Convert GPS to Longitude & Latitude

[bjbriggs]

Help,  I need to know how you convert GPS to Long & Lat.  There a cave I'm trying to find in Arizona where we go camping.  They give this GPS Location. 341046N  1093724W.  I need this in Long & Lat so I can enter it on a Map so I can find it.  I would appreciate any help.....Thanks Benny

[SHANEA]

should be able to change the GPS setting to lat/long which will automagically change the units

I'm sure there are some conversion utilities out on the web.

[bjbriggs]

should be able to change the GPS setting to lat/long which will automagically change the units

I'm sure there are some conversion utilities out on the web.

I found some but they are not in the same GPS  format.  Thanks

[jeffblaylock]

Try this link. It will convert UTM to Lat/Lon.

Personally, I prefer UTM because, to me, it's more intuitive, as all points on the grid are based on how far east and north they are of a reference point. Thus, any other point, can be measured based on how much further east/north it is from where you're standing. Regardless of latitude, the unit of measure is the same (meters), unlike Lat/Lon, where the amount of distance a minute of arc covers decreases as one moves away from the equator.

UTM also results in a grid where each box is 1km (0.6mi) on each side -- again, to me, more intuitive to eyeball how far some waypoint is from my current location.

Anyway, I've used that NOAA site to convert between the coordinate systems previously. It works. Just make sure you select NAD27/NAD83 correctly. If you select the wrong one, the answer it provides will be about 0.1 mile or so off, either to the north-northeast or south-southwest, depending on which datum was the base. Most paper USGS quads are still on NAD27; most digital maps in GPS units use NAD83 or WGS84, but they typically convert to the older format without fuss.

My mistake: coordinates are in decimal degrees, minus decimal, not UTM

[Al]

Try using Google Earth.  Go to Tools, Options and then select UTM zoom in to the desired spot and then go back to Tools, Options and select the Lat and Long format that is the same as a 7.5' map.

Al

[bjbriggs]

Try this link. It will convert UTM to Lat/Lon.

Personally, I prefer UTM because, to me, it's more intuitive, as all points on the grid are based on how far east and north they are of a reference point. Thus, any other point, can be measured based on how much further east/north it is from where you're standing. Regardless of latitude, the unit of measure is the same (meters), unlike Lat/Lon, where the amount of distance a minute of arc covers decreases as one moves away from the equator.

UTM also results in a grid where each box is 1km (0.6mi) on each side -- again, to me, more intuitive to eyeball how far some waypoint is from my current location.

Anyway, I've used that NOAA site to convert between the coordinate systems previously. It works. Just make sure you select NAD27/NAD83 correctly. If you select the wrong one, the answer it provides will be about 0.1 mile or so off, either to the north-northeast or south-southwest, depending on which datum was the base. Most paper USGS quads are still on NAD27; most digital maps in GPS units use NAD83 or WGS84, but they typically convert to the older format without fuss.

 Jeff what is the zone?  I've never had a GPS  Not having much luck....

[bjbriggs]

Try using Google Earth.  Go to Tools, Options and then select UTM zoom in to the desired spot and then go back to Tools, Options and select the Lat and Long format that is the same as a 7.5' map.

Al

 I tried it, but it said I had to have google earth plus,  Must be one you have to pay for.  Thanks

[Al]

http://www.dmap.co.uk/utmworld.htm

[jeffblaylock]

The vast majority of Arizona is 12S. Far, far southern in 12R. Far, far western is 11S.

My mistake: coordinates are in decimal degrees, minus decimal, not UTM

[Undertaker]

34.1046N and -109.3724W should convert on your GPS unit for you, Looks like it is near Eagar Arizona. Hope that helps.

[Al]

Help,  I need to know how you convert GPS to Long & Lat.  There a cave I'm trying to find in Arizona where we go camping.  They give this GPS Location. 341046N  1093724W.  I need this in Long & Lat so I can enter it on a Map so I can find it.  I would appreciate any help.....Thanks Benny

I think that might be in decimal Latitude and Longitude. 34.1046 degrees N and 109.3724 degrees W

Check it out.  To the side, UTM coordinates are on 7.5' maps.

Al

[bjbriggs]

http://atlas.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&formtype=address&latlongtype=degrees&latdeg=34&latmin=10&latsec=46&longdeg=-109&longmin=37&longsec=24



It looks like I found it......I didn't know what I was doing.....Thanks for all your help  Benny

[RichardM]

Whew, and I thought it was just me that kept ending up way out in the Pacific when trying to convert your coordinates.

[Undertaker]

Richard that's because the Military still has the SA on for you.