Can a garmin GPS give you a grid reference?

Alex_Gill
Alex_Gill Posts: 38
edited December 2010 in Road buying advice
i'm looking for a new cycling computer and like the idea of having a cycling gps, i can't really warrant paying that much for just a cycling computer though.
i'm also in need of a GPS as a geology undergrad for fieldwork and wanted to see if i could kill 2 birds with 1 stone (purchase)

can a Garmin GPS give a grid reference so it could be used for both tasks, and therefore warranting me paying the extra to buy one?

Cheers
Alex
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Comments

  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    Gives you a location (Long/Lat) but don't know how that relates to a map ref.

    The Forerunner 305 is just over 100 quid, has HRM and can be linked to a cadence meter.
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • pshore
    pshore Posts: 61
    Yes. Certainly the recreational ones, eg I currently have the Dakota. The default is WGS84 but you can switch it to show 10 figure Ordnance Survey refs. Eg: TL 12345 67890

    I am not a geographer, but would you not need something highly accurate for field Surveys? The recreational GPS's will only get you to about 5m accuracy.
  • FransJacques
    FransJacques Posts: 2,148
    I think you need to have 2 sets of data which can convert one to the other:

    - the lat long is the primary data that drives every thing else, it's the data the receiver gets from the satellites. I.e. it "thinks" in lat long and every GPS has it. In fact, back in the day this is all it gave you and you used to plot it on a map or chart, and bingo, that's where you were.

    - the OS grid would be called "reference data" which needs a key to convert the lat/long to the gird reference. Since this is owned by OS they'd license it and charge a fee to have it on the device. It's their IP.

    So just make sure it's loaded onto the machine or you know how to buy and up load it yourself.
    When a cyclist has a disagreement with a car; it's not who's right, it's who's left.
  • Alex_Gill
    Alex_Gill Posts: 38
    thanks for the responses.
    in terms of accuracy it would need to be + - 5M, most of the mapping i'll do will be at 1:10,000 scale. if there's not one currently available i see a big hole in the market that could be filled.

    i thought the garmin edge 605 looked a likely candidate to be able to do it.
    i think if you have a unit with a GPS capability it should be able to do it, you can download apps for this purpose for the i phone for example.
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