All our operational members are map / nav
qualified however we always have a coupla gps units with us[i have my
own],just for backup really.
One problem we have here is the topographical maps
are 30+ years old or should I say the topo information is 'correct to
1979'.
The last major incident here was in October and the
area was mostly 'semi urban' so we were using the local street
directory.
When out in the bush it is not uncommon for
your navigator to say things like 'there is no powerline on this b------y map'
etc
Operations will now see us issued with appropriate
photos from google earth and topo maps....sometimes.
cheers
Linda L
SES[MSAR] Western Australia
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, January 24, 2010 11:45
AM
Subject: Re: [MSAR] Compass or GPS?
Irv,
I am new to MSAR, let me say that first
I didn't realize when we added something on this forum, that we needed to
"open" a new thread. I only added how the GPS helps our team
document that we have been where we actually said we had
been. How many years have you been MSAR? (just
wondering due to the rude sound of your posts on occasion). I realize
email takes the personality out of the message, and that sometimes leaves one
to be misinterpreted, but for those of us that are relatively new to this,
everything we read helps us. Not all of us are as seasoned as evidently
you are. And, some of us are in areas that stuff you talk about isn't
relavent to our needs.
If there are rules to post, please let us that
are new to this site know so that we don't iritate you.
Lila Corey
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, January 23, 2010 8:57
PM
Subject: Re: [MSAR] Compass or
GPS?
Simple is better, redundant is best The advantage of the GPS
allows us to update our maps and incorporate social and casual trails not
indicated on public maps. And if you get lost you must be able to self
rescue..
Dan Greely
-----Original
Message----- From: Irvin Lichtenstein < ilichten1@verizon.net> To:
'Mounted search and rescue' <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent:
Sat, Jan 23, 2010 3:44 pm Subject: Re: [MSAR] Compass or GPS?
The basic problem
is that you are discussing apples and oranges. Navigation is one
function. Documentation is another. If you feel you need the records
keeping and tracking capabilities of some GPS units to convince your IC that
you went where you said you did, fine. I can also do that with several other
technologies, like a Predator.
If what I am aiming
for, quite literally, is to get to a destination the compass is less
complicated, does not rely on batteries or satellites and radio waves that
can be interfered with and rendered unusable by a cell phone, and I don’t
care if it gets stepped on by horses
Read the question,
answer the question, if you think of something else open a new thread
please. This is an example of why committees never get anything done.
A compass gives you
a common reference point. I don’t have to worry about deviance and
variance because all magnetic compasses will be affected the same way in an
area, and in Pennsylvania there is a lot of magnetic deviance and
variance. We can reduce errors by not converting back and forth to
so-called true north by declaring magnetic to be the standard. And
each time I go to report in I don’t have to run through all the settings to
make sure I have not accidentally changed the datum, the time zone, date, or
coordinate system origin I am using. And I can use the several hundred
dollars I saved by not buying a GPS for every member for something
useful—like a radio maybe, or some paper maps, or something else, like
training in how to navigate through the woods.
Everything has a
use. We use GPS tracking to verify the paper maps the county parks
issue to visitors. If the trail is not on the map the visitor can get
lost and we have to go find them. Much more effective, and politically
astute according to the tourist bureau, is to have accurate maps and
tourists who don’t get lost. Hate to sound cynical but the state fire
commissioner says preventing fires is a good idea but if you prevent all the
fires in a given year you don’t get any grant money.
Irv Lichtenstein
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