satellites are down, can you make it home

For once John and I agree - we should have this thread framed :)

John, I have to disagree to a point.

You don't need to have paper maps just because of a "fictitious, all GPS satellites down" scenario. Digital maps give even the novice a way of getting a fix on their location with the associated software. What they need most is the ability to recognize their position by using a magnetic compass.

Over the years of carrying a zillion paper maps, I now rely on my PC and the digital maps that I have stored there. If the satellites are up and running, then I'll use my Bluetooth GPS. If not, then I'll still use the maps, but with my good'ol trusty compass.

Geoff

I understand your point Geoff but I guess the extension of the satellites being unavailable could also be construed as the loss of your laptop from some unforeseen circumstance thus negating your ability to view electronic maps on the screen.

Hence my simple point is that paper maps and the ability to recognise your current position on them at all times is somewhat important in my view.

Yep i know the feeling of having a hard drive go bellyup just when i needed it. where are your digital maps then? always carry a paper map and compass. I make a game of it with the kids and let them navigate from the paper map while i keep track on the GPS. Now they can read a map accurately and i will have no worries when they are ready to drive in remote areas themselves.

Oh,

And if the "Satellites are down", I'm heading underground because something very nasty has happened.

sandman,

lol. yeah perhaps a little on the extreme side but you get what im talking about.

you are the type im talking about. you know how to get about without the fancy gear but use it cos it looks good. i reckon there might be a few of us out there that think because they have the gps they will be ok?. thats scary. i know i wont go outback with just a gps.

Sand Man, c'mon spill the beans what do you know that I don't know? Serious talk of "offsetting" the GPS data while Geo Scrub is in town. I'm suspecting that "offsetting" is adjusting the data so that you are not where you think you are so that if some loonie wants to take out good ole GeoWScrub that their GPS data will not let them aim their missile.
But you are right, when the chips are down I'll be seeing you at the underground camping area at Pedy......

Actually, my GPS has a built-in safety item. It's only accurate to oh, 60 metres or thereabouts, so if the bad people detect it and send a scud my way, it'll miss and I'll survive. ha!ha!ha!

good one tim. that is what we will be looking more into.

Ah!,

But I have two of the little buggers cos I'm good little Boy Scout.

Started off with a hand held Meridian platinum Marine GPS which is still useful both on land and water.

Then I got a little bluetooth GPS which talks to my PDA running OziExplorer and CoPilot and allows all to be revealed.

If I lose my way, I'll never hear the end of it from SHMBO.

Mr Fawlty. You forgot the need for a GOOD watch & star tables. Like the idea of the cute brunette though. (don't tell Annette I said that)
Vince

>total, absolute chaos!!!

Too right Fawlty.

Four meals away from anarchy

Got to be self-reliant at the end of the day.

Mike Harding

PS. I'd be prepared to take a risk with the brunette :)

I've got news for some of you fella's. If your out in the scrub over many years, you'll get "bushed" sooner or later, irrespective of the gadgets.

Regards

Kim

Vince
Before you go knocking the females who think they can read maps upside down you better have a look at this....
Womans Brain

How the hell does a HF radio tell you where you are Footy???

2 directional beam antena's can be used to triangulate the position of a radio signal.
Cheers Craig...........

It doesn't but the people you talk to can.
" I made a left turn off the Tanami Track and I'm going round and round an aboriginal settlement I can't find the track out!"
"Mate, can you see a footy field on your left ? Just follow that track, you're in Papunya."

Easy as

Yeh But,

That allows others to track you down if they are close by and have 2 vehicles each with a directional beam antenna and they are coming from different directions, it doesn't tell you where the hell you are.

All you can do is get on the airwaves and say, "Help, find me, I'm lost somewhere in the middle of Oz"

Personally, I'd sooner rely on the burning tyre if my epirb went pair shaped.

"Aw hell"

"Pair shaped"...........spell check didn't help me with that clanger.

"PEAR SHAPED"

Sorry folks, I'm at work and delirious and bored...............

Sandman, keep yer mind on the job LOL

Ever burn a tyre ? Not as easy as it looks. And you'd need to burn a few to get anyones attention in a remote area...and you wouldnt know if there were without a radio, would you ?

And what if you're on a remote track, say the Kidson or Madigan ? No point in burning tyres there ....

Len Beadel used a Theodolite, If you are on a boat you use a Sextant.

Steve.

Fazz,

Can't remember how we got on 15 years ago but 35 years ago I was on a bush walk and followed the information contained on my paper map of the area.

I was supposed to follow a creek which flowed into a river jsut upstream of the weir, according to the map. So we sit on the weir and have lunch. When we set off we head up the east side of the river, the side the creek comes in on, thinking that if we don't cross it we must follow it. It's a good theory but, the creek actually comes in downstream of the weir. Quite literally we were up the creek without a paddle. After a couple of hours common sense kicked in and I realised my mistake. Didn't have a compass but there is one that runs around the sky all day. Didn't have a watch either. Took a stab at the time, calculated north on the basis of that. Knowing that there was a road east of us we set off in that direction. I got home 3 hours late, but I got home under my own steam. I have still never spent an unplanned night in the bush. Have come close a couple of times though.

I have been walking in the bush since I was about 12. When I started my Father and a number of other men taught me how to get out of trouble, how to navigate, make shelter catch and prepare food. How to care for the little guy who was with me and scared. Those systems still work even when the electronics fail. I main the process of teaching my young bloke all that I know. Hope you are doing the same with yours.

Oh and bit by bit I am giving him the freedom to practice, make mistakes and learn for himself, just like my Dad did for me.

Duncs

25 years ago I used army maps...and in some cases they were useless. Odometer readings...compass...etc etc...following nose...observing the track and where we;ve been.
Once in the Simpson I came across a zillion tracks going everywhere thanks to the exploration mobs. I had a distinctive tyre pattern at the time so I followed my footsteps back to B'ville.

that reminded me of Frazer from "Dad's Army"

"WE'RE DOOOMED.....DOOOOOMED"


ha ha then we would have Pte Godfrey providing cucumber sandwiches made by his sisters Dolly and Cissy.....

then Corporal Jones under control

"DON'T PANIC, DON'T PANIC"

Pike would be worried for his Mum worried for him and Walker would be pilfering the last of the ciggies and beer.

oh geez that was a great show....



yeah...gps....

Footy,
All you need to get home is a pack of cards.
Sit yourself down and start playing Solitaire. Pretty soon some joker will stick his head over your shoulder and say, "That black seven will go on the red eight you know"

Then you just ask him where you are and where he came from, too easy.
Try it, you'll get found in five minutes flat!!

Geoff

Thanks Jack :)))))))))

Geoff, the other failsafe :-)

Stand by the side of the road and take a p*ss - guaranteed someone will drive past....