Garmin setting for North Preference

[dbmiller1956]

I recently purchase Garmin Legend H and so far it has been working fine with one exception, the heading for North. I have it set on True, but not sure if that is okay. I guess my problem being is that I am not sure what each of those setting are for. I am looking up multiple descriptions online, but I am not that geologically inclined and want to make sure I have it set correctly.

 

can someone give me an idea of what these differences mean and if I am using the correct one?

 

dbmiller1956 (MillerTimes2)

[+OldA'sFan]

I recently purchase Garmin Legend H and so far it has been working fine with one exception, the heading for North. I have it set on True, but not sure if that is okay. I guess my problem being is that I am not sure what each of those setting are for. I am looking up multiple descriptions online, but I am not that geologically inclined and want to make sure I have it set correctly.

 

can someone give me an idea of what these differences mean and if I am using the correct one?

 

dbmiller1956 (MillerTimes2)

There is true north (the North Pole) and magnetic north (which is several hundred miles from the north pole). It is a bit complicated, but suffice it to say that if you are only interested in geocaching it won't make any differance which one you use. However, if you are going to do backpacking and will be using a compass, map, and your gps then you should make sure your gps is set for true north. It is a facinating subject (for some people), and if you want to learn more about it you can take classes (REI has several) or read some books on the subject.

 

OldA'sFan

[+ecanderson]

I recently purchase Garmin Legend H and so far it has been working fine with one exception, the heading for North. I have it set on True, but not sure if that is okay. I guess my problem being is that I am not sure what each of those setting are for. I am looking up multiple descriptions online, but I am not that geologically inclined and want to make sure I have it set correctly.

 

can someone give me an idea of what these differences mean and if I am using the correct one?

 

dbmiller1956 (MillerTimes2)

Since your Legend H does not use a magnetic compass, it won't much matter in your case, although sticking with True makes sense. For those who do have and use units with a magnetic compass, this thread addresses that: http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...p;#entry4302090

[dbmiller1956]

I recently purchase Garmin Legend H and so far it has been working fine with one exception, the heading for North. I have it set on True, but not sure if that is okay. I guess my problem being is that I am not sure what each of those setting are for. I am looking up multiple descriptions online, but I am not that geologically inclined and want to make sure I have it set correctly.

 

can someone give me an idea of what these differences mean and if I am using the correct one?

 

dbmiller1956 (MillerTimes2)

Since your Legend H does not use a magnetic compass, it won't much matter in your case, although sticking with True makes sense. For those who do have and use units with a magnetic compass, this thread addresses that: http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...p;#entry4302090

 

Thanks for the help. I thought i was okay but you never know!!!

[dbmiller1956]

I recently purchase Garmin Legend H and so far it has been working fine with one exception, the heading for North. I have it set on True, but not sure if that is okay. I guess my problem being is that I am not sure what each of those setting are for. I am looking up multiple descriptions online, but I am not that geologically inclined and want to make sure I have it set correctly.

 

can someone give me an idea of what these differences mean and if I am using the correct one?

 

dbmiller1956 (MillerTimes2)

There is true north (the North Pole) and magnetic north (which is several hundred miles from the north pole). It is a bit complicated, but suffice it to say that if you are only interested in geocaching it won't make any differance which one you use. However, if you are going to do backpacking and will be using a compass, map, and your gps then you should make sure your gps is set for true north. It is a facinating subject (for some people), and if you want to learn more about it you can take classes (REI has several) or read some books on the subject.

 

OldA'sFan

 

Thanks's againf or the help. Thought I was right, but you never know.

[xyzee]

More Heading fun stuff. From my 60Cx:

 

Click on Magnetic, and a little drop down box gives me the Magnetic Variation for my location, and any other location that I have chosen from the map Page.

The "User" comes in handy, when when one has a description of a property plat, that is about 100 years old in Utah, when the Variaion was 3 deg more East, so I would set it to 15 E instead of 12 E, and go to projecting.

[jmundinger]

I recently purchase Garmin Legend H and so far it has been working fine with one exception, the heading for North. I have it set on True, but not sure if that is okay. I guess my problem being is that I am not sure what each of those setting are for. I am looking up multiple descriptions online, but I am not that geologically inclined and want to make sure I have it set correctly.

 

can someone give me an idea of what these differences mean and if I am using the correct one?

 

dbmiller1956 (MillerTimes2)

There is true north (the North Pole) and magnetic north (which is several hundred miles from the north pole). It is a bit complicated, but suffice it to say that if you are only interested in geocaching it won't make any differance which one you use. However, if you are going to do backpacking and will be using a compass, map, and your gps then you should make sure your gps is set for true north. It is a facinating subject (for some people), and if you want to learn more about it you can take classes (REI has several) or read some books on the subject.

 

OldA'sFan

 

I agree with this advice - EXCEPT - for backpacking, I would set the gps to GRID north, not true north. That way, north on the gps would be the same as north on the map. And, I would set the declination angle on the compass (assuming your compass has the capability) so that north on the compass was also the same as that on the map. The declination angle varies depending location - it can be found in the legend of the quad map. You can also use the gps to determine the declination angle for your current location. Set the heading to magnetic north and that screen will display the angle.