GPS Talk (Relocated from another thread)

[K8MHZ]

I have used GPS for years.

I have a laptop with a 15" screen in my van connected to my Magellan GPS unit. It's great. Using a program called USA Photo Maps I can see where I am on both satellite pics and government tropo maps.

GPS was essential when we were working for Verizon. Some of their sites use GPS coordinates only for location. Very handy unless the engineer screwed up the coordinates.

There are several sites that will give you GPS coordinates by entering an address. That is a great resource.

How many of you have experienced short battery life in hand held GPS units? Mine would burn up a set of alkalines in just a few hours. Lithium batteries just last and last. Well worth the extra money.

 

[ptonsparky]

Copper tops were my choice for handhelds. Never did advance to the lithiums. 4-5 hours generally unless I remembered to turn off the radio features, then longer.

 

[iaov]

I've done a lot of work around Milwaukee this summer and the GPS has taken all the stress out of navigating. I love it.

 

[ohm]

I've even drove pastureland leaving a trail to get distances, then draw up a powerline for the POCO poles & underground. If I was waiting for them I would still be waiting.

 

[K8MHZ]

Understand entirely, I have a lot of well meaning tool gifts from my wife.

Here is one

Battery Powered Tape Measure

She meant well

The one in the picture looks like it is calibrated in centimeters.

 

[LarryFine]

The one in the picture looks like it is calibrated in centimeters.

That's the lower scale; the upper is barely visible. If you look closely, you can see the 1 and the 2.

 

[mivey]

That's the lower scale; the upper is barely visible. If you look closely, you can see the 1 and the 2.

I zoomed in as close as I could, and used the reverse-distortion plus enhancment & scaling tool in Photoshop, and it looks like the line next to the "1" is approximately over the point that would be 2.54 cm. I may be a little off, but that was as close as I could get with the grainy original.