Well... let's keep cool heads... It may not be a GREAT idea, but it's a good one, at least ! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Every exit in Paris subway, is supposed to have a map of the immediate surroundings, but some of these maps are quite difficult to locate in some stations...

Made me think about something I hadn't thought about in years -- spent summer at Stephen F. Austin Univ. in Nacogdoches, Texas when I was about 17. [It is in the deep piny woods of Texas]

Well, l was west Texas kid, and I had never before been anywhere that you cold not the horizon, and I had no idea which way was north except when I could see the stars. It made me real uncomfortable. I got a compass, and have had one ever since.

West Texas eh? Whereabouts? I was sprouted out in the feedlots and cottonfields north of Lubbock.

Baird. Callahan and Shackelford Counties, first counties east of Abilene, and the Railway Ranch outside of Monahans.

> There are around two dozen satellites circling the globe and at any given time there will be six to ten visible

It's often better than that, nowadays. If I'm reading this GPS status page correctly, there are currently 29 active satellites. I just went outside and had 11 GPS plus 1 EGNOS above the horizon, so all 12 of my receivers could get busy. I wouldn't be surprised to see more than 12 in the almanac data.

I still lose signal in the woods, though.

Simple. You just don't know what the temperature is. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Maybe they should post a map, to find the Map? <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the update on satellites Dave. What is EGNOS? Is that another name for WAAS?
What brand of GPS do you have that causes trouble in the woods?
Boone

I have a Silva 15 Ranger, same one since 1977. Lost a previous one somewhere! I have a lot of experience with the military compass as well and do not particularly like them. I like the tritium and the 3 degree click bezel but hate the weight, way too heavy!
For my emergancy kit I carry an old Silva Huntsman. 5 degree marked but decent to navigate with.
I am curious why you would set a GPS to UTM? I prefer MGRS, which is what the military commonly calls UTM, although it is actually MGRS that the military uses. A note here is that if you ever call for a rescue by radio or cell phone, the best bet is to provide your position in lat/long since that is what most pilots navigate by. Mainly because they use smaller scale maps.
I seldom carry a GPS on hikes but I like having it in the car. A long hike and I may consider taking the GPS. I prefer to navigate the old fashion, non-battery dependant way. Cheers!

Hi Bill,

Good to hear from you. I am going to have to do some (reading) research before I can answer your questions.
MGRS sounds familiar but beyond that, I am going to have to read my GPS manual to answer your UTM inquiry. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Boone