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- 10-12-2009
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Please forgive me if this question is naive. Frankly, I know nothing
about GPS devices. But I was talking to someone who is knowledgable,
and he indicated that this is not a normal feature.
For a very basic training exercise, we want to lay out a compass
course.
It would be great if we could go to point A, click a button to record
the location with a GPS device. Then go to point B, click a button to
record the location. Then click a button, and the GPS device would
display the distance between A and B "as the crow flies", as well as
the heading from A to B.
Ideally, the heading would be based on magnetic north, not true
north. If not, of course we could make the adjustment manually.
The distance between A and B is about 50 to 100 yards, typically.
Can a GPS device provide those calculations -- straight-line distance
and heading -- directly?
If not, how would we determine distance and heading from the locations
recorded by a GPS device?
I'm afraid the answer to the last question gets into spherical
geometry. I've forgotten all of it. But I imagine the formulas are
"common knowledge" for anyone familiar with convention navigation.
Many thanks for any insights. And again, I apologize for the
rudimentary nature of the questions.
On Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:09:56 -0700 (PDT), WhatsUp
Why not use Google Earth? Set your points, then use the Ruler function
to get the distance and heading.
Use NOAA'a declination calculator to adjust to local compass
requirements.
<http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomagmodels/Declination.jsp>
(Declination (D) positive east, in degrees and minutes,
Annual change (dD) positive east, in minutes per year)
>>Please forgive me if this question is naive. Frankly, I know nothing
>>about GPS devices. But I was talking to someone who is knowledgable,
>>and he indicated that this is not a normal feature.
>>For a very basic training exercise, we want to lay out a compass
>>course.
>>It would be great if we could go to point A, click a button to record
>>the location with a GPS device. Then go to point B, click a button to
>>record the location. Then click a button, and the GPS device would
>>display the distance between A and B "as the crow flies", as well as
>>the heading from A to B.
>>Ideally, the heading would be based on magnetic north, not true
>>north. If not, of course we could make the adjustment manually.
>>The distance between A and B is about 50 to 100 yards, typically.
>>Can a GPS device provide those calculations -- straight-line distance
>>and heading -- directly?
>>If not, how would we determine distance and heading from the locations
>>recorded by a GPS device?
>>about GPS devices. But I was talking to someone who is knowledgable,
>>and he indicated that this is not a normal feature.
>>For a very basic training exercise, we want to lay out a compass
>>course.
>>It would be great if we could go to point A, click a button to record
>>the location with a GPS device. Then go to point B, click a button to
>>record the location. Then click a button, and the GPS device would
>>display the distance between A and B "as the crow flies", as well as
>>the heading from A to B.
>>Ideally, the heading would be based on magnetic north, not true
>>north. If not, of course we could make the adjustment manually.
>>The distance between A and B is about 50 to 100 yards, typically.
>>Can a GPS device provide those calculations -- straight-line distance
>>and heading -- directly?
>>If not, how would we determine distance and heading from the locations
>>recorded by a GPS device?
This function is available on most hand-held GPS units, set the 2 point as
waypoints and you will get a heading and distance.
Jeff
WhatsUp wrote:
> Please forgive me if this question is naive. Frankly, I know nothing
> about GPS devices. But I was talking to someone who is knowledgable,
> and he indicated that this is not a normal feature.
> about GPS devices. But I was talking to someone who is knowledgable,
> and he indicated that this is not a normal feature.
See: http://williams.best.vwh.net/avform.html
>
> I'm afraid the answer to the last question gets into spherical
> geometry. I've forgotten all of it. But I imagine the formulas are
> "common knowledge" for anyone familiar with convention navigation.
>
> I'm afraid the answer to the last question gets into spherical
> geometry. I've forgotten all of it. But I imagine the formulas are
> "common knowledge" for anyone familiar with convention navigation.
>
With GPS's 3 meter resolution, at 100 yards I would not worry about spherical
geometry errors.
Most GPS's have a "goto" function.
Enter a waypoint, move to the next location.
Select the waypoint, press "goto" and you will see distance and course.
You can set the GPS to use magnetic or true north.
John
- (very long) FAQ Q5.1 Computing The Distance Between Two Points
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- 2005-04-13
- How is distance calculated?
- Satellite Navigation
- 2012-02-06
- Google Maps - straight line distance
- Garmin GPS
- 2011-06-09
- mercator distance
- Satellite Navigation
- 2008-06-05
- Mapsource distance marks on tracks
- Garmin GPS
- 2007-09-03
- Measuring distance
- Global Positioning System
- 2007-02-22
>about GPS devices. But I was talking to someone who is knowledgable,
>and he indicated that this is not a normal feature.
>For a very basic training exercise, we want to lay out a compass
>course.
>It would be great if we could go to point A, click a button to record
>the location with a GPS device. Then go to point B, click a button to
>record the location. Then click a button, and the GPS device would
>display the distance between A and B "as the crow flies", as well as
>the heading from A to B.
>Ideally, the heading would be based on magnetic north, not true
>north. If not, of course we could make the adjustment manually.
>The distance between A and B is about 50 to 100 yards, typically.
>Can a GPS device provide those calculations -- straight-line distance
>and heading -- directly?
>If not, how would we determine distance and heading from the locations
>recorded by a GPS device?
>I'm afraid the answer to the last question gets into spherical
>geometry. I've forgotten all of it. But I imagine the formulas are
>"common knowledge" for anyone familiar with convention navigation.
>Many thanks for any insights. And again, I apologize for the
>rudimentary nature of the questions.