Grids?

[+Milbank]

I'm having some problems understanding what grids to use when entering waypoints.

 

Not a geocaching related questions, but I hope someone can point me in the right direction.

 

I'm a ham radio operator and I want to put the radio repeater coordinates in my gps.

I look up the repeater online and get these coordinates.

 

Latitude: 44.7570778

Longitude: -96.46679673:

 

Do I have to change the grid in my Legend to enter the coordinates?

 

I would also like to know how to enter them in expertGPS and/or Garmin Mapsource.

 

Thanks,

 

Edited to add: The coordinates in Garmin Mapsource show up like this right now.

example: N45 13.816 W96 24.590

Edited February 24, 2005 by Milbank

[+Timpat]

To enter those repeater coords you listed, simply go to Setup/and either Display, or Units, I don't have my Legend with me. You should have it set to WGS84 as the datum, then change the format from: DDD MM.mmm, to DDD.mmmmm. Then you can toggle back to however you like to see the coords displayed.

 

In MapSource, go to Edit/Preferences/Position, where you can change the format just like above. You are not changing the datum (grid, as you called it) just displaying the coords differently.

[+Milbank]

To enter those repeater coords you listed, simply go to Setup/and either Display, or Units, I don't have my Legend with me. You should have it set to WGS84 as the datum, then change the format from: DDD MM.mmm, to DDD.mmmmm. Then you can toggle back to however you like to see the coords displayed.

 

In MapSource, go to Edit/Preferences/Position, where you can change the format just like above. You are not changing the datum (grid, as you called it) just displaying the coords differently.

Thanks,

[+Redwoods Mtn Biker]

Longitude: -96.46679673:

 

 

FYI, the negative number here indicates west (W)

 

Rich Owings

www.MakeYourOwnMaps.com

 

"We were desert mystics, my friends and I, pouring over our maps as

others do their holy books." - Edward Abbey

[+EScout]

Or just multiply the decimal part times 60 minutes and keep your coord system as it is. For example, .7570778 X 60= 45.425

Your coord is : N 44 45.425 in the ddd mm.mmm format.

[+HHL]

change the format from: DDD MM.mmm, to DDD.mmmmm.

the correct notation for decimal degrees is hddd.ddddd.

happy hunting.

[+Milbank]

change the format from: DDD MM.mmm, to DDD.mmmmm.

the correct notation for decimal degrees is hddd.ddddd.

happy hunting.

Ok, thought I had it but maybe not.

 

When I change the legend to hddd.ddddd I can put 5 digits behind the decimal and two in front.

 

For example N 00.12345

 

So if I have a reading of Latitude: 44.7570778 I have to many numbers to enter.

 

Also if I do this:

 

Or just multiply the decimal part times 60 minutes and keep your coord system as it is. For example, .7570778 X 60= 45.425

Your coord is : N 44 45.425 in the ddd mm.mmm format.

 

I'm still not sure how to enter N 44 45.425

Do I enter it as 44.45425?

 

I hate to think I have to do the math for everyone.

[+Milbank]

What I see when I'm changing things:

 

[+blindleader]

When I change the legend to hddd.ddddd I can put 5 digits behind the decimal and two in front.

For example N 00.12345

So if I have a reading of Latitude: 44.7570778 I have to many numbers to enter.

A little thought will go a long way. Answer these questions:

Q1: What does five decimal places mean?

After you have that answer -

Q2: Why would you worry about seven decimal places?

 

I'm still not sure how to enter N 44 45.425

Do I enter it as 44.45425?

The short answeris No. Change the position format to hdd°mm.mmm'

Try it and find out. This may not be true with ham radio setups but generally, the best way to figure out what an electronic device does, especially a consumer device, is to play with it. Without ever having operated a Garmin unit, I can assure you that if you change the position format to hddd°mm.mmm' it should become obvious how to enter the coordinates.

 

To go back to your original question:

I look up the repeater online and get these coordinates.

 

Latitude: 44.7570778

Longitude: -96.46679673:

 

Do I have to change the grid in my Legend to enter the coordinates?

The easiest way to enter them is to make sure the position format is in whatever format the source is printed in, in this case hddd.ddddd°. Then entter them as N44.757078 and W96.46680. Note the correct rounding.

 

and

The coordinates in Garmin Mapsource show up like this right now.

example: N45 13.816 W96 24.590

Change the position format to hddd°mm.mmm and enter them as you see them.

[+Milbank]

Got it.

 

Guess I'm just a little slow today...

 

Thanks for taking the time to reply.