GPS units can be of great value in locating your current position and for
route-finding. However they have their
advantages and disadvantages, and can only supplement, not replace map and
compass skills.
If one is going to carry a GPS unit, to use it effectively one should master the
following skills:
- Basic operation (navigate through screens, changes scales, start/stop
navigating, etc)
- Set up the system, including:
- Choose datum. In California, should use North American Datum (NAD27)
- Choose coordinate system and units (for example, if using Lat/Long, the units
should be
degrees/minutes/second instead of degrees/minutes/tenths of minutes)
- Set up to conserve battery power
- Marking waypoints
- Navigating to waypoints
- Entering waypoints in the field
- Changing coordinate systems (for example, from Lat/Long to UTM)
- Backtracking
Links:
What is GPS
Products:
GPS Navigation Devices
Personal Locator Beacons and GPS messengers
GPS and Map Apps
Geocaching Apps
Recreation:
Using a Handheld GPS
Geocaching
Map coordinate Systems
Location & Mapping for mobile phones
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Recreation