Bushwalk Australia

Okay, so I'm new to the world of GPS but recently I was with a friend in the Blue Mountains who had one and it seemed really useful. What I would like to know is around the capabilities of GPS, specifically coordinate formats.

As I understand it there is a way for a GPS to read out a Grid Reference from a topographic map, allowing you to quickly locate your position on a topographic map. What is this called, and what sort of GPS would you need (would a Sunnto Ambit 3 do the job?)

I'm using standard 1:50k topos and would find a GPS useful to confirm my location rather than tell me which way to go (I'm sure over time, if that feature was present, I'd use that too).

Thanks in advance for everyone's help

Pretty much all GPS units designed for bush activities have the option to display UTM coordinates. It's just a matter of opting for the setting on the unit. If you are only looking for spot location checks, then the GPS functionality on the latest smartphones may be enough for your needs, especially when paired with an appropriate mapping app. If you want regular navigation or track recording, then a dedicated handheld unit may be better. The battery capacity on smartphones and watches tend to be limited and continuous GPS track logging would likely to drain them within a long day.

Start here...

http://www.gpsinformation.org/dale/nav.htm

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US sites for GPS Information:


* GPS World Online Magazine http://www.gpsworld.com/
* GPS User Magazine http://www.gpsuser.com/index.html
* GPS Tutorial http://www.trimble.com/gps/index.htm
* Geocaching - The Official GPS Cache Hunt Site http://www.geocaching.com/
* GeoCommunity http://www.geocomm.com/
* USFS GPS Page http://www.fs.fed.us/database/gps/welcome.htm
* GPS Information. Net - Mehaffey/Yeazel/DePriest http://gpsinformation.net/
* GPS Nuts http://www.gpsnuts.com/
* Federal Aviation Administration - GPS http://gps.faa.gov/
* GIS for Everyone http://www.esri.com/gisforeveryone/
* Map & References (University of Iowa) http://www.cgrer.uiowa.edu/servers/serv ... ences.html
* GPS Utility http://www.gpsu.co.uk/

GPS Manufacturers

* Garmin International http://www.garmin.com/
* Magellan Corporation http://www.magellangps.com/
* Lowrance Corporation http://www.lowrance.com/outdoor/
* Brunton http://www.brunton.com/
* Cobra Electronics http://www.cobraelectronics.com/

Maps & Info on Line

* USGS National Mapping Information http://mapping.usgs.gov/
* MapQuest http://www.mapquest.com/
* MapTech http://www.maptech.com/
* TopoZone http://www.topozone.com/
* Digital Grove http://www.digitalgrove.net/

Compass companies

* Silva http://www.silvausa.com/
* Brunton http://www.brunton.com/
* Suunto http://www.suunto.com/

Most GPS units have an option allowing you to select from a variety of geographic projection systems/datums. Just select the option that is compatible with the datum used on your topo map (generally printed in the legend in the margin). Generally this will be GDA94 in Australia, although some older maps will be AGD84. The location will then be reported in the same format as the map -ie. as a grid reference rather than lat/long co-ords/

The GPS in a smartphone will give you your current location without necessarily needing mapping or a network connection - use an app such as Handy GPS to convert it into a six figure grid reference.

I have my Ambit 3 configured to report my location in grid reference format. Has a longer battery life than the phone, and saves having to pull the phone out of the pack in the rain.

Here ya GO!

An Introduction to Using a Garmin GPS with Paper Maps for Land Navigation

http://www.montereysar.org/SARMembersDo ... Manual.pdf

If all you want is coordinates you might as well just use your phone.

Strider wrote:If all you want is coordinates you might as well just use your phone.

Assumption being that Venturer uses a late model smartphone.