gps always pointing opposite of me?

[p!nk]

Yesterday while off trail within 100 feet of the cache (which I didn't find!!!) the gps would always point in the opposite direction of whatever way I was walking! And the distance would get less and then jump to more!? I have a garmin etrex legend? Why did this happen and what should I do if it happens again?

[NordicMan]

I don't think the Legends have electronic compasses.. only "satellite based" compasses. If you aren't moving the compass doesn't know which way north is.

 

Try walking while looking at the compass(?)

[p!nk]

i did; and it always pointed opposite of me! lol

[+Renegade Knight]

i did; and it always pointed opposite of me! lol

Turn it the other direction?

[+Nature Kids]

Sounds like it is set to Track Up ....set it to North up...that sets it so north will always be at the top of your screen, rather than the direction you are walking.

[+Jeep4two]

I have a Legend and I always used it in Track Up for the setting. I never tried changing it but that could help. However if you are having reception problems changing that setting won't resolve your issue. Track design is a personal preference. I like track up - more logical to me most of the time.

 

Remember that what NordicMan said. The Legend does not have an electronic compass, and will only have an accurate bearing arrow when moving. Once you stop, inaccuracies with the GPS signal can cause your arrow to swing wildly.

 

Try this: When under heavy tree cover (or any other time I'm having this type of behavior) I hold my unit out in front of me like I might hold a book (think preacher doing a wedding ceremony). You only need to start holding your GPSr like this when you get within a tenth of a mile or so - this will improve your reception. Once I get within 200 feet of a cache I slow my walking pace way down. For me this means literally taking only a step or so every second, maybe even small steps at that.

 

This allows you to keep you (and your GPSr) moving to help keep your bearing arrow sticking to the cache location.

 

Weak signal can wreak havoc on you under heavy tree cover. The Legend is not a high sensitivity unit. Keep this in mind.

 

There are also other methods that involve indirect approaches to the cache and then ignoring your arrow. For example walk along side the cache when your reading is 50-75 feet away (parallel to or along side it) in order to try to obtain a direction. Then turn to that direction and keep a straight line to the cache ignoring the arrow but watching the # of feet to the cache. Once you are within 20 feet start looking for the hide and put your GPSr away.

 

Just some things that work for me. My wife uses our Legend now. I have an Oregon. I'm observing a significant difference in my reliability since the Oregon has a high sensitivity receiver. She has much less accuracy in tree cover.

 

Best of luck.

[knowschad]

PS: Those that are referring to "Track Up" or "North Up" are using the map view to find the cache instead of the pointer. A few people, even some that have been caching for a long time, do use the map view, but most that I know of (myself included) find that the pointer and distance combination offer the most help in locating ground-zero.

 

Try holding the unit out away from your body, if you're not already. My GPSMap 60CSX will point the opposite direction if I'm walking with it down at my side (probably reflection or blocking of the signals due to my body?) Once I bring it out in front of me, it will correct itself.

[+PhxChem]

What GPS do you have. I remember when my wife first got her used GPS, a SportTrac, it was much slower than what I was using, so she would almost always overshoot her target.....look at the GPS....go the other direction....and overshoot it again.

 

The GPS would always be a couple of steps behind compared to my newer Garmin.