Latitude/Longitude

g0tch · Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 2:36 pm Post subject: Latitude/Longitude

I need to go to a place in Wales where there are no house numbers. I managed to find out Latitude = 51.6766 and the Longitude = -4.0399.
When I try to put it in my TT, there appear to be no “-“sign for the longitude. Without it takes me to Europe somewhere. At the moment the latitude/longitude is set to degrees.
TT as per sig.
Can someone please tell me how to do it?
Regards,
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Tibor
Garmin Drivesmart 61

carl_the_cobbler · Frequent Visitor Joined: Jul 22, 2007 Posts: 251

You need to think as N is + S is - W is - and E is +

So your lat will be entered as N 51.6766 and W 4.0399

Got me on to Pontardulais Road, North of Swansea using Google Maps

Cheers

Carl

Edit:Oops. Cheers dhn, the entered coordinates did work though.

dhn · Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 2:51 pm Post subject:

But if E is -, then shouldn't the direction be given as E whatever since the OP shows a - for the longitude?
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David

46jimbo · Regular Visitor Joined: Apr 24, 2005 Posts: 185

- means that it will be west of the Greenwich Meridian. + means that it is to the east of it.

carl_the_cobbler · Frequent Visitor Joined: Jul 22, 2007 Posts: 251

Also + is North of the Equator

and - is South of the Equator

dhn · Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 3:39 pm Post subject:

Should have had either one more or one less coffee this am. Sad

Misinterpreted the original reply. Crying or Very sad

Thanks......
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David

g0tch · Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 3:48 pm Post subject:

Many thaks guys.
N 51.6766 and W 4.0399 did the trick. I think when I changed to longitude, it automatically changed to E, and I didn't notice.
Now if I could find how to delete some of my errorous trys from favorites.....
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Tibor
Garmin Drivesmart 61

GPS_fan · Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 4:32 pm Post subject:

There are 90 degrees of latitude from the equator to each of the poles - up to 90º N and 90º S.

Using the Greenwich Meridian, there are 180 degrees of longitude east and west, to give 360º for the earth's circumference.

Whilst latitude is used for calculating distance (1 minute = 1 nautical mile), longitude is used for time (360º = 24 hours ie 1 revolution of the earth = 1 day)

1 degree = 60 minutes

North/South and East/West are still widely used, particularly for maritime purposes, although most satellite applications use + or -

North is +
South is -

East is +
West is -

Latitude is therefore quoted as 2 digits (01 degrees), longitude is quoted as 3 digits (001 degrees) and minutes are quoted as two digits (05 minutes) when a position is given so that the recipient (eg coastguard) knows that they have received the information in full. Usually, one decimal place is sufficient for this purpose because this will locate to within 200 yards.

More information may be found here

I've learnt this over the past few weeks through my work with National Coastwatch Institution
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Andy
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