Mounted search and rescue

["Irvin Lichtenstein" <ilichten1@verizon.net>]

The basic problems with GPS are the variables. The search team can be set up to have all their units set the same way and hopefully they will stay set.

The public or recreational user usually doesn’t even read the manual and know about all the settings and how they vary accuracy and actual location.

There are at least two datums (models of the shape of the earth), several sets of coordinates (degrees, decimal degrees, mixed, universal coordinates, etc),

And whether or not the units listen to local ground beacons to increase accuracy.  How many satellites they can listen to also affects accuracy.

 

The point is I can look at the pointer on a compass and say the red end points towards this ground  feature and the right side is looking at this. No batteries required.

The liquid in a liquid filled compass is usually glycol or similar and does not freeze until you get to Alaska, and they have models for there.

 

Irv Lichtenstein

 

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From: msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Karen Nesbitt
Sent: Saturday, January 23, 2010 2:13 PM
To: msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [MSAR] Compass or GPS?