compass use

[26Reload]

Haven't you all heard....there are mini polarized places popping up and true north an south have changed positions...not entirely....but soon....
Was at Mt Hood hunting....walked less than .25 from truck....pushed button to reverse course...gps said go this way.....exactly....the wrong way.....would have been a hell of a hike going that way in the dark.......

 

[yobuck]

Just curious why you would like that on a map? You have two azimuths covered with true north lines (360 and 180). UTM northing lines aren't true but close to 90/270 (if your map has them; many older USGS quads don't).

A compass rose on a nautical chart or plotting sheet is to, for example, derive a course's bearing with the use of parallel rulers. Or to plot celestial navigation dead reckoning and fixes.

Well what would be the objection for being able to do that?
One could just scribe a line on the map from point A to point B then transfer the line to the compass rose and BINGO we have our coarse.
AND by adding 180 deg, we also have our coarse back to the truck.
AND we dont have to allow for the wind and current to take us off coarse like mariners do.
AND i guess thats why i think it would be a good idea. lol

 

[7magcreedmoor]

Well what would be the objection for being able to do that?
One could just scribe a line on the map from point A to point B then transfer the line to the compass rose and BINGO we have our coarse.
AND by adding 180 deg, we also have our coarse back to the truck.
AND we dont have to allow for the wind and current to take us off coarse like mariners do.
AND i guess thats why i think it would be a good idea. lol

That's what the rotating baseplate is for on a ranger style compass.

 

[dfanonymous]

The ranger style compass is just a cammenga compass. Everyone in any branch you needs to do landnav uses this compass. This compass is used for specifically with the map ratios that work with the GRGS maps that are issued. It's similar to USGS but not quite. We use grid north and convert to magnetic north and plot points with a particular protractor if the points are issued for training or if using a GPS, I usually had the points backed up on paper if it was important. Any good compass you should be able to set a reverse azimuth.

I really think it depends if people think a compass is important, 9/10 times I can get buy just using 2 and 3 point resection with terrain association. However, I agree that terrain is different per location and places such as Colorado always has the potential to be gnarly. I've gotten of the beaten path quite away and had to follow a water creek path down hill to get to familiar area to nav back to the truck in the Rockies.

 

[mod 700]

Like a lot of you, I always got a compass, or 2, some years back, had a bad read on my GPS almost got me mauled. I was in a new area, with tall timber, no visible land marks, marked the truck with the GPS, and off I go bow hunting. Made a big loop, taking a look at my compass as I went, keeping a idea of where the truck was. I came up on a old 2 track on the way back, my gut said truck was to the south, GPS said north, so I go north. As I slipped along the road, I kicked up 2 cubs off to my left, I start backing out, and here comes the sow from upwind, full charge, she turned at about 12-15 feet, to this day the most adrenaline charged moment of my life. The truck was to the south.
Mike

 

[Huckleberry75]

For as light and compact as they are, a person would be remiss to not have one with them when out in the sticks. Batteries die and signal isnt everywhere.

 

[Carsyn.22]

Compass and topo for me on serious excursions.... don't even own a GPS. Majority of my excursions only involve parking the truck and walking a few miles then reverse direction back to road erring to one side a little so I know which way down the road to find my truck.
I'm also not that old so there's at least some hope for my generation.

 

[Montana'eer]

I use them with topo's. I'm pretty handy with land nav. I've been involved in Scouting for over 45 years, an Eagle- so it's still part of our training. Also in the Army as well.

I still like looking at that topo to identify land features and reference points. It just makes me feel much more comfortable to know it won't run out of battery juice!

 

[StanleyActual]

Map and a compass is still my preferred method for land nav.

 

[dfanonymous]

I just don't understand how people find JUST a map and compass useful. Unless you aren't going very far to begin with. In which case, terrain association. Turn 180 degrees and there's the truck.

If you're not going far there's no need to do resection. If you're by yourself, there's no way to do intersection really in practice.

If you are going far, and you have a destination in mind then you essentially have a plotted point. In which case you probably want a protractor with the appropriate ratio to go with your compass….and then plan your route smartly…
You'll probably want to know how to convert your different norths too. 95% of landnav success is proper route planning. You won't believe how many people die out west every year because they get cliffed out. If you're not a actual backpacker or professionally do mountaineering, or randomly aware of it… google it.

In the new generations defense, a map is still useful with a gps. You can use your protractor to get a 8 digit grid and put it in your gps to get a way point. To can plan your route that way on the fly as well.

 

[StanleyActual]

I just don't understand how people find JUST a map and compass useful. Unless you aren't going very far to begin with. In which case, terrain association. Turn 180 degrees and there's the truck.

If you're not going far there's no need to do resection. If you're by yourself, there's no way to do intersection really in practice.

If you are going far, and you have a destination in mind then you essentially have a plotted point. In which case you probably want a protractor with the appropriate ratio to go with your compass….and then plan your route smartly…
You'll probably want to know how to convert your different norths too. 95% of landnav success is proper route planning. You won't believe how many people die out west every year because they get cliffed out. If you're not a actual backpacker or professionally do mountaineering, or randomly aware of it… google it.

In the new generations defense, a map is still useful with a gps. You can use your protractor to get a 8 digit grid and put it in your gps to get a way point. To can plan your route that way on the fly as well.

I still use a GPS for getting a grid on my position. Map and compass the rest of the way. Resections are great to know how to do, and you need to know how to do them, but as a primary method? Nah, that's like milling a target as your primary method for ranging a target. Nope. RF for range and GPS for getting your Position. When the electronics fail, at least you know the basics to get yourself out of a bind.

 

[Recon$$]

Use both. Rely on the GPS 99 percent of the time. However terrain association and knowing your directions will save you should you need it. I have trail blazed and gotten completely lost with no GPS and relied on north and a stream to get out of a sticky situation. I also did a haho where my GPS tried to send my team and I into the ocean and I bet on the compass and hit land. Not a bad backup tool...

 

[dfanonymous]

I still use a GPS for getting a grid on my position. Map and compass the rest of the way. Resections are great to know how to do, and you need to know how to do them, but as a primary method? Nah, that's like milling a target as your primary method for ranging a target. Nope. RF for range and GPS for getting your Position. When the electronics fail, at least you know the basics to get yourself out of a bind.

It's beside the point. The point is, there's a thread talking about a map and compass…im curious what they are doing with the compass without the protractor. Besides orienting the map.

Lol Resection isn't a primary method for anything…you have no idea where you are if you are using a 2 or 3 point resection….or you're in a fire tower or coordinating an assault with another team if you're using intersection, usually under thick canopy.

Most of the civilian population here isn't messing with a GRG either. The ratios and datums are going to be different. You still need to know how to put that in your gps. Civilian maps won't always be in mgrs. You'll need the appropriate protractor lol.

I'm just criticizing the thread as a whole.

 

[dfanonymous]

Use both. Rely on the GPS 99 percent of the time. However terrain association and knowing your directions will save you should you need it. I have trail blazed and gotten completely lost with no GPS and relied on north and a stream to get out of a sticky situation. I also did a haho where my GPS tried to send my team and I into the ocean and I bet on the compass and hit land. Not a bad backup tool...

Electromagnetic interference from the plane I bet…