GPS Devices GPS Devices and Geocachingand Geocaching

Physical Geography 10Physical Geography 10

Ms BainbridgeMs Bainbridge

Sir John A Macdonald High Sir John A Macdonald High SchoolSchool

Global Positioning SystemsGlobal Positioning Systems (GPS)(GPS)

►GPS is a revolutionary navigation GPS is a revolutionary navigation systemsystem 24 satellites orbiting the earth24 satellites orbiting the earth Provide location within metres anywhere Provide location within metres anywhere

on the globe.on the globe. Now available in many cars as an optionNow available in many cars as an option

PartsParts

Zoom In/Out Buttons

Find Button

Page Button

On/Off Button

Pointer/Cursor Control

Start UpStart Up

Satellite Page Map Page Navigation PageTrip Computer Main Menu

TaskTask #1: Understanding the Satellite #1: Understanding the Satellite PagePage

►Use your GPS to determine the Use your GPS to determine the following:following:

How many satellites are being used?______How many satellites are being used?______

How many bars of signal strength do you have?____How many bars of signal strength do you have?____

What is the GPS location of the hinge side of swinging What is the GPS location of the hinge side of swinging gate? gate?

______________________________ _______________ _______________

What is the elevation?_______________What is the elevation?_______________What is your accuracy? _______________ mWhat is your accuracy? _______________ m

Task #2: Understanding the Map PageTask #2: Understanding the Map Page

►Zoom in until you are at 8 kms.Zoom in until you are at 8 kms.►What locations are visible? _____________What locations are visible? _____________

____________________________________________________________________►Zoom in until you are at 200 m. Zoom in until you are at 200 m. ►What locations are visible? _____________What locations are visible? _____________

__________________________________ __________________________________ ►Describe the difference in your findings.Describe the difference in your findings.

Task #3: Understanding the Navigation Task #3: Understanding the Navigation PagePage

• Walk from the hinge side of swinging hinge side of swinging gategate to the flag pole.

►How fast were you walking?_______________

►What direction were you walking?___________

Task #4: Understanding the Trip Task #4: Understanding the Trip Computer PageComputer Page

► Reset your trip computer.Reset your trip computer.

►Walk around the front of the school Walk around the front of the school until the Moving Time reads 2 minutes.until the Moving Time reads 2 minutes.

Record the Trip Odometer value?______Record the Trip Odometer value?______

Record the Max Speed value?_________Record the Max Speed value?_________

Task #5: Marking a Task #5: Marking a WaypointWaypoint

A Waypoint is a stored location in your GPS unitA: Mark a location B: Enter manually

Choose 3 other waypoints in front of the school you would like to mark.Mark and name them.

Check

A: Mark Your Location as a A: Mark Your Location as a WaypointWaypoint

► Select a locationSelect a location►Main Menu – select “mark” iconMain Menu – select “mark” icon►Highlight the number in the flag Highlight the number in the flag ► Press click stick – alphanumeric keypad Press click stick – alphanumeric keypad

displayeddisplayed►Name waypoint – highlight each letter and Name waypoint – highlight each letter and

press click stick to selectpress click stick to select► Select “ok” when done.Select “ok” when done.►GO DO IT!GO DO IT!

B: Mark Waypoint Using B: Mark Waypoint Using CoordinatesCoordinates

► Location you want to findLocation you want to find►Main Menu pageMain Menu page► Select MarkSelect Mark► Use the Click Stick to highlight the Location Use the Click Stick to highlight the Location

box at the bottom and press the Click Stick box at the bottom and press the Click Stick straight instraight in

► Use the Alphanumeric screen to type in Use the Alphanumeric screen to type in

N 44N 44ºº 41.914’ 41.914’ W 063 51.882’ W 063 51.882’

Select OK. Select OK.

Finding a WaypointFinding a Waypoint

1.1. Main MenuMain Menu2.2. FindFind3.3. WaypointsWaypoints4.4. By name/number orBy name/number or locationlocation

OROR

1.1. Find ButtonFind Button2.2. WaypointsWaypoints

FIND cont.FIND cont.

What waypoints did you list in your GPS?What waypoints did you list in your GPS?

__________________________________________________________________________

►Head outside to find the coordinates given Head outside to find the coordinates given to you.to you.

► Follow your compassFollow your compass►Which location did those coordinates take Which location did those coordinates take

you to? you to?

____________________________________________________

Tips to rememberTips to remember

► Highlighting the icon of several sheets in the Highlighting the icon of several sheets in the top right hand corner of the screen allows you top right hand corner of the screen allows you to go directly to a specific page. to go directly to a specific page.

► A battery saver mode can be enabled by A battery saver mode can be enabled by highlighting the single page icon at the top highlighting the single page icon at the top right of the satellite page. Choose option “use right of the satellite page. Choose option “use with GPS off” if practicing without needing a with GPS off” if practicing without needing a signal to get actual locations. On the main signal to get actual locations. On the main menu page under set-up there is another menu page under set-up there is another battery saver mode for when you do require battery saver mode for when you do require satellite reception.satellite reception.

► Always travel with back-up batteries!Always travel with back-up batteries!

What is Geocaching?What is Geocaching?

►One of the fastest growing One of the fastest growing “new” sports.“new” sports.

►Has participants in many Has participants in many countries outside of the US countries outside of the US and Canada.and Canada.

►Is a modern day treasure Is a modern day treasure hunting activity that allows hunting activity that allows you to use GPS to locate a you to use GPS to locate a cache.cache.

Travel BugTravel Bug

Rules for GeocachingRules for Geocaching

1. Take something from the cache 1. Take something from the cache 2. Leave something in the cache 2. Leave something in the cache 3. Write about it in the logbook3. Write about it in the logbook 4. Do not move the cache4. Do not move the cache

How to find a geocacheHow to find a geocache

►Geocaching is a fun way to practice using your Geocaching is a fun way to practice using your GPS unit.GPS unit.

► People all over the world have left GPS People all over the world have left GPS locations for their cache in hopes of you finding locations for their cache in hopes of you finding them!!!them!!!

► Check out www.geocaching.com. Type in your Check out www.geocaching.com. Type in your postal code to find a cache that already exists postal code to find a cache that already exists or you can create your own for others to find!!!or you can create your own for others to find!!!

► Caches locations are on Google Earth – need Caches locations are on Google Earth – need klm file.klm file.