Maps, internet, how-to. . . ???

[KSdan]

Hey guys-

I am lo-tech but would love to learn more about how to use/find maps on the internet; hear about Google earth, topos, etc etc.  I have a really nice prototype GPS that was given to me to try out from a GPS engineer.  

I really am clueless.  I don't know what all the numbers mean. .  X.xxxxN   X.xxxxW ?  Would love to look at areas via satellite and topos.  Know how to see something on the map and put it in GPS. . .  etc

Where does a guy learn this stuff?

Thanks
Dan

[Lost Arra]

This is a series of well written navigation essays on the Kifaru forum.

 http://www.kifaru.net/navigate1.htm

Posting this might be against forum rules so I apologize.

[John Scifres]

Download Google earth.  It is very intuitive.  Play around with it and you will see.

 http://www.google.com/earth/download/ge/agree.html

The GPS manufacturer probably has software available.  Get it and you should be able to download free topos.  Here's what I use for my Garmin.

 www.gpsfiledepot.com/

[bosteldr]

http://mapper.acme.com/
I like ACME MAPPER

[KSdan]

Thanks much guys.  I really wish there were actual classes on this stuff. I do much better hanging with some guys and learning. But I will try these links. . . if I can figure how to download stuff and actually use it.  Never been able to. . .  Thanks a bunch!!

Nothing on the computer seems "intuitive" to me except using a hammer to show geeky guys that plastic does not count for real tools or real engineering!    

There is a reason I shoot trad- and little of it has to do with the "challenge."  Compounds and that technology is far too frustrating and a challenge for me.  Not to mention every step of it costs $$$.  Oh to pick up a bow and just shoot it.  So simple!!!!!!!!    

[4dogs]

Dan, check out community collages, some rec departments for the city etc. Alot of different places have offered orientation (sp) classes around here and most cover gps, maps and compass. They are usually cheap too.

[gringol]

Dan,
Once you get started I think you'll find it a lot easier than it looks right now.  

I learned the old fashioned way, before there was good software to sync your GPS to a topo map.  You can buy maps directly from the USGS, and sometimes a physical map is much better than a map loaded in a GPS unit.  Your GPS unit will report (coordinates) latitude and longitude (X.xxxN, X.xxxW) which is basically an imaginary grid placed over the earth as reference.  The first number is also called "northing" where you are vertically on the map, the second is where you are horizontally.  The easiest way (for me) is to read the coordinates off the GPS unit, then find those coordinate on a physical map.  Latitude and longitude are printed on the edges of USGS topo maps.

Also, in Google earth there is a "Fly To" box in the upper left.  Enter your coordinates from the GPS in there and it will take you to that spot.  

There are many coordinate "systems" that can make things confusing, but they are all based on the same principle, and Google Earth is smart enough to tell the difference, so just enter them as they appear on your GPS unit.

Go try things out in the yard and I bet you'll have the hang of it pretty quick.

[bansheewins]

This might not help you in learning how to read topos but can come in handy when looking for public land in areas.

 http://www.myhuntinglands.com/

[bowslinger]

KSDan,

Maryland has a pretty informative series of free guides in PDF to learning about GPS and how it works.  Probably not as good as a class but still pretty informative, especially for free.  Here is the link:

 http://www.naturalresources.umd.edu/EducationalGPS.html

[Mint]

Great thread ,  thanks for the handy links.  You do have to watch out for the different gps systems being used when using google eart. At first it really took me for a loop since I knew google earth was "wrong" so I searched on google on  why I was getting the wrong result. Sure enough I needed to switch to another gps method on my gps for it to work.

[Austin Brown]

Originally posted by bosteldr:
 http://mapper.acme.com/  
I like ACME MAPPER

That is a good one, amazing detail on the farms I hunt.  Thanks for the link.

[rastaman]

Also, if you have an REI store anywhere close by, they offer courses on navigation with your gps.

[KSdan]

This was awesome guys.  Thanks for the encouragement and info. This is an area I have always wanted to get good with.  Now I have this fancy GPS- I really want to use it and have maps working in the field for me.  

Thanks
Dan

[skilonbw]

You can also try these guys if they are near you to see if they could help.
 http://www.orienteerkansas.com/

[KSdan]

Thanks skilonbw-  that is my backyard!  Almost literally!!!  Well not quite, but within a few miles.