gps units...the best el cheapo
 

I'm gonna start looking up things about them..

I'm looking mainly to find my way back where I started, and keep track of
where I find mushrooms...

john

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

asadi wrote:

I'm gonna start looking up things about them..

I'm looking mainly to find my way back where I started, and keep track of
where I find mushrooms...

I can't speak to how well they work for keeping track of 'shrooms,
but we got my nephews the Garmin Etrex handheld units for xmas, and
they've been happy with them. We found them at bestbuy.com for about
$90, IIRC.


Chuck Vance

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

"asadi" wrote in news:AuPQh.13533
:

nd keep track of
where I find mushrooms...


Can't you just follow the kaleidoscopic trails back to the 'shrooms?


--
Scott
Reverse name to reply

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

asadi typed:
I'm gonna start looking up things about them..

I'm looking mainly to find my way back where I started, and keep
track of where I find mushrooms...

"Follow her down to a bridge by a fountain
Where rocking horse people eat marshmallow pies
Everyone smiles as you drift past the flowers
That grow so incredibly high"

Good luck!
--
TL,
Tim
-------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

"asadi" wrote in message
. net...
I'm gonna start looking up things about them..

I'm looking mainly to find my way back where I started, and keep track of
where I find mushrooms...

john

I'm selling a Magellan Explorist 210 (North America) for $100 if anyone
is interested. I have extras, a soft case, instructional CD.
Reason for selling is I'm going to upgrade.

Data for the Magellan Explorist 210:
http://www.magellangps.com/products/...55&prodID=1267
-tom

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

On Apr 4, 8:28 am, "asadi" wrote:
I'm gonna start looking up things about them..

I'm looking mainly to find my way back where I started, and keep track of
where I find mushrooms...

john

Just about any GPS unit will work fine. Mine is 7+ years old
now and I haven't found any reason to buy a new one.

What type of 'shrooms? I went out for morels on Sunday, but
it looks like I was about a week too early.
- Ken

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

On Apr 4, 8:28 am, "asadi" wrote:
I'm gonna start looking up things about them..

I'm looking mainly to find my way back where I started, and keep track of
where I find mushrooms...

john

I have a Garmin Etrex. I have been able to find electrical vaults
that were burried. I could track them to the point of standing on the
lid. ( the lid was covered with dirt).
I have found Geocaches the same way. We were standing on the things.
I have used to measure lengths for cables, it was more accurate than a
wheel.
I don't really know why the military needs accuracy to 64 bits, the
commercial ones are good enough to place a 2000 lb bomb.
You can also use it to find your car in a parking lot. If you put in
your car it will give you speed and direction more accurately than
your speedometer.
If your fishing in a lake you don't have to paint that "X" on the
side of the boat any more.

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

Conan The Librarian wrote:
wrote:
What type of 'shrooms?

Just guessing here, but I would expect it's something along the lines
of psilocybe cubensis.

OK, who's the next contestant in the Conclusion Leap ? ;-)

Poor John must have quite the reputation here, that's the
third reference to psychedelics in this thread and all the
guy said was he finds mushrooms. I mean isn't it just as
likely he found some morels or something ?

--
Ken Fortenberry

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

Ken Fortenberry wrote:

Conan The Librarian wrote:

Just guessing here, but I would expect it's something along the
lines of psilocybe cubensis.

OK, who's the next contestant in the Conclusion Leap ? ;-)

Poor John must have quite the reputation here, that's the
third reference to psychedelics in this thread and all the
guy said was he finds mushrooms. I mean isn't it just as
likely he found some morels or something ?

No. :-)


Chuck Vance (hey, I would have written the same thing if *you*
had posted about mushrooms :-)

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

Conan The Librarian wrote:
Ken Fortenberry wrote:
Conan The Librarian wrote:
Just guessing here, but I would expect it's something along the
lines of psilocybe cubensis.

OK, who's the next contestant in the Conclusion Leap ? ;-)

Poor John must have quite the reputation here, that's the
third reference to psychedelics in this thread and all the
guy said was he finds mushrooms. I mean isn't it just as
likely he found some morels or something ?

No. :-)


Chuck Vance (hey, I would have written the same thing if *you* had
posted about mushrooms :-)

Well yeah, but I fully deserve my old ex-hippy reputation,
John is a retired fireman, a fine upstanding citizen and I
don't ever recall hearing any Grateful Dead coming from his
trailer. ;-)

--
Ken Fortenberry

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

Ken Fortenberry wrote:

Conan The Librarian wrote:

(hey, I would have written the same thing if *you*
had posted about mushrooms :-)

Well yeah, but I fully deserve my old ex-hippy reputation,
John is a retired fireman, a fine upstanding citizen and I
don't ever recall hearing any Grateful Dead coming from his
trailer. ;-)

It must be the hair. And his stream-of-consciousness style of
posting that reminds me of ... oh, nevermind ...


Chuck Vance (OK, I realize this is all says more about *me* than
anyone else)

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

On Apr 4, 2:40 pm, Conan The Librarian wrote:
It must be the hair. And his stream-of-consciousness style of
posting that reminds me of

Richard Brautigan?

Joe F.

p.s. I have the Magellan Explorist 200, and it's a fine little
handheld, but no more accurate than units at half the cost. I got a
great deal online, but I'll be damned if I can remember where I got it.

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Apr 4, 8:28 am, "asadi" wrote:
I'm gonna start looking up things about them..

I'm looking mainly to find my way back where I started, and keep track of
where I find mushrooms...

john

Just about any GPS unit will work fine. Mine is 7+ years old
now and I haven't found any reason to buy a new one.

What type of 'shrooms? I went out for morels on Sunday, but
it looks like I was about a week too early.
- Ken


Yeah, this is going to be my third season hunting morels, I'm getting a
little better at it and have really taken a liking to it. There's one forest
that I absolutely get turned around in every time...no real possibility of
getting lost but I have walked a couple of miles to my van, only to find I
walked the wrong way on the road! (laughs).

Things were looking excellent in mid southern Ohio until this week...got
particles of snow in the air now. It looks like the end of next week could
be it. What fun to hike all day and cook morels around the fire at night...

You ever run across any thing besides morels?...

john..... I will survive!

http://www.morelmushroomhunting.com/...htings_map.htm

http://www.morelmushroomhunting.com/...htings_map.htm

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

"rb608" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Apr 4, 2:40 pm, Conan The Librarian wrote:
It must be the hair. And his stream-of-consciousness style of
posting that reminds me of

Richard Brautigan?

Joe F.

p.s. I have the Magellan Explorist 200, and it's a fine little
handheld, but no more accurate than units at half the cost. I got a
great deal online,

"but I'll be damned if I can remember where I got it."

Or where you last placed it?

Op

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

"Opus--Mark H. Bowen" wrote in message
Or where you last placed it?

Yeah; that too.

Sorta on topic - has anyone else ever tried the geocaching thing? I found a
few caches close by to see if it was fun. I was actually disappointed. I
liked the GPS part of navigating to specific coordinates; but the
hide-n-seek part of trying to find some little box hidden within a 30'
radius didn't hold much appeal.

It probably didn't help that a couple were in less than desirable locations
near dumpsters. Others were nigh impossible. It would probably be more fun
the more rural the setting; but I haven't had the opportunity for
close-to-home caches.

Joe F.

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

"rb608" wrote in news:k5VQh.4633$qE2.1257
@trndny09:

Sorta on topic - has anyone else ever tried the geocaching thing?

I've been turning the idea over in my head, but I've never been motivated
enough to actually do it. I just don't see it as a test of skill so much
as a high-tech hide and seek, and I get out into the open world enough to
satisfy my need for the outdoors. If I were to take it up, it would be to
get my wife involved.

Now, orienteering, there's a hobby that tests your skill! If I weren't so
damn lazy, I'd give that a go.

--
Scott
Reverse name to reply

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

"Scott Seidman" wrote in message
. 1.4...
"rb608" wrote in news:k5VQh.4633$qE2.1257
@trndny09:

Sorta on topic - has anyone else ever tried the geocaching thing?

I've been turning the idea over in my head, but I've never been motivated
enough to actually do it. I just don't see it as a test of skill so much
as a high-tech hide and seek, and I get out into the open world enough to
satisfy my need for the outdoors. If I were to take it up, it would be to
get my wife involved.

Now, orienteering, there's a hobby that tests your skill! If I weren't so
damn lazy, I'd give that a go.

--
Scott
Reverse name to reply

I've done it a few times while involved in scouts as a leader. It is geared
more toward a high tech hide and seek. The draw of it is often to pass on
and collect items from far and distant places. There are often items placed
in the cache that have been registered (with some sort of ID or ser.#) by an
organization or website. Makes it interesting to see where an item has come
from or been to, and who has passed it along. Kinda generates a sense of
camaraderie/friendship with others that are seriously involved.
I haven't really gotten involved with it on my own either. I get too
little fishing time as it is without another outdoor activity taking my tme.
The idea is interesting though.

Jeremy Moe

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

On Apr 4, 2:35 pm, "asadi" wrote:
" wrote in message

ups.com...

On Apr 4, 8:28 am, "asadi" wrote:
I'm gonna start looking up things about them..

I'm looking mainly to find my way back where I started, and keep track of
where I find mushrooms...

john

Just about any GPS unit will work fine. Mine is 7+ years old
now and I haven't found any reason to buy a new one.

What type of 'shrooms? I went out for morels on Sunday, but
it looks like I was about a week too early.
- Ken

Yeah, this is going to be my third season hunting morels, I'm getting a
little better at it and have really taken a liking to it. There's one forest
that I absolutely get turned around in every time...no real possibility of
getting lost but I have walked a couple of miles to my van, only to find I
walked the wrong way on the road! (laughs).

Things were looking excellent in mid southern Ohio until this week...got
particles of snow in the air now. It looks like the end of next week could
be it. What fun to hike all day and cook morels around the fire at night...

You ever run across any thing besides morels?...

john..... I will survive!

http://www.morelmushroomhunting.com/...htings_map.htm

http://www.morelmushroomhunting.com/...htings_map.htm

My wife is the mushroom freak, she's in the local mushroom
society, I just like eating them.

Morels aren't my favorite, but we find white truffels in the spring.

Chanterelles (my favorite), boletus edulus, oysters, "angel wings",
and chicken of the woods (another of my favorites) in the fall.

We've also gotten logs which have had mushroom spores
"innoculated" on them. You keep them inside, and in a few
weeks they bloom. From freshly picked to frying pan in
a matter of seconds.
- Ken

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

On Wed, 04 Apr 2007 15:28:32 GMT, "asadi"
wrote:

I'm gonna start looking up things about them..

I'm looking mainly to find my way back where I started, and keep track of
where I find mushrooms...

john

Since no one has mentioned it, I will. IMO, get one with mapping
capability as they aren't much more than one without - be it new, used,
or whatever. Then, one with some form of computer interface and memory
card capability can come in handy. Outside of that, again IMO, if all
you're doing it real basic land stuff - waypoint to waypoint, "I'm here
and wanna get there," GPS is just GPS - triangulation on stuff in the
sky. I will say that unless the need is there, I'm not a fan of the
cell-phone sized handhelds - YMMV. IMO, they are a little too limited
on "multiple uses," and the screens are pretty small.

If this helps, I have a Garmin 172C that I use on the flybridge of a
small boat, the car, and handheld (perm mount w/ power on FB, cig plug
cord in car, 4 AA when HH). It's larger than the little HH Garmins, but
it'll do quite a bit, including hook to a computer and has mem cards.
You could probably find one used for 200USD or less as I don't think
it's absolutely current, but it's not "outdated." If you do go with
something like that, I have worldwide land and marine data - that I can
send no problem - and could probably scrounge up a extra unlock. Shoot
me an email if you're interested.

TC,
R

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

"Scott Seidman" wrote in message
. 1.4...
"rb608" wrote in news:k5VQh.4633$qE2.1257
@trndny09:

Sorta on topic - has anyone else ever tried the geocaching thing?

I've been turning the idea over in my head, but I've never been motivated
enough to actually do it. I just don't see it as a test of skill so much
as a high-tech hide and seek, and I get out into the open world enough to
satisfy my need for the outdoors. If I were to take it up, it would be to
get my wife involved.

Now, orienteering, there's a hobby that tests your skill! If I weren't so
damn lazy, I'd give that a go.

--
Scott
Reverse name to reply

Scott,
I've tried the Geocaching, hide and seek, but it's not for me.
GPS has revolutionized orienteering, as I used to do it with a compass and
topo map. The hardest part for me with a compass and map was to
reverse everything. With the GPS, hit the backtrail button and the reverse
is automatically mapped out.

We actually downloaded our Alaska trip on the GPS, had all the coordinates
laid out. I also brought my topo map that Steve our outfitter laid out the
coordinates of the prime spots to fish on the river. We used both the topo
map and the GPS together to pin-point the locations. I couldn't believe how
accurate the GPS unit was. As we rolled down the river, we were able to
read the coordinates on the GPS, and hit every location marked on the
topo map.
Steve said the GPS unit was like having a guide without paying for the
guide.
-tom

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

"Tom Nakashima" wrote in
:


"Scott Seidman" wrote in message
. 1.4...
"rb608" wrote in
news:k5VQh.4633$qE2.1257 @trndny09:

Sorta on topic - has anyone else ever tried the geocaching thing?

I've been turning the idea over in my head, but I've never been
motivated enough to actually do it. I just don't see it as a test of
skill so much as a high-tech hide and seek, and I get out into the
open world enough to satisfy my need for the outdoors. If I were to
take it up, it would be to get my wife involved.

Now, orienteering, there's a hobby that tests your skill! If I
weren't so damn lazy, I'd give that a go.

--
Scott
Reverse name to reply

Scott,
I've tried the Geocaching, hide and seek, but it's not for me.
GPS has revolutionized orienteering, as I used to do it with a compass
and topo map. The hardest part for me with a compass and map was to
reverse everything. With the GPS, hit the backtrail button and the
reverse is automatically mapped out.

We actually downloaded our Alaska trip on the GPS, had all the
coordinates laid out. I also brought my topo map that Steve our
outfitter laid out the coordinates of the prime spots to fish on the
river. We used both the topo map and the GPS together to pin-point
the locations. I couldn't believe how accurate the GPS unit was. As
we rolled down the river, we were able to read the coordinates on the
GPS, and hit every location marked on the topo map.
Steve said the GPS unit was like having a guide without paying for the
guide.
-tom





They really are amazing little things. Sort of takes all the fun out of
wondering if you've missed your take-out point, though.

I should use my eTrex Legend much more than I do. It's a little hard to
tell in advance whether you're going to get dioriented, though. Once, I
remembered to mark my car before embarking on a squirrel hunt on a pretty
overcast morning, and I got pretty well turned backwards somehow. I'd
like to think that if I knew I didn't have the GPS, I would have been
more careful about my position, but when I hit the road, it turned out
that my car was 180 degrees away from what my guess would have been.

I suppose for more serious stuff, GPS with map and compass backup is the
right way to go.

--
Scott
Reverse name to reply

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

Scott Seidman wrote:
snip
I suppose for more serious stuff, GPS with map and compass backup is the
right way to go.

Exactly right. I accompanied a Park Service biologist several
miles off-trail into the Yellowstone backcountry to check some
hair traps that had been set to prove or disprove the existence
of lynx in the Park. We set up camp between two sets of traps
and entered the waypoint into the GPS. It was dusk when we
returned and even though the GPS said we were standing right
in the middle of our campsite, we were not. It was just a hundred
yards away but I had a serious anxiety moment for a few minutes
there. It's a mind blower to depend on a piece of equipment like
that and have it fail you.

--
Ken Fortenberry

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

Ken Fortenberry wrote in
et:

Scott Seidman wrote:
snip
I suppose for more serious stuff, GPS with map and compass backup is
the right way to go.

Exactly right. I accompanied a Park Service biologist several
miles off-trail into the Yellowstone backcountry to check some
hair traps that had been set to prove or disprove the existence
of lynx in the Park. We set up camp between two sets of traps
and entered the waypoint into the GPS. It was dusk when we
returned and even though the GPS said we were standing right
in the middle of our campsite, we were not. It was just a hundred
yards away but I had a serious anxiety moment for a few minutes
there. It's a mind blower to depend on a piece of equipment like
that and have it fail you.


What year was this, Ken? The powers that be used to add some sort of a
dither to GPS, so that only the super secret US military tools could use
the network to full precision. I think it was during the first Gulf War,
when soldiers started having commercial units shipped to them because the
military providers couldn't keep up, that the military turned off the
dither, and I'm pretty sure they left it off.

I'll add to the above, the map and compass thing should be accompanied by
an honest assessment of your ability to use it! I think I could get by,
but I'd want to brush up a bit if I were in an area where getting lost
would be serious business.

--
Scott
Reverse name to reply

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

Scott Seidman wrote:
Ken Fortenberry wrote in
et:

Scott Seidman wrote:
snip
I suppose for more serious stuff, GPS with map and compass backup is
the right way to go.
Exactly right. I accompanied a Park Service biologist several
miles off-trail into the Yellowstone backcountry to check some
hair traps that had been set to prove or disprove the existence
of lynx in the Park. We set up camp between two sets of traps
and entered the waypoint into the GPS. It was dusk when we
returned and even though the GPS said we were standing right
in the middle of our campsite, we were not. It was just a hundred
yards away but I had a serious anxiety moment for a few minutes
there. It's a mind blower to depend on a piece of equipment like
that and have it fail you.


What year was this, Ken? The powers that be used to add some sort of a
dither to GPS, so that only the super secret US military tools could use
the network to full precision. I think it was during the first Gulf War,
when soldiers started having commercial units shipped to them because the
military providers couldn't keep up, that the military turned off the
dither, and I'm pretty sure they left it off.

I'll add to the above, the map and compass thing should be accompanied by
an honest assessment of your ability to use it! I think I could get by,
but I'd want to brush up a bit if I were in an area where getting lost
would be serious business.

It was either 2000 or 2001, right at the beginning of the Lynx Project
in Yellowstone. The biologist was Tiffany Potter and she was more
surprised than I was that the GPS was off. I had never used one before
but she assured me that they never fail. Hah.

--
Ken Fortenberry

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

"Ken Fortenberry" wrote in message
et...
Scott Seidman wrote:
Ken Fortenberry wrote in
et:
Scott Seidman wrote:
snip I suppose for more serious stuff, GPS with map and compass
backup is
the right way to go.
Exactly right. I accompanied a Park Service biologist several
miles off-trail into the Yellowstone backcountry to check some
hair traps that had been set to prove or disprove the existence
of lynx in the Park. We set up camp between two sets of traps
and entered the waypoint into the GPS. It was dusk when we
returned and even though the GPS said we were standing right
in the middle of our campsite, we were not. It was just a hundred
yards away but I had a serious anxiety moment for a few minutes
there. It's a mind blower to depend on a piece of equipment like
that and have it fail you.


What year was this, Ken? The powers that be used to add some sort of a
dither to GPS, so that only the super secret US military tools could use
the network to full precision. I think it was during the first Gulf War,
when soldiers started having commercial units shipped to them because the
military providers couldn't keep up, that the military turned off the
dither, and I'm pretty sure they left it off.

I'll add to the above, the map and compass thing should be accompanied by
an honest assessment of your ability to use it! I think I could get by,
but I'd want to brush up a bit if I were in an area where getting lost
would be serious business.

It was either 2000 or 2001, right at the beginning of the Lynx Project
in Yellowstone. The biologist was Tiffany Potter and she was more
surprised than I was that the GPS was off. I had never used one before
but she assured me that they never fail. Hah.

--
Ken Fortenberry

Ken,
do you remember what make of the GPS you were using?
We've found that there are dead areas, where the GPS units have problems
taking a reading, sometimes it's a matter of moving a few meters in
a different direction
-tom

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

Ken Fortenberry wrote:

It was either 2000 or 2001, right at the beginning of the Lynx Project
in Yellowstone. The biologist was Tiffany Potter and she was more
surprised than I was that the GPS was off. I had never used one before
but she assured me that they never fail. Hah.


Was it somewhere in the vicinity of Fawn Lake?

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

Tom Nakashima wrote:
"Ken Fortenberry" wrote:
Scott Seidman wrote:
Ken Fortenberry wrote:
... We set up camp between two sets of traps
and entered the waypoint into the GPS. It was dusk when we
returned and even though the GPS said we were standing right
in the middle of our campsite, we were not. It was just a hundred
yards away but I had a serious anxiety moment for a few minutes
there. It's a mind blower to depend on a piece of equipment like
that and have it fail you.

What year was this, Ken? ...

It was either 2000 or 2001, right at the beginning of the Lynx Project
in Yellowstone. The biologist was Tiffany Potter and she was more
surprised than I was that the GPS was off. I had never used one before
but she assured me that they never fail. Hah.

Ken,
do you remember what make of the GPS you were using?
We've found that there are dead areas, where the GPS units have problems
taking a reading, sometimes it's a matter of moving a few meters in
a different direction

It was a Garmin I think. In teaching me to use it she emphasized
that there were two settings and you had to make sure you had it
on the right one. That's about all I remember except that sinking
feeling in the pit of my stomach when we thought we had lost our
campsite.

--
Ken Fortenberry

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

rw wrote:
Ken Fortenberry wrote:
It was either 2000 or 2001, right at the beginning of the Lynx Project
in Yellowstone. The biologist was Tiffany Potter and she was more
surprised than I was that the GPS was off. I had never used one before
but she assured me that they never fail. Hah.

Was it somewhere in the vicinity of Fawn Lake?

No, on the east side of Yellowstone Lake. Do a Google on
fortenberry lynx, the fourth hit will tell you more than
you probably want to know about the Lynx Project.

And there is no Fawn Lake.

--
Ken Fortenberry

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

"Ken Fortenberry" wrote in message
t...
Tom Nakashima wrote:
"Ken Fortenberry" wrote:
Scott Seidman wrote:
Ken Fortenberry wrote:
... We set up camp between two sets of traps
and entered the waypoint into the GPS. It was dusk when we
returned and even though the GPS said we were standing right
in the middle of our campsite, we were not. It was just a hundred
yards away but I had a serious anxiety moment for a few minutes
there. It's a mind blower to depend on a piece of equipment like
that and have it fail you.

What year was this, Ken? ...

It was either 2000 or 2001, right at the beginning of the Lynx Project
in Yellowstone. The biologist was Tiffany Potter and she was more
surprised than I was that the GPS was off. I had never used one before
but she assured me that they never fail. Hah.

Ken,
do you remember what make of the GPS you were using?
We've found that there are dead areas, where the GPS units have problems
taking a reading, sometimes it's a matter of moving a few meters in
a different direction

It was a Garmin I think. In teaching me to use it she emphasized
that there were two settings and you had to make sure you had it
on the right one. That's about all I remember except that sinking
feeling in the pit of my stomach when we thought we had lost our
campsite.

--
Ken Fortenberry

The GPS units have come a lot ways since when they were first
introduced to the public. Some of the units today incorporate a satellite
correction. "WAAS" Wide Area Augmentation System is one of them.
I believe the accuracy is within 1-3 meters today.

We had our topo maps out and tested the accuracy of the GPS
with WAAS. We were off in location within 20 ft. Could have been
our pencil work drawing coordinates on the map.
-tom

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

"Tom Nakashima" wrote in
:


"Ken Fortenberry" wrote in message
t...
Tom Nakashima wrote:
"Ken Fortenberry" wrote:
Scott Seidman wrote:
Ken Fortenberry wrote:
... We set up camp between two sets of traps
and entered the waypoint into the GPS. It was dusk when we
returned and even though the GPS said we were standing right
in the middle of our campsite, we were not. It was just a hundred
yards away but I had a serious anxiety moment for a few minutes
there. It's a mind blower to depend on a piece of equipment like
that and have it fail you.

What year was this, Ken? ...

It was either 2000 or 2001, right at the beginning of the Lynx
Project in Yellowstone. The biologist was Tiffany Potter and she
was more surprised than I was that the GPS was off. I had never
used one before but she assured me that they never fail. Hah.

Ken,
do you remember what make of the GPS you were using?
We've found that there are dead areas, where the GPS units have
problems taking a reading, sometimes it's a matter of moving a few
meters in a different direction

It was a Garmin I think. In teaching me to use it she emphasized
that there were two settings and you had to make sure you had it
on the right one. That's about all I remember except that sinking
feeling in the pit of my stomach when we thought we had lost our
campsite.

--
Ken Fortenberry

The GPS units have come a lot ways since when they were first
introduced to the public. Some of the units today incorporate a
satellite correction. "WAAS" Wide Area Augmentation System is one of
them. I believe the accuracy is within 1-3 meters today.

We had our topo maps out and tested the accuracy of the GPS
with WAAS. We were off in location within 20 ft. Could have been
our pencil work drawing coordinates on the map.
-tom




Do a google news search for "Space Storm Disrupted GPS, Experts Say".
Oddly enough, reuters ran the story just yesterday.

Apparently, in December, a big Solar flare loused things up

--
Scott
Reverse name to reply

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

Tom Nakashima wrote:
"Ken Fortenberry" wrote:
Tom Nakashima wrote:
Ken,
do you remember what make of the GPS you were using?
We've found that there are dead areas, where the GPS units have problems
taking a reading, sometimes it's a matter of moving a few meters in
a different direction
It was a Garmin I think. In teaching me to use it she emphasized
that there were two settings and you had to make sure you had it
on the right one. That's about all I remember except that sinking
feeling in the pit of my stomach when we thought we had lost our
campsite.

The GPS units have come a lot ways since when they were first
introduced to the public. Some of the units today incorporate a satellite
correction. "WAAS" Wide Area Augmentation System is one of them.
I believe the accuracy is within 1-3 meters today.

The technology has doubtless improved over the years but I
still wouldn't trust a gadget as my sole orienteering device.
Perhaps I'm a luddite but there's something very comforting
about a map and compass. Not that a GPS unit wouldn't be handy
but handy is not the same as trustworthy.

--
Ken Fortenberry

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

"Scott Seidman" wrote in message
. 1.4...
"Tom Nakashima" wrote in
:


"Ken Fortenberry" wrote in message
t...
Tom Nakashima wrote:
"Ken Fortenberry" wrote:
Scott Seidman wrote:
Ken Fortenberry wrote:
... We set up camp between two sets of traps
and entered the waypoint into the GPS. It was dusk when we
returned and even though the GPS said we were standing right
in the middle of our campsite, we were not. It was just a hundred
yards away but I had a serious anxiety moment for a few minutes
there. It's a mind blower to depend on a piece of equipment like
that and have it fail you.

What year was this, Ken? ...

It was either 2000 or 2001, right at the beginning of the Lynx
Project in Yellowstone. The biologist was Tiffany Potter and she
was more surprised than I was that the GPS was off. I had never
used one before but she assured me that they never fail. Hah.

Ken,
do you remember what make of the GPS you were using?
We've found that there are dead areas, where the GPS units have
problems taking a reading, sometimes it's a matter of moving a few
meters in a different direction

It was a Garmin I think. In teaching me to use it she emphasized
that there were two settings and you had to make sure you had it
on the right one. That's about all I remember except that sinking
feeling in the pit of my stomach when we thought we had lost our
campsite.

--
Ken Fortenberry

The GPS units have come a lot ways since when they were first
introduced to the public. Some of the units today incorporate a
satellite correction. "WAAS" Wide Area Augmentation System is one of
them. I believe the accuracy is within 1-3 meters today.

We had our topo maps out and tested the accuracy of the GPS
with WAAS. We were off in location within 20 ft. Could have been
our pencil work drawing coordinates on the map.
-tom




Do a google news search for "Space Storm Disrupted GPS, Experts Say".
Oddly enough, reuters ran the story just yesterday.

Apparently, in December, a big Solar flare loused things up

--
Scott
Reverse name to reply

Interesting article.
-tom

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

On Apr 5, 8:50 am, Ken Fortenberry
wrote:
The technology has doubtless improved over the years but I
still wouldn't trust a gadget as my sole orienteering device.
Perhaps I'm a luddite but there's something very comforting
about a map and compass. Not that a GPS unit wouldn't be handy
but handy is not the same as trustworthy.

Redundancy is the key. Your map could get blown away,
you could lose or break your compass, your GPS could
spontaneously stop working.

With any two of the three I can find my way out.
- Ken (expert at getting lost)

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

On Apr 4, 2:51 pm, "rb608" wrote:
"Opus--Mark H. Bowen" wrote in message

Or where you last placed it?

Yeah; that too.

Sorta on topic - has anyone else ever tried the geocaching thing? I found a
few caches close by to see if it was fun. I was actually disappointed. I
liked the GPS part of navigating to specific coordinates; but the
hide-n-seek part of trying to find some little box hidden within a 30'
radius didn't hold much appeal.

It probably didn't help that a couple were in less than desirable locations
near dumpsters. Others were nigh impossible. It would probably be more fun
the more rural the setting; but I haven't had the opportunity for
close-to-home caches.

Joe F.

The original reason I got the Garmin was as a Christmas present from a
well meaning family. They saw it as a hobbie the main squeeze and I
could do together outdoors. We have looked up a haalf dozen of them
so far. For a while if we were going ot the beach or someplace in the
mountains we would download a few and try to find them. Maby thsi
comming summer we'll do some more.
We're not hard core about it, just something to do when were hiking
around. There is a website that list all the geocashes and you can
search by zip code, coordinates or someother way. If you read the
website you'll see some people go about it very intensely.
http://www.geocaching.com/
It was while looking one on the Oregon Coast that we got to the
location and started looking around. I didn't expect the thing to be
that accurate so I started looking around the area. I finally looked
down at my feet and I was within a foot of a 50 Cal ammo box. It was a
brush area and the thing was under some dry grass. The SOP is you
open the box, sign the book, take something our, leave something in.
Then you register your find on the website, tell what you took and
what you left. Not all are things some are views. some are points of
interest and things you may not notice otherwise. Some peole leave
clues in the form of elaborate puzzles and riddles. I don't like to
think that much. . .
Corny I know, but when you want to be outside and the fishing isn't so
good.

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

On Apr 4, 8:28 am, "asadi" wrote:
I'm gonna start looking up things about them..

I'm looking mainly to find my way back where I started, and keep track of
where I find mushrooms...

john

Nest time you go better check the forecast for solar storms as well as
rain/snow etc. Solar storms can play hell with GPS satalites or so it
says here. http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2007/s2831.htm
Better take a map and compass just in case.
There are morels in this part of the world but I have never hunted
them. They have commercial hunters and sometimes things get hostile
in the woods.
When the smelt run I may try of find some. Fried smelt, Morells
fried in butter and a bottle of Resiling. Thats a meal that will
panic any cardiologist.

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

"BJ Conner" wrote in message
ps.com...
On Apr 4, 8:28 am, "asadi" wrote:
I'm gonna start looking up things about them..

I'm looking mainly to find my way back where I started, and keep track of
where I find mushrooms...

john

Nest time you go better check the forecast for solar storms as well as
rain/snow etc. Solar storms can play hell with GPS satalites or so it
says here. http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2007/s2831.htm
Better take a map and compass just in case.
There are morels in this part of the world but I have never hunted
them. They have commercial hunters and sometimes things get hostile
in the woods.
When the smelt run I may try of find some. Fried smelt, Morells
fried in butter and a bottle of Resiling. Thats a meal that will
panic any cardiologist.


A few years ago my friends and I were backpacking in the Santa Cruz
mountains and accidentally stumbled across a Cannabis garden.
We thought it best to play safe and quickly leave the area.
-tom

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

On Apr 5, 12:46 pm, "Tom Nakashima" wrote:
"BJ Conner" wrote in message

ps.com...





On Apr 4, 8:28 am, "asadi" wrote:
I'm gonna start looking up things about them..

I'm looking mainly to find my way back where I started, and keep track of
where I find mushrooms...

john

Nest time you go better check the forecast for solar storms as well as
rain/snow etc. Solar storms can play hell with GPS satalites or so it
says here.http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2007/s2831.htm
Better take a map and compass just in case.
There are morels in this part of the world but I have never hunted
them. They have commercial hunters and sometimes things get hostile
in the woods.
When the smelt run I may try of find some. Fried smelt, Morells
fried in butter and a bottle of Resiling. Thats a meal that will
panic any cardiologist.

A few years ago my friends and I were backpacking in the Santa Cruz
mountains and accidentally stumbled across a Cannabis garden.
We thought it best to play safe and quickly leave the area.
-tom- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

A testimonial to the value of the GPS. I have read that some pot
growers are not planting gardens any more. They can space their
plants out and record the position of each. Supposedly they don't
show up as easliy on aerial surveys. Tehy can also put them in clear
cuts and burns where hikers don't like to go.

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

On Apr 5, 11:42 pm, "asadi" wrote:
" wrote in message
Redundancy is the key. Your map could get blown away,
you could lose or break your compass, your GPS could
spontaneously stop working.

With any two of the three I can find my way out.
- Ken (expert at getting lost)

The sun rises in the east and sets in the west....

john

Trees and clouds get in the way....I live in Oregon, so
it's cloudy 9 months of the year.
- Ken

gps units...the best el cheapo
 

" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Apr 5, 8:50 am, Ken Fortenberry
wrote:
The technology has doubtless improved over the years but I
still wouldn't trust a gadget as my sole orienteering device.
Perhaps I'm a luddite but there's something very comforting
about a map and compass. Not that a GPS unit wouldn't be handy
but handy is not the same as trustworthy.

Redundancy is the key. Your map could get blown away,
you could lose or break your compass, your GPS could
spontaneously stop working.

With any two of the three I can find my way out.
- Ken (expert at getting lost)


The sun rises in the east and sets in the west....

john