New Member <span class="highlight">GPS</span> Software Question

Thanks Tony had not thought of that, but it does make it a long winded process then.

I like to plan my trips on my pc as the screens bigger and the interface on the Discover Aus is not bad. and 4 out of 5 times I can place the waypoints by looking at the map but it would be nice to just put the co-ordinates in

Rgds
Ian

Thanks Greg,
I suspected as much but was hoping otherwise. I will down load a copy of the MApsend Lite and try it out.

Trying to resist the laptop in the 4be but may have to go that way.

Rgds
Ian

Hello Doug..curious as to the source of stats relating to your statement

"but as most people use Lat ,Long"

Maybe true - I certainly wouldnt be game to guess myself (not suggesting you are guessing ..but I would have to). UTM is certainly used a lot in the exploration/mining industry..possibly to make it easier for the maths ...as its all in metres...e.g. easy to add 50metres to a UTM co-ord...try that with a lat/long without a special calculator/brain. Cant remember off the top of my head but I think degree of accuracy is possibly another reason UTM coords were invented. Not an issue for recreational/handheld GPS use though so its more of a personal preference...I prefer UTM for my work. Lat/Long is certainly a tad easier to remember with respect to your rough location ...the zone changes in UTM can get confusing.
Cheers
Greg

The Explorer
Mate I;m no expert, just one of those who get from A 2 B ,Just that when you get info from say GPS from Factory it's always pre-set to Lat/Long. Google Earth the same,and when some one gives a Co-Ord on VKS it's the same , but a thought went through my head as to what the SAS would use but we won't push the question for their security reasons, We don't have to know,

Doug

Hi Doug,
My main reason is when I get files from other sources (i.e.WA Driver) they seem to use UTM Co-Ords, While I could punch these into the GPS its self, I like to do my route planning on the PC as it’s easier to see (read old fart going blind and technically challenged).

My process is;
• Either identify waypoint locations directly on the map or enter the co-ords for the waypoint
• Create a route from the waypoints.
• Upload the route to the GPS

I don’t know if there is a simple accurate conversion process but that’s my next investigation.

Rgds
Ian

No worries Doug - my point was that they are both widely used....whether or not 75% (for example) of people use Lat/long instead of UTM is irrelevant - which one you choose is in a lot of cases a matter of preference especially with respect to recreational use where both have there advantages and disadvatages. If someone wishes to use UTM, so be it. There is a lot of data out there in this format.

It is a MAJOR short coming of DiscoverAus (the main subject of this thread) not to have the ability to input UTM manually (not to mention its lack of datums)..which is one of many reasons I use OziExplorer. Google Earth and most GPS units can be setup to display UTM due to this formats wide usage. SAS? - I would suspect they are trained to use both (and that military grid referencing system), what they use by "default"? Who knows - suspect lat/long. To get the same accuracy as UTM though you must use either decimal degrees, minutes or seconds as "normal" Degrees Minutes and Seconds without decimals is only accurate to +/- 25 metres or so (depending on what part of world you are in).

Ian - here is a listing of free (generally) GPS software, one of which may suit your purpose...as mentioned before I use OziExplorer which will do what you want - though I am not sure if the free version allows upload/download from GPS. I dont use any of the listed software on this website so cant help with a selection - easygps comes to mind but not sure about its UTM capabilities...

www.maps-gps-info.com/fgpfw.html

Cheers
Greg

Thanks Greg I will have a look at the site, seems like Malcom may have been right, life was not ment to be easy

Rgds
Ian

Greg
Thanks mate , very well answered, I will add that URL to my MAP/GPS page on the net , I take it you have seen the page, ??? members.westnet.com.au/dtilley/maps.htm
I have been playing around with POI's in Microsoft Excel .csv files . they are Lat/Long hddd/ddddd only
Have you got any other info that you can share and have it on my web site

Doug

Sorry Doug - I forgot about your super duper website - I need to go through my favourites and edit out old ones so the new ones are more obvious.
With respect to additional info I may have some relevant stuff..I have been collecting good map/gps interent links for years...trouble is I have so many I dont know whats what!! I dont have time at moment (suppose to be working;). I shall do my best to get an up to date listing of the stuff I have and forward it on to you.

Cheers
Greg

Greg
I have been working on the site now, Probably will get some peoples brains to go into meltdown ....lol but hell there is some really good info I got from that site you posted, though not Australian the basics are the same,

Oh and I was guessing ,,

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Ian
After you have your Waypoints in the software or in the GPS if you change the Grid format it automatically changes in the Unit or on the PC

Doug

Thanks Doug,

I'm going to have a look at "EasyGPS" software, looks like it may do what I want.

Rgds
Ian