Garmin GPSMAP 66sr: Assessment of Its GNSS Observations and Centimeter-Accurate Positioning

Abstract

In 2020, Garmin released one of the first consumer devices with a dual-frequency GNSS chip and a quadrifilar helix antenna: GPSMAP 66sr. The device is intended to serve as a positioning and navigation device for outdoor recreation purposes with positioning accuracies on the few meter level. However, due to its highly accurate GNSS dual-frequency carrier-phase observations, the equipment can also be used for centimeter-accurate positioning. We performed extensive test measurements and analyzed the quality of its code and carrier-phase observations. We calibrated the Garmin GPSMAP 66sr antenna with respect to its phase-center offset and phase-center variations. We also performed dual-frequency GPS/Galileo precise point positioning (PPP) and precise relative positioning in baselines to virtual reference stations (VRS). We demonstrate and explain how centimeter-accurate positioning can be achieved with this novel kind of equipment.