Above picture summit Ben Nevis 

What is a Map   Scale and Measuring Distance   Grid References   Grid Magnetic Angle   The Compass   Bearings

Contours   Navigation Strategies   GPS   General   Weather   Latitude and Longitude   Things of Interest

GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS)

Global Positioning System (GPS)

Paper maps have traditionally been the primary navigation tool for centuries.  Maps are most reliable when used in conjunction with a compass to determine direction and orientation.  With GPS technology you might think maps have become obsolete. It's just the opposite, they have become more important. GPS units and maps should be used together.

Even though you are using a GPS you should never go without the relevant map of the area you will be walking in, and a compass.  If you don't you could be asking for trouble. 

GPS Plus Points

• GPS provides a quick and accurate position fix.
• GPS provides additional useful information such as walking speed, the track you are heading on, altitude and sunset and sunrise timings.
• Enables you to walk off, your bearing, but will guide you to your destination.
• They are very useful when used in conjunction with a map.

Be Aware

• GPS units should never be used as your sole means of navigation.
• GPS systems are mini computers and can stop functioning for a variety of reasons.
• Remember GPS's have problems picking up signals in thick woodland, around cliffs or in deep valleys.
• When out using your GPS it is advisable to always have enough spare batteries with you.
• Knowing how to use a hand-held GPS is very much like trying to use any other piece of electronic equipment.(If you have a problem using the TV remote, you may have trouble with a GPS).  It has lots of functions and you may only require a few, but later you might find the others useful.

Using a GPS

When you first turn on a GPS, it may take some time to locate the satellites.  The best thing to do is to be outside in a large open area with no obstructions giving a clear view of the sky.

If you are indoors or in a bad reception area the GPS will ask some questions, which you will have to answer.  Once you have done this it should automatically revert back to the locating mode.

In the advanced view, the GPS will display the location of the satellites and the signal strength.

Pointer Page:  The basic pointer page will show the directions to the next waypoint along with the straight line distance.

Coordinate System: GPS's can display your locations in several formats.  A GPS will use WGS84 as the global standard reference.  When using Ordnance Survey maps it should  be set to OSGB36, British Grid.  It is important that units being shown as the position format, the correct map datum is set.  If British Grid is displayed the datum must be set to OSGB and a degrees/minutes display should have WGS84. A mistake in doing this would put your location out by a kilometre.

Waypoints:  A way point can be marked to record your location at the time, or entered as a destination.  Way points will remain in the memory until deleted, even removing the batteries or battery failure will not erase them.  You can bring up way points from the menu and edit, change the name or location.

Bearings:  When using a compass we would use the direction of travel arrow to walk on a bearing using a GPS has similarities.  Select the desired way points, select GOTO and the display will change to the pointer page.  On moving, the pointer will show straight ahead on the display, therefore heading on a direct bearing to the way point.  You can also use the map page, where the display will show where you are in relation to the way point.  You can also change the display to either map ahead or north.

Routes:  When using a GOTO option it will only take you to the way point you have chosen.  If you have entered more than one way point, when you reach it the GPS will automatically change to the next one and will keep doing this until you reach your final destination.

Track Log: A GPS should have a track log feature, when activated will show your route that you have taken, making it possible to do the journey again.  It will also have a track back feature which enables you to retrace your steps back to your starting point, handy in an emergency. 

Inputting a Route:  This can be done by downloading from a PC or by manually inputting the grid reference from the Ordnance Survey map. However when doing this, care must be taken when using a map sheet where  the map prefix changes, ie, NM/NN.  You must remember and input the correct prefix.  

A GPS can tell you where you are anywhere on the planet. It is particulary useful for finding you way across large empty areas such as Rannoch Moor, or the Cairngorms, which can be difficult to navigate.

The easiest way to use a GPS is to download a route direct from your pc into your GPS. Mapping software like Memory Map, Anquet and Quo can be used to create a route in the comfort of your home on your PC. You then just need to download it your GPS.

Routes can be created directly onto your GPS receiver by using the units own software. All you need to do is enter the coordinates of a waypoint or a series of waypoints to create a route.

 The first time you plan a route of your own, you will soon realise that you still need to be able to read a map. You must be able to use a map and compass. So you will need to be able to recognise footpaths, cliffs and read contours as the GPS will only guide you along the route you input and will not differentiate between a route along a level path or a route that goes over the edge of a cliff. This is where a lot of people go wrong they think the GPS replaces the map and compass and knowledge.

GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM

The United States GPS, as of 2007 is the only fully functional, fully available global navigation system. Operational since 1978 and globally available since 1994, GPS is currently the worlds most utilized satellite navigation syytem.

GLONASS

The formally Soviet, and now Russian Global'naya Navagatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema (Global Navigation Satellite System) or GLONASS, was a functional navigation system, but since the collapse of the Soviet Union has fallen into disrepair, leading to gaps in the coverage and only partial availability. The Russian Federation has pledged to restore it to full global availability by 2010 with the help of India.

GALILEO

The European Union agreed on March 2002 to introduce their own alternative to GPS. At a cost of about £2.4 billion, the system is scheduled to be working from 2012. The receivers will be able to combine the signals from both Galileo and GPS satellites to greatly increase the accuarcy.

Tips

Select way points that you can easily find on the ground, such as path junctions, trig points etc that you can use to identify your location

Make use of "handrail" features like ridges cliff edges, ridge lines and streams so that you can easily check your position.

Standing still for a few minutes will allow the GPS unit to average any errors due to satellite position or the signal being reflected from nearby obstructions.

Back track, consider using the back track feature that retraces your movements back to your last way point if anything goes wrong.

Most important pack a compass and the correct map of the area you will be in, in your back pack. Also carry spare batteries, remember these units tend to eat batteries especially those with large display screens and extreme cold cold tends to drain them more quickly.    

Geocaching

This is an outdoor adventure game using GPS technology to create a treasure hunt.  Items are hidden in small, waterproof containers across the landscape in both rural and urban areas.  Each container will hold a selection of items and a logbook and pencil.

Once found, you may find the cache contains a reward for you to keep.  If you take something out, you may be asked to replace something in return, you must also leave the cache in the same location you found it.

On arriving home, return to the cache web site and leave any comments you have.

Instructions:  Once you have found the cache you must:

1. Fill in the logbook
2. Take something out of the cache if available
3. Put something back if requested
4. Return cache to the exact position
5. Log the details of your discovery, comments on the cache web site

 GPS Navigation Sytems: The Myths and Truths

 Myth: You cannot go into the hills and mountains of Scotland without a GPS.

Truth: You can go anywhere in the UK and navigate with the proper map and compass. A GPS device is a good navigational aid, but not essential.

Myth: A walking and hiking GPS will lead you over a cliff:

Truth: It will, but only if you are daft and not paying attention to your surroundings. Put it this way, if you are daft enough to walk over a cliff into a pylon or fall down a hole because a GPS device tells you to. Then you should not be in the hills in the first place you are a danger to yourself and those who may have to come and rescue you. "STAY AT HOME".

Myth:A walking and hiking GPS is accurate to within a metre.

Truth:The ten digit GPS co-ordinates give a location to the nearest metre but in practice normally 25 metres is the most you can expect on a regular basis, depends on how many satellites you are picking up.

Myth: A GPS will not work in the rain.

Truth:The gps device was originally developed for sailing so they are waterproof. It will work even if you dropped into a steam. It doesn't mind thick cloud cover, but does not like thick tree cover.

Myth: A GPS unit will not work indoors or in forests.

Truth: The GPS needs to see the sky so it will not work well under thick tree canopy, also indoors, however on saying that some of the more recent models will work indoors.

Myth: A walking and hiking GPS affects the reading on a compass:

Truth: Yes it will, so you must keep the twp apart. The GPS is better switched off when using a compass, plus this will save battery life as well.

In putting a ten digit grid reference.

You cannot get a ten digit grid reference fro a 1:25,000 scale map. Using a romer you will be able to get a eight figure grid reference from the map but this takes practice to plot it accurately. This however is not a problem you do not need that level of accuracy. All you need to do is to get your six figure grid reference of the map, for example if your grid reference was NS 281362 to input this into the GPS all you need to do is to add two zero's to both the Easting and Northihn coordinates, like this NS 28100 36200.

What is a Map      Scale and Measuring Distance    Grid References     Grid Magnetic Angle       The Compass       Bearings

Contours    Navigation Strategies     Night Navigation    GPS   General   Weather  Latitude and Longitude  Things of Interest