Recently bought a new GPS?

New GPS Devices are available from around £70 right up to £600, having either a simple monochrome display at the low price end, up to full colour topographic map displays at the higher price end.

The accuracy of the devices is also variable across the price range.  There are currently 31 ‘active’ satellites encircling the globe, but for most latitudes a maximum of 12 satellites are ‘in-view’ at any one time.   Many of the older GPS Devices are capable of only receiving 5-7 satellites, which greatly restricts their accuracy - perhaps to within 30m or so.  Within the next 2 years the number of GPS satellites should increase to 51, giving around 18 satellites being in-view at any one moment.  Only the latest GPS Devices are capable of receiving this number of satellites, but the accuracy should increase from around 7m (at present) to around 2 - 3m in 2012.  (Click here to read more about GPS and device types)

With the huge range of differing GPS Devices available, and the diversity of their functions, many people find they are not getting the most from their GPS unit, or have difficulty in understanding the functions, or just find that they don’t do what they expect them to do.

If you have purchased a Handheld GPS and are baffled about using it ‘in-the-field’, coupling it to a computer, downloading data from the Internet, or uploaded data to the GPS, then why not come along on one of our Courses, shown below?

Courses

All are Courses are informal and practically-based, and especially so our GPS and Geocache Courses.  Numbers are kept low, as it is expected that each course member will require individual tutorial on their given GPS type.  Courses are held in a domestic location, with free parking and refreshments, and just a stone’s-throw from Savernake Forest, the River Kennet and a multitude of excellent and varied Geocaches.  An ideal environment for both learning the ropes, as well as having quick access for the ‘practicalities’.

Computers and Laptops are available to try-out your software and hardware, and see demonstrations of modern mapping software in operation with GPS equipment, before trying it all out for real!

 

Course CG1   Course members are invited to bring along their own GPS devices, laptops, netbooks, PDA’s and software (including Drivers) and we will endeavour to do our best to get your equipment up-and-running! Otherwise learn about Waypoints, Tracks, Routes, Areas, Co-ordinates, Uploading, Downloading, COM Ports, Bluetooth and Wireless, and how to make your equipment work in the way that you want, rather than the other way around!  The Course lasts around 3 hours, followed by 1 - 2 hours of basic practical work along the Kennet or within Savernake Forest.

Some knowledge of OS Map Reading and basic Compass Work is assumed - if you are unsure of your Map Reading and Compass Skills, then why not come on one of our Map Reading Courses a few days or so before your GPS Course?  Click here for more details.

Course CG2   This Course is as per Course CG1 above, but more time is taken explicitly on the use of GPS Units with Geocaching.  Some time will also be taken to demonstrate how basic Geocaching may be undertaken without the use of a GPS unit!

The Course lasts around 3 hours, followed by 2 hours of basic practical work along the the Geocaches on the River Kennet.

Some knowledge of OS Map Reading and basic Compass Work is most definitely required  - if you are unsure of your Map Reading and Compass Skills, then why not come on one of our Map Reading Courses a few days or so before your GPS Course?  Click here for more details.