GPS Use Question
 

We bought the handheld Garmin 72 for our little 22 footer. We won't be
doing much if any long distance navigation, but just knowing our position
and just "playing" with the thing should be fun. Goofing around with it
inside (while it's cold and snowy outside) a few questions come to mind.

-- Lets say you are out in open ocean and heading for a waypoint that
it programmed into the unit. If everything was calm, no wind and no
current, all you have to do it point the arrow at the waypoint. But what
if there is a current and/or wind? Just pointing the boat toward the
waypoint might not take you on a straight course to the destination. You
would need to steer a different course to get the desired outcome. So:
Can this GPS (or others) help figure what course you need to steer?

-- I see there is a "Highway" screen that shows a "road" that one
might follow. Seems that may be the correct screen to do what I'm
thinking, but I can't quite figure out it's use.

Well, probably all this will become clearer when we can actually use
it ON the boat.

Oh, any good books out there telling how to use a GPS (not a manual
for a particual unit, but a general 'how-to' book of ideas and uses?

Thanks,
Gary

GPS Use Question
 

Gary Warner wrote:

We bought the handheld Garmin 72 for our little 22 footer. We won't be
doing much if any long distance navigation, but just knowing our position
and just "playing" with the thing should be fun. Goofing around with it
inside (while it's cold and snowy outside) a few questions come to mind.

-- Lets say you are out in open ocean and heading for a waypoint that
it programmed into the unit. If everything was calm, no wind and no
current, all you have to do it point the arrow at the waypoint. But what
if there is a current and/or wind? Just pointing the boat toward the
waypoint might not take you on a straight course to the destination. You
would need to steer a different course to get the desired outcome. So:
Can this GPS (or others) help figure what course you need to steer?

Certainly. The GPS unit receives frequent updates from the satellites
and knows about where you are, within a small degree of error. The
highway screen tells you whether to steer to starboard or port to reach
your destination.

However, you shouldn't overcorrect. If you are following the "highway"
function, and wind, waves and current are a factor, you will almost
always be a little off course. If you try to keep yourself centered on
the highway, you'll be doing nothing else while on your boat. Just
generally follow the highway, and make a correction every few minutes,
if need be.

-- I see there is a "Highway" screen that shows a "road" that one
might follow. Seems that may be the correct screen to do what I'm
thinking, but I can't quite figure out it's use.


Read page 19 of your manual. Garmin writes and publishes pretty decent
manuals. Those Jebbies are nothing if not well-educated.


Well, probably all this will become clearer when we can actually use
it ON the boat.

Oh, any good books out there telling how to use a GPS (not a manual
for a particual unit, but a general 'how-to' book of ideas and uses?

Thanks,
Gary


Garmin's GPS manuals contain a wealth of information about using GPS in
your life.

--
Email sent to is never read.

GPS Use Question
 

"Gary Warner" wrote in message
...

We bought the handheld Garmin 72 for our little 22 footer. We won't be
doing much if any long distance navigation, but just knowing our position
and just "playing" with the thing should be fun. Goofing around with it
inside (while it's cold and snowy outside) a few questions come to mind.

-- Lets say you are out in open ocean and heading for a waypoint that
it programmed into the unit. If everything was calm, no wind and no
current, all you have to do it point the arrow at the waypoint. But what
if there is a current and/or wind? Just pointing the boat toward the
waypoint might not take you on a straight course to the destination. You
would need to steer a different course to get the desired outcome. So:
Can this GPS (or others) help figure what course you need to steer?

-- I see there is a "Highway" screen that shows a "road" that one
might follow. Seems that may be the correct screen to do what I'm
thinking, but I can't quite figure out it's use.

Well, probably all this will become clearer when we can actually use
it ON the boat.

Oh, any good books out there telling how to use a GPS (not a manual
for a particual unit, but a general 'how-to' book of ideas and uses?

Thanks,
Gary


As long as you're not going long distance, this really isn't a big deal.
If you do stray off course, the little arrow will always point towards
your target. I use one all the time, and find that once I reach a
destination,
my "bread crumb" trail will be a bit curved from point A to B.

When underway,
I usually just hit the gas and check the little arrow every few minutes
to make sure Im ok.
I also have a Loran that I almost never monitor anymore and am thinking
of selling it, but a quick check on Ebay reveals these things won't fetch
much any more.

Once you use it on the water, you'll wonder how you ever got along
without it.


db

p.s. Always keep a couple packs of AA batt's on board.

GPS Use Question
 

Or, better yet, a 12V adapter.

D0N ßailey wrote:


p.s. Always keep a couple packs of AA batt's on board.

GPS Use Question
 

On Mon, 19 Jan 2004 17:40:49 -0500, Gene Kearns
wrote:

Considering that there will most assuredly be some sort of outside
influence working on your desired track, the 270 given by the GPS, you
might be forced to *steer* (by compass heading) a different number,
say 260 or 280. Your boat will crab into the wind/current much the
same way some dogs seem to run sideways.... but the *path* of your
vessel should be the 270 degrees.
============================================

Here's how I do it for what it's worth.

1. Observe course to waypoint on GPS. (Waypoint Bearing)

2. Steer same course on compass and observe Course Over Ground (COG),
or Course Made Good (CMG) for a short time (maybe 30 seconds).

3. Adjust compass course until COG/CMG equals waypoint bearing.

4. At this point the boat should be traveling in the right direction
to go directly to the waypoint with all necessary corrections built in
for current, compass error, wind, etc.

5. Re-check COG/CMG vs Waypoint Bearing periodically and adjust
compass course as required.

There are other perfectly valid techniques of course, such as setting
a "from and to" route and observing cross track error. This is
basically what the "highway" display is doing in graphical form.

Another approach which I sometimes use with my computerized charting
software, is to lay out the entire route the night before. This
creates course lines on the mapping display and you can watch the boat
move along the course out of the corner of your eye, making steering
corrections as needed. After you've found the rignt compass heading
to maintain the course, you just need to double check progress every
minute or so.

GPS Use Question
 

On Mon, 19 Jan 2004 18:01:18 -0500, "D0N ßailey"
wrote:
Once you use it on the water, you'll wonder how you ever got along
without it.

=====================================

It always astounds me to think that as recently as 10 or 15 years ago
we used to go all day and sometimes more without knowing exactly where
we were.

GPS Use Question
 

"D0N ßailey" wrote:


As long as you're not going long distance, this really isn't a big deal.
If you do stray off course, the little arrow will always point towards
your target. I use one all the time, and find that once I reach a
destination, my "bread crumb" trail will be a bit curved from point A to
B.


Which I assume is fine, unless that curved course is too big. In which case
you are traveling a longer distance than you need to or, much worse, getting
into an area of the water that you don't want to be in (say shallow or
such).
Yes?

But generally we'll just be going short distances so you're right,
it probably isn't a big deal. Just like to think it all through anyway.

GPS Use Question
 

Thanks all, makes perfect sense. Generally, steer to whatever compass
direction will make the boat actually *travel* the course that the GPS
sets out.

Harry - Yup, I agree the manual is pretty good. I just get the feeling
that there is more to be understood about ways to be using this
device than are in this 60 page manual. ~ This highway question
is a good example: Page 19 tells me exactly what I need to do. But
it didn't explain the currents/cross winds question.

Ok, thanks again.
Gary

GPS Use Question
 

Just keep the triangle pointing up.
Bill

"Gary Warner" wrote in message
...

"D0N ßailey" wrote:


As long as you're not going long distance, this really isn't a big deal.
If you do stray off course, the little arrow will always point towards
your target. I use one all the time, and find that once I reach a
destination, my "bread crumb" trail will be a bit curved from point A to
B.


Which I assume is fine, unless that curved course is too big. In which
case
you are traveling a longer distance than you need to or, much worse,
getting
into an area of the water that you don't want to be in (say shallow or
such).
Yes?

But generally we'll just be going short distances so you're right,
it probably isn't a big deal. Just like to think it all through anyway.

GPS Use Question
 

On Mon, 19 Jan 2004 21:00:01 -0500, Gene Kearns
wrote:

Hmmm..... I have some PFC pipe, a can of Life Guard, and a
potato...... EUREKA.....

============================

I think I hear cannon fire in the distance...

GPS Use Question
 

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 19 Jan 2004 21:00:01 -0500, Gene Kearns
wrote:

Hmmm..... I have some PFC pipe, a can of Life Guard, and a
potato...... EUREKA.....

============================

I think I hear cannon fire in the distance...

Kinda of hollow "phooomp" sound?

Mark Browne

GPS Use Question
 

Gary Warner wrote:
We bought the handheld Garmin 72 for our little 22 footer. We won't be
doing much if any long distance navigation, but just knowing our position
and just "playing" with the thing should be fun. Goofing around with it
inside (while it's cold and snowy outside) a few questions come to mind.

-- Lets say you are out in open ocean and heading for a waypoint that
it programmed into the unit. If everything was calm, no wind and no
current, all you have to do it point the arrow at the waypoint. But what
if there is a current and/or wind? Just pointing the boat toward the
waypoint might not take you on a straight course to the destination. You
would need to steer a different course to get the desired outcome. So:
Can this GPS (or others) help figure what course you need to steer?

-- I see there is a "Highway" screen that shows a "road" that one
might follow. Seems that may be the correct screen to do what I'm
thinking, but I can't quite figure out it's use.

Well, probably all this will become clearer when we can actually use
it ON the boat.

Oh, any good books out there telling how to use a GPS (not a manual
for a particual unit, but a general 'how-to' book of ideas and uses?

Thanks,
Gary




They're great but don't become complacent, even well experienced pros
end up on the bricks when they get too confident:-)

Even for a short trip use lots & lots of waypoints, the arrow points to
the next waypoint "all" the time, so if there's a cross tide/wind etc
etc you might finish well off your intended track, however still happily
headed "directly" to the next waypoint, via the car park:-).

As well as lots of waypoints, don't just place them at fixed intervals,
position them strategically; e.g. say there's a headland or reef to get
safely around, place at "least" 3 waypoints on your intended safety
margin track around/past it, one a reasonable distance before you get
anywhere close, then one off the reef or whatever & another as you exit
the area into clear water again. The risk is as above that you'll be
swept sideways & actually be approaching the danger from other than your
intended track & even though you'll be getting readings that confirm
you're such & such a distance from the "waypoint" your approach to it
may take you into the danger area. Again once at the waypoint your exit
from that risk area needs at "least" another for the same reasons.

Obviously lots of people can input the waypoints as they complete a
regularly traveled trip but if you are entering your intended waypoints
from a chart, then join them all up & mark the true & compass courses
between them on each little leg. After you've entered them, you can run
through the passage on the gps & it'll give you the bearings from each
waypoint to the next, take care these are the same as your plotted
courses, it's extremely easy to mis-enter a co-ordinate & this check
will show it immediately. It's also nice to have the tracks courses
marked on the chart, so you can confirm at a glance what the GPS
"should" be telling you, also note the soundings & just get used to
confirming them.

They're never, not ever wrong, if they're working with enough sats up
then they're correct:-) So no matter how disoriented, tired, wet, cold,
****ed off or in a hurry to get in, don't believe your gut or your
balance or or your assessment of distance over water or the advice of
the crew, if it's up & working it's right!!

K

GPS Use Question
 

"Gary Warner" wrote in message ...
"D0N ßailey" wrote:


As long as you're not going long distance, this really isn't a big deal.
If you do stray off course, the little arrow will always point towards
your target. I use one all the time, and find that once I reach a
destination, my "bread crumb" trail will be a bit curved from point A to
B.


Which I assume is fine, unless that curved course is too big. In which case
you are traveling a longer distance than you need to or, much worse, getting
into an area of the water that you don't want to be in (say shallow or
such).
Yes?

But generally we'll just be going short distances so you're right,
it probably isn't a big deal. Just like to think it all through anyway.

With a Garmin, you can either follow your original route upon return,
or you can go back to your origin in a straight line. Also, you can
wander around going back, and not to worry, follow the arrow, and
you'll go back to your origin anyway. One thing I found out, is that
while reading the manual, and messing with it on my deck, wasn't the
same as taking the manual, going out on the lake, and practicing with
it. Pretty easy, once you do that. BUT, take the manual with you, so
you'll learn to use all of the features.

GPS Use Question
 

K Smith wrote in message ...
Gary Warner wrote:
We bought the handheld Garmin 72 for our little 22 footer. We won't be
doing much if any long distance navigation, but just knowing our position
and just "playing" with the thing should be fun. Goofing around with it
inside (while it's cold and snowy outside) a few questions come to mind.

-- Lets say you are out in open ocean and heading for a waypoint that
it programmed into the unit. If everything was calm, no wind and no
current, all you have to do it point the arrow at the waypoint. But what
if there is a current and/or wind? Just pointing the boat toward the
waypoint might not take you on a straight course to the destination. You
would need to steer a different course to get the desired outcome. So:
Can this GPS (or others) help figure what course you need to steer?

-- I see there is a "Highway" screen that shows a "road" that one
might follow. Seems that may be the correct screen to do what I'm
thinking, but I can't quite figure out it's use.

Well, probably all this will become clearer when we can actually use
it ON the boat.

Oh, any good books out there telling how to use a GPS (not a manual
for a particual unit, but a general 'how-to' book of ideas and uses?

Thanks,
Gary




They're great but don't become complacent, even well experienced pros
end up on the bricks when they get too confident:-)

Even for a short trip use lots & lots of waypoints, the arrow points to
the next waypoint "all" the time, so if there's a cross tide/wind etc
etc you might finish well off your intended track, however still happily
headed "directly" to the next waypoint, via the car park:-).

As well as lots of waypoints, don't just place them at fixed intervals,
position them strategically; e.g. say there's a headland or reef to get
safely around, place at "least" 3 waypoints on your intended safety
margin track around/past it, one a reasonable distance before you get
anywhere close, then one off the reef or whatever & another as you exit
the area into clear water again. The risk is as above that you'll be
swept sideways & actually be approaching the danger from other than your
intended track & even though you'll be getting readings that confirm
you're such & such a distance from the "waypoint" your approach to it
may take you into the danger area. Again once at the waypoint your exit
from that risk area needs at "least" another for the same reasons.

Obviously lots of people can input the waypoints as they complete a
regularly traveled trip but if you are entering your intended waypoints
from a chart, then join them all up & mark the true & compass courses
between them on each little leg. After you've entered them, you can run
through the passage on the gps & it'll give you the bearings from each
waypoint to the next, take care these are the same as your plotted
courses, it's extremely easy to mis-enter a co-ordinate & this check
will show it immediately. It's also nice to have the tracks courses
marked on the chart, so you can confirm at a glance what the GPS
"should" be telling you, also note the soundings & just get used to
confirming them.

They're never, not ever wrong, if they're working with enough sats up
then they're correct:-) So no matter how disoriented, tired, wet, cold,
****ed off or in a hurry to get in, don't believe your gut or your
balance or or your assessment of distance over water or the advice of
the crew, if it's up & working it's right!!

K

If you use "lots and lots" of waypoints, you may run out, and that is
bad, especially in open water.

GPS Use Question
 

"Calif Bill" wrote in message
nk.net...
Just keep the triangle pointing up.
Bill


Yep.

db

GPS Use Question
 

On 20 Jan 2004 06:35:14 -0800, (basskisser) wrote:

If you use "lots and lots" of waypoints, you may run out, and that is
bad, especially in open water.

==========================================

Yes, and there's really no reason for "lots and lots" of waypoints in
open water. A glance at your Cross Track Error (XTE) once in awhile
will tell you if you're being set to one side. As long as Course Made
Good is matching up with Bearing to Waypoint, that shouldn't happen
anyway.

GPS Use Question
 

Gary Warner wrote:

We bought the handheld Garmin 72 for our little 22 footer. We won't be
doing much if any long distance navigation, but just knowing our position
and just "playing" with the thing should be fun. Goofing around with it
inside (while it's cold and snowy outside) a few questions come to mind.

Yep, they're fun.



-- Lets say you are out in open ocean and heading for a waypoint that
it programmed into the unit. If everything was calm, no wind and no
current, all you have to do it point the arrow at the waypoint. But what
if there is a current and/or wind?

The unit should have a readout for a data point called CMG or "Course Made
Good" which means, what direction are you really travelling? When this
matches the bearing to your waypoint, you are heading directly towards it
regardless of current or leeway.


Oh, any good books out there telling how to use a GPS (not a manual
for a particual unit, but a general 'how-to' book of ideas and uses?

A book that I have found very helpful & interesting is "User's Guide To GPS"
by Bonnie Dahl. Excellent info on how the system works overall and what
specific units will do as a navigating tool.

One thing that I frown on is the tendency for many people to assume that the
GPS unit will do their navigating for them. It will not, and cannot, do any
navigating. It's a great tool, but that's all it is.

Fair Skies- Doug King

GPS Use Question
 

I understood K's point to be something like: Use lots / plenty
of points when around obstacles, harbors, etc. In open water
where depth, obstacles, or restricted zones, ect., are not a problem
there really isn't much need for lots of points.

GPS Use Question
 

"DSK" wrote in message
...

The unit should have a readout for a data point called CMG or "Course Made
Good" which means, what direction are you really travelling? When this
matches the bearing to your waypoint, you are heading directly towards it
regardless of current or leeway.

Thanks.


A book that I have found very helpful & interesting is "User's Guide To
GPS"
by Bonnie Dahl. Excellent info on how the system works overall and what
specific units will do as a navigating tool.


I'll check it out.

GPS Use Question
 

"Gene Kearns" wrote:

Most manuals give you the building blocks
to develop your own usage of the item. Most toys (necessities) are
sort of like a box of tinker toys..... they are what you make of
them......


Yep. And I love to try new things & experiment and find
cool new ways to use those toys. Other times reading
what others have figured out is fun too.


Hmmm..... I have some PFC pipe, a can of Life Guard, and a
potato...... EUREKA.....


What's that? Your PWC cannon?

GPS Use Question
 

"Gary Warner" wrote in message
...

"D0N ßailey" wrote:


As long as you're not going long distance, this really isn't a big deal.
If you do stray off course, the little arrow will always point towards
your target. I use one all the time, and find that once I reach a
destination, my "bread crumb" trail will be a bit curved from point A to
B.


Which I assume is fine, unless that curved course is too big. In which
case
you are traveling a longer distance than you need to or, much worse,
getting
into an area of the water that you don't want to be in (say shallow or
such).
Yes?


Yea, I don't usually use the GPS in shallow areas, I've been though
them enough that I just use landmarks (because Im usually close
to land). I only use it once I get out into the open ocean to find
fishing reefs. Also, I notice that sometimes the bouy is not
exactly where my GPS waypoint is, but that is of no consequence
because you can usually see the bouy once you get within a
mile or two. I don't know that I would want to use the GPS
to nav through shallow areas because the thing (at least mine)
just isn't *that* accurate. Mine doesn't have WAAS. Its a few
years old.

I have the Garmin e-map. I think we paid about $150.00 a few years
back. Nothing to write home about but it gets the job done.
Its fun to take up in the plane on business travel too. It gives
you altitude and such. A couple years ago I was flying back
from Dallas to NC on an older 757 and noticed we had
passed 700mph. I thought it was way off but just
then, the captain came on the intercom and announced
our speed as 700mph+. We must have had a helluva
tail wind that night.

But generally we'll just be going short distances so you're right,
it probably isn't a big deal. Just like to think it all through anyway.

Have fun.

db

GPS Use Question
 

Gene Kearns wrote:
On Tue, 20 Jan 2004 06:00:40 GMT, "Mark Browne"
wrote:


"Wayne.B" wrote in message
. ..
On Mon, 19 Jan 2004 21:00:01 -0500, Gene Kearns
wrote:

Hmmm..... I have some PFC pipe, a can of Life Guard, and a
potato...... EUREKA.....

============================

I think I hear cannon fire in the distance...

Kinda of hollow "phooomp" sound?

Mark Browne


Oh, much grander scale than that.....

http://www.spudtech.com/detail.asp?id=26



Finally, a Weapon of Messy Destruction...


--
Email sent to is never read.

GPS Use Question
 

Wayne.B wrote:
On 20 Jan 2004 06:35:14 -0800, (basskisser) wrote:


If you use "lots and lots" of waypoints, you may run out, and that is
bad, especially in open water.


==========================================

Yes, and there's really no reason for "lots and lots" of waypoints in
open water. A glance at your Cross Track Error (XTE) once in awhile
will tell you if you're being set to one side. As long as Course Made
Good is matching up with Bearing to Waypoint, that shouldn't happen
anyway.


That's why I suggested you use them strategically, so you only load the
areas of risk, not "open" water legs.

As for "run out of them" that's why nearly all the gps seem to give you
a very high number of available waypoints for each route, even so you
can break the passage into several 'routes" if needs be.

Never cease to be amazed that this common knowledge category basic
stuff is all new to you blokes or worse you try to argue against it!!!

K

GPS Use Question
 

On Mon, 19 Jan 2004 11:04:35 -0500, "Gary Warner"
wrote:


We bought the handheld Garmin 72 for our little 22 footer. We won't be
doing much if any long distance navigation, but just knowing our position
and just "playing" with the thing should be fun. Goofing around with it
inside (while it's cold and snowy outside) a few questions come to mind.

-- Lets say you are out in open ocean and heading for a waypoint that
it programmed into the unit. If everything was calm, no wind and no
current, all you have to do it point the arrow at the waypoint. But what
if there is a current and/or wind? Just pointing the boat toward the
waypoint might not take you on a straight course to the destination. You
would need to steer a different course to get the desired outcome. So:
Can this GPS (or others) help figure what course you need to steer?

Almost all of the can. It's called "course" mode instead of "bearing"
mode. In bearing mode, the pointer always points to the target. If you
stray off course, the bearing will change and point to the target. But
that's not really what you want since if you have something driving you
off course like wind and current, your path to the target will sort of
spiral in if you follow the moving bearing.

With course mode, the GPS always points from the start of the leg to the
end of the leg and generally shows a CDI, or course deviation indicator,
which shows how far off course you are. If you steer to keep the CDI
small, you will travel in a straight line from your start to end point.
Many also have a "steer" function that tells you how much to turn left
or right to stay on course.

-- I see there is a "Highway" screen that shows a "road" that one
might follow. Seems that may be the correct screen to do what I'm
thinking, but I can't quite figure out it's use.

If the highway screen is anything like the one on my old 45xl, that's a
good one to use. It shows your course and how far off course you are.
Just stay down the middle of the highway and you'll travel the shortest
path, which is the straight line.

Well, probably all this will become clearer when we can actually use
it ON the boat.

Oh, any good books out there telling how to use a GPS (not a manual
for a particual unit, but a general 'how-to' book of ideas and uses?

Everything you ever wanted to know about GPS, from basic "how to" to
detailed info about how GPS works is available at:

http://www.gpsinformation.net/

Steve

GPS Use Question
 

K Smith wrote in message ...
Wayne.B wrote:
On 20 Jan 2004 06:35:14 -0800, (basskisser) wrote:


If you use "lots and lots" of waypoints, you may run out, and that is
bad, especially in open water.


==========================================

Yes, and there's really no reason for "lots and lots" of waypoints in
open water. A glance at your Cross Track Error (XTE) once in awhile
will tell you if you're being set to one side. As long as Course Made
Good is matching up with Bearing to Waypoint, that shouldn't happen
anyway.


That's why I suggested you use them strategically, so you only load the
areas of risk, not "open" water legs.

As for "run out of them" that's why nearly all the gps seem to give you
a very high number of available waypoints for each route, even so you
can break the passage into several 'routes" if needs be.

Never cease to be amazed that this common knowledge category basic
stuff is all new to you blokes or worse you try to argue against it!!!

K

New to you blokes? I've used my Garmin GPS for three years now. You
are the one who doesn't know what you are talking about. If, for
instance, you are using the track back feature, PLUS, are loading
waypoints in manually, using the MOB funtion, every time you make any
small steering correction, and on and on, you will soon run out of
waypoints. I've ran out on local lakes, mainly because every time you
turn, etc. the trackback feature is making waypoints, then adding them
manually. When you run out, it simply deletes the oldest ones to use
that space. They may well be the most critical ones.

GPS Use Question
 

"D0N ßailey" wrote:

Its fun to take up in the plane on business travel too. It gives
you altitude and such. A couple years ago I was flying back
from Dallas to NC on an older 757 and noticed we had
passed 700mph. I thought it was way off but just


I was wondering if they would work inside a plane. Seems like
it would be fun to track the route the plane flys, know altitude
and speed. Cool.

GPS Use Question
 

"Gary Warner" wrote in message
...


"D0N ßailey" wrote:

Its fun to take up in the plane on business travel too. It gives
you altitude and such. A couple years ago I was flying back
from Dallas to NC on an older 757 and noticed we had
passed 700mph. I thought it was way off but just


I was wondering if they would work inside a plane. Seems like
it would be fun to track the route the plane flys, know altitude
and speed. Cool.


Oh hell yea, You have to hold it up to the window. You'd be surprised
how far out of the way you have to fly to "get in line" to land sometimes.

'Tis really fun on those long flights when you are wondering where you are.

I haven't used it since 9-11 for fear it would be confiscated. Maybe it
wouldn't
be a big deal now.

db

GPS Use Question
 

The GPS has no way of knowing which way your bow is pointing. The arrow
direction is based on the last few positional readings. The arrow will point
toward the waypoint as long as the GPS is moving in that direction, whether
that means the boat it is riding in is going forward, backward or sideways.
Just keep the arrow pointed toward the waypoint. If you try to use GPS data
to navigate by compass, then current and wind will come into play. I'm a
little new at this also, but I'm guessing it's simpler to just navigate by
GPS and keep the compass for backup.

"Gary Warner" wrote in message
...

We bought the handheld Garmin 72 for our little 22 footer. We won't be
doing much if any long distance navigation, but just knowing our position
and just "playing" with the thing should be fun. Goofing around with it
inside (while it's cold and snowy outside) a few questions come to mind.

-- Lets say you are out in open ocean and heading for a waypoint that
it programmed into the unit. If everything was calm, no wind and no
current, all you have to do it point the arrow at the waypoint. But what
if there is a current and/or wind? Just pointing the boat toward the
waypoint might not take you on a straight course to the destination. You
would need to steer a different course to get the desired outcome. So:
Can this GPS (or others) help figure what course you need to steer?

-- I see there is a "Highway" screen that shows a "road" that one
might follow. Seems that may be the correct screen to do what I'm
thinking, but I can't quite figure out it's use.

Well, probably all this will become clearer when we can actually use
it ON the boat.

Oh, any good books out there telling how to use a GPS (not a manual
for a particual unit, but a general 'how-to' book of ideas and uses?

Thanks,
Gary

GPS Use Question
 

"Gary Warner" wrote in message ...
"D0N ßailey" wrote:

Its fun to take up in the plane on business travel too. It gives
you altitude and such. A couple years ago I was flying back
from Dallas to NC on an older 757 and noticed we had
passed 700mph. I thought it was way off but just


I was wondering if they would work inside a plane. Seems like
it would be fun to track the route the plane flys, know altitude
and speed. Cool.

Yep, done it, it IS fun!

GPS Use Question
 

I believe you are confusing tracklog points and waypoints. You
should never lose a waypoint unless you manually delete it or reset
your unit. If you are losing tracklog points, then you probably have
your tracklog set to 'wrap when full'. If you are creating a route,
then you are limited to the (arbitrary) number of waypoints per
route that Garmin has set.

-Jim



basskisser wrote:

New to you blokes? I've used my Garmin GPS for three years now. You
are the one who doesn't know what you are talking about. If, for
instance, you are using the track back feature, PLUS, are loading
waypoints in manually, using the MOB funtion, every time you make any
small steering correction, and on and on, you will soon run out of
waypoints. I've ran out on local lakes, mainly because every time you
turn, etc. the trackback feature is making waypoints, then adding them
manually. When you run out, it simply deletes the oldest ones to use
that space. They may well be the most critical ones.

GPS Use Question
 

JimL wrote in message ...
I believe you are confusing tracklog points and waypoints. You
should never lose a waypoint unless you manually delete it or reset
your unit. If you are losing tracklog points, then you probably have
your tracklog set to 'wrap when full'. If you are creating a route,
then you are limited to the (arbitrary) number of waypoints per
route that Garmin has set.


Regardless whether you have it set to full wrap or not, if you simply
run out of waypoints, you are going to lose them. Yes, they are called
tracklog points, when used for that purpose, but, if you look at the
log, they are just another waypoint, at least on MY Garmin.

GPS Use Question
 

hey Gary
I don't know about your model, but is must be close to the 2 garmins
that I have. There is basicly 3 different looks that you can use
(unless yours has maps in it). I think last time we talked you asked
and I said a map on a 2 inch screen on a bouncing boat might not be
useful.
Anyway, I only use the road looking screen when I am really worried
about going as the crow flies, for instance if it is at night and
there are rocks out side the channel.
I usually use the one that looks like a compass and is always
adjusting itself.
Sometimes I use the one that I can zoom in and out on and see where I
am in the really big picture of things, like when I want to see many
waypoints and where I am in relationship to that.

As one or more of the people and you have said, it will become clear
when you get out in the water and use it. by the way I could not open
the last pics of delila you sent

GPS Use Question
 

I wasn't clear on my previous post. Yes, wrap or not, you will
still lose tracklog points. It's just a matter of whether you lose
them at the beginning or the end. :^)

I don't know which Garmin unit you have, but if it's one still in
production, you may want to check their website for updates if you
don't already. I have a couple of eTrex models and the waypoints
and tracklog points are mutually exclusive. If you were referring
to routes, then in my eTrex's, these are made up of waypoints that
are manually added in the course of building a route. I know of no
way to view tracklog points in these models without downloading them
to a pc and viewing them. I used the term 'arbitrary' in my
previous post because Garmin recently upped these numbers, at least
for the eTrex Legend. I believe the number increases were from 50
waypoints per route to 125 per route, waypoints from 500 to 1000
and tracklog points from 2048 to 10,000. Although I believe the
saved tracklog is 750 points per track, I don't remember what this
was boosted from. The point of this is to mention that it may be
worth checking for your unit if you haven't already.

-JimL


basskisser wrote:

Regardless whether you have it set to full wrap or not, if you simply
run out of waypoints, you are going to lose them. Yes, they are called
tracklog points, when used for that purpose, but, if you look at the
log, they are just another waypoint, at least on MY Garmin.