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GPS City Q&A » Outdoor GPS » Is the Foretrex 401 capbable for Military use?
Outdoor GPS (32 replies)  
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Item Original Question
Go to the Garmin Foretrex 401 webpage

Is the Foretrex 401 capbable for Military use?


Garmin Foretrex 401
Author Reply
Joshua
Twentynine Palms, Ca
Original question asked on Mar 24, 2010, 8:23pm
I'm a U.S. Marine heading to Afghanistan and want to know if this needs any maps or anything loaded onto it in order to work "over there" and if it will give me accurate "grid locations," like the ones all U.S. military use? And can it be set to read "grid" and "magnetic" azimuths (depending on what I need)? Thanks!

 
Tom
GPS City
Reply #1 on Mar 25, 2010, 1:48pm
Hello Joshua,

The Foretrex 401 GPS unit can not use maps in the unit so you will not need to buy any. It will provide you with you MGRS position so you can plot it on field maps. You can change the North from magnetic to true. you will need to set these settings up because it will default to Lat/Long (WGS84).

Cheers
Jordan

 
Arlie
Afghanistan
Reply #2 on Sep 10, 2010, 9:33am
What is the code for setting the unit to MGRS since the lat/long is WGS84

 
Jordan GPS City
Calgary, AB
Reply #3 on Sep 10, 2010, 12:33pm
Hello Arlie,

The Datum and coordinate systems are separate. What you need to do is change your lat/long to MGRS. As for the WGS-84, you will need to set that to the map you are using. The map you are using should say what datum it is made in. The majority of the older ones are NAD-27. Newer maps are generally in WGS84(NAD83).

Here is a link to the manual for reference
http://www.gpscity.com/pdfs/manuals/FTREX401-EN-MANUAL.pdf

You will find the coordinate and datum settings in the Setup menu under Units.

Cheers

 
Eddie
Panama City, Florida
Reply #4 on Jan 30, 2011, 10:23pm
Does the 401 have the ability to enter a MGRS grid coordinate to navigate to? as opposed to setting waypoints based on where you currently are?

 
GPS City
Calgary, AB
Reply #5 on Jan 31, 2011, 10:54am
Hello Eddie,

Yes the unit does MGRS. Please read the above posts.

Cheers

 
Ted
Atlanta, GA
Reply #6 on Apr 8, 2011, 4:12pm
Could you tell me how to enter a grid coordinate onto the Garmin to navigate to?

 
Jordan GPS City
Calgary, AB
Reply #7 on Apr 11, 2011, 7:04am
Hello Ted,

First put you unit in the correct coordinate system. Then Create a waypoint with your Coordinates. This can be done by placing a waypoint in your current position then editing the coordinates. Page 8 of the manual. Now you can navigate to the unit by using the goto button. Page 8 also. A digital copy of the manual can be found on the Overview page.

Cheers

 
Joshua
Twentynine Palms, Ca
Reply #8 on Apr 12, 2011, 6:59am
I'm the above "Joshua" and this is a must if you're in the military and find yourself "outside the wire." It literally saved my life in Afghanistan day in and day out. Fastest satellite acquisition I've ever experienced. Long battery life and it's tough as nails. It'll do anything a military service member will need. You can set it to "true, grid or magnetic" norths, convert the GM angle for you, give you a direction/distance from "A" to "B," and give you 10 digit grids for your location. Nothing is required other than what you get. BUY IT!

 
safe
united states
Reply #9 on Jun 13, 2011, 12:02pm
Can you view this unit from an internet connection using a software application? ie: a central station being able to view 10-20 police officers from a PC with an internet connection. Hope this question makes sense.

 
safe
united states
Reply #10 on Jun 13, 2011, 12:05pm
this is in reference to the above question.

I'm meaning if say a group of 10 police officers all wore one if these units would the station be able to view the officers movements while out on a raid? I work for a security firm and we are trying to find a wearable unit to track police officers movements. Thank you for your great products!!

 
Jordan GPS City
Calgary, AB
Reply #11 on Jun 13, 2011, 12:19pm
Hello Safe,

Sorry but this type of device lacks the ability to send its data in real time. What you may be interested in is a GPS enabled Radio like the Garmin Rino or the TETRA radio MTP850 with built-in GPS. I am unaware of a tracking software for them but they will output the position data of the radio.

Cheers

 
sam
Camp Lejeune, nc
Reply #12 on Jul 1, 2011, 4:33pm
with the MGRS can you switch from the 10 digit grid to an 8 digit grid? if so how..thank you

 
Jordan GPS City
Calgary, AB
Reply #13 on Jul 4, 2011, 6:54am
Hello Sam,

No you can not change the amount of numbers in the coordinate in the unit but you can in your head easily. When you start dropping numbers off the co-ordinate your accuracy gets reduced. Just drop the last two digits to get your 6 digit coordinate. Please note with 6 digits you are only accurate to within 100 meters.

Here is a link to a wiki on how the coordinate system works.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_grid_reference_system

Cheers
Jordan

 
sam
camp lejeune, nc
Reply #14 on Jul 23, 2011, 3:00pm
I used the gps this week in the field, and ran into an issue.. I was able to input 4 different check points, I was sent to the first grid point but was not sent to the 2,3,or 4th. what do I need to press for the gps to continue on with the other check points? thank you

 
Jordan GPS City
Calgary, AB
Reply #15 on Jul 25, 2011, 8:15am
You will need to create a route with the points you want to travel to in the order you would like to navigate.

Page 11 of the Manual Below
http://www.gpscity.com/pdfs/manuals/FTREX401-EN-MANUAL.pdf

 
Jay
Liverpool
Reply #16 on Aug 31, 2011, 5:05am
I've just purchased a 401, I'm in the British military. I'm just wondering what setting of map should I put it on to use military maps?

 
GPS City
Calgary, AB
Reply #17 on Aug 31, 2011, 12:58pm
You will need to check the map you are using for the Datum and coordinate system you need for that map. Will be in one of the corners. The unit can do MGRS but the map you are using may be in UTM so you will need to check each time you change paper maps. Never assume

 
James
Ft Stewart, GA
Reply #18 on Oct 30, 2011, 4:20pm
How do you change from lat/lon to MGRS? I have read all the posts, gone through the user manual, and still cannot figure it out. I must just be missing something.

 
Jordan GPS City
Calgary, AB
Reply #19 on Oct 31, 2011, 8:40am
Page over to the 'Main Menu'.
Select 'Setup'
Select 'Units'
Select 'Position Format'
Scroll unit you find MGRS then hit enter.

 




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