When do you use your GPS?

I use my GPS everytime we go bush.

I generally use it in conjuction with a paper Map... the screen is a bit small for wider navigation ( Magellan meridian)... I've just started messing with an old laptop and moving map!~!... lots to learn but tons of fun.

I find the GPS is awsome for confirming locations on a map... or giving me that magic bread trail .... to follow back if I am exploring new country with tons of different tracks ( like in pine forests where it all looks the same 8O )

..... but the best use....... we set a waypoint at my mates beer fridge..( It's usually got more beer in it than mine )

:twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

No matter where I am in Aus.... I always know how far I am from a coldie :roll: :roll: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

The story of the GPS being put "out" by the millitary was true when they first came out on the market, but that system was shut down years ago, due to the fact that so many companies/armies/people use it now they had to ditch it.
I've got the standard hand heald unit and use it when I go fishing, to find wrecks to fish off, the unit I've got gets me to within 3m every time.

Cheers Larns

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Originally posted by Larns
The story of the GPS being put "out" by the millitary was true when they first came out on the market, but that system was shut down years ago, due to the fact that so many companies/armies/people use it now they had to ditch it.
I've got the standard hand heald unit and use it when I go fishing, to find wrecks to fish off, the unit I've got gets me to within 3m every time.

Cheers Larns

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Funny how I have heard this said before and yet as recently as the second Gulf War the GPS system was given a 700 mtr deviation by the boffins. For allies, they simply tell the troops by encrypted message what today's deviation is so they can enter it into the GPS units. Anyone who doesn't know is either on the wrong side or has no business knowing!

Fact is they can and still do set errors as a matter of course when they worry about the bad guys....sorry...apposing forces (can't go upsetting the buggers or offending them now, can we!) having GPS to locate fiendly units for indirect fire. (Indirect fire is the stuff that apears from behind hills and whistles as it approaches to take out your mates...)

How do I use my GPS you ask.....well that's easy...I have paper map, a silva compass, a protractor, pencil and accurate odometer or I pace it out if I'm on foot......if you can't do it that way, you've no business trying to navigate anywhere. (Personal opinion of course [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif[/img] )

Sláinte

Antaine Wrote:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>How do I use my GPS you ask.....well that's easy...I have paper map, a silva compass, a protractor, pencil and accurate odometer or I pace it out if I'm on foot......if you can't do it that way, you've no business trying to navigate anywhere. (Personal opinion of course )
[/b][/quote]

[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img] I have to agree.... if you don't carry a map and compass.... and know how to use them... you probably shouldn't be there.

That said I do use my gps frequently... just another tool to the armoury [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif[/img]

You'd be mad to say I have a GPS... don't need map and compass.... electronic things die!..... so they tell me 8O

I guess the same can be said for the humble compass though.... if you know how to navigate you should know how to work out north etc WITHOUT the aid of a compass.

I have a couple of GPS systems.

When travelling I use a bluetooth or CF GPS unit with my Pocket PC. I have Sat Nav and UBD type software loaded onto it, so I can get directions to go somewhere or just find out where I am. Have used this when both driving (voice directions) and walking (exploring an unknown town, just keep walking until I want to go home, then use Sat Nav to get home).

When exploring I have a laptop loaded with a number of different maps. I use my Bluetooth GPS unit with a Bluetooth receiver in the laptop. This gives me moving map display - basically a paper map on the screen with my position overlaid.

Its a bit cumbersome but can work well. Better than being lost!

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Originally posted by Bytemrk

I guess the same can be said for the humble compass though.... if you know how to navigate you should know how to work out north etc WITHOUT the aid of a compass.

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I can navigate to 8 figures on the ground with a compass and to 4-6 without a compass. 4 figures = 1km deviation, 6 figures equals 100 mtr deviation and 8 figures = 10 mtr deviation.

I can also do a map resection which no GPS can do.....of course if you don't know what a resection is, then you're waaaay behind the eightball when your GPS dies. :?

If you 'aim off' consistently on known map features you can always be assured of knowing which side of the feature you strike then simply turn left or right as appropriate. My 'GPS' never dies from electrical failure EMP or any other nasty that may affect poorly shielded electronics (read water) and I can't beat the satisfaction of getting myself to the buried treasure. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]

Ohh and I can still call in indirect fire :twisted:

Sláinte

The GPS "error" was called Selective Availabilty and that was disabled in 2000 by Clinton. GPSRs are now accurate to 5-10 metres, there is no deliberate error any more.

The US Military can re-introduce the error to selected parts of the world, or deny service entirely. That is called Regional Denial (or something).

Also, should have mentioned that there is a military version of GPS which is more accurate than the civvy systems.

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Originally posted by rmp
Also, should have mentioned that there is a military version of GPS which is more accurate than the civvy systems.

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The Mil version is s'posedly accurate to 1 mtr on the ground...when I was with Arty, the lads surveyed several gun platforms against the GPS and found it to be out by enough figures to make it unviable for locating an arty unit...of course the figures would have suited any grunt who is used to a 10-100 mtr "triangle of error" anyway.

As the tech progress I assume this will be rectified to the point where you could locate 1 field piece on the ground to within acceptable tolerances.

Soldiers will always be taught how to navigate the old fashioned way though as it just makes better sense. Tech is just tech and will always be prone to fail.

Sláinte