GPS Coordinate Types

[Bob]

Decimal Minutes. Used to that as that's what use at work. Plus its what I learned 'before" GPS....... none of this new stuff for me....

 

[DAA]

Are there any devices/apps that auto convert UTM? Do real GPS units?

I would ask the opposite. Are there any positioning capable devices that can not use UTM natively? All of my devices, from my phone to my computer programs to my GPSes all are set to use UTM. It's the only coord system I have ever used on any device. All the advantages it confers go double for electronic positioning, IMO. Honestly, I don't understand why the lat/lon variants haven't just died alrready. Every time I get lat/lon from someone, it's just a PITA to deal with. Duke's post illustrates just one of the reasons why.

- DAA

 

[ROKTAXI]

UTM all the way baby.

Back before there was civilian GPS, I could nav off a topo with UTM just fine. And if I have a UTM coord for my position and you give me another UTM coord, I know how far and in what direction that coord is without even consulting a map.

- DAA

I'm with you on this one too Dave. I've used UTM long before (civilian)GPS devices, and it is by far the most useful. Decimal / degrees has more value perhaps for non land navigation(?).

 

[DAA]

Decimal / degrees has more value perhaps for non land navigation(?).

Ahhh... Good point. As a dedicated land lubber, I hadn't even considered it.

- DAA

 

[ROKTAXI]

Ahhh... Good point. As a dedicated land lubber, I hadn't even considered it.

- DAA

"Most" people that started out using Quads find it awkward using decimal / degree waypoints (me included). Then again "most" people don't use quads anymore and simply rely on GPS navigation by waypoints beit decimal or UTM.... me included, but I still transfer my tracks / wp's to printable USGS maps... which ALL have UTM grids (imagine that!)

 

[DAA]

Exactly.

My first GPS (Garmin 12), had no mapping capability at all. It simply reported a position. I then needed to find that position on a quad. And the easiest way to make that position info useful for actual navigation, was if it were in UTM. But for a lot of the younger folks, the GPS "is it" and I can see how the coord format really wouldn't make any difference. But when the coords actually are "it", and you need to actually "use" them, decimal/degrees just sucks azz... While UTM is easy-easy.

- DAA

 

[IntrepidXJ]

Format doesn't matter to me...I'll use whatever I got and can convert if I need to.

 

[uintahiker]

Can I nominate this thread for the outdoor nerd thread of the year?! I've been watching it and it totally rocks! If you haven't been there, you haven't been outside enough! Good stuff!