John replied:

Try a camping type store.....they have some very good "learn to use your GPS" type books.
They are aimed at the absolute beginer and are easy reading.
I will try to find the one I brought so I can give you a title etc....

Cheers John

old soldier replied:

G'day Lux, Good to see you are seeking some training on your GPS - I hope you find a course in your area. As an old navigator I am interested in the level of expertise of people who are buying, and attempting to use GPS units. If it is not a rude question, can you read, interpret and navigate with a topographic map? can you carry out resections, identify a spur, saddle, re-entrant from the map? do you understand magnetic variation and how it applies to navigating? Can you calculate a gradient, or work out intervisibility between features? Do you understand the different datums and how they apply to GPS units? As I said, these questions are not meant to be rude, but I am seriously interested in the level of expretise of people who start out with GPS units and ask the sort of question you have asked. I am contemplating putting together some sort of online basic navigation website to help beginners.regards, DennisN

dave replied:

There have been some really interesting points raised here. Lux, you are obviously an adventurous soul, who has put some thought into his needs, that's good. Unfortunaltley too many other people (and proabaly not explorozers) are using technology as a substitute for endeavour and intelligence (and common sense). Sadly the approach of many is to get the gear and get out there, then when it (or they) break(s), they flip the switch on the EPIRB and wait for help. I could go on......
But, learning about GPS, well, play with it lots, walk with it, drive with it, and talk to other people about it. They are an amazing invention, I use them on an almost daily basis, i teach kids how to use them, and what the info on the screen means to a traveller,fisher, walker, biker, driver in the real world.
If you are in a 4wd club talk to clubbies (and if you're not, join one), the danger with "doing a course" is that you see a very limited view of the use of a product, practice makes perfect, if you do find a course, go along already knowing something, you never know the discussions and discovery that you could begin. I'm always learning things from my students, because kids will just play with things (did someone mention computers) and find all sorts of tricks that don't appear in the manuals.

Whew, hope that some of that helps,.! In answer to you question Ahh, no I don't know of any courses in Melb.
Dave

Benna replied:

The best way to simply learn the commands on the GPS is to use it when ever you go anywhere, use the MAn over board function, plot you travels, use it in the city as you would the bush. Calculate distances betwwen points e.c.t.

Les replied:

I thank everyone for the help, I'm starting to 'play' with it now and like what's been adviced here, just keep using it everywhere, I'm slowly works bits and pieces out with it and I must admit it's quite fun.....Les