map reading

Gronk

A good place to start would be to get a digital map. $100 will get you a 1:250000 for the whole of Australia. (Natmap)

These maps come with software which enable you to display them on a computer and you can zoom in and out etc. Importantly, they show the lat and long for the cursor position.

While I can link my GPS to the map, I have often used it separately.

If you find where you want to go on the map you can tell the GPS to go there and it will give bearing distance etc to show the way.

If you don't know where you are, you can reverse the above. Get your position from the GPS and put these co-ordinates into the map (most allow this) and the map will centre on that position with the cursor showing where you are on the map.

You can read about GPS and mapping on lots of sites such as this one and others like johnny appleseed ja-gps.com.au

Hope this helps and welcome to the wonderful world of GPS navigation and digital maps

Alan

i am obviously just as bumb but why do you need a map if you have a gps, i thought we got a gps so we didn't have to read maps anymore

Its only a cb radio come gps , so i need to put in co-ordinates for a turnoff for example so the unit can then beep and tell me I'm there.

Try one of your local marine rescue units. If you let me know where you are I could could reccommend the cloet for you, another option is your local SES unit who should be able to do the same.
Cheers Brad
President - Volunteer Marine Rescue - SA

Go to your local mapshop Geoscience australia has a booklet that tells you how and also has a scale ruler to work out the coords to imput into your gps. all for $2.50

4 x 4 Australia had an excellent article on map reading in their gold label edition.
It was single page right ups spread through the whole mag. 12 pages I think.
You should be able to get a copy from mag shop. It started with the basics and went right through. A good read. I photo copied it as I teach map reading with the Rural Fire Service so it was a good hand out.
I think it was just before christmas but I can't put a date on it.

Map reading is an art that is not learnt easily. I think that the OP is quite correct in wanting to learn map reading - a GPS will only get you so far. If it goes down, or you need to do some serious navigating in the rough country you will need a map and compass, and a knowledge of the basics.

Note well - with this knowledge, once gained, you will have a far greater understanding on how and why the GPS works, and use it with far more confidence.

Best place to learn map reading is the local bush walking group - but be aware that they may use maps differently to you; however the basic knowledge is the same and you will be able to transpose.

My map reading comes from boats (Coxains Licence), though I have to say I am not that efficient at marine navigation (mainly due to the use of GPS), aircraft (Commercial Pilot's Licence), and Search and Rescue. I have a thorough knowledge of how the compass works in the area that I use it (note how I qualify that statement - for such a simple instrument it is remarkably complex in function, and highly effective once you understand it. I have to say that while I am knowlegable in compass use I have met people who have a life time using them (ships captains, compass swingers (adjusters) etc) and are true masters of the subject, and leave me for dead).

Now, where woz I (rambling again!)

When I was training people in SAR, I would give them a puzzle - get them to pot a series of waypoints on a map (pencil and ruler stuff here) using different ways of expressing coordinates e.g.:

º ' "" (degrees minutes seconds)
º 0.0' (degrees decimal minutes)
and then something actually quite easy
Map grid references using AusGrid (from memory!)

The number of pilots, even old ones (not bold ones ;) who get this all mixed up was quite interesting - most did. The lesson learnt was that you had to be very careful what format the map reference was in - in SAR it could be the difference between finding someone and not finding them.

Most topo maps will have map grid references and what is the really neat thing about them is that the reference also includes the map number. So it is then a matter of referring to the appropriate topo map. I understand that bushwalkers use this system a lot - and as 4bies we should have an interest in how they do that in case we get involved in a SAR operation, either as rescuers or the rescued.

Nw if you really want to have some fun, think about the differences between True and Magnetic north, deviation; compass error (and correction).

Quiz: how many km make up a second of latitude how would you measure it?

(Sounds like a useless bit of information but is actually fundemental to how deg min sec relate to distance and map reading, and gives a much greater understanding of how a GPS might relate to a map...)

/viz

Gronk
Go to the Exploroz shop and buy "GPS Vehicle Navigation in Australia". I have no vested interest here, but I highly recommend this book. Take it slowly, 'cos it can get a bit thick at times, but then mapping and navigation aren't quite as simple as turnign on a gps or unfolding a piece of paper. It's well written for dummies like you and me.
MikeyS

G'day Gronk, I have the GPS105 as well and used it for the first time in July.
I used a site some one on this forum put me onto for GPS co-ordinates that you can then load onto the unit. You enter in the name eg. Birdsville and it gives you the detail to enter.
link text
Remember there is also a lot of pre loaded towns etc. in the unit.
It took me a bit of playing around to fully understand how to use it, the instruction were a bit thin.
You have to go to the menu and go to my POI (my point of interest) and add a poi which you can then name.
You can enter co-ordinates for say Birdsville and store those, or you can use the co-ordinates for the position you are in which the GPS will show on the screen. eg a fork in the road can be loaded and you can name it lets say "fork in road" and if you need to get back to that position you just go to my POI and scroll down to "fork in road" and it will guide you back.
It has a handy trip meter as well.
Black spots, fixed speed and red light camera spots are loaded also.
The best advice is to have a fiddle, I've allways found that works best for me.
I hope I have helped (not hindered) you.
Will

Mate - after 22 long years in the Army, I must admit that map reading isn't too hard once you know what to do.

I always use paper maps (they will never crash) in conjunction with my Etrex - it's a basic and simple GPS. I use the GPS co-ordinates to plot my position on the map and go from there.

When using the GPS I use the MGRS datum - it gives me an easy 10 figure grid reference and when using toppographical maps takes less than a minute to plot your position.

Paper maps take up a little bit of room - but can be folded away. I cover my with clear contact and highlight my grid reference numbers.

I have read the articles in 4 x 4 Monthly and they use degrees and minutes, which can be very confusing especially if you are in a hurry.

Any decent bookshop or map store will have books that will assist you.

Garmin Map reading over 40 pages