I don't ever do this and was going off memory of what I had read and I did mis quote map tools saying "most" instead of "many" my bad. If that is the worst mistake I ever make, I can live with it. I spent my time to try and give these guys an idea of what it is they are looking at and how it works, their gps that is, trying to make a simple explanation they will understand and not so technical they can't follow it or feel like it is to complicated and they end up not getting anything from it. Typically you will never get a thank you for making the effort and spending your time, and you can count on a response from some asshole trying to prove you wrong and make you look bad. Of course you want to defend yourself and get into a pissing contest to show you aren't stupid, when the only person who matters already knows. 99 per cent of the time it's from someone who has no clue what they are talking about, The ones smart enough to know are smart enough to understand you are trying to keep it simple and easy to get Then you have that one asshole who looses the point of what it is all about and their ego wants everyone to think they really know their shit but don't want to give their time and effort to help some of these people but are quick to spend that time and effort to nit pic anything you say. I always wonder what the end game is? is it a personal thing, is it an ego thing, are they just an asshole, do they think that there is something positive, that people are learning, or is he adding to their confusion by making it to technical, does he even care as long as he looks good? I don't know, and it doesn't matter because I already knew what he was talking about. This is just an example of what to expect for trying help and why people say fuck it I don't need the bullshit, there is nothing in it for me, and they quit giving those fish reports, or try to help people when they are asking if anyone knows....
There is someone here that seems pretty knowledgeable about the subject, why haven't you stepped some of these guys out on some basics, I am sure you have seen and heard what I have... Okay maybe you haven't because i am used to dealing with Kalifags and the guys up here a little more together, but I am sure there must be a few who don't know no one was born with the knowledge. Any of them unaware there are three different formats and clueless what they mean or can take the gps co-ordinance and put it on a chart. Instead of trying to nit pick my attempt to give them some basic understanding of what the shit is, how lost would they be if I start talking about declination and how important is it to understand what your gps is saying and figuring out where you are at on a chart?
It wasn't about me saying look how much I know I'm so cool, it is about passing on some info so they can understand a tool they use all the time but don't understand all they could... look at the responses, do you think if they would have known the answers they wouldn't have said something? Based on what you said this is something you have done a lot, possibly for a living, l am like the guy who learned it in school but never used it. If we were talking about things involving my profession I could make you look like an idiot, would I? never, that is for people who are insecure or have an ego problem, I am neither. I like to share what I have learned and I like seeing people who will make an effort to learn new things. Do I think I know it all? Certainly not, i wish I did but no one does. Those who think they do, don't, but they know as much as they ever will.
I made a reference to and am aware of the information on maps and charts to do declination but it would be like talking about adding and subtracting and then asking them to figure the hypotenuse of a right triangle, you can do that right? How many guys reading this are saying, what in the fuck is a hypotenuse?
from map tools
Choosing a North Reference, for your Map, your Compass, and your GPS
You may have choices to make between north references on your map and your compass. Your GPS can be set to use any of the three common references. When the north references are different between your map, compass, and GPS,
you will need to do conversions as you move bearings between them.
North Reference on your Map
Grid North
Grid North is easy to use on maps with printed UTM / MGRS / USNG grid lines.
- Lots of north reference lines already printed on the map.
- Likely to be very close to True North.
- When the level of accuracy required is low, Grid North lines are often used as True North lines.
True North
Lines of Longitude are True North lines. Often the two vertical edges of the map are lines of longitude and can be used as True North reference lines. They may be the only two True North lines on you map, unless your map has a lat/lon grid printed on it.
Magnetic North
Many aviation and marine charts have pre-printed Magnetic North lines. Most other maps do not. You can draw parallel lines aligned with Magnetic North onto your map for use as north reference lines.
