Precision decimal coordinates

Former Member
Former Member
Hi.

I wonder if it is possible to insert GMS coordinates but the type N39° 43 '01.5285 "W8 ° 15' 53.5285" because I can have these coordinated through the file I have but I can not enter with such precision in Basecamp.
I use the Garmin Etrex 30, which gives me accuracies of 3m but how can only be coordinated with 1 second (N39° 43' 01.5", for example), this will give accuracies of 15m, which to me does not help, because I need 5m, minimun.

If hover other coordinates that can provide precision 5-6m also accepted.

Thank you
  • Personally, I have always had an issue with the way Garmin handles coordinate entry. True, it is more principal than practical, but principals have their place.

    BaseCamp and Garmin devices will display coordinates (not store) to approximately the accuracy of the devices. When coordinates are entered in BaseCamp, they will be displayed to this same accuracy, but the values will be rounded, not truncated. In other words, if the rounded values were stored the error would be +-0.05", not +-0.1" for your data entry. This should get you within the error you require.

    In reality, all of the digits are (or were) used to convert the displayed format to the stored format (decimal degrees with + for N and E and - for S and W). To verify this, export one of your Waypoints as a gpx file and open it with a text editor like Notepad to get the decimal coordinates that are stored and convert those values back to dms. BaseCamp's text to number conversion isn't perfect for reasons I do not understand, but the error will be quite small.

    As for the principal, it is wrong to assume that entered coordinates were obtained at the accuracy of a consumer GPS; to not make it clear to users whether entered values are kept, truncated or rounded; to be unable to verify that data entry was correct if the stored values are as entered.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member
    137

    ...but I can not enter with such precision in Basecamp...


    I think you can. What you see on the screen is a simple display value, not the real stored value.

    The sample waypoint you mention, when entered exactly as shown (N39° 43 '01.5285 "W8 ° 15' 53.5285") is actually stored as <wpt lat="39.717091284692287" lon="-8.264869004487991">