bnolan Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 When you navigate using a map do you leave the map north up or do you turn the map each time you face a new direction ? How about the map screen of your GPS ? Do you set it for north up ? Based on my limited database of personal observation, I have formulated a theory linking gender, map rotation and frequency of getting lost. What are your ideas on the topic ? Quote Link to comment
+Q2XL Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 I'll bite...with paper maps I turn them to match the direction I'm going. With a gps unit I have north always "up". Gender - Male Frequency of getting lost - (a) in the woods-seldom to never ( in urban settings (towns over 500 ) often © malls - every stinkin' time Quote Link to comment
+Renegade Knight Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 I am exactly oppostie of Q2XL. I have the GPS set to turn the way I face and paper maps are North up most of the time. If the paper map varies it's not the direction I'm facing. It's E, S, or W up. Quote Link to comment
+ke6n Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 Paper maps north up almost always. GPS map rotates. Male. Never been lost. Ken Quote Link to comment
dsandbro Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 North up. Most people start out map up and never convert over as skills increase. Even though north up is better and easier for navigation. Quote Link to comment
+Bloencustoms Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 I usually have the map oriented north up, both on the GPSr, and the laptop. In the few instances I have used my GPSr with the map oriented in the direction of travel, it has been when using the trackback feature. It makes more sense to use it that way, for that purpose. Quote Link to comment
+minstrelcat Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 Both of us leave our GPSr maps set to always point north. I usually turn my maps round to match direction of travel, Adam doesn't. We don't tend to get lost, though sometimes we aren't sure where we are. Lisa Quote Link to comment
+nincehelser Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 It depends. Sometimes rotating the map helps for close-in "left/right" navigation. Other times, north "up" is good for overall orientation. I do both. George Quote Link to comment
+Jamie Z Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 (edited) My GPS is always set to north up. With maps, I'll usually look at them north up to get the big perspective, but if I'm on a smaller scale, such as looking at a city map, I'll sometimes turn it. With regards to the gender theory, I saw an article a while back that looked at just such a thing. I'll keep the results under wraps for now. Jamie [edit] Wow, I didn't realize I have almost the same habits as nincehelser. Edited December 13, 2003 by Jamie Z Quote Link to comment
+Snoogans Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 I just get those trip thingies from AAA. (Strip maps.) All you have to do then is turn to the next page. Otherwise, North is always up. Sn gans Quote Link to comment
+RobertM Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 I am exactly oppostie of Q2XL. I have the GPS set to turn the way I face and paper maps are North up most of the time. If the paper map varies it's not the direction I'm facing. It's E, S, or W up. Uh-oh! You don't happen to be from Colorado by any chance? ;-) RobertM Geo 39F-X Quote Link to comment
+nincehelser Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 Wow, I didn't realize I have almost the same habits as nincehelser. Well, you know what they say about great minds... What I think is more telling about a person is which concept they learned first in childhood....N/S/E/W or Left-Right. Personally, I think boys learn N/S/E/W first...I'm not sure why, but it's always seemed to me that they understand maps quicker. Girls learn Left-Right first, but that's probably because they're more concerned about their shoes George Quote Link to comment
Jomarac5 Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 When using a map I usually orient it with north but if it's not, it's not a big deal for me. My GPSr map is oriented north up. ***** Geo 4A Quote Link to comment
gm100guy Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 I always have my gps with track up. It is like when I learned Orienteering and you had your map in direction of travel and used the thumbing method of following your coures. Quote Link to comment
+JMBella Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 Everything is North until I get on the trail. Then sometimes I turn the GPS but only when I get confused. So basically I alway turn the GPS when I'm on the trail. Quote Link to comment
+hmarq Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 I do both ... To orient myself and determine bearings/course, I use north up ... While in transit I much prefer 'track up' ... Doesn't matter if it's paper or GPSr ... that's the way I like it Quote Link to comment
+Navdog Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 I keep my GPS set on "track up". It works better for the rectangular screens on most GPS units. You have more area in front of your location arrow. Maps are oriented "track up" or north up when I need to confirm north, which is seldom. On a side note. There has been studies done as to why women are more landmark oriented and why men are more spatially oriented, but I won't jump into that frying pan. Quote Link to comment
+Confucius' Cat Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 I normally run North up on both paper and gps. I have found that North up is especially helpful in an unfamiliar place, sinc the screen looks like the paper map. When I try to follow my breadcrumbs, or when going South and heading to a particular goal, I will sometimes use track up to improve quick recognition of the course. Quote Link to comment
+Warriorrider Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 Paper is north up. GPSr is track up. If I'm at a standstill I'll switch to magnetic heading up. Quote Link to comment
+CYBret Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 I was never happier than the day I discovered I could turn the map on my GPS. I was navigating around a lake and couldn't find my way back to the main road. That's when I noticed the option. Being able to drive and see my track as it pointed in the direction I was heading was a big plus. Sometimes I switch it back to North up, if the map is turned in a direction that doesn't allow me to see what I want to see, but that's rare. Bret Quote Link to comment
+carleenp Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 (edited) Based on my limited database of personal observation, I have formulated a theory linking gender, map rotation and frequency of getting lost. What are your ideas on the topic ? Well this is interesting. I suppose you need some female responses. I generally always keep a paper map with north up. My GPS does not have mapping, but I assume I would do the same thing. Turning maps tends to bug me. I will say that I have a good sense of direction and tend to memorize maps before I set out. That is part of why turning the map could mess with me. If I suddenly decide that I need to look at the map, I want it to be in the orientation that I studied. With that said, once or twice when I had a complicated map, and felt that I was losing my sense of direction, I tried turning the map. I can't say that it made a huge difference. Edited December 13, 2003 by carleenp Quote Link to comment
+carleenp Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 (edited) Oops. I have deleted a double post. Edited December 13, 2003 by carleenp Quote Link to comment
+EScout Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 Paper maps: North up GPSr Map: North up GPSr North reference: True North Compass: Declination adjusted, use true north Quote Link to comment
+Team GPSaxophone Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 North is always up. GPSr, paper, plastic, whatever. Now this guy, I'm not sure about. His direction changes constantly. I'm not sure if he even knows what direction he's facing, let alone which is north. Quote Link to comment
+Alan2 Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 (edited) Track up while driving gets really confusing for me. First I think I moved to Croatia as nothing looks familiar. Second, the map keeps jerking from left to right as the arrow tries to stay straight up. This is not too bad following a track back to your car in the woods since there's no roads, but it confuses me while driving. You might as well switch to Navigation and follow the arrow on that page skipping the maps altogether. Edited December 13, 2003 by Alan2 Quote Link to comment
+Alan2 Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 Oh, one thing that helps on the Vista map page is that you can have a little bearing arrow at the bottom that shows the direction to the waypoint. So even if the arow is facing west, let's say, if the waypoint is east, the bearing arrow points to the right help to orient you to the directionyou really want to go. Quote Link to comment
+Team GPSaxophone Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 I don't use the arrow, I like the map display with the pointer that shows where I'm going. I can figure out which direction the cache is in. Quote Link to comment
+nincehelser Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 Second, the map keeps jerking from left to right as the arrow tries to stay straight up. That's something I'd like to see fixed in future GPS receiver generations....let the map turn slowly and smoothly. Processing speed and battery consumption are probably the big barriers to this. George Quote Link to comment
Cholo Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 Up north, down south, back east, out west, and never the twain shall meet Quote Link to comment
+Sparky-Watts Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 North is always up. GPSr, paper, plastic, whatever. Now this guy, I'm not sure about. His direction changes constantly. I'm not sure if he even knows what direction he's facing, let alone which is north. I think I must have had it facing north when I meant to go south. Woke up to 8" of snow this morning......no caching this weekend Quote Link to comment
+Lone Duck Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 On canoe trips in the BWCA, we had no real choice but to turn the map for the direction of travel. What we would do is orient the map with the compass and then lay it on the bottom of the canoe with the compass on top of it, all inside the protective plastic cover. We then simply kept the needle lined up as we crossed the lake and searched for the next portage. Quote Link to comment
+DustyJacket Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 Map north always up. GPS North always up except when autorouting changes it. Male Got lost once in 1977 for about an hour. Quote Link to comment
+webscouter. Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 I face the map and GPS north up. However the Highway patrol gets mad at me when I stop and orient the car to face north so that the map and I are facing the same way.. Quote Link to comment
+HartClimbs Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 I normally lay down under the map and look up. It helps shield the sun and make my nap more enjoyable. On the GPS, I just lay it on the ground and run in circles until I get dizzy. When I fall down - my left leg is normally oriented north. Seriously - north up on both (gps and map) typically for me. I'll orient a map to match landmarks if it's easier in a specific situation and I use 'track up' while riding on the motorcycle to make it easier to make out turns coming up with a quick glance - but most of the time - north up for me. Quote Link to comment
+GEO.JOE Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 I keep my GPSr North up. Paper maps are North up 80 % of time. While Kayaking, hiking or driving in unfamiliar areas I frequently view the overall trip area North up then turn the map in the direction of travel to pinpoint my exact location and/or search for a specific location. When teaching map skills to others or showing others where we are in reference to the map I find it best to orient the map so North on the map is facing North and rotate the map as we turn looking at landmarks. I am male and have never been lost. Happy caching. GEO.JOE Quote Link to comment
+stu_and_sarah Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 Stu: North Up (Paper & GPSr) Sarah: Track Up (Paper & GPSr) Stu & Sarah: Lost when using the GPSr after the other has used it! Quote Link to comment
+JetSkier Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 I've always read paper maps with North up, so when I got my GPS, I set it to North up. I tried it a couple of times with Track up, but it was too confusing. I knew I was going east, but when I looked at the GPS, it always indicated going North! Too confusing to me. I recently installed Mapsend DirectRoute and I think it's a great piece of software, but ... when you tell it to do a street route, it automatically changes you to track up! It'll do the turn-by-turn in North up, but you have to reset it each time you start a route. Maybe they'll fix that in the next release. Quote Link to comment
+Webfoot Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 Map - North up. GPSr - Track up. Male - College degree in Geography I don't get lost. Quote Link to comment
+Lone Duck Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Male - College degree in Geography I don't get lost. You ain't lived until you've been truely lost, even if only for a little while. Quote Link to comment
+2Wheel'in Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Paper map - North up GPSr - Track up Frequently get lost, but always make good time Quote Link to comment
mortonfox Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 North up for both paper and GPS maps. That's the way I'm used to reading maps. Quote Link to comment
+xenophon10k Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 North up on both paper maps and GPS. Quote Link to comment
+bitbrain Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 North up on both unless I'm trying to orient a paper map with my compass. Having the GPS map spin around while I'm moving makes me dizzy, but sometimes I like that. Quote Link to comment
+Webfoot Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 (edited) Male - College degree in Geography I don't get lost. You ain't lived until you've been truely lost, even if only for a little while. Well, I got lost in a department store when I was about 6 once. That should count. I remember being extremely terrified. Edited December 14, 2003 by Webfoot Quote Link to comment
+Mickey225 Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Well up until recently it was always north for the GPS and map north as well... A few weeks ago I changed the GPS to track up, and found that that was easier while driving and trying to see where I was going at the same time! Quote Link to comment
+EraSeek Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Same as EScout: Paper maps: North up GPSr Map: North up GPSr North reference: True North Compass: Declination adjusted, use true north Quote Link to comment
Tahosa and Sons Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 I usually don't orient my map to the relative terrain. I'll look at the terain and compare it to the map and make notes (cookie crumbs) as to where I'm at. If unsure I'll triangulate and do a field bearing to a map bearing. But my students when I teach land navigation have to orient the map and learn how to adjust for declination. We don't use an adjustable compass but do it the old fashioned way we convert in our heads. East is least and the truth is greater, which is the rhyme in CO, those Eastern dudes do it the other way. In simple terms Santa always stays at the Pole, that is the Truth, but those dadgum Irish Leprechauns with those magnets keep moving from pub to pub. Quote Link to comment
+Warriorrider Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 (edited) Same as EScout:Paper maps: North up GPSr Map: North up GPSr North reference: True North Compass: Declination adjusted, use true north Hey EraSeek, just curious, why true north and not magnetic north for your GPSr north reference Edited December 14, 2003 by Warriorrider Quote Link to comment
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