Manually Inputting Waypoints

Simon Mc said:

Now, the manual says there are 2 ways to use waypoints in a route..1) import
from a PC or 2) use existing waypoints on the device; BUT I cannot see how
to define waypoints on the Geko other than a waypoint for your current
position.

What (be polite) am I missing????? Do I need a PC to pre-plan
waypoints/routes???

On my eTrex, which I assume has not entirely dissimilar software, I
create a stack of waypoints where I am there and then and then edit
those through the waypoints page to the places I actually /want/ as
waypoints.

This works, but isn't what you'd call slick. If you plan to do lots of
pre-arranged routes by marking them in detail in advance then a PC is by
far the better method. I tend not to use mine that way, so not having
any software to do it doesn't bother me.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Pete,

Are you able to put them in in Ordnance Survey format (I think it's called
OSGB) or is the unit limited in what format you can enter? I would not want
to be juggling more than one coord system in my head at once:-/

Regards,

Simon Mc
"Peter Clinch" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Simon Mc said:

Now, the manual says there are 2 ways to use waypoints in a route..1)

import

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

from a PC or 2) use existing waypoints on the device; BUT I cannot see

how

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to define waypoints on the Geko other than a waypoint for your current
position.

What (be polite) am I missing????? Do I need a PC to pre-plan
waypoints/routes???

On my eTrex, which I assume has not entirely dissimilar software, I
create a stack of waypoints where I am there and then and then edit
those through the waypoints page to the places I actually /want/ as
waypoints.

This works, but isn't what you'd call slick. If you plan to do lots of
pre-arranged routes by marking them in detail in advance then a PC is by
far the better method. I tend not to use mine that way, so not having
any software to do it doesn't bother me.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

"Simon Mc" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Hi,

Another Geko 201 GPS question...I've read the online pdf manual, and I
cannot see how/where to manually enter waypoints into the units based
on coordinates.

Here's what I'd like to try to do...

1) Grab a 1:25000 map of, say, Northern Lake district
2) Plan a walk on paper
3) Manually enter the waypoints into the Geko in OSGB format (e.g.SY
564 553) at home before leaving, and save them as a route
4) Go walking and use the Geko for navigation

Now, the manual says there are 2 ways to use waypoints in a route..1)
import from a PC or 2) use existing waypoints on the device; BUT I
cannot see how to define waypoints on the Geko other than a waypoint
for your current position.

What (be polite) am I missing????? Do I need a PC to pre-plan
waypoints/routes???

After you have marked your current position, you can edit the co-
ordinates (and the icon) to put it anywhere you like. It is a bit fiddly
as you only have the up/down arrows rather than a keypad.

However if you have a PC, it is much easier, especially if you have
mapping software when it is just a case of clicking on the key points of
the route.

Simon Mc said:

Are you able to put them in in Ordnance Survey format (I think it's called
OSGB) or is the unit limited in what format you can enter? I would not want
to be juggling more than one coord system in my head at once:-/

If your unit is set to display position on the UK National Grid then
that's the format your locally created waypoint will display in, so
editing it to another OS grid point shouldn't create any problems.

If you're just using the unit with OS maps there is no reason to have it
set at anything other than British Grid for display format and OSGB for
datum. If you have it that way then every waypoint you work with will
always be in a recognisable and directly comparable format.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Bitstring <[email hidden]>, from the wonderful
person Simon Mc <[email hidden]> said

Quoted message said:

Hi,

Another Geko 201 GPS question...I've read the online pdf manual, and I
cannot see how/where to manually enter waypoints into the units based on
coordinates.

Here's what I'd like to try to do...

1) Grab a 1:25000 map of, say, Northern Lake district
2) Plan a walk on paper
3) Manually enter the waypoints into the Geko in OSGB format (e.g.SY 564
553) at home before leaving, and save them as a route
4) Go walking and use the Geko for navigation

Now, the manual says there are 2 ways to use waypoints in a route..1) import
from a PC or 2) use existing waypoints on the device; BUT I cannot see how
to define waypoints on the Geko other than a waypoint for your current
position.

What (be polite) am I missing????? Do I need a PC to pre-plan
waypoints/routes???

No, but doing it without one is a horrible fiddly task, and I couldn't
be @$$ed if that was the only option. You obviously have a PC, you have
a GPS, so now spend the £25 or whatever on some software to let you plan
your routes, load them into the device, and unload/display tracks when
(if) you get back. There are several options - I like Tracklogs
(www.tracklogs.co.uk) because it's easy to use, and they'll sell you
1:25k data for anyplace in the UK. Most other vendors only offer 1:25k
data for the tourist/trekking areas.

If you want a 1:25k map to walk with (or 1:12500, or 1:5000, or
whatever) you can print one off from the software, so the £25 isn't as
bad as it sounds. (Most maps you print yourself need to go in A4 plastic
pockets - PC printer inks are typically not very waterproof. 8>.)

I do load a few manual waypoints ('car', 'hotel', 'pub', 'phonebox'😉 by
pushing the button when I am there (you can then do a 'goto car' to get
some idea of how far back it is), but for navigation I load
waypoints/routes (usually several) before I leave the PC. I also load a
few 'tracklogs' as saved tracks, which I've generated by plotting routes
along all roads/footpaths/whatever (some folks do contours, or streams),
which you can then display as a 'poor mans map' even on a non-mapping
GPS - you can actually get a lot of data into a few saved tracks.

Sadly sitting in front of the PC entering 500+ points for a track is a
bit of a PITA, but does make it possible to navigate by looking at the
GPS and never referring to a map (handy when it's blowing a gale, and
the rain is horizontal).

--
GSV Three Minds in a Can
Outgoing Msgs are Turing Tested,and indistinguishable from human typing.

On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 17:21:47 +0100, GSV Three Minds in a Can wrote:

<snip>

Quoted message said:

I like Tracklogs
(www.tracklogs.co.uk) because it's easy to use, and they'll sell you
1:25k data for anyplace in the UK. Most other vendors only offer 1:25k
data for the tourist/trekking areas.

Like Simon I have been contemplating purchase of the 201 and reading the
manual in pdf. I d/ld the free Tracklogs demo this morning and it is
indeed impressive (mind you I have no experience of the alternatives). The
explanation of trackpoints / waypoints is very good and I can see why
route construction by trackpoint is a good idea, and perhaps impossible by
direct keyboard entry. It only takes a few minutes to d/l and install if
you have broadband Simon - well worthwhile.

saki

GSV Three Minds in a Can said:

I do load a few manual waypoints ('car', 'hotel', 'pub', 'phonebox'😉 by
pushing the button when I am there (you can then do a 'goto car' to get
some idea of how far back it is),

I keep a three waypoints permanently in my Garmin GPS12

00TENT
00CAR
00HOME

The reason for the 00 is to keep them at the top of the list. When I
park the car I bring up 00CAR on the waypoint page and edit the
distance to it to zero by highlighting the <dist> field and pressing
<enter>. This trick moves it quickly to where the car is rather than
editing a new waypoint each time. 00TENT is similarly mobile, but
00HOME is just there for idle curiosity.
--
Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"

Bitstring <[email hidden]>, from the
wonderful person Phil Cook <[email hidden]>
said

Quoted message said:

GSV Three Minds in a Can said:

I do load a few manual waypoints ('car', 'hotel', 'pub', 'phonebox'😉 by
pushing the button when I am there (you can then do a 'goto car' to get
some idea of how far back it is),

I keep a three waypoints permanently in my Garmin GPS12

00TENT

You mis-spelled 'Hotel' horribly there. 8>.

Quoted message said:

00CAR
00HOME

The reason for the 00 is to keep them at the top of the list.

On the Etrex you can just stick them in 'favourites' which are readily
available regardless of what they are called. Two button pushes and you
can have the favourites on the screen (I'm careful never to have more
than a dozen or so).

Quoted message said:

When I
park the car I bring up 00CAR on the waypoint page and edit the
distance to it to zero by highlighting the <dist> field and pressing
<enter>. This trick moves it quickly to where the car is rather than
editing a new waypoint each time. 00TENT is similarly mobile, but
00HOME is just there for idle curiosity.

--
GSV Three Minds in a Can
Outgoing Msgs are Turing Tested,and indistinguishable from human typing.

GSV Three Minds in a Can <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What (be polite) am I missing????? Do I need a PC to pre-plan
waypoints/routes???

No, but doing it without one is a horrible fiddly task, and I couldn't
be @$$ed if that was the only option.

It was, when I owned my first GPS. Tsk! You youngsters don't know
you're born.... ;-)
I used to be able to input a waypoint whilst walking, and without
walking off any cliffs.
--
Gordon

Bitstring <[email hidden]>, from the wonderful
person Gordon <[email hidden]> said

Quoted message said:

GSV Three Minds in a Can <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What (be polite) am I missing????? Do I need a PC to pre-plan
waypoints/routes???

No, but doing it without one is a horrible fiddly task, and I couldn't
be @$$ed if that was the only option.

It was, when I owned my first GPS. Tsk! You youngsters

Not young (I'll match you year for year, and probably have some to
spare) just too poor to buy one until the prices came down. Well, more
like 'other priorities' since I managed to buy a PC way back then.. 8>.

--
GSV Three Minds in a Can
Outgoing Msgs are Turing Tested,and indistinguishable from human typing.

"Simon Mc" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

Another Geko 201 GPS question...I've read the online pdf manual, and I
cannot see how/where to manually enter waypoints into the units based on
coordinates.

Here's what I'd like to try to do...

1) Grab a 1:25000 map of, say, Northern Lake district
2) Plan a walk on paper
3) Manually enter the waypoints into the Geko in OSGB format (e.g.SY 564
553) at home before leaving, and save them as a route
4) Go walking and use the Geko for navigation

Now, the manual says there are 2 ways to use waypoints in a route..1)

import

Quoted message said:

from a PC or 2) use existing waypoints on the device; BUT I cannot see how
to define waypoints on the Geko other than a waypoint for your current
position.

What (be polite) am I missing????? Do I need a PC to pre-plan
waypoints/routes???

Regards,

Simon Mc

I agree that the method is a bit obscure. In fact, it took me quite a while
to work it out and I never ever went back to the manual to see if I'd merely
been stupid in overlooking it.

If you go to the Waypoint screen - I assume you've worked out how to get
there), you'll see a menu option called "Mark". Highlight this and hit "OK".
The screen now shows a rather portly/average american chap holding a flag.
At the bottom, you'll see your current grid ref (OSGB format if that's your
poison). Now it's just a question of using the up/down keys to highlight the
grid ref and edit it with the up/down keys. You can also change the icon /
waypoint name. Rather long winded I'm afraid and unless I've had to change
plans, I'd always use a PC (in my case, using Anquet).

druidh

The message <[email hidden]>
from GSV Three Minds in a Can <[email hidden]> contains these words:

Quoted message said:

Not young (I'll match you year for year, and probably have some to
spare) just too poor to buy one until the prices came down. Well, more
like 'other priorities' since I managed to buy a PC way back then.. 8>

That's funny. I would have placed you a good few years younger than
Gordon (more my age in fact) rather than older. Anyway it is good to
know that old men can still get out walking. There is hope for my old
age yet. :-)

--
Roger Chapman so far this year 39 summits
New - 22 (Marilyns 8, Sweats 5, Outlying Fells 11)
Repeats - 17( Marilyns 6, Sweats 12, Wainwrights 11)
Knackered knee - 4 times

Bitstring <[email hidden]>, from the wonderful
person Roger <[email hidden]> said

Quoted message said:

The message <[email hidden]>
from GSV Three Minds in a Can <[email hidden]> contains these words:

Quoted message said:

Not young (I'll match you year for year, and probably have some to
spare) just too poor to buy one until the prices came down. Well, more
like 'other priorities' since I managed to buy a PC way back then.. 8>

That's funny. I would have placed you a good few years younger than
Gordon (more my age in fact) rather than older. Anyway it is good to
know that old men can still get out walking. There is hope for my old
age yet. :-)

It's amazing what you can do with these new titanium alloys, by way of
trekking zimmer frames. 8>.

Actually I dunno how old Gordon is .. I admit to being retired (albeit
early). And knackered, but that's mostly just out of condition, after
piloting a desk for ~30 years.

My doctor says I have the body of a 50 year old, but he can't prove it
so I'm not giving it back.

--
GSV Three Minds in a Can
Outgoing Msgs are Turing Tested,and indistinguishable from human typing.

The message <[email hidden]>
from GSV Three Minds in a Can <[email hidden]> contains these words:

Quoted message said:

Actually I dunno how old Gordon is .. I admit to being retired (albeit
early). And knackered, but that's mostly just out of condition, after
piloting a desk for ~30 years.

Don't be coy. You could, like me, have retired at 50.

--
Roger Chapman so far this year 39 summits
New - 22 (Marilyns 8, Sweats 5, Outlying Fells 11)
Repeats - 17( Marilyns 6, Sweats 12, Wainwrights 11)
Knackered knee - 4 times

Bitstring <[email hidden]>, from the wonderful
person Roger <[email hidden]> said

Quoted message said:

The message <[email hidden]>
from GSV Three Minds in a Can <[email hidden]> contains these words:

Quoted message said:

Actually I dunno how old Gordon is .. I admit to being retired (albeit
early). And knackered, but that's mostly just out of condition, after
piloting a desk for ~30 years.

Don't be coy. You could, like me, have retired at 50.

I didn't wait that long. But it was 8 years ago. 8>.

--
GSV Three Minds in a Can
Outgoing Msgs are Turing Tested,and indistinguishable from human typing.

The message <[email hidden]>
from GSV Three Minds in a Can <[email hidden]> contains these words:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Don't be coy. You could, like me, have retired at 50.

Quoted message said:

I didn't wait that long. But it was 8 years ago. 8>.

Seems like I will have to look elsewhere then for inspiration to keep me
walking through old age. :-)

--
Roger Chapman so far this year 39 summits
New - 22 (Marilyns 8, Sweats 5, Outlying Fells 11)
Repeats - 17( Marilyns 6, Sweats 12, Wainwrights 11)
Knackered knee - 4 times

Roger <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

The message <[email hidden]>
from GSV Three Minds in a Can <[email hidden]> contains these words:

Quoted message said:

Not young (I'll match you year for year, and probably have some to
spare) just too poor to buy one until the prices came down. Well, more
like 'other priorities' since I managed to buy a PC way back then.. 8>

That's funny. I would have placed you a good few years younger than
Gordon (more my age in fact) rather than older.

I was surprised too!

Quoted message said:

Anyway it is good to
know that old men can still get out walking. There is hope for my old
age yet. :-)

Just look after your knees! I've been lucky in that respect, but I
lost a couple of younger walking companions with bad knees, and a lady I
walk with sometimes who is 10 years my junior, tends to plan fairly
level walks for us, even though she has more stamina than I have.
It's her knees on descents which are her problem.

I find that after a relatively easy 8 mile walk it now takes me a full
two days before I get my full energy back, unless I make a mid-week
effort to get even as little 2 or 3 miles in on a local hill.
--
Gordon

GSV Three Minds in a Can <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Bitstring <[email hidden]>, from the wonderful
person Roger <[email hidden]> said

Quoted message said:

The message <[email hidden]>
from GSV Three Minds in a Can <[email hidden]> contains these words:

Quoted message said:

Actually I dunno how old Gordon is .. I admit to being retired (albeit
early). And knackered, but that's mostly just out of condition, after
piloting a desk for ~30 years.

Don't be coy. You could, like me, have retired at 50.

I didn't wait that long. But it was 8 years ago. 8>.

As we thought Roger, a mere boy. I'm 70, and not coy about it. 🙂
--
Gordon

Bitstring <[email hidden]>, from the wonderful (and
ancient) person Gordon <[email hidden]> said
<snip>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Anyway it is good to
know that old men can still get out walking. There is hope for my old
age yet. :-)

Just look after your knees! I've been lucky in that respect, but I
lost a couple of younger walking companions with bad knees, and a lady I
walk with sometimes who is 10 years my junior, tends to plan fairly
level walks for us, even though she has more stamina than I have.
It's her knees on descents which are her problem.

I find that after a relatively easy 8 mile walk it now takes me a full
two days before I get my full energy back, unless I make a mid-week
effort to get even as little 2 or 3 miles in on a local hill.

I'm impressed Gordon, since you win the age race by quite a few years
(17 or so). I agree about the level .. I can trot round 10 miles of
flat(ish) every day of the week (time permitting), but 10 miles up and
down Clee Hill leaves me knackered in the knees, hips, ankles for half a
week (the muscles object too, but that's more easily fixed), and down is
actually harder on everything than up is (possibly because there's less
inclination to stop and rest).

--
GSV Three Minds in a Can
Outgoing Msgs are Turing Tested,and indistinguishable from human typing.