Astro...entering coordinates?

[wyoutfitter]

I was wondering if somebody could help me figure out how to enter the coordinates of a location and mark it on my astro. . . . . or if it's even possible. I want to use the astro to mark a location 100 miles from here, the location needs to be exact. I have the coordinates but can't figure out how to enter them on the astro. Anyway..... thanks for any input.

[FullCryHounds]

Good question, I tried one time and couldn't see how to do it. Hope someone can answer this.

[sherlock14]

The only way I know how to do it is, open the mapsource program on your computer enter the coordinates to create a new waypoint, then transfer it to your astro.

[Buddyw]

Act like you are Marking a location, Then before you save it, you can select and change the coordinates to the new coordinates you want to enter..

Only reason I know this is last weekend someone asked me if it could be done, and I had to mess around with it for 30 minutes to figure it out..

It's not straight forward but that's how you would do it.

(BTW where's that Paul Conway guy who says we all need to use them more when you need him.. )

Buddy

[Paul Conway]

What Buddy did was:
1. hit mark
2. "New" is highlighted- now hit enter
3."OK" is highlighted (bottom right)- hit up arrow twice
4. "Coordinates" are now highlighted- hit enter
5.numbers/symbols box pops up- use left/right arrows and numbers to enter cooridinates.
6. when coordinates are entered and complete hit enter- up arrow twice to name point (rename it from numbered point garmin automatically assigned it) highlight assigned number and click enter. use keypad to name
7.When named click ok on naming pop up screen- the new name will be highlighted. Hit up key once it will wrap around to the bottom of your garmin screen to "OK" hit enter and your point is entered.

What Buddy wanted me to remind you of was that If the coordinates you have to enter are not in the same "units" (for lack of the proper term) as your garmin is set to then you need to go back and change them on the garmin first by going through the double menu and going into headings:
"menu"
"menu"
"Heading"- enter will bring you to your display setting- click enter and the drop down box will give you the choice of Cardinal letters, Degrees, or Mils. Columbus or Magellen could tell you why there are three versions of representing the coordinates, but there are. I bet the Europeans and the Miliatry are to blame though or at least partially to blame. I almost have my pennies saved up to buy another DC30, once I order it he'll forgive me for bringing up that other thing.........
Keystonepaul

[Buddyw]

Paul,

I think It's a good thing to keep you around.. Kinda like one of them Pocket Talking Reference books.. You write better instructions than Garmin, I wasn't about to go through my step by step instructions.... Most of My instructions have a few "OH shit.. Crap.. not that button but the other Button. " Every other line.. I figure I confuse more people than I help..

Buddy

[wyoutfitter]

Wow, great instructions guys......even an idiot like myself should be able to figure that out. Thanks again, and I'll give it a shot!

[Paul Conway]

I was afraid folks would take it as condescending, but that's not how it was meant certainly. Some folks can be told you need to mark the way point and change the coordinates, then poke around and figure it out which to them really helps them learn how to do it and is better than walking them through it, but we've found with a bunch of our guys that for the explainer to have his garmin there and do it as you talk the other person through it, kinda like what I wrote is just how some folks are gonna "get it" or in some cases get it entered. good hunting, Paul Conway

[michael.magorian]

Thanks Paul and Buddy, I have been wondering this since the Garmins came out. I haven't messed with it yet, but I am looking forward to it. By the way Paul, the military is entirely to blame for the different forms of navigation. The letters are gridzone identifiers, meaning they mark the part of the world you are located; degrees is what most normal human beings would use to mark a direction, especially when there are 360 degrees in a circle; and mils have always been used for artillery which was first started in Europe, don't ask why it isn't any harder or easier to figure out than using degrees, just larger numbers. Thanks again, this Garmin gets more and more useful all the time.

[cat and bear]

Thanks Paul and Buddy. It will come in handy as a cheat sheet, a couple of times, as I participate in a equine mounted search and rescue. Our next search, were not only going to use my garmin as my gps, were going to hang a collar on each saddle to know where everyone is, and being sure of the ground we covered, as its all wooded here.
Ron