Post by Cowboy Camper on May 1, 2010 15:19:39 GMT -6
I included a Compass in the list of items that might be useful to have along on the Geocaching Trail. Why? Doesn't a GPS device already have a compass in it?
Well, yes they do. But the lower end models (something under like...350 bucks!) have a compass that only works at speeds generally under 4 MPH. To put that in perspective, that's a mighty Brisk walking pace. I walk faster than most folks, and I only average about 3.5 MPH. Slow walkers do about 1.2 - 2.5 MPH.
Having said that, my GPSr's have always registered something on screen even under that 4 MPH threshold (determined by my newest Owner's Manual, BTW) but I'm not to sure how accurate it is when you approach GZ for a cache and are really walking around the area rather slowly. To be sure, the compass quits working at all if you're at a standstill. Heck, my Garmin eTrex Venture HC... the compass screen goes Blank!
Depending on the GPSr, you can scroll through screens and one of them will tell you ie: North to Cache. This is when I have found it very helpful to have a real compass with me. If the coords are 5 feet away and to my North, it's just not handy to walk briskly enough for a new compass bearing to appear on the screen again. So to solve this issue, whip out the real McCoy!
Yup, all this Modern Technology, and still the best thing to use at times is Century's old "Old School" stuff.
Or you can buy the $500 Magellan Triton 1500 or a high end Garmin (models unknown... But not me, I ain't got that kind of cash!
Well, yes they do. But the lower end models (something under like...350 bucks!) have a compass that only works at speeds generally under 4 MPH. To put that in perspective, that's a mighty Brisk walking pace. I walk faster than most folks, and I only average about 3.5 MPH. Slow walkers do about 1.2 - 2.5 MPH.
Having said that, my GPSr's have always registered something on screen even under that 4 MPH threshold (determined by my newest Owner's Manual, BTW) but I'm not to sure how accurate it is when you approach GZ for a cache and are really walking around the area rather slowly. To be sure, the compass quits working at all if you're at a standstill. Heck, my Garmin eTrex Venture HC... the compass screen goes Blank!
Depending on the GPSr, you can scroll through screens and one of them will tell you ie: North to Cache. This is when I have found it very helpful to have a real compass with me. If the coords are 5 feet away and to my North, it's just not handy to walk briskly enough for a new compass bearing to appear on the screen again. So to solve this issue, whip out the real McCoy!
Yup, all this Modern Technology, and still the best thing to use at times is Century's old "Old School" stuff.
Or you can buy the $500 Magellan Triton 1500 or a high end Garmin (models unknown... But not me, I ain't got that kind of cash!