Basic operations of a GPS

[LisaAS36]

Having never used a GPS but planning on getting one soon, I have a question on how they get you to where you want to go. Do you enter coordinates and the GPS tells you which way to go (via an screen arrow or similar) and how far you are away, or does it simply show you where you are and by moving and seeing how the coordinates change, you mentally determine which way you need to go?

 

Thanks,

Lisa

[Tahosa and Sons]

You put in the coordinates (waypoint) the little electronic box will tell you (goto) how far to the waypoint. So with either a road map or topo map off you go to the waypoint. That is the very basics of this Geo thing.

After you get some experience you can do lots of stuff with one of these little toys.

 

Tahosa - Dweller of the moutain tops.

[+Thallas]

You will be VERY addicted to the game.

 

[+apersson850]

The GPS can do three things:

• Tell you where you have been.
• Tell you where you are.
• Tell you where to go.

The last item in the list requires that you have, by some method, told it which coordinate you are heading to.

 

If you have a mapping receiver, you can just move, without any active "GoTo", and look at the map to find out where you are heading.

 

Anders

[+briansnat]

quote:

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If you have a mapping receiver, you can just move, without any active "GoTo", and look at the map to find out where you are heading.

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Also, if you have a mapping receiver, you can move a pointer to a place on the map, say a lake, or mountaintop that you want to get to. Then you can mark that spot and hit 'go to' and your navigation arrow will lead you there. I find this to be a particularly handy feature. Of course, it's good to have a topo map (either paper, or loaded on your GPS) so you know what's between you and your destination.

 

"Men don't stop playing because they get old, they get old because they stop playing" Oliver Wendell Holmes

[+sbell111]

quote:

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Originally posted by LisaAS36:

...

Do you enter coordinates and the GPS tells you which way to go (via an screen arrow or similar) and how far you are away, or does it simply show you where you are and by moving and seeing how the coordinates change, you mentally determine which way you need to go?

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It does all the work for you. You enter the coords and it will tell you how far away you are and which direction to go. Typically, this is done via a screen that kind of looks like a compass. Some GPSrs also have a map screen that may allow you to better visualize your journey.