| One of the many
navigational technique associated and used in conjunction with a GPS
receiver is the Go-TO function If you add a position (waypoint) into a GPS you can then ask the unit to "GO-TO" that position. your unit will give you |
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GPS
Go-To?
| One of the many
navigational technique associated and used in conjunction with a GPS
receiver is the Go-TO function If you add a position (waypoint) into a GPS you can then ask the unit to "GO-TO" that position. your unit will give you |
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Warning Use EXTREME CAUTION ABOUT USING THE GO-TO feature of a GPS. If used indiscriminately it could put you in serious trouble OR WORSE. When using the Goto feature, the GPS will assume you want to travel in the shortest possible distance and time towards your way point. It will not take into account anything that is between your current position and the destination waypoint. IF THERE ARE CLIFFS, CRAGS, OR ANY OTHER HAZARDS BETWEEN YOU AND THE WAYPOINT THE GPS UNIT WILL JUST DIRECT YOU STRAIGHT OVER THEM Therefore ONLY use the goto feature of your GPS in good weather or when you are certain there is no hazards between you and your destination.
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| An example of
the goto function Recently (March 2002) I was working with a group teaching navigation in the Long Myndd area of Shropshire. I placed a orienteering marker at a predetermined spot height for the groups to navigate to. When I placed the marker I added the position I left the marker into the memory of the GPS using the add a waypoint feature. I used the Letters LM+ as as waypoint and at then returned to the minibus which was 1.6 KM. away from the new waypoint. The next morning as a test of the
GPS, I programmed goto
waypoint LM+ As I walked towards the spot height the display counted down the distance and the time to go. When I arrived at the orienteering marker, I placed the GPS over it and waited a few seconds for the GPS to recaculate the information and settle down. I looked at the display and it indicated I was 2.34 meters away from LM+. This gave an accuracy of under ten feet. |
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| Also the same weekend I walked to a manned checkpoint that I was to use after programming the map data into the unit and adding it as a waypoint. It was a series of small pools and I named it LM-POOL. When entering this data I had a six
figure grid reference (accurate to 100 square meters) When I reached the pools I was around 30 to 35 meters from the nearest pool. Not bad - considering the fact that I only had a grid reference that was accurate to 100 square meters to start with. |
| Pictured right is an
example of a goto screen from a GPS It shows you have programmed to go to a pre-determined waypoint named "DOCK" You are 18.3 miles to go The Dock is indicated by a flag and the arrow points towards the direction of travel |
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