Thread: Navigation

This is probably gonna sound like a stupid question but when using NZtopo50 on my phone should I have the compass set to true north or magnetic north?.

I've just been playing with the phone app, a compass and my Garmin and I was getting a discrepancy with the compass.
I've changed the settings on the other two to magnetic nth and now they align.

how far are you going many on here seem to be going across the whole bloody Island - get a map of where you are going - have a compass and orient yourself - much better aerial photos with a compass rose - much more than that stay home you are a SAR case waiting to happen

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

how far are you going many on here seem to be going across the whole bloody Island - get a map of where you are going - have a compass and orient yourself - much better aerial photos with a compass rose - much more than that stay home you are a SAR case waiting to happen

Thanks for the confidence boost but I'm not planning on going anywhere (wrong assumption on your part) other than my usual area which I know off the back of my hand, was merely playing with the topo app on the phone mate.

Last time I used it I set a way point on the 4wd then set off...couple hours later when 'navigating' back to the vehicle the app was trying to send me 50deg in the wrong direction, I was looking at the vehicle 800m away thinking wtf. Just trying to work out if it's the settings in the app or whatever.

I taught map and compass for years as a Ranger just stuck to magnetic - more emphasis on aligning one to the map you have - catchments peaks things one can recognise like a bluff waterfall large flat etc never over complicating it - true virgins make dull company has been taught for years

True = your compass course of your map
virgins = variation movement of magnetic North
make = magnetic compass direction
dull = deviaition error in a compass due to metal interference ( only general can be wiring say on a boat )
compass = your course once variation and deviation have been calculated

but for simple bush navigation just stick to magnetic

North with a watch point 12 at the sun North is half way from 12 to the hour hand -- digital just imagine a 12 point face with 12 at top all you really need is the time

Originally Posted by Twodiffs

This is probably gonna sound like a stupid question but when using NZtopo50 on my phone should I have the compass set to true north or magnetic north?.

I've just been playing with the phone app, a compass and my Garmin and I was getting a discrepancy with the compass.
I've changed the settings on the other two to magnetic nth and now they align.Attachment 268946

Attachment 268947

If using with a manual compass then use magnetic north and all your bearings will align without the need to do math.