Decipher GPS Coordinates

[The Woodman]

I think you're right, HW. The sheep are walking towards the spot.

[KeenTeen17]

wow thanks everyone. Its really annoying because I was in that are on Tuesday finding nearby caches on Whinney lane!

[Jason Green]

Can someone explain what all those symbols mean, and how on earth it not only means somewhere but actually gives a precise location?!

I have never used GPS, if that's relevant...

..

[Hedge Witch]

Hi Jason,

You can see a pattern in KT's "hieroglyphics" that says:
NORTH FIFTY THREE DEGREES THIRTY NINE .?XXX WEST ZERO ZERO TWO ?XX.XXX

The X's were deduced from the fact that some symbols within these Xs are used for letters in the words we have already deduced. The easiest way to translate a letter into a words is to say that A=1, B=2.....I=9 and J= 10 or 0 (in our case it's 0). This bit is a bit speculative though. I don't think any of us knows this for sure. And even based on this assumption, some Xs were guesses (see the posts above).

So that's how we get our coordinates. There are many different ways of writing coordinates (Geographic coordinate system - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). And many different ways of finding the point on the Earth's surface from these. But if you simply fill in the Xs, write the numbers as digits, call North "N" and West "W", and remove the "degrees" words from the above (as in KT's example but you don't need the degrees symbols), you can use Google Earth - just copy and paste. Google Earth and Google Maps are probably my favourite programs for such applications.

Be very careful if you use Google Earth ........ it's bloomin' addictive

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by KeenTeen17

Originally Posted by Hedge Witch

You can see a pattern in KT's "hieroglyphics" that says:
NORTH FIFTY THREE DEGREES THIRTY NINE .?XXX WEST ZERO ZERO TWO ?XX.XXX

Um... I'll keep looking I think!! Oh, and thanks

Originally Posted by Hedge Witch

Be very careful if you use Google Earth ........ it's bloomin' addictive

Agreed

[Hedge Witch]

Look at the first set of 5 symbols, the first looks like an "N". Well that says "NORTH".

N O \ - o
=
N O R T H

If you see this, you should see some of the rest

[Jason Green]

Ah-ha! Got it. Interesting

So each symbol means a letter, not that it necessarily that it has to always look like that letter as a hard-and-fast rule. Right!

Thanks Hedgie

[Soupdragon]

OK, now that's sorted out... Can I ask what the cache is, or is it best not to know?

[KeenTeen17]

Geocaching is like sophisticated treasure hunting. You use a GPS to find hidden treasure. The 'treasure' is usually in a Tupperware type box and contains a visitors book and a few trinkets. The protocol is to sign the book and leave a comment, remove a trinket, but leave one of your own I think.
A couple of years ago, I saw some bloke acting suspiciously on one of my local walks, checking a GPS and rooting about at the foot of a dry-stone wall. So, I waited while he'd gone, then went for a root of my own. I found the treasure and learnt something of the delights of geocaching.
In term of GPS's, I'm a Luddite and prefer a map (and compass if need be), but people I know tell me Garmins are the best.

Regards, Chris

This was said on a thread on a similar topic.

[Soupdragon]

Thanks, sounds really interesting. I could get into that!