+bcenu Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 I am working on a puzzle cache and found all the first clues - but need to translate the newly found coordinates from decimal minutes to decimal degrees. I do not understand even what that means, never mind how to do it. My GPS is a Garmin eTrex 20. Can anyone out there help me? Quote Link to comment
+GeoTrekker26 Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 (edited) Take the decimal minutes and divide by 60 and append the decimal to the degree. Here is a simple example so you get the idea Given 100 30.000 100 30.000 (DDD MM.mmm) 30/60 = .5000 (divide MM.mmm by 60) 100.5000 (your answer DDD.ddd) edit to make comments consistent Edited September 3, 2012 by GeoTrekker26 Quote Link to comment
+bcenu Posted September 3, 2012 Author Share Posted September 3, 2012 Take the decimal minutes and divide by 60 and append the decimal to the degree. Here is a simple example so you get the idea Given 100 30.000 100 30.000 (DDD MM.mmm) 30/60 = .5000 (divide MM.mmm by 60) 100.5000 (your answer DDD.ddd) edit to make comments consistent Thanks for your prompt reply, but I think I asked the question wrong. I have coordinates of N44 79 102 and W106 96 791. I thought that was decimal minutes but apparently not. So how do I change those coordinates to decimal degrees? Quote Link to comment
7rxc Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 (edited) Try this excellent converter for Geocaching stuff. Fizzycalc It's what many of us use for this, if you want fast conversions. And it is free. There are many other converters on line as well. If you don't want to convert to normal format, you could also just switch the GPS to decimal degrees That would be in the Settings, Units set to DD.ddddd, go back to DD MM.mmm when you want to. Edit: added thought after re reading OP Doug 7rxc Edited September 3, 2012 by 7rxc Quote Link to comment
Pup Patrol Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 Your gps should be set for the same format as the cache's coordinates, to make life simpler. Help Center → Geocaching → Conversions 11.3. WGS-84 and HDD(D)° MM.MMM Datum and Format http://support.Groundspeak.com/index.php?pg=kb.page&id=208 Why do we use WGS-84 and HDD(D)° MM.MMM Datum and Format? Most GPS receivers are set coming out of the box with WGS-84 and HDD(D)° MM.MMM Datum and Format. Using this setting will be less likely to confuse new GPS owners. But if you want to convert coordinates, this Help Center article demonstrates the process: Help Center → Geocaching → Conversions 11.2. Convert Decimal Coordinates to DDD MM.MMM http://support.Groundspeak.com/index.php?pg=kb.page&id=207 B. Quote Link to comment
+bcenu Posted September 3, 2012 Author Share Posted September 3, 2012 Your gps should be set for the same format as the cache's coordinates, to make life simpler. Help Center → Geocaching → Conversions 11.3. WGS-84 and HDD(D)° MM.MMM Datum and Format http://support.Groundspeak.com/index.php?pg=kb.page&id=208 Why do we use WGS-84 and HDD(D)° MM.MMM Datum and Format? Most GPS receivers are set coming out of the box with WGS-84 and HDD(D)° MM.MMM Datum and Format. Using this setting will be less likely to confuse new GPS owners. But if you want to convert coordinates, this Help Center article demonstrates the process: Help Center → Geocaching → Conversions 11.2. Convert Decimal Coordinates to DDD MM.MMM http://support.Groundspeak.com/index.php?pg=kb.page&id=207 B. Quote Link to comment
+bcenu Posted September 3, 2012 Author Share Posted September 3, 2012 Your gps should be set for the same format as the cache's coordinates, to make life simpler. Help Center → Geocaching → Conversions 11.3. WGS-84 and HDD(D)° MM.MMM Datum and Format http://support.Groundspeak.com/index.php?pg=kb.page&id=208 Why do we use WGS-84 and HDD(D)° MM.MMM Datum and Format? Most GPS receivers are set coming out of the box with WGS-84 and HDD(D)° MM.MMM Datum and Format. Using this setting will be less likely to confuse new GPS owners. But if you want to convert coordinates, this Help Center article demonstrates the process: Help Center → Geocaching → Conversions 11.2. Convert Decimal Coordinates to DDD MM.MMM http://support.Groundspeak.com/index.php?pg=kb.page&id=207 B. Quote Link to comment
+bcenu Posted September 3, 2012 Author Share Posted September 3, 2012 THANK YOU ALL - I will work on solving my puzzle. Wish me luck!! Quote Link to comment
+Don_J Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 http://www.earthpoint.us/Convert.aspx It will convert pretty much any format and has examples on it so you can see what format they are asking for. Quote Link to comment
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