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  • From: "David leadbetter" <dleadbetter1@aapt.net.au>
  • To: "Mounted search and rescue" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [MSAR] Compass or GPS?
  • Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 18:51:59 +0800


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 -----
From: Lila Corey
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 -----
From: Dan
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  
 

From: msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of E.S.
Sent: Saturday, January 23, 2010 3:01 PM
To: Mounted search and rescue
Subject: Re: [MSAR] Compass or GPS?
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