Carry your compass
 

On Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:07:18 -0500, wrote:

On Sun, 4 Jan 2009 19:06:23 -0800 (PST), Frogwatch
wrote:

Being somewhat of a "high Tech Luddite", I also prefer my compass to
GPS and would pack it before the GPS. I can almost instantly use the
compass to take a bearing on something to be sure I have cleared a
potential obstacle. Being a trigonometry geek, I just think
navigating with a compass and taking bearings is just elegant.
BTW, also being a caver, GPS doesnt work in caves, compass does.

A GPS really doesn't even work that well in the woods. I have 2 and I
always carry them on vacation (Idaho, Alaska, the Dakotas and Wyoming)
but you have to climb a tree to get enough satellites to establish a
fix. My wife was constantly making fun of me waving these in the air
trying to get 3 satellites.

I've heard that before and I find it an interesting comment. We have
some fairly dense woods around my house - 100 plus acres of woods in
fact mostly swamp oak, pine, hemlock, birch and sugar/swamp/rock
maple. Most trees are in the 40/45 foot category and in the summer
there is a dense canopy.

Back when I was still an active hunter, I used my GPS all the time
over in the Natchaug Forest and up along the Mass border where there
are more pine trees in the swamps than you can shake a stick at.

Never had a problem getting three satellites to obtain a fix.

Ever.

They do work OK in the desert.

Well, to each their own.

--

"Far better it is to dare mighty things,
to win glorious triumphs even though
checkered by failure, than to rank with
those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor
suffer much because they live in the gray
twilight that knows neither victory nor
defeat."

Theodore Roosevelt

Carry your compass
 

"Calif Bill" wrote in message
...

"Tom Francis - SWSports" wrote in
message ...
On Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:35:50 -0500, wrote:

On Sun, 04 Jan 2009 19:59:03 -0500, Tom Francis - SWSports
wrote:

On Sun, 04 Jan 2009 19:27:49 -0500, wrote:

On Sun, 4 Jan 2009 08:57:23 -0800 (PST), Frogwatch
wrote:

Took my daughter kayaking yesterday with my wife and I in the canoe
and Katie in her kayak. Went in the salt marshes on the Gulf coast
here (N. FL). We got out into an area maybe 1/4 mile wide when fog
started coming in and I decided to hug shore justb in case. Sure
enough, very quickly you could barely see 50'. We easily got back by
following the shore but if we had been out in the middle, it would
have been a problem. I did not have my compass that I normally carry
in my sailing bag. From now on, compass goes with me on all trips.

I keep an old boy scout style compass with me wherever I am on the
water. In the boat it is handy for tracking storms. Shoot a real
bearing on the edge of the cloud you are concerned about and check it
again a few minutes later. That will tell you which way it is moving,
relative to your course.
In a "bail out" situation, a compass will help me navigate through the
mangroves so I can walk home.

In a bail out situation, a portable GPS is going to be a hell of a lot
more informative than a compass.

Although I do carry a compass, I also carry a small portable GPS -
Magellan Triton 200.

http://www.magellangps.com/products/....asp?segID=425

Never had a dead battery in my compass ;-)

True enough, but you don't need to keep the GPS up and running the
whole time either.

A good set of batteries and a set of spares can last you a couple of
weeks if you use the GPS properly in an emergency situation.

But your point is well taken - a compass doesn't require a lot of
skill.

Although, just to make a point, a lot of people don't understand the
difference between True and Magnetic North and that can lead to
diaster in and of itself.
--

Happy Holidays and Merry Whatever It Is
That ****es Liberals Off.

We were kayaking at Point Arena late September. Fog came in and was hard
to see the shore. Couple of friends doing some filming on MLPA's come
across a guy on a sort of pontoon kayak, paddling out to sea. He thought
he was paddling towards the bluffs. Just a fog bluff. No radio, no GPS,
no compass. Next stop Hawaii of lucky, or Asia if not.

I carry a handheld GPS, a compass and a VHF when I boat. Fog is very
common around here from June through July and sometimes September.

Carry your compass
 

On Jan 5, 6:12*am, Tom Francis - SWSports
wrote:
On Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:07:18 -0500, wrote:
On Sun, 4 Jan 2009 19:06:23 -0800 (PST), Frogwatch
wrote:

Being somewhat of a "high Tech Luddite", *I also prefer my compass to
GPS and would pack it before the GPS. *I can almost instantly use the
compass to take a bearing on something to be sure I have cleared a
potential obstacle. *Being a trigonometry geek, I just think
navigating with a compass and taking bearings is just elegant.
BTW, also being a caver, GPS doesnt work in caves, compass does.

A GPS really doesn't even work that well in the woods. I have 2 and I
always carry them on vacation (Idaho, Alaska, the Dakotas and Wyoming)
but you have to climb a tree to get enough satellites to establish a
fix. My wife was constantly making fun of me waving these in the air
trying to get 3 satellites.

I've heard that before and I find it an interesting comment. *We have
some fairly dense woods around my house - 100 plus acres of woods in
fact mostly swamp oak, pine, hemlock, birch and sugar/swamp/rock
maple. Most trees are in the 40/45 foot category and in the summer
there is a dense canopy.

Back when I was still an active hunter, I used my GPS all the time
over in the Natchaug Forest and up along the Mass border where there
are more pine trees in the swamps than you can shake a stick at.

Never had a problem getting three satellites to obtain a fix.

Ever.

They do work OK in the desert.

Well, to each their own.

--

"Far better it is to dare mighty things,
to win glorious triumphs even though
checkered by failure, than to rank with
those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor
suffer much because they live in the gray
twilight that knows neither victory nor
defeat."

Theodore Roosevelt- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The Magellan in my truck has NEVER been unable to link to satellites.
Hellacious rainstorm, in the woods, no problem.

Carry your compass
 

wrote:
On Sun, 4 Jan 2009 19:06:23 -0800 (PST), Frogwatch
wrote:

Being somewhat of a "high Tech Luddite", I also prefer my compass to
GPS and would pack it before the GPS. I can almost instantly use the
compass to take a bearing on something to be sure I have cleared a
potential obstacle. Being a trigonometry geek, I just think
navigating with a compass and taking bearings is just elegant.
BTW, also being a caver, GPS doesnt work in caves, compass does.

A GPS really doesn't even work that well in the woods. I have 2 and I
always carry them on vacation (Idaho, Alaska, the Dakotas and Wyoming)
but you have to climb a tree to get enough satellites to establish a
fix. My wife was constantly making fun of me waving these in the air
trying to get 3 satellites.
They do work OK in the desert.


Does anyone have any experience with working the GPS from the centre of
a moving vehicle? Does it need to be near glass to receive signals?



--
Regards,
Dave Brown
Brown's Marina Ltd
http://brownsmarina.com/

Carry your compass
 

"Dave Brown" wrote in message
news:bv2dnYZKLdMchv_UnZ2dnUVZ_rHinZ2d@wtccommunica tions.ca...
wrote:
On Sun, 4 Jan 2009 19:06:23 -0800 (PST), Frogwatch
wrote:

Being somewhat of a "high Tech Luddite", I also prefer my compass to
GPS and would pack it before the GPS. I can almost instantly use the
compass to take a bearing on something to be sure I have cleared a
potential obstacle. Being a trigonometry geek, I just think
navigating with a compass and taking bearings is just elegant.
BTW, also being a caver, GPS doesnt work in caves, compass does.

A GPS really doesn't even work that well in the woods. I have 2 and I
always carry them on vacation (Idaho, Alaska, the Dakotas and Wyoming)
but you have to climb a tree to get enough satellites to establish a
fix. My wife was constantly making fun of me waving these in the air
trying to get 3 satellites. They do work OK in the desert.


Does anyone have any experience with working the GPS from the centre of a
moving vehicle? Does it need to be near glass to receive signals?



--
Regards,
Dave Brown
Brown's Marina Ltd
http://brownsmarina.com/

I didn't have the proper mounts but have used my old Magellan 315 and my 1
year old Garmin GPS MAP 60Cx from the dash of a Voyager mini-van and a
Ranger pickup with no problems. I did have the 12 volt adapter plugged into
the vehicle for power although I doubt that makes a difference.
.....and yes, I laid it almost horizontal on the dash with the antenna
positioned as far forward as possible.
I was a bit concerned about the sun shinning on the screen.

Carry your compass
 

On Mon, 05 Jan 2009 09:40:21 -0500, Dave Brown
wrote:

Does it need to be near glass to receive signals?

Generally speaking, yes. I usually put mine on the dash board near
the windshield.

Carry your compass
 

On Jan 5, 9:40*am, Dave Brown wrote:
wrote:
On Sun, 4 Jan 2009 19:06:23 -0800 (PST), Frogwatch
wrote:

Being somewhat of a "high Tech Luddite", *I also prefer my compass to
GPS and would pack it before the GPS. *I can almost instantly use the
compass to take a bearing on something to be sure I have cleared a
potential obstacle. *Being a trigonometry geek, I just think
navigating with a compass and taking bearings is just elegant.
BTW, also being a caver, GPS doesnt work in caves, compass does.

A GPS really doesn't even work that well in the woods. I have 2 and I
always carry them on vacation (Idaho, Alaska, the Dakotas and Wyoming)
but you have to climb a tree to get enough satellites to establish a
fix. My wife was constantly making fun of me waving these in the air
trying to get 3 satellites.
They do work OK in the desert.

Does anyone have any experience with working the GPS from the centre of
a moving vehicle? Does it need to be near glass to receive signals?

--
Regards,
* * * Dave Brown
* * * Brown's Marina Ltd
* * *http://brownsmarina.com/- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Dave, they do need to be near glass if they only have an internal
antenna. There are models that have a connector for an external, and
the external itself costs around $25. There are also units made that
have the external already with it. Especially on trips to places I've
never been, I don't know how I ever got along without a GPS. And
before Mapquest, how did I EVER know where I was?

Carry your compass
 

On Mon, 05 Jan 2009 09:40:21 -0500, Dave Brown
wrote:

wrote:
On Sun, 4 Jan 2009 19:06:23 -0800 (PST), Frogwatch
wrote:

Being somewhat of a "high Tech Luddite", I also prefer my compass to
GPS and would pack it before the GPS. I can almost instantly use the
compass to take a bearing on something to be sure I have cleared a
potential obstacle. Being a trigonometry geek, I just think
navigating with a compass and taking bearings is just elegant.
BTW, also being a caver, GPS doesnt work in caves, compass does.

A GPS really doesn't even work that well in the woods. I have 2 and I
always carry them on vacation (Idaho, Alaska, the Dakotas and Wyoming)
but you have to climb a tree to get enough satellites to establish a
fix. My wife was constantly making fun of me waving these in the air
trying to get 3 satellites.
They do work OK in the desert.


Does anyone have any experience with working the GPS from the centre of
a moving vehicle? Does it need to be near glass to receive signals?

Never from center. Dashboard works great.

Carry your compass
 

On Mon, 05 Jan 2009 09:40:21 -0500, Dave Brown
wrote:

Does anyone have any experience with working the GPS from the centre of
a moving vehicle? Does it need to be near glass to receive signals?

Metal blocks all radio. If the roof is plastic or cloth you might get
signals, otherwise the glass.

Casady

Carry your compass
 

"Dave Brown" wrote in message
news:bv2dnYZKLdMchv_UnZ2dnUVZ_rHinZ2d@wtccommunica tions.ca...
wrote:
On Sun, 4 Jan 2009 19:06:23 -0800 (PST), Frogwatch
wrote:

Being somewhat of a "high Tech Luddite", I also prefer my compass to
GPS and would pack it before the GPS. I can almost instantly use the
compass to take a bearing on something to be sure I have cleared a
potential obstacle. Being a trigonometry geek, I just think
navigating with a compass and taking bearings is just elegant.
BTW, also being a caver, GPS doesnt work in caves, compass does.

A GPS really doesn't even work that well in the woods. I have 2 and I
always carry them on vacation (Idaho, Alaska, the Dakotas and Wyoming)
but you have to climb a tree to get enough satellites to establish a
fix. My wife was constantly making fun of me waving these in the air
trying to get 3 satellites. They do work OK in the desert.


Does anyone have any experience with working the GPS from the centre of a
moving vehicle? Does it need to be near glass to receive signals?



--
Regards,
Dave Brown
Brown's Marina Ltd
http://brownsmarina.com/

My wife's Garmin Nuvi will work in the front seat. Maybe just near enough
to to glass to get a signal. Also would depend on the car. Some cars have
a nickle coating on the windshield and the Fastrac transponders will not
work in them, may also apply to GPS.