Grid reff

[TranceraUK]

IM the proud owner of a Garmin vista cx but one thing ive noticed is that im having probs getting a grid reference.

Some of my mates have the cheaper units and they have a screen that displays the grid ref.

On my Vista CX all i can find is the lat and long. I know there must be a way of using this if so could someone plz explain how. Also is there an option on the unit to change from lat long to grid ref I cant find one.

I know these may seem silly questions but im a bit of a novice when it comes to the whole navigating scene thats why i bought a gps .

Regards

[philpugh]

Page 73 of the user manual?

Now I am assuming you mean OSGB as what you are seeing (Lat/Long) is a perfectly sensible grid reference (works all over the world)

SETUP | UNITS ...

Select Position format BNG (British National Grid - it could be OSGB - but it's usually BNG).

This should automatically set Map Datum to the correct one (OS 1936 - or words to the same effect)

Now you are ready to go with good old OSGB maps. Just remember that tracks / waypoints are transferred using WGS84 datum irrespective of these settings - the unit does the necessary transformation for you.
_________________
Phil

[TranceraUK]

Hi Phil,

Thanks for all the above help i have setup the unit like you explain and all is well but im still a bit confused, I know a grid ref should be 6 numbers but on my gps screen i have 2 sets of 5

example:

SJ 39990
BNG 98389

i find that if i use the first 3 from the top ie 399 and 983 from the bottom i get pretty close to where i should be. Am i doing this wrong "any help" plz aslo what are the last 2 numbers used for 90 and 89.

cheers.

[philpugh]

Hi,

Full OSGB ref are 10 characters in the format GGeeeeennnnn.

Where:

GG = grid letters (e.g. SJ) - 100Km squares
eeeee = eastings (e.g. 62381)- down to 1 metre
nnnnn = northings (e.g. 84367)

If you are estimating from actual maps then fill out to five numbers using 0s - it will be close enough.
_________________
Phil

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