models will be offered which will be able to use the new frequency shortly after enough satellites are available.

L2C has been on IIR-M satellites since 2005 but to be usefull there needs to be more satellites with L2C, which will occur in due course.

Manufacturers of recreational receivers will obviously produce new receivers or at least hardware/firmware that can be latter upgradeable when enough satellites with L2C are in orbit.

Most commercial receivers already have L2C capability as well as L5 and other expected GNSS constellations that will become operational in the future.

There will be improved accuracy will L2C as atmospheric modelling will be able to be done in real-time. This improved accuracy is probably not going to be of much real benefit with hiking or backpacking.

Thanks Chinook and SatNav for your very prompt replies. I think that, for now at least, I'll just stick with my Garmin GPSmap 60CSx. I also learned in Stephen Hinch's book that I should probably turn WAAS off in most of the circumstances I encounter hiking and backpacking. When I have turned it off, I do seem to get more life from my NiMH batteries and there are times when the accuracy seems better, too!!

Grant