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Original question: Mar 25, 2010, 1:48pm Is the Foretrex 401 capbable for Military use? , Tom, GPS City
Reply #1: 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!
Reply #2: Sep 10, 2010, 9:33am What is the code for setting the unit to MGRS since the lat/long is WGS84
Reply #3: 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
Reply #4: 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?
Reply #5: Jan 31, 2011, 10:54am Hello Eddie,
Yes the unit does MGRS. Please read the above posts.
Cheers
Reply #6: Apr 8, 2011, 4:12pm Could you tell me how to enter a grid coordinate onto the Garmin to navigate to?
Reply #7: 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
Reply #8: 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!
Reply #9: 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.
Reply #10: 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!!
Reply #11: 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
Reply #12: 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
Reply #13: 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.
Reply #14: 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
Reply #15: 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
Reply #16: 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?
Reply #17: 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
Reply #18: 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.
Reply #19: 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.
Reply #20: Dec 28, 2011, 6:29am Hi,
I'm also in the the British Military, and was wondering if there was a way to change the bearings from displaying in degrees to mils? I have checked through the manual and can't find a way to do it.
Many thanks.
Reply #21: Dec 28, 2011, 6:32am Cancel my last, I've worked it out. Set Up - Headings - Angle
I was too busy looking in Units...
Reply #22: Mar 5, 2012, 8:39pm Sam, lets talk 8 and 10 digit coords...
If you are given a point.. 1234 1234 (8 digit coord) add a 0 to the end of the east-west and a 0 to the endo of the north south coordinate.
1234 1234 is now 12340 12340. GPS uses a 10 digit by default. If you are given a 10 digit grid to work with, great... Nav to that.... If given a 6 digit coord, 123 123, tack on two 0's at the end of 123 and another two 0's to the second set of coords.
12300 12300
Some land nav guys (like myself) will issue a 6 digit grid to those I have on a land nav course to see them get jacked up using gps. It is a FANTASTIC training tool... If your boys think they can navigate to a point, give them a 6 digit coord and watch them get way off course. Hammer in the extra 0's
Swith a 10 digit to an 8? 12348 33344 becomes 1235 3334 (round up or down)
Reply #23: Apr 8, 2012, 7:46am I just bought the Garmin Trex401... I've read through the manual and tried looking through the actual Garmin but can't figure out how to display my current grid location. How do I go about doing this?
Reply #24: Apr 9, 2012, 5:42am ** Please post new questions in a new post so others can benefit **
There are a few ways to access you coordinates. First is just hold down the 'Mark' button. It will being up you current location on the waypoint screen. This will mark a waypoint. Press Page to go back without marking a point.
Page over to the trip computer screen and then use the arrows to cycle through the data fields. If you do not see a coordinate field you can add one via the main menu.
Reply #25: Apr 18, 2012, 5:15am Does anyone know if the garmin Forerunner 910xt can give you the coords in MGRS like the Trek401 can?
Reply #26: Apr 18, 2012, 7:36am Yes the Forerunner 910XT can do MGRS and other coordinate systems. I personally would recommend it over the Foretrex 401. The one draw back would be it uses an internal battery and you can not use standard batteries (AAA) like the Garmin foretrex.
Reply #27: Apr 18, 2012, 11:24pm Thanks for the quick reply. That is a fairly large drawback considering I would obviously partly use it for military use (no powerpoints out bush) but the 401 doesnt have the sports features that im looking for so the 910XT is still a better choice
Reply #28: Apr 19, 2012, 7:14am The Garmin Foretrex 401 has some sport features such as Heart rate monitor compatibility and Cadence. You can display the fitness metrics on the screen while you go for a run.
Reply #29: Jun 30, 2012, 3:44pm Ok. I have it on MGRS, but its giving me "20T HQ 56734 53045" as a present position. how do i get a 10 digit out of MGRS?
Reply #30: Jul 8, 2012, 12:46pm 56734 53045 is the 10 digit grid.
Reply #31: Dec 30, 2012, 8:18pm how do you use Cadence on the trek 401?
** Because your question is not related to this topic we moved it to a new post. You will find it under the QnA tab on the Foretrex 401 page.
Reply #32: Apr 11, 2013, 4:56pm I'm military do I need to have my trex 401 on UTM to be accurate on ft bragg?
Also what north would be the best to use?
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