Does anyone know the GPS coordinates of Camp Gecko?
Google Earth
bajaguy - 5-20-2009 at 12:01 PM
Hey, Geo......go to google earth, put the cursor on Camp Gecko, look at the lower left of the screen....GPS coordinates should be thereBwana_John - 5-20-2009 at 12:02 PM
A. In what form do you want them? (DD.MM.SS, DD.MM.MM, DD.DDDD, UTM...)
B. Using what Datum? (NAD 27, NAD 83, MEX...)GeoRock - 5-20-2009 at 12:10 PM
I have no idea what form! Someone asked me, and I'm just trying to collect the info so I can pass it along. thanksDavid K - 5-20-2009 at 04:05 PM
Suzanne... You know I have all the GPS waypoints on my web pages... (you should know)
GPS recievers are becoming more and more popular and even standard equipment in some vehicles. The GPS receiver uses satellites to tell you exactly
where you are and how to get to a published location. They can be used with or without topographic maps.
Maps are drawn to different specifications or 'datums'. Mexican topo maps are drawn to map datum 'NAD27 Mexico'.
A new GPS receiver comes set to map datum 'WGS84' . The datum can easily be changed by going to 'setup', then 'units', then 'map datum' on your GPS
receiver. You must change the datum before entering any waypoints from this list.
The following GPS waypoints (longitude and latitude coordinates) are for map datum 'NAD 27 Mexico'. All latitude figures are 'north' and all longitude
figures are 'west'.
Under this heading:
L.A. Bay South to Hwy. 1
Here it is: Camp Gecko: 28°54.04'/ 113°31.69'
[Edited on 5-20-2009 by David K]marv sherrill - 5-20-2009 at 04:30 PM
Go to Bay of LA and turn right...mtgoat666 - 5-20-2009 at 04:38 PM
[Edited on 5-20-2009 by mtgoat666]Bwana_John - 5-20-2009 at 04:44 PM
Quote:
The following GPS waypoints (longitude and latitude coordinates) are for map datum 'NAD 27 Mexico'. All latitude figures are 'north' and all longitude
figures are 'west'
As a cartographer and geographer of no small ability, I would have thought David would have prefered to use UTMs.
They are soooo much easier.David K - 5-20-2009 at 04:51 PM
UTM may be easier for the intellectuals of map making to understand, but the rest of the GPS world posts waypoints in degrees/ minutes, etc.
It really doesn't matter what format it is set to, after you have entered the waypoint, if all you want to do is 'go to' a point. Just make sure the
datum setting on your GPS is the SAME as the waypoint you are entering.
[Edited on 5-20-2009 by David K]bajalou - 5-20-2009 at 05:43 PM
Google earth uses WGS 84 - Most gps receivers are set for WGS84. The only time the datum comes into play is if you are using a paper map with
different datum (NAD29 etc) and want to locate a point on the map OR someone gave you a waypoint taken with NAD27. When using Google Earth (or Google
Maps) the GPS should be set at WGS84.Bwana_John - 5-20-2009 at 06:40 PM
Quote:
UTM may be easier for the intellectuals of map making to understand, but the rest of the GPS world posts waypoints in degrees/ minutes, etc.
I find it takes much less intellect to think in base 10 and meters, as opposed
to base 60 and arc measurments that change lenght with latitude.David K - 5-20-2009 at 10:01 PM
I live at 33º14' above the equator, San Felipe is at 31º, the border between the two Baja states is the 28º latitude line above the equator, the
equator is 0º and the North Pole is 90º... all that without looking it up. UTM is 2 sets of 7 numbers that have no special meaning or relevance to me.
Maybe because I have looked at maps all my life, I am more comfortable with degrees... like an old sailor, it may be too hard to change my ways!
John,
You are very passionate on using UTM... Maybe if I posted UTMs for as many Baja sites as I have with degrees and minutes, it would mean more to me.
Perhaps you could produce a Baja GPS list like mine, but using UTM?
Happy Trails!GeoRock - 5-21-2009 at 07:21 AM
Thank you all for the info!Bwana_John - 5-21-2009 at 08:11 AM
Quote:
I live at 33º14' above the equator, San Felipe is at 31º, the border between the two Baja states is the 28º latitude line above the equator, the
equator is 0º and the North Pole is 90º... all that without looking it up
Ah so. But, off the top of you head what is the lenght of one degree(or minute, or second) of longitude at those given latitudes? (90 is easy) At any
latitude a meter is still a meter.
Quote:
Maybe because I have looked at maps all my life, I am more comfortable with degrees... like an old sailor, it may be too hard to change my ways!
I believe we are the same age and of similar intrests and I also used to be more comfortable using lat/long, until I was enlightened to UTMs. The big
problem for me still in UTMs is changing zones. Lat/long is easier for me to reconise globally, but locally (i.e. all of Baja) UTMs are just so much
easier to work with. It does require beginning geometry/algebra skills (but Lat/Long requires geometry, algebra, AND trigometric skills)
Quote:
Perhaps you could produce a Baja GPS list like mine, but using UTM?
That is what tha "convert" button is for! (besides the fact that my typing and transcribing skills are so poor my list would have BOLA someplace in
Outer Slobovia).
BUT... If I get just one person to look up what "UTM" even means my work is fruitful here.
Happy No-Trails!bajalou - 5-21-2009 at 08:49 AM
When using paper maps, I found out long ago that UTM was MUCH easier to use than lat/long. Using things like Google Earth or Ozi, doesn't seem to
make make as much difference. There was a reason UTM was developed - to make a better flat picture of a sphere. Most GPSrs built for more than just
highway navigating have UTM as a option to lat/long. I'm 20 yrs plus older than David but it didn't take me long to understand and begin to use it.
, as opposed
to base 60 and arc measurments that change lenght with latitude.
