GPS Basic ... How many of you use the Magic Box?

[Pilar]

posted 03-26-2002 03:29 PM
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The GPS is a wonderful invention. But in my opinion it is perhaps the most understood piece of gear short of the clock on your VCR.

You can

~ Save the location of a place you wish to return to. (Waypoint)

~ Save the location of places you wish to avoid.

~ Look at premade maps of terrain or water and see where you are in relation to your surroundings. (Plot)

~ Know how fast you are going, at what altitude and the exact time of day.

~ String together Waypoints and make a Route. This would be a safe path through obstacles to your destination that you can follow.

~ Some units include Tide tables, customized for the location.

Wow! What a useful tool! How many of you use these or other features of the Magic Box?

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The bend is your friend!

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Posts: 1659 | From: Portland, Or., U.S.A | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged

Tagster
Chromer
Member # 1729

posted 03-26-2002 03:35 PM
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If I could figure out how to use the damn thing, I would use it. I have a Magellan 320 that is supposed to come preloaded with many bouy locations and various navigational aids. I can't figure it out.

I am fairly good with electronics, I wired my own surround sound, can program my VCR clock and can even set the clock on my car stereo, and yet, this is throwing me for a loop.

I have been told that perhaps the one that I have isn't the most user friendly one out there, but at this point after spending all the $$ on computer accessories, charging adapters, downloaded maps, I am not going to change to a Garmen. If I was smart, I would have bought it integrated into my FF instead of buying the X85.

Has anyone attended the class at FMS?

Did it help?

Thanks, Tag

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"To know the road ahead, ask those coming back."

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Posts: 83 | From: Molalla | Registered: Nov 2001 | IP: Logged

Pilar
Ifish Forum Guide
Member # 270

posted 03-26-2002 03:51 PM
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Thanks Tagster for speaking up ... you must know that you speak for many. I did not attend the FM classes. I learned the hard way but I am seriously considering a course of instruction (thanks Jim) here at Ifish. We could learn the basics together and then teach specific units.

If you go from general principles to specifics for a particular box most everyone will grok it and prosper.

What do you think?

It's just too useful to live without once you know the ropes. Those offshore reefs in my Magic Box are mine forever and I return to pillage them at will.

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The bend is your friend!

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Posts: 1659 | From: Portland, Or., U.S.A | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged

Hamachi
Chromer
Member # 1357

posted 03-26-2002 04:38 PM
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I find that watching the cross-track screen very helpful when making a long run. Ensures the shortest route possible. My unit is also progammed with every listed light. This has been handy on occasion in unfamiliar waters.

I also have my Micrologic Admiral hooked up to a differential reciever. The unit says I'm getting accuracy to 3' but in reality it's closer than that. I installed the differential back when SA was turned on. I used to do a lot of rockfishing in So. Cal. and it enabled me to get right on top of wrecks and pinnicles with no wasted time.
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Posts: 31 | From: Federal Way, WA | Registered: Aug 2001 | IP: Logged

Threemuch
Chromer
Member # 1321

posted 03-26-2002 04:49 PM
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The use of GPS sure has made bottomfishing and finding structure alot easier. You can get right on little spots again and again. Awesome. I love my chartplotter.

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Kurt Bergner, Portland
Threemuch II, 22' Olympic Pilothouse

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Posts: 219 | From: Portland, OR | Registered: Jul 2001 | IP: Logged

hustlerrjim
Chromer
Member # 455

posted 03-26-2002 06:37 PM
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pilar good idea a class on running a gps but I would keep it very basic--- I am here and i want to go there , 3 steps thats all they need to get started ,after they get over their fear of this machine they will fall in love with it,
of all my instruments i have in my boat the gps is the last one i would throw over board; espesially in the fog,
I have seen a lot of gps's in boats and nobody knows how to run them;
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Posts: 173 | From: nehalem oregon usa | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

Salmonator
Chromer
Member # 9

posted 03-26-2002 06:44 PM
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I was broke in on a garmin gps45 handheld. That was a very nice easy to use unit. I now have a lowrance X-15 aboard. Every thing is pretty easy to figure out except that getting to what you want through the menu is a chore while running through chop and trying to pay attention while driving. The map feature is the next best thing to radar.

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If I knock my own salmon off with the net in the middle of the ocean and no one saw it, did it actually happen?

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Posts: 1140 | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

Bait O' Eggs
Chromer
Member # 31

posted 03-26-2002 09:12 PM
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My Garmin 12 is like a wonder tool. I love to use it. The last flight I took I even stuck it in my pocket and was watching our speed once in the air.

I have been trying to master the GPS/Plotter on the Lowrance boat unit I have. I have make routes and use them when running in Tillamook bay between the sand bars. Really quite the magic box.

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Team SMS

Be at "The Really Big One" on April 13th or put a cork in it.

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Posts: 1611 | From: Milwaukie | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

scrod
Chromer
Member # 1060

posted 03-26-2002 09:15 PM
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Tagster, If you are talking about the Magellan 330M, I got one as a gift. I would not use it as my primary gps due to its screen size / battery life but it is fun in certain situations because its a handheld. As for user friendly...I thought the bugger was the most annoying thing this side of France. I learned that it's not so bad after some free time due to an injury. It does take a lot of time to setup. Probably the most useful thing so far is marking waypoints when riding with a guide or charter. Then I can go back and find the same spot myself. There is a lot of info on GPS on the web but not always easy to decipher.
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Posts: 103 | From: West Linn, OR | Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged

Tanker Man
Chromer
Member # 1080

posted 03-26-2002 09:28 PM
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Tagster:
I have a Magellan 320 and have used it quite a bit: Have used it for elk hunting mainly but have used it on the Columbia for Sturgen holes. I find it to be very accurate. Have upgraded it 3-4 times from the internet to Desk Top computer & then into the 320. There are alot of screens & modes but once you get the hang of it, it's very easy. If you need any help with it, email me and will be glad to show you
Bob
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Posts: 17 | From: Portland, Oregon | Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged

BlueWater
Chromer
Member # 1406

posted 03-26-2002 10:04 PM
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I have a Garmin gps 76 and I love it. My boat came with a Loran C sonar combo and did use it till they stoped the signals a few years ago. I agree the gps is sometimes complex and hard to understand but knowing where you are and how to get back in the fog is worth the effort to learn.
The WAAS units are the only way to go. If you go for a run sometime with a non waas and a waas unit side by side you will see what I mean. the best way I have found to learn a unit, if it is hand held, is to get a dash mount for your car and drive around with it for a month. Take it everywere you go. You may drive your friends nuts but after repeated daily use for a time and after you have read the manual for the 5th time it will suddenly become easy for you. Don't wait untill the coast guard is asking for your location in a maday to figure it out!

I believe in needing a gps so much I did not go out over the bar for a year once till I could afford a new unit when mine broke.

Anyway happy world navigation.

BlueWater.

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Take your kids fishing.

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Posts: 130 | From: Vernonia, OR | Registered: Aug 2001 | IP: Logged

Pilar
Ifish Forum Guide
Member # 270

posted 03-27-2002 08:28 AM
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OK here we go ..........

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The bend is your friend!

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Posts: 1662 | From: Portland, Or., U.S.A | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged

[Miss B Haven]

C&E- first thing to do is write down the headings as you go out following the bouys or waypoints. Then pay attention to the drift/direction of travel and distance from the last waypoint or bouy when your fishing.
If you lose your electronics and visiblility you can backtrack by adding 180 (or subtracting 180 if the original was over 180 to start). and work your way back by compass.
That's a start for dead reckoning navigation. Gotta go- somebody else can take over.

[Pitch Pocket]

My wife and I just completed the first of 4 piloting/navigation courses with the US Power Squadron. The first thing a navigator learns is to plot courses on a map, dead reckon, take bearings, estimate position and make fixes.

Dead Reckoning is using direction speed and distance to calculate your position on an desired course. It's useful and essential for estimating where you are, but a fix (the intersection of 2 different bearings) tells you exactly where you are. Piloting is the combination of dead reckoning and using fixes to estimate and confirm your position.

The next USPS course is advanced piloting. It builds on the first course but adds tides and currents and their impact on piloting, the marine sextant and electronic navigation.

Being able to navigate without the benifit of a plotter or GPS is very important if you lose operability of your electronics.

Next?

[edsr]

John - Thanks Again, or is it Again Thanks! Have been reading the manual which is typical "Nerd Speak". I'm lernin but it's slow.

edsr

[uboatcdr]

I have the Furuno 1650 DS. combo sonar and gps.
And I admit I am kind of lost on the gps side of the house. [img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img] Ive only had it two months, nice unit
if I new how to really use it proper. A class from some of the seasoned sea dogs would be nice. At least
some basics.
my $.02 worth.

[Bait O' Eggs]

I use the same plastic jesus Pilar does LMS350, I have to admit it is a lot more complicated GPS than my Garmin hand held unit.

I always have the Garmin along because I know how it works with my eyes closed. The Lorance is another story.

I got a call today from a buddy who is fishing out of Tillamook in the Ocean looking for coho, after 2 hours he calls and ask for some assistance because he hadnt been hit once. I give him a couple ideas to try on the coho and I give him a waypoint to go look for bottom fish because he had his young daughter along and wanted to get into any fish.

He called just a bit ago saying thanks and told me had 2 coho in the box, lost a 30lb nook at the boat and had 4 bottom fish from my little reef I gave him GPS numbers to.

Those 4 fish wouldnt have been caught without a GPS.

I have a couple routes programed, a few key waypoints, kind of know how to use the steering screen getting to those waypoints, Plotter is a piece of cake, sonar is easy to use. Still want to figure out how to plug in a waypoint quicky when somebody radios me one, I have not tried to type a waypoint in, I always just lock in the point when I am there. It all takes time and practice.

[LuckyDuck1]

When I got my sled the first puchase I made was an Eagle mapping gps. It can be programed for any coast line, body of water or river. It uses a cd rom to program it on my computer. It has great map detail and shows all topographic locations. I would not even think of venturing out on the ocean without it in perfect working order. Fog and low visibility situation can come up almost instantly and the Mapping feature lets you know exactly where you are withing 15-50ft. I couldn't imagine the old times of not having this tool. My 2 cents Luckyduck1

[corrirod]

Hey BOE,

Can you give me those same GPS waypoint numbers so I can practice entering them on my GPS? :tongue:

[CATCH AND EAT]

Good stuff here. Looks like ALL of us could use the practice for either TUNA or SALMON. I sure realize that I do. Will spend a lot of time this fall practicing entering way points and such.

I did have to come in on a compass last year in the fog due to chart failure. That problem has been resolved. Now the chart is working but the radar is not. Not getting a signal. Now I have to track that down. Problems, problems, problems. That is a minor one right now.

[swampy]

I've got the simple hand-held Garmin... great peace of mind ...Use it all the time ...NEEDED it twice. In the fog off T-bay and once to find the entrance to Depoe Bay when I could hardly see past the bow of the boat ...get one , learn to use it , use it . Thx Pilar , swampy.

[Pilar]

TTT

From a year ago, hope it helps you. You need to be able to find your way home and share your spots with other dogs. There is much, much more but here are the basics. The compass is the second most important piece of gear in the boat short of the pilots brain. You should learn about compass navigation and practice it regularly while you drive the boat.

GPS is cool but you cannot be totally dependant on it.

Lesson One
http://www.ifish.net/ubb/ultimatebb....=000019#000000

Lesson Two
http://www.ifish.net/ubb/ultimatebb....=000020#000000

Lesson Three
http://www.ifish.net/ubb/ultimatebb....=000031#000000

[ 07-10-2003, 12:24 PM: Message edited by: Pilar ]

[Tacklebuster]

I have a Magellan Map 330M that I can't bare to be a few feet away from. It has all the buoys programmed in and is made for marine applications. It really saved us on Tuesday when we were about 7 miles offshore and visability was probably only 1/2 a mile or so. The nice thing about it is you can run a course on it and mark your destination before actually moving and you can "go to" anything that is already programmed in without ever marking it first.

It has the moon phases and sunrise and sunsets. The back track feature really helps as well. I really like the digital compass and use that probably the most when I want to troll a certain direction. It is amazing how easy it is to get turned around out there, it's almost scary. I am still a pup in training and my know how is pretty thin but I do know a GPS is essential in spending any amount of time in the salt.

Chris

[skein]

We go to the north end of Vancouver Island to fish and explore almost every year, and when we got our GPS we spent a couple of the first days just traveling and marking waypoints and routes. We covered a lot of water in those two days, but it gave us a chance to SEE any changes (bouys, obstructions) and REVIEW the channels and points of land, and practice moving through the area using just our Garmin while we set the routes.

Then when we were out and the fog started threatening, we didn't have to run for harbor like before. We even tried some dead-reckoning using just the compass and speed to see if we knew where we were, and when we got off-course, the GPS showed us which direction to go, making it a perfect tool for checking ourselves while practicing alternative methods of navigation.

We now have two - same basic model so we only have one set of commands / menus to learn.

Don't leave home without it.

Skein

[blubeast]

Another feature I'd suggest you check out is the 'factory reset' capability for your GPS.

Last Halibut Season, while working a rough drift at the Chicken Ranch I pushed some buttons that I should not have. :blush: Froze the unit... became non-functional... Not able to get it to turn on correctly. Not Good. :whazzup:

I calmly reviewed the manual again... and remembered I'd had to do a Factory Reset shortly after getting the box... re-read the directions for a reset... very happy to sacrifice the stored waypoint settings IF it's get the unit working again...After performing the reset IT DID WORK! :smile:

Granted it should not have froze... even if I pushed the wrong buttons... but it did, and I was able to get it working again...good thing to check out.

[CATCH AND EAT]

John, do you have a simular lesson for the compass? Not everyone here is a boyscout.