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Trees

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Posted

I have a standard topo map, 7.5/7.5 How do I detirmine the coordances of a place on the map? There are 2.5minute marks on the map but how do you get closer?

Posted

Most new USGS quad maps are marked with a UTM grid. Since UTM is a quasi linear projection, it is much easier to approximate your actual position (most GPS receivers can be set to output location in UTM as well).

 

Though it isn't much help in the field, you can plot waypoints on a Garmin or Magellan GPSr directly on a topo or aerial map at http://www.lostoutdoors.com

 

Good Luck,

-jjf

Posted

Many of my quads had NO UTM lines. I had to draw them in myself. Once you've done that and have converted coordinates in degrees to coordinates in UTM values (your GPS will do that for you; check you user manual), follow this web page on how to translate the info onto the map.

 

http://www.nps.gov/prwi/readutm.htm

 

Good luck

 

Alan

Posted

Thanks for the help everybody. After reading the replys and doing a lot of research on the internet, I had stumbled across the article mentioned in one of the replys. Getting out various rulers and a magnifing glass(eyes not as good as they use to be)I managed to use the info to measure on the map a test location. I had orginally wanted to figure out the location in Deg/min/sec's but I guess UTM is ok sence I also found a site to convert it the other outputs used by a GPS. Also my GPS(mag315)will use UTM inputs also. I think I can measure to 9.5meters which I guess is close enough. Any other thoughts? Thanks--"trees"

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by trees:

I have a standard topo map, 7.5/7.5 How do I detirmine the coordances of a place on the map? There are 2.5minute marks on the map but how do you get closer?


 

A friend gave me a Topo Companion back when I was tracking Great Gray Owls into Canada. We did a lot of GPS to map/map to GPS stuff back then and the TopoCompanion was just the ticket. I see REI sells them, and the following phone # is printed on the thing: 800 275-7526. It's essentially a clear ruler/scale that works with most common topo scales. You can read the Lat/Long directly off the ruler for any point on the map. Or you can read the UTM coords off if it - if that's what floats your boat. I'm not affiliated in any way with the TopoCompanion folks - I'm just a satisfied user.

icon_razz.gif

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by trees:

I have a standard topo map, 7.5/7.5 How do I detirmine the coordances of a place on the map? There are 2.5minute marks on the map but how do you get closer?


 

A friend gave me a Topo Companion back when I was tracking Great Gray Owls into Canada. We did a lot of GPS to map/map to GPS stuff back then and the TopoCompanion was just the ticket. I see REI sells them, and the following phone # is printed on the thing: 800 275-7526. It's essentially a clear ruler/scale that works with most common topo scales. You can read the Lat/Long directly off the ruler for any point on the map. Or you can read the UTM coords off if it - if that's what floats your boat. I'm not affiliated in any way with the TopoCompanion folks - I'm just a satisfied user.

icon_razz.gif

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by HangGlider:

A friend gave me a Topo Companion back when I was tracking Great Gray Owls into Canada. We did a lot of GPS to (snip)


 

HangGlider,

 

How do those Great Gray Owls taste? (I heard they were kinda stringy...) icon_eek.gificon_wink.gif

 

--majicman

 

(Always trade UP in both quantity and quality and Geocaches will be both self-sustaining and self-improving!)

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by HangGlider:

A friend gave me a Topo Companion back when I was tracking Great Gray Owls into Canada. We did a lot of GPS to (snip)


 

HangGlider,

 

How do those Great Gray Owls taste? (I heard they were kinda stringy...) icon_eek.gificon_wink.gif

 

--majicman

 

(Always trade UP in both quantity and quality and Geocaches will be both self-sustaining and self-improving!)

Posted

Majicman and sbell, you must have been sampling those "free range-fed" owls. If you're ever in Pennsylvania, check out one of the owl farms, where the fledglings are fattened until virtually indistinguishable from the Cornish Game Hen. I believe that most of these owl mills offer visitor tours, but one word of warning: watch out for the tethers flying through the air as the owls move about. The low-flying ones will take your head clean off.

 

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

"Next time, instead of getting married, I think I'll just find a woman I don't like and buy her a house."

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by majicman:

HangGlider,

 

How do those Great Gray Owls taste? (I heard they were kinda stringy...) icon_eek.gificon_wink.gif


 

By the time you pluck the dang things there ain't nothin' left but a pile 'o feathers! icon_eek.gif Beats me how they taste... Like chicken I suppose. icon_biggrin.gif

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by majicman:

HangGlider,

 

How do those Great Gray Owls taste? (I heard they were kinda stringy...) icon_eek.gificon_wink.gif


 

By the time you pluck the dang things there ain't nothin' left but a pile 'o feathers! icon_eek.gif Beats me how they taste... Like chicken I suppose. icon_biggrin.gif

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by HangGlider:

 

By the time you pluck the dang things there ain't nothin' left but a pile 'o feathers! icon_eek.gif Beats me how they taste... Like chicken I suppose. icon_biggrin.gif


 

yeah, thought so - I'll just stick to baby seals, nice and juicy...

icon_eek.gificon_biggrin.gif

 

--majicman

 

(Always trade UP in both quantity and quality and Geocaches will be both self-sustaining and self-improving!)

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by HangGlider:

 

By the time you pluck the dang things there ain't nothin' left but a pile 'o feathers! icon_eek.gif Beats me how they taste... Like chicken I suppose. icon_biggrin.gif


 

yeah, thought so - I'll just stick to baby seals, nice and juicy...

icon_eek.gificon_biggrin.gif

 

--majicman

 

(Always trade UP in both quantity and quality and Geocaches will be both self-sustaining and self-improving!)

Posted

I had the same question on topo maps. Do I hear right that the scale will get me where I want to go. If so what are the numbers between the Degrees and minutes and the 7.5 minutes to the minutes and seconds at the other side of the page

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