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Philip,
Thanks for the kind post. We were on a
search a month ago, and there were sewer lines not on maps. However, we
were able to call in our coordinates on the GPS and now they are on our computer
maps, and our maps are updated of that particular area. It helped us with
navigation and documentation as well as map updates. We too carry the
compasses. I unfortunately am not YET as accomplished with the compass,
but am working hard to become so. I am pretty good at just common sense
orienting myself, due to riding in the woods for so many years with nothing to
help me get back where I started. I yearn for the day I am as comfortable
with a compass as I am with my horse.
Lila
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, January 24, 2010 1:04
AM
Subject: Re: [MSAR] Compass or GPS?
Lila,
You did fine by stating your groups use of the
GPS. To get pros and cons, you have to get the variables. You were
supplying that. I do not think Irv had intended to be
rude. Sorry if you took it that way. Anyway, I am from the old
school that did not have the luxury of a GPS. We became very perficient
with a map and compass using peaks and streams as well as contour to locate my
position. On the water I am also very proficient with a chart and
compass. Outstanding skills to have and to fall back on when the batteries go
dead on your GPS. With the GPS working, I cannot see how a compass can
compare. I am a strong believer in carrying both.
Philip Easley
NCSSAR
Nevada City, California
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, January 23, 2010 7:45
PM
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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