Affordable GPS systems

[M.P.Davey]

I too am not convinced about the accuracy of GPS. Our group managed to
borrow one when mapping a forest reserve border in N. Tanzania. Even with
full satellite reception co-ordinates were usually way out, especially
the altitude (once putting us at an altitude of minus 45 metres when
standing on a hill top!). We resorted back to our compass and rope and
clinometre but the worrying thing is the group we borrowed it from were
taking the co-ordinates from the gps to map where certain plant species
exist in the forests for future reference, i for sure would not like to be
the person in the future wondering around the forest in a few years time
looking for plants at imaginary co-ordinates.

Matt Davey



On Wed, 28 Jan 1998, Joseph Kirkbride wrote:

> For Christmas 1996, my sone bough a trailblazer GPS unit for me for
> $200!  It was a display model with instrcutions, case, box, etc.  The
> unit works just fine, and Trailblazer sold me a set of instructions for
> $15.  The was saving of about $300.  Watch for sales at your local
> sporting goods which sell GPS units.
>
> Joseph H. Kirkbride, Jr.
> USDA, Agricultural Research Service
> Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory
> Room 304, Building 011A, BARC-West
> Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350 USA
> Voice telephone: 301-504-9447
> FAX: 301-504-5810
> Internet: jkirkbri at asrr.arsusda.gov
>
>
> On Wed, 28 Jan 1998, Harvey E. Ballard, Jr. wrote:
>
> > In spite of the warning that GPS units may, in certain regions
> > particularly, give lat-long coordinates that don't jive closely with maps
> > (maintaining the importance of lucid descriptions of physical landmarks!),
> > I'm interested in hunting down an affordable (<=$1000 or 1500) model that
> > does both latlong and elevation.
> >
> > This might be of interest to a variety of neophytes on Taxacom, like me, so
> > please post to Taxacom.
> >
> > Thanks for your experience and help!
> > Harvey Ballard
> >
> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > Harvey E. Ballard, Jr., Assistant Professor, Plant Evolution and Systematics
> > Department of Environmental and Plant Biology
> > Porter Hall, Ohio University
> > Athens, OH 45701
> > (740) 593-4659 (office & lab phone)
> > (740) 593-1130 (fax)
> > email: ballardh at oak.cats.ohiou.edu
> >
>