In a method for calculating a B0 field map (a map of the basic magnetic field) in a magnetic resonance apparatus, a navigator pulse is emitted and navigator response resulting from the navigator pulse are detected in at least some channels of a multichannel RF coil array. Each channel of the multichannel RF coil array includes an RF coil and spatial information regarding the respective positions of the individual RF coils is made available to a processor, together with the multiple navigator signals. Using the spatial information obtained from the position of the RF coils that respectively detected the navigator response signals, a B0 field map is generated, without the need for spatial encoding the respective navigator response signals.