> My question - do any of the power packs or GPS units provide a battery
> charger facility for recharging AA NiCads from the car battery ?.
> 240VAc is a bit hard to find out in bush camps.
>
Using a GPS for point fixes, and a compass for navigating across the
landscape, the battery life of AA cells is not really a serious problem.
10-15 hours battery life when used in 1-5 minute bursts throughout the
day, is a long time.
If using the GPS as a Nintendo-style video amusement module, with
moving-map used for extended periods etc., batteries do get chewed
rather savagely. Also, the 12-channel units are harder on batteries
than single-channel ones.
With respect to an earlier comment on altitude readings from GPS .....
GPS are great at fixing location in the horizontal plane (lat/long,
etc.), but lousy with the vertical (altitude). If you watch the display
for a while, you'll probably notice wild fluctuations in altitude, but
relatively minor fluctuations in location. Occasionally, by chance, the
altitude on the GPS approximates that on the ground. Don't use the GPS
as an altimeter; they weren't designed for the task, and they are nigh
on useless for altitude measurement.
Lawrie Conole
58 Holden Street, Fitzroy North 3068 Victoria, AUSTRALIA
Phone AH (03) 9486 4575
Ph Mob (0419) 588 993
Email <>
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