1 Global Positioning System Much of this presentation is taken from a geocaching PowerPoint presentation made by the Wisconsin Geocaching Association

2 Global Positioning System  GPS is a system of 27 satellites (24 active, 3 reserve) to calculate a position.  Satellites transmit their current position down to Earth via radio waves.

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4 GPS receiver  Receives signals from GPS satellites.  Determines latitude and longitude of current position longitude of current position on the Earth's surface. on the Earth's surface.

5 Uses for GPS receivers  Hiking and backpacking  Canoeing and marine navigation  Hunting and fishing  Bird watching  Search and rescue  Traveling via car, motorcycle, bicycle Geocaching

6 What is geocaching?  Outdoor adventure game for GPS users. Great for kids.  The basic idea is to set up caches (hidden containers) and share the locations (latitude/longitude) of these caches on the internet.

7 U.S. geocaches

8 Wisconsin geocaches

9 Geocache containers  A weather-resistant container such as Tupperware, Rubbermaid, or surplus ammo box

10 What’s in a cache?

11 Wisconsin Geocaching Association   

12 Hixon Forest Caches

GOTO ON/OFF PAGE MARK ENTER

ON/OFF Push once to turn on, then wait for unit to Find satellites Push and hold for 2 seconds to turn off

MARK MARK is to enter into the unit the latitude and longitude of current position (e.g. to get back home)

PAGE Repeatedly pressing PAGE shows you all The available pages, Including the important “WAYPOINT” and “WAYPOINT LIST,” which will give you latitude and longitude of Waypoint

GOTO ENTER Press GOTO to get list of Waypoints, then press ENTER to go to specific Waypoint

GOTO ENTER Also press ENTER to go From “Highway” to “Compass” format of specific Waypoint

C1 212º.21 BRG DST TRK SPD 210º 2.0 mimi mhmh ETE 06:17 S N W E BRG = Bearing DST = Distance in miles TRK = Track taken SPD = Speed in miles/hour ETE = Estimated Time Enroute Name of Waypoint Compass Format of Waypoint

C1 212º.21 BRG DST TRK SPD 210º 2.0 mimi mhmh ETE 06:17 S N W E In order to get bearing, distance, etc…, you need to start walking in any direction. After about feet, the unit will triangulate your direction of travel with your starting point

C1 212º.21 BRG DST TRK SPD 183º 2.0 mimi mhmh ETE 06:17 If arrow is not pointing straight ahead, veer in the direction that the arrow is pointing. In this example, veer right or toward the southwest S N N W E

C1 212º.21 BRG DST TRK SPD 183º 2.0 mimi mhmh ETE 06:17 Goal is to work the distance to the Waypoint down to.00 miles. Realistically it may get only to.01 miles, maybe even.02 miles S N N W E

23 Let’s go try it!