GPS Coordinates

[Dave C]

I'm pretty dense in the technology area and have my first finder with a gps (HDS 5). I've been given coordinates for several spots on a lake, but the format is different than what I expected. For example, N 40 58.180 and W 90 08.690. I thought seconds could not be any higher that 59 (thats as far as my HDS 5 goes anyway). And whats with three numerical places in the seconds value? Are these coodinates in a different form? If so, is there a way to convert them? Thanks, I guess my age is showing and I'm a generation or so behind.

[geareng]

On your HDS-5 go under menu, menu, system and then highlight "coord system". It is there that you can change how the unit displays those numbers. Hope that helps......

[Albe]

Those coordinates that you describe are in Degrees (N40) and Minutes (58.180). That is the most popular format that fisherman use.

[jhebert]

Visit this link

http://continuouswave.com/whaler/ref...oordsystemMenu

to see how to change the coordinate system in use on an HDS.

[Dave C]

Thanks eveyone. Each comment helped me figure out what was wrong. It was set on degrees/minutes/seconds and after I changed it to degrees/minutes the coordinates worked. Also thanks for the reference because I would not have been able to figure out how to change it without that. I'm learning, but I am slooooooow.

[1860Angler]

There is also a formula to convert.

To convert degrees decimal minutes to degrees minutes seconds multiply the decimal portion of the minutes coordinate by 60 to get seconds. Example: 40 58.180 converts to 40 58' 10.8"

To convert degrees minutes seconds to degrees decimal minutes divide the seconds portion of the coordinate by 60 then add the decimal number to the minutes portion of the coordinates. Example: 90 08' 41.4" converts to 90 08.690

[kman]

Tag.