Gps verses Compass

[tinpan]

Hi all, I was wonding if anyone out there still uses a compass and i would like you share thoughts on the old compass and new gps. Sure some use both. please comment.heres my compass

tinpan

[homefires]

I've used a compass a bunch but that sundial thing has me intrigued.

Things keep going the way they are with the Magnetic Inclination moving, you may need to use the N to head south soon! LOL

[Jason in Enid]

Modern GPS blows away a compass and map for speed and accuracy. That is no reason to ignore the compass though. Batteries die, electronics fail, and satellites can be turned off by the government. Having the backups is a must for anyone who travels off the paved road, and even a few paved ones.

[mrs.oroblanco]

We always have a compass (usually 2) with us, as well as a GPS. (along with the maps that correspond to where we are going), and we check with both compass and GPS our travels.

Anything electronic can meet its "end" at any time - especially in bad terrain. It doesn't hurt - in fact, it is a plus, to know how to read a compass, and to know the delineation off-north you are, at all times.

For the GPS - obviously, a compass cannot mark waypoints by itself (you have to do it manually on a map), and a GPS can tell you where to make turns, etc.

Of course, neither one can tell you if the trail you are hiking into has a rattlesnake den in the middle, or a rock that takes a climbing ladder to get across.
For that - you always need your maps.


Beth

[Lakemonster]

I use a GPS to find my way in.

I take a compass if I need to find my way out.

I use my cell when I can for GPS... otherwise I use a Garmin.

My compasses I chose depend on the job. If I am mostly on dry land I use a German Prismatic. If I am kayaking I use a Brunton Eclipse.

If you invest in a good compass... and read Map Reading and Land Navigation by the US military.... and lay hands on some topo maps of your area ( can be found free online) you can easily get yourself out.

[Frankn]

The GPS can tell you exactly where you are, but there exceptions like heavy overhead foilage or deep canyous. I always use the GPS where I can, but I always carry two compasses, a good one and one of those cheap ones you hang on your jacket zipper tab. Frank

[Mzjavert]

GPS won't help you when the streets are shut-down for two weeks due to the Superbowl. Gotta have a map and the compas would be nice. (Unless you know the area )

Compass and a sundial...I'm in love.

[Twisted One]

Any of you with smart phones checked out the app called Back country? There is a demo that is free, the full version is like $10. I'm still trying to figure it out, I would love to find out if I locate BLM land with it. I have a local BLM map, but would love if my phone would do it too so I can still see if I am in the BLM area or not.

[luvsdux]

GPS technology is great, but as most have mentioned batteries and electronics can fail. Did hear one time of a compass that failed due to the needle pivot locking up and always pointing in one direction, but that's exceedingly rare, I'd think.
luvsdux

[TerryC]

The GPS can tell you exactly where you are, but there exceptions like heavy overhead foilage or deep canyous. I always use the GPS where I can, but I always carry two compasses, a good one and one of those cheap ones you hang on your jacket zipper tab. Frank

Frankn.... and others. It behooves you, me, and everyone else to know EXACTLY where we are before we step "off the road". A GPS is great. Great technology. I own 3. But it does NOT replace the compass and map. A GPS tells you where you are but if you don't already know... you are in trouble if the GPS fails. I fear the GPS will replace the map and compass for many people and that will be their doom. Learn the GPS but never loose the ability to use a map and compass.... my thoughts, that's all. Nice compass up there... I own MANY.... including my BABY at $900.00! TTC

[idigdirt]

Used to hunt in big forested areas (hundreds of thousands of acres) with just a compass and a map (many times with just a compass). That was back in the day! Along comes gps's and i got a Brunton Navigator gps. Man that was a lot of fun. Took a lot of pressure off me. I'm old school though and like my compasses. Ones for directions and ones for metal detecting! A compass gets me there and a compass finds me stuff....

[TerryC]

Used to hunt in big forested areas (hundreds of thousands of acres) with just a compass and a map (many times with just a compass). That was back in the day! Along comes gps's and i got a Brunton Navigator gps. Man that was a lot of fun. Took a lot of pressure off me. I'm old school though and like my compasses. Ones for directions and ones for metal detecting! A compass gets me there and a compass finds me stuff....

I agree, Idigdirt. Old school, new school, ANY school, the name of the game is "staying found"! Use all the tools available, and any tricks, but staying found is staying safe. TTC

[Frankn]

There is another device that also fits in here. It is a kind of basic gps.It is a small, about the size of a silver dollar. You mark the start position and then just take off. When you want to return, just look at it and the arrow points to your start location. Simple, but it will get you back to the start position. Frank

[smcdmc]

Ideally I would have both and refer to each as I go. It has already been pointed out that electronics and batteries can fail as well as poor satellite reception in heavy cover. But compasses aren't always perfect either. A long time ago while coon hunting with my father we were a couple of miles in at night and took a compass reading when it was time to head out. We periodically checked the compass and after a couple of hours were beginning to think that something was wrong. Sure enough we dug out another compass to check and the two did not match up. The first compass had been taking us the wrong direction the whole time. Nothing like being lost in 7' corn at night trying to lead 3 coon dogs pulling on their leash.

[Frankn]

Walkers, redbone or blue tick ? I use to run walkers Frank

[smcdmc]

Walkers, redbone or blue tick ? I use to run walkers Frank

We raised redticks but ran the occasional blue as well. Dad won several competition hunts with a couple of those redticks including the Illinois state championship back in the '80s.

[Frankn]

I have never seen a redtick, is it a cross? I started with black and tans, but they were to oily. When you pet them your hand was covered with oil. They were just about waterproof. We then ran walkers. The friendlyest "to humans" I have ever seen. The last dog I had was Gracie, an English bulldog. She was extremely friendly, unless you got to close to me. Frank