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questions about how to use oregon 450

Former Member over 12 years ago

I am trying to locate points along a property line. I have one survey point from which I can start, then directions in degrees, minutes and seconds and a certain number of feet. I have a few questions.

1) when I saved a location as a waypoint, I got these coordinates: N 35 degrees 30.599' W 078degrees, 27.901'. On a survey map the coordinates are -78.4650 and 35.5091. Can anyone explain the difference in these coordinates to me?

2) Is there a way to convert coordinates from degrees, minutes and seconds to decimal degrees on the oregon 450?

3) Is it possible to use the Garmin to track a route like the following? : 84 degrees west for 530 feet.

Thank you. I haven't used a gps device before and am totally clueless as to what I am doing.

0 JaVaWa over 12 years ago

1. They are the same, only the notation is different. The first one uses degrees and (decimal) minutes (where a degree is divided in 60 minutes), the second one decimal degrees. (when converting from one to the other you will find a slight difference; that has to do with the accuracy of the device and/or map)
2. You can set the Oregon to display decimal degrees: Setup > Position Format; select hddd.ddddd.
3. Yes. Select "Mark Waypoint", select "Save and Edit", scroll down and select "Project Waypoint". Enter bearing and distance.
You can do this with an existing waypoint too, or with the option "Sight 'N Go" (but that last one is less accurate because it depends on the correct calibration of your compass)

0 JaVaWa over 12 years ago

What happens when you click "hddd.mm.mmm"? ;)

This glossary says about bearing:

Bearing
The compass direction from a position to a destination, measured to the nearest degree (also call an azimuth). In a GPS receiver, bearing usually refers to the direction to a waypoint.

Azimuth
The horizontal direction from one point on the earth to another, measured clockwise in degrees (0-360) from a north reference line. An azimuth is also called a bearing.

0 JaVaWa over 12 years ago

I'm not familiar with the notation in your sample, but if it is similar to the US Army definition you would need to enter 360 - 84 = 276 degrees (84 degrees from north in westernly direction = counterclockwise). You can't enter fractions of degrees on your device. I don't know whether it is relative to true north or magnetic north, but I guess it is the former.

0 JaVaWa over 12 years ago

When you have entered the bearing, the Oregon will ask you to select a unit of measurement; after that you can enter distance.

0 JaVaWa over 12 years ago

No, the device records the path you travel; it shows the shortest distance though when you are at one point and let the Oregon calculate a direct route to another point.
But why do you need that information? You already know the distance; otherwise it wasn't possible to project a waypoint...

0 JaVaWa over 12 years ago

That's not the only que; when you project a waypoint you will get a new waypoint at the projected point. That's where you are navigating to. It doesn't matter whether you are walking in a straight line to it or not.