6 Letter waypoints

[castaway]

Just driven back up from the boat and the question was asked, 'why are all the waypoints on yr GPS a maximum of 6 letters'...?

Good point.. All my waypoints have names like DRTMUF and BEMLEG or TORKEY however Garmin do appear to have supplied space for silly little icons to be added. (little anchor symbols and the like).

Now I really like my Garmin 128, but I'm not given to reading owner manuals, is this 6 character limit somthing that I'm doing wrong? Or is it that the unit is based on aviation technology, and that maybe all aviation waypoints are a maximum of 6 digits?

Thanks Nick

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[tcm]

You aren't doing anything wrongyour garmin has a 6-dig limit, and that's that.

Computerywise, they have to have a fixd limit on the name length, or otherwsie let you use up all the memory with names like BEMBRIDGE LEDGE OUTER MARK NUMBER 2.

You do have options regarding names.

One of them is to do as you have done, and to makem sound like the place. If you do this, it's also quite fun to have a smattering of exotic places for visitors prodding around, so you might stick in STTROP or TAHITI and so on.

More seriously, another idea is to make your waypoints refer back to the source, if possible. So, if you get a waypt from a particular almanac, you could use the first three digits for the general area, and the last for the page number. Or summink like that. So you can nip back and checkem when you really really need to know where the waypoint is, and check that it is correct.

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[steve_cronin]

Nothing wrong with....

"BEMOM2" is there?

I have gotten used to this format and would find putting in waypoints on the go too fiddly if I could be lavish with text.

Mine go something like:-

LEVCAN(S) = Levkas Canal North(South)

VATMEG = VATHI ON MEGANISSI

GAIPAX = Gaios on Paxos

AKMALE = Akra Maleas

STESPE = Stenon Spetsei

etc, etc

Steve Cronin



<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion

 

[castaway]

Ok thanks chaps ... I was looking for reassurance that I wasn't missing somthing obvious.

I do wonder how much more memory say 10 digits would take up?

I actually have a laminated spreadsheet with all the full names and posns in long/lat to use as a decoder so I dont go and mix up something like.. NESHIN and NEHEAD.

Thanks and all best, Nick

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[Wiggo]

He's right y'know. Ours are all WPT001, WPT002 etc, but each has a description field, so when you use them to input a route, it's more intuitive. You don't want 'Bembridge Ledge Outer Marker 2' cluttering up the screen when looking at a chart of Bembridge, now, do you. Obviously, if 'Bembridge Ledge Outer Marker 2' showed up just off St Peter Port, you'd know you'd buggered something up...

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[boatless]

Re: Nothing wrong with....

VATMEG = VATHI ON MEGANISI

Nah, that's LITVAT, as opposed to BIGVAT on Ithaca. You trying to confuse me?

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Just use w/ps with six (or less) letter names like FOLLY, COWES, SCONCE, HURST, HAMBLE, etc.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[LadyInBed]

I went for the WP number approach, which refers to a list, grouped by area. The Magellan also allows for a description field, so my WP list is in the format:
WP014 50 29.89N 02 24.78W W of W Shambles Buoy


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[EdEssery]

As others have said on the Garmin 128, (and many other sets) the name is limited to six characters so you need to come up with your own coding system HOWEVER you can also make use of the 16 character Comment/Description field. This is the field that is automatically filled with the date and time if you enter a waypoint on the set itself. You can edit this field to be any 16 characters, albet somewhat labouriously given the limitations of the Garmin's UI for data input.

I enter all my waypoints onto the computer in a great little utility called <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.gpsu.co.uk> GPSU </A>. This enables me to enter the waypoints with their names and full (well 16 character) descriptions using a decent keyboard and to also print out a list which I keep on board for when I forget my coding system. By having all the waypoints on the computer and occasionly copying the data off the GPS, I have a full Waypoint library that is bigger than the capacity of the set which I can then use to select the best waypoints from when I cruise away from home waters. It's also a backup in case the GPS fails or is stolen. The database can be used with any of the GPS sets I own.

GPSU is not the only utility to do this but it's simple to use, reliable, free to trial and fairly cheap to register. (I am in no way connected with the developers of GPSU - I'm just a happy customer).

I get all my waypoints entered up and checked over a couple of evenings in the winter. I even made up a power transformer/data cable which enables to me power up the main GPS set and load it whilst at home.

Ed

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[snowleopard]

ok, so your garmin has room for 6 char wpt names. however if you interface it to a raymarine autopilot, that allows only 4 char names. when it gets the signal from the garmin it takes the last 4 only so CHIBAR becomes HBAR. EPOLE becomes POLE and WPOLE becomes..... you've guessed it- POLE.

the only good thing is that it's an excuse to save time on the tedious entry of waypoint names through the keypad!

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[Oldhand]

Get your waypoints from an almanac? Has everyone given up on plotting their own?

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[LadyInBed]

Damn! I've given one of mine away, I will have to move it now /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

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[TheBoatman]

Nige
I did the same thing with our GPS, just went of w/p numbers and then printed a sheet off in excel with all the details.
Works for me!
Peter.

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[boatless]

Also quite handy to put them into a small phone book (with the letters down the tabbed sides). Enter by name, with lat/long and wpt number. Friend of mine does this, I've never quite got around to it.

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[steve_cronin]

Re: Nothing wrong with....

Have gone off VATITH recently. It seems to have silted up a lot over last winter. We had trouble getting anywhere near the south wall. (draw 1.95) Had to lie alongside on the west.

Steve Cronin



<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion

 

[steve_cronin]

Re: Nothing wrong with....

Have gone off VATITH recently. It seems to have silted up a lot over last winter. We had trouble getting anywhere near the south wall. (draw 1.95) Had to lie alongside on the west.

Steve Cronin



<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion

 

[boatless]

Re: Nothing wrong with....

The South wall being the almost finished pier, behind which the caiques live? Almost opposite the OTE?

In which case, oh. My favourite bit. Still, BIGVAT is best place for fuel and water, then nip out to the bay to the South for a spectacular moonset, if times are right. Or is the tanker not there any more? Was missing in 2002.

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[castaway]

Ed

Just been looking at the GPSU site and it looks a useful back up. Im always worried that Im going to find someone has helped 'em self to my gear, and the main problem is of course the time that things like yr GPS data take to replace!

I asume that Garmin do a suitable cable with a USB plug on the end, and if so I think I will start to back up my GPS data also...

My USB hub has a power input to drive periferals that need additional power..you dont happen to know if this would serve to power up the GPS whilst at home do you?

Thanks Nick

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[EdEssery]

Nick,

Not sure about USB as I've never played with that and my GPS. I use a standard DB9 Serial connector.

The way I made my cable for home use of the GPS was as follows: buy a mains power adapter from Argos that could output 12V, buy a cable from Garmin for the GPS with bare wire ends, buy a cheap serial cable with moulded plugs and then chop one end off (making sure it's not the one that plugs into the PC!) strip it and use a continuity connector to figure which colour strand is which pin on the plug. DB9 pin outs are widely published. Once you have all the cables, use the GPS wiring instructions to connect them all together - I used a chocolate box connector which I then wrapped up in insulating tape - not pretty but effective.

Have fun with GPSU - it works well for me.

Ed

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