Anyoen here got one of those GPS (global positioning system) sattelite units and know how to make them work? I borowed one and have not a clue as to work out how to calculate specific distances from map references. Neither does the person I borrowed it from who uses it only to locate lost stone circle sites in Derbyshire from published grid references.

trying to settle an argument which dates from 1979, silly yes, but no one seems to know the answer with any accuracy. I am fed up with silly arguments about which is the nearest 'local pub' to my house, different people take 3 different points. I was hoping a GPS might help me work it out to the nearest inch with global positioning, etc.

Now I am sure there are bigger problems in the Universe, but if anyone knows how to do this, let me know as its bugging me. We have tried drawing a triangle on a large scale street map but it does not help, it seems we are slap in the middle of that 'triangle' and different maps seem to distort the scale as well. Defying the odds the 3 pubs in question are (within 40 seconds leeway), exactly the same walking time from my house to any 1 of the 3, even allowing the geographical layout of hills, twisty roads, etc. I need to know the as the crow flies true distance, there is £5 on it...yet again!!!!!

Three pubs, THE SHINY SHEFF (now the Sheffield), the PLOUGH (Sandygate) and RISING SUN (nethergreen) are the 3 points, and I am located more or less exactly in the centre of a triangle (not equidistant) between all 3 points. Walking uphill to the Sheff, or downhill to the Rising SUn, or sideways (sort of) to the Plough, which one might be my 'true' local geographically.

Well its been a hot day, what do you expect, intelligent debate?

Originally posted by goldenfleece
Walking uphill to the Sheff, or downhill to the Rising SUn, or sideways (sort of) to the Plough, which one might be my 'true' local geographically.

The one where you feel most welcomed.

Originally posted by Abdul
The one where you feel most welcomed.

True, but that is not my question, was aksing if anyone has experience of GPS units and how they can calculate local distances. etc.....sure its very simple but I dont understand any of the buttons on it at all........

If was down to most welcomed, have to the Rising Sun, the other 2 can sometimes hardly realize any customers have entered the premises (rather quiet pubs at the best of times)

RTFM, old chap. Apparently there are things called point markers ( or something similar), which you can use to make the unit save a location in its memory. Start by doing this with your home (once you've found the centre of home, that is. Then go on a local pub crawl. Save the locations of each boozer then do the math. Tis simple with the instruction booklet, although this exercise might erase a few things from your memory. Ho hum.

You have to create "Waypoints" with your grid references and store them with names.
You can then set up a "route" and it will tell you the distance from one to the other.

Switch it on.

Wait until you get a good signal.

Reset all the counters, trip distance etc.

Walk to pub.

Note measurement.



Which make of GPS is it?

Give me the Grid References and I will give you the distances.:)

Originally posted by cgksheff
Give me the Grid References and I will give you the distances.:)

I dont know the specific grid references exactly....how can I find out, is there a website that can give precise grid refs from entering locations?

Since you'll be walking to and from the pub isn't "as the crow flies" irrelevant? Why not buy yourself a stepometer and walk to each pub the shortest way possible, and see which takes less steps?

Originally posted by alchresearch
Switch it on.

Wait until you get a good signal.

Reset all the counters, trip distance etc.

Walk to pub.

Note measurement.



Which make of GPS is it?

Its a GEKO 301 if that means anything to you..looks just like a Nokia mobile phone..the batteries are dead anyway so it wont do a thing......just my luck...

Originally posted by goldenfleece
I dont know the specific grid references exactly....how can I find out, is there a website that can give precise grid refs from entering locations?

Shiny Sheff
Lat (WGS84) N53:22:15 ( 53.370873 )
Long (WGS84) W1:33:21 ( -1.555838 )

OS X 429650
OS Y 386093


The Plough
OS X 431345
OS Y 386821

Lat (WGS84) N53:22:38 ( 53.377319 )
Long (WGS84) W1:31:49 ( -1.530292 )


The rising Sun
OS X 431396
OS Y 385716

Lat (WGS84) N53:22:03 ( 53.367384 )
Long (WGS84) W1:31:47 ( -1.529635 )

if you want the actual walking distances involved, you will also need to take account of the relief involved (if its significant).

Thanks for the info there. No doubt this will be worked out and I can relax, having solved one of the great mysteries of our time, and which is situated conveniently in our fair city......now I am off for a walk down the hill for a beer or 10 to further contemplate this great mystery......anyone in the Rising Sun later care to debate this great issue, I will be propping up the bar trying not to look overly intelligent.

The question is further complicated by the sub-issue of would I in fact be better off walking UP the hill to the SHiny Sheff, or sideways to the Plough....oh well, better beer in the Rising Sun

I had exactly the same problem, and found you couldn't do it based on walking times because of the incline of the hill messed up all my timings. Ended up measuring it on multi map with a ruler on the screen and found the shiny Sheff, sorry the Sheffield was the closest.

Noyt so much a question of walking distance as direct "as the crow flew" distance.....the walking times are roughly the same, 40 seconds leeway in all cases. I mean its easier walking down to the Rising Sun, but can be rubbish walking back up if one is feeling rather excessively rotund with fine ale......and vice versa, walking UP to the Shiny Sheff and then filling up with fine ale, and then rolling back down the hill is not always fun either.....

perhaps going sideways is the obvious solution here......actually no, its easier just to open the fridge tonight......oh well....

Originally posted by joyphil
Start by doing this with your home (once you've found the centre of home, that is).
Now I'd be inclined to start from the front door :wooden spoon: :loopy:

You might, but a rigorously scientific approach may well go for a nexal centre point in the home. Or maybe the coat rack. Or the drawer where you keep your keys.

Or indeed the back door, if you don't use the front.

Or the loo. If you like to spend a preparatory penny before popping down the boozer.

Etc, ad nauseum.

Originally posted by cgksheff
Give me the Grid References and I will give you the distances.:)

you got the grid refs, now what are you waiting for? :D

Originally posted by Phanerothyme
you got the grid refs, now what are you waiting for? :D

Not on EVERY minute of the day, you know!

Still need the location of your house, GoldenFleece!!!!!

PM me the address, if you can't get a grid reference.:thumbsup:

Originally posted by goldenfleece
Noyt so much a question of walking distance as direct "as the crow flew" distance.....the walking times are roughly the same, 40 seconds leeway in all cases<snip>
PM me your address (if you want) and I'll sort it for you.

I've got a great bit of software called MemoryMap, you can do all this sort of stuff dead easy, including walked routes, or as-the-crow-flies, all with the contours included.