MrGigabyte

The easiest way to locate these points is to "traverse" point to point using simple "plane" surveying. To do so, you should switch your GPSr to a coordinate system that most closely represents a plane. This is UTM. Your starting point (Pt 1) in UTM is 17 S 299469.0 4290180.0. You will confirm this as soon as you switch your GPSr to UTM. We can ignore the zone (17 S) and express the coordinates in terms of Easting & Northing. (299469.0 4290180.0). In UTM, the coordinates you see displayed in your GPSr are really actual ground measurable distances in visual units... metres. They are not arc distances as in latitude and longitude. This makes it very easy to locate your points just by looking at the coordinate display alone. From this point on, we have to assume that the bearings you listed are astronomic. That is, they are based on True North. If they are anything else, we will have to apply a bearing equation and rotate all the bearings to suit the specified north reference before proceeding. Now, having said that... The bearings on your plan are in a system called quadrantal bearings. These are values between 0 and 90 degrees. They are always expressed as an angle east or west from the poles. This system was used as it was based on manual calculation of trig functions. Since the sine of 1 is the same as the sine of 179 and 181 and 359, only values less than 90 were needed. Only the sign changed. In the following table, your bearings have been converted to "full circle" bearings, or azimuths and your distances converted to metres. Just enter the Eastings and Northings for points 2 through 7 into your GPSr and your all set.

quote:Originally posted by MajBach: anyone know of a good morse code program? Go to Google. Search for morse code. Take your pick.

...- / .--- -... .- --.- .-. . / ...- ... / . -... .--. -..- .-.. / .--- ...- -.-- -.-- / ..- -. .. .-. / -. / --- .... . .- ...- .- - / ..-. .-. .- ..-. -. --. ...- -... .- / .--- ..- .-. .- / ..- .-. / .... . ...- .- -. --. .-. ..-. ..--..

I see no problem what so ever with their log. In fact, it looks like they were very careful NOT to mention their company name. If I want to to know who they are, I have to go find the cache. Plus, the cache is on a lake and they supply kayak gear. This could be very handy to visitors to the area.

I see no problem what so ever with their log. In fact, it looks like they were very careful NOT to mention their company name. If I want to to know who they are, I have to go find the cache. Plus, the cache is on a lake and they supply kayak gear. This could be very handy to visitors to the area.

Excellent idea. I'm sorry I missed out the original, but you definitely count me in on this one. Address is on the way. Thanks 300mag and Cliffy facilitating this.

Excellent idea. I'm sorry I missed out the original, but you definitely count me in on this one. Address is on the way. Thanks 300mag and Cliffy facilitating this.

Garmin's MapSource can input and output various data formats. Unfortunately, the maps themselves are not one of them. MapSource can only use its own proprietary vector maps. There are numerous other mapping applications that will read many map formats, including user created and calibrated raster images. Again, none of them will read in the proprietary MapSource format either. Naturally, this restriction applies to the the uploading of maps from your computer to your mapping GPSr as well. Garmin receivers can only use MapSource maps.

quote:Originally posted by AndysGPS: Is there an oppertunity to provide comercial sites? There is... but only if the site sells a spell checker.

quote:Originally posted by cliffy: Would you happen to know what the device was on top of the monument I logged? Just a guess, but it looks like a L1/L2 Choke Ring Antenna. If so, it is connected to a radio beacon differential reference station transmitter. It would be part of your provincial Active Control Network (ACN). They would broadcast real-time DGPS corrections and/or record them. You can then either apply the corrections on the fly (RTK) if you have a DGPS/RTK receiver or download them a post process the info later. It is sort of like WAAS except it actually works! It will give you accuracy to sub-centimeter while you are on the move. The provincial active control networks are used primarily for cadastral surveys. Then again, it could just as easily be a Bell ExpressVu satellite TV receiver!!

quote:Originally posted by boreal jeff: Does anyone know what this is? It a Geodetic Survey of Canada reference monument. It is either part of a set of reference stations to "witness" the control monument in case it is disturbed or the used as an eccentric station if the control monument cannot be occupied.

You can use it as a wrist strap quite well. My etrex strap came with a little "bead" threaded on it. If you are not careful, this bead can slip right off the long end. So, I tied a knot in the strap, right at the end, thereby trapping the bead. Now, the bead works like a sliding lock. Just put you wrist between the straps and between knot at the end and the sliding bead. Then cinch the bead tight. This 3 cent bead has saved my $400 etrex more than once!

I would use the centre of the map. In your example, the scale factor at the bottom is the cos(51.75) = 0.6191. At the top, cos(51.00) = .6293. In terms of pixels, that represents 1981 versus 2014 or a difference of 33 pixels. 1 pixel = 1/72 inch. 1 inch = 0.0254m 0.0254 / 72 * 50000 = 17.6m In other words, each pixel = 17.6m on your 1:50,000 scale maps. 17.6m * 33 pixels = 580m Therefore the top plan is shown as being 580m wider than it should be, as compared to the bottom. You can reduce this by half by using the scale factor for the centre of the plan. This is off the top of my head. You may want to check this with a calculator

Toporama maps are created with an equal number of pixels in the horizontal axis regardless of the latitude. This was done to facilitate mosaicing adjoining images without having to deal with the convergence of meridians. Since Calgary is not located on the equator, the arc distance in longitude for an equal value of latitude, will be compressed by a factor equal to the cosine of the latitude. Therefore, to correct your 3200 x 1600 map for your area (N 51 degrees), you need to scale the X axis by 0.6293. Your scale corrected image should now be 2014 X 1600. Only scale the X axis, not the Y.

Try this. In your web browser, create a bookmark (or favorite or what ever your browser happens to call it) to.. http://www.geocaching.com/login/default.asp?S=5&username=YOURUSERNAME&password=YOURPASSWORD Enter your username and password in the URL as indicated above. In IE, you can add this to you Favorites bar so it is always ready and handy whenever you get the urge to check in. This will take you to your "My Cache Page". You will also be logged in. Now, just click on the Discuss Geocaching button and you are in the forums, also already logged in.

Stay tuned... :-)

quote:Originally posted by laraley: How many of you find yourself leaving lots of good things Rumor has it that laraley's caches may contain some some very nice trade items from now on. Thanks lara, enjoy.

I wrote an Excel convertor for the file formats MajBach mentioned and sent it to him. I am awaiting an real file from him. (TresOkies... you're correct, that was a typo on part. )

As I have already said, if you post an example of what you have and what you want, I will write you the formula to parse the data. You posted part of it above, so you are half way there.... just give us the after part (or is it the before part). It does matter what application it came from or what app it going to. The formats are all just ascii text.

quote:Originally posted by Markwell: click the icon that looks like big black quotation marks ... "Reply with Quote" Ahhhh... I think he said he wanted to post WITHOUT quotes.

Hit the button in the lower left hand corner that says "Post a Reply". ... But don't quote me on that!

I sort of lost what you were doing about four programs and six file conversations into your explanation. It would be really helpful if you can post here one line of the file that is in the format that you want to convert FROM and one line of the same data that is in the format that you wish to convert TO. Once we can see the data, I am sure that a few simple Excel string manipulation commands will do the trick for you.

If you referring to Toporama maps then you are out of luck. No consumer GPSr will allow the "upload" of raster images to their receivers. All maps in a GPSr are vector maps and are usually in the proprietary format of that specific GPSr manufacturer.

quote:Originally posted by Renegade Knight: If they could get the price of geocoins down to about a buck depending on metal type, it would abe about the perfect trade item. I would really look forward to going to one of your caches, if you spend all of a buck on trade items! :-) FYI: The polished brass blanks cost $2 a piece. That is, just a smooth piece of round metal. I may be able to pull to together some aluminum filings from under my lathe for you for a dollar. Where should I mail them?

quote:Originally posted by Renegade Knight: If they could get the price of geocoins down to about a buck depending on metal type, it would abe about the perfect trade item. I would really look forward to going to one of your caches, if you spend all of a buck on trade items! :-) FYI: The polished brass blanks cost $2 a piece. That is, just a smooth piece of round metal. I may be able to pull to together some aluminum filings from under my lathe for you for a dollar. Where should I mail them?