Advice on GPS

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

Quoted message said:

Hi, first time poster here, Im after any opinions on learning how to get the
best out of a gps unit, Im newish to walking,(I don't mean Im just out of
nappies) but I have had a small amount experience with gps on water. TIA

Depends what you want to do with it and what sort of GPS model you have.
Personally I like to load routes / waypoints / maps into mine before I
start, and then download tracks/waypoints when i get back (so I can see
where I went and what was there) .. this requires something like
Oziexplorer and some scanned maps, or else Tracklogs/Anquet/Memory Map
and some OS mapping data.

If your GPS will accept uploaded mapping then there are (free) contour
maps available from www.smc.org. If not you can sort of fake it with
saved tracks, and waypoints.

--
GSV Three Minds in a Can
Google may be your friend, but groups.google.com posters definitely aren't.

ROBERT COOMER said:

Hi, first time poster here, Im after any opinions on learning how to get the
best out of a gps unit, Im newish to walking,(I don't mean Im just out of
nappies) but I have had a small amount experience with gps on water. TIA

You can walk on water? How appropriate for Easter!

Seriously though this is likely to start a "not that topic again" kind
of thing, this is often discussed! It might be worth looking at the
archives on Google or somewhere - but OTOH no-one seems to agree
anything, so maybe not...

I tend to use my GPS as "This is the route I intend to take. I won't
bother to look at the map too much, just follow the arrow and look at
the scenery" and then "Oh... is that where we had to divert around that
<insert obstacle here>" when I find I can't go where I intended.

Don't forget, maps and compasses don't have batteries or complicated
electronics that can die on you.

Andy

ooops

make that www.smc.org.uk

--
GSV Three Minds in a Can
Google may be your friend, but groups.google.com posters definitely aren't.

You all use GPS overlay maps - tsk tsk
;-)

I'm still looking for a small enough (and cheap!) unit to measure
speed/distance, but also give a Grid Ref reading.
Found the first two, but still waiting for the third,without incurring the
weight/functions of a simple Garmin E-Trex for instance

It's still too much fun looking at the paper map to give it up just yet

"Andy Champ" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

ROBERT COOMER said:

Hi, first time poster here, Im after any opinions on learning how to get
the best out of a gps unit, Im newish to walking,(I don't mean Im just
out of nappies) but I have had a small amount experience with gps on
water. TIA

You can walk on water? How appropriate for Easter!

Seriously though this is likely to start a "not that topic again" kind of
thing, this is often discussed! It might be worth looking at the archives
on Google or somewhere - but OTOH no-one seems to agree anything, so maybe
not...

I tend to use my GPS as "This is the route I intend to take. I won't
bother to look at the map too much, just follow the arrow and look at the
scenery" and then "Oh... is that where we had to divert around that
<insert obstacle here>" when I find I can't go where I intended.

Don't forget, maps and compasses don't have batteries or complicated
electronics that can die on you.

Andy

Bryan Hall said:

You all use GPS overlay maps - tsk tsk
;-)

I'm still looking for a small enough (and cheap!) unit to measure
speed/distance, but also give a Grid Ref reading.
Found the first two, but still waiting for the third,without incurring the
weight/functions of a simple Garmin E-Trex for instance

Geko will do all of that. . . .

druidh

not the grid ref - if your thinking of the forerunner models
"druidh" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Bryan Hall said:

You all use GPS overlay maps - tsk tsk
;-)

I'm still looking for a small enough (and cheap!) unit to measure
speed/distance, but also give a Grid Ref reading.
Found the first two, but still waiting for the third,without incurring
the weight/functions of a simple Garmin E-Trex for instance

Geko will do all of that. . . .

druidh

"Bryan Hall" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

not the grid ref - if your thinking of the forerunner models

No, druidh was right first time - geko will give you grid references

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Geko will do all of that. . . .

"Bryan Hall" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:8nT0g.5250
[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

not the grid ref - if your thinking of the forerunner models

Geko 201 will give you a grid ref (and much more)

I rarely use it this way however. I place some strategic waypoints on path
junctions which also get printed onto my map. Then I can navigate as normal
using the paper map (on one or more overlapping A4 sheets). If I need to
check with the GPS, a glance at the screen shows my relative position to
the marked waypoints.

John

ok - thanks both I'll go back and recheck the pdfs on the manufacturer's
site

must admit i didn;t see it on the model i had to play with

"John Yale" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Geko will do all of that. . . .

"Bryan Hall" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:8nT0g.5250
[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

not the grid ref - if your thinking of the forerunner models

Geko 201 will give you a grid ref (and much more)

I rarely use it this way however. I place some strategic waypoints on path
junctions which also get printed onto my map. Then I can navigate as
normal
using the paper map (on one or more overlapping A4 sheets). If I need to
check with the GPS, a glance at the screen shows my relative position to
the marked waypoints.

John

Bryan Hall said:

ok - thanks both I'll go back and recheck the pdfs on the manufacturer's
site

must admit i didn;t see it on the model i had to play with

"John Yale" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>Geko will do all of that. . . .

"Bryan Hall" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:8nT0g.5250
[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

not the grid ref - if your thinking of the forerunner models

Geko 201 will give you a grid ref (and much more)

I rarely use it this way however. I place some strategic waypoints on path
junctions which also get printed onto my map. Then I can navigate as
normal
using the paper map (on one or more overlapping A4 sheets). If I need to
check with the GPS, a glance at the screen shows my relative position to
the marked waypoints.

John

Have a look here. . .

http://www.scotroutes.co.uk/images/Geko.JPG

druidh

thanks druidh - is that the 201?

Quoted message said:

Have a look here. . .

http://www.scotroutes.co.uk/images/Geko.JPG

druidh

druidh said:

Bryan Hall said:

ok - thanks both I'll go back and recheck the pdfs on the
manufacturer's site

must admit i didn;t see it on the model i had to play with

"John Yale" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

>> Geko will do all of that. . . .

"Bryan Hall" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:8nT0g.5250
[email hidden]:

> not the grid ref - if your thinking of the forerunner models

Geko 201 will give you a grid ref (and much more)

I rarely use it this way however. I place some strategic waypoints on
path
junctions which also get printed onto my map. Then I can navigate as
normal
using the paper map (on one or more overlapping A4 sheets). If I need to
check with the GPS, a glance at the screen shows my relative position to
the marked waypoints.

John

Have a look here. . .

http://www.scotroutes.co.uk/images/Geko.JPG

druidh

Nice, I didn't realise that page could be customised on my geko.

--
Mike
Some pictures of the Scottish highlands here http://www.prog99.com

Bryan Hall said:

thanks druidh - is that the 201?

Quoted message said:

Have a look here. . .

http://www.scotroutes.co.uk/images/Geko.JPG

druidh

NP Bryan - that's the 301, but the same option is available right down
to the 101 (although you should avoid that if you're ever likely to
interface it to a computer.

The four fields shown can each be modified to show other data - I simply
picked these to illustrate the sort of disply you were referring to.

druidh

That would be the Forerunner 101 - 301 models?

I played with the F 101 when it first came into the country - and had no
joy, so possibly set to the wrong datum?

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

Quoted message said:

Bryan Hall said:

thanks druidh - is that the 201?

Quoted message said:

Have a look here. . .

http://www.scotroutes.co.uk/images/Geko.JPG

druidh

NP Bryan - that's the 301, but the same option is available right down to
the 101 (although you should avoid that if you're ever likely to interface
it to a computer.

The four fields shown can each be modified to show other data - I simply
picked these to illustrate the sort of disply you were referring to.

druidh

"Mike" <[email hidden]> schreef in bericht
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

druidh said:

Bryan Hall said:

ok - thanks both I'll go back and recheck the pdfs on the manufacturer's
site

must admit i didn;t see it on the model i had to play with

"John Yale" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

>>> Geko will do all of that. . . .
>
> "Bryan Hall" <[email hidden]> wrote in
> news:8nT0g.5250
> [email hidden]:
>
>> not the grid ref - if your thinking of the forerunner models
>
> Geko 201 will give you a grid ref (and much more)
>
> I rarely use it this way however. I place some strategic waypoints on
> path
> junctions which also get printed onto my map. Then I can navigate as
> normal
> using the paper map (on one or more overlapping A4 sheets). If I need
> to
> check with the GPS, a glance at the screen shows my relative position
> to
> the marked waypoints.
>
> John

Have a look here. . .

http://www.scotroutes.co.uk/images/Geko.JPG

druidh

Nice, I didn't realise that page could be customised on my geko.

The manual /is/ basic, but..... it helps if you read it ;-)

--
"Beannachd leibh"

Theo
www.theosphotos.fotopic.net

Theo said:

Quoted message said:

Nice, I didn't realise that page could be customised on my geko.

The manual /is/ basic, but..... it helps if you read it ;-)

Yes, I'll admit that I worked out all the functions I thought I'd need
in the back garden then consigned the manual to the cupboard.

--
Mike
Some pictures of the Scottish highlands here http://www.prog99.com

Mike <[email hidden]> wrote in news:pcv1g.55992$wl.18120
@text.news.blueyonder.co.uk:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Have a look here. . .

http://www.scotroutes.co.uk/images/Geko.JPG

druidh

Nice, I didn't realise that page could be customised on my geko.

Also many (but not all) of these data can can be viewed on the compass page
by pressing the up/down buttons. Ones I can remember are Grid ref,
time/date, Elevation, Distance covered, Distance to go (to end of
route/track), Time to go, ETA

John

Sorry Bryan - I should have made it absolutely clear. That's the Gekos
I'm talking about (as per my first response on this post).

druidh

Bryan Hall said:

That would be the Forerunner 101 - 301 models?

I played with the F 101 when it first came into the country - and had no
joy, so possibly set to the wrong datum?

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

Quoted message said:

Bryan Hall said:

thanks druidh - is that the 201?

>Have a look here. . .
>
>http://www.scotroutes.co.uk/images/Geko.JPG
>
>
>druidh

NP Bryan - that's the 301, but the same option is available right down to
the 101 (although you should avoid that if you're ever likely to interface
it to a computer.

The four fields shown can each be modified to show other data - I simply
picked these to illustrate the sort of disply you were referring to.

druidh

I tend to have the elevation as default on my Compass page. It's the
only information I'm normally wanting to refer to (as in "how much
further to the top of this bl**dy hill??)

druidh