Re: [Paddlewise] Current GPS device recommendations?

On Thursday, December 5, 2002, at 03:13 PM, Ulli Hoeger wrote:

>> The electronic compass can give some features that are better than 
>> just
>> using your deck  compass. With mine I can point the GPS at a
>> destination, press a button, give an approximate distance to the
>> destination and end up with a way point for the destination. It is
>> quite slick.
>
> I can do the same thing with my electronic compass free GPS.  It's
> called projecting a waypoint.  All I have to do is enter the bearing
> (read it from the deck or hiking compass) and estimated distance and
> there is a new waypoint.  Can do the same thing from an existing
> waypoint.  Take the bearing from the map, enter the distance and
> there is the new waypoint.
>
> People on the GPS groups discuss the usefulness of the built in
> electronic compasses since the first came out.  There are problems
> with those things (calibration, levelling of the GPS etc.) one should
> be aware of -not only that the batteries drain faster.
>

Yes, I am certain you can get a way point without the built in compass. 
But the electronic compass lets you do it more easily and accurately 
without the need of pulling a bearing off a chart. To get the bearing 
from the chart you need to first plot your location on the chart and 
then transfer the heading to a destination. With the built in compass 
it is point and shoot, then you can estimate by eye how far away your 
point is.

The electronic compass is not a substitute for a compass and chart, but 
it can make on-the-fly navigation quicker, easier and more accurate.

Like you say, electronic compasses are not fool proof. They need to be 
held approximately level and they need to be calibrated. But with my 
ETrex, calibration is easy and it tells you if it is not level. The 
ETrex can also be set to turn the compass off when you are moving 
faster than a set speed. If you set that speed low, the compass is only 
on when the GPS can't tell which direction you are going.

Another useful feature with a charting GPS with an electronic compass 
is you can identified land marks while standing still. Hold the compass 
in front of you and face each land mark. The chart will adjust for the 
direction you are facing and you can read off the chart what the land 
marks are. That done you can more accurately refer to your paper chart 
for future navigation.

Nick

***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************