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Archive for September, 2009
When was the last time you or your buddy got turned around in the woods while waiting for that big buck to pass by? 
Or out on a drive, and by the time you worked your way around that thick stand of trees or that rock ledge, where were you supposed to end up? Your buddies are counting to be where they need you, but where is that anyway? Now you are turned around and not sure where you ended up. You sure don’t want one of the other hunters to mistake you for a deer because they weren’t expecting you to come out way over there… Or it started raining buckets while waiting on the line, or worse yet, wet soggy snow; and it sure is hard to see those landmarks you were watching for earlier on the way in here. So many things can happen to get you off course, especially if you are in a new area with unfamiliar landscape. Now what will you do?
There are actually handheld GPS units that are built specifically for hunting. These GPS units are waterproof for that nasty weather that is bound to hit right when you want it least, and you can mark your car, the tree stand, the hunting lodge and any game signs you may spot. Some of them even include a built-in electronic compass and barometric altimeter! Think especially how easy it will be to get back out there tomorrow when you can just check your hand held GPS device to see where you marked special points and compare notes with your buddies back in the lodge. Sweet.
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Anglers tend to take one of two approaches to a fishing trip: either they’re in it for the relaxation and camaraderie or they’re deadly serious about reeling in a trophy fish. Family fishing trips seldom become competitive; it’s usually enough to catch a few bass or trout in an inland lake while spending the rest of the time shooting the breeze and enjoying a cold beverage or two.
Fishing competitions are another matter entirely. Serious anglers often realy possess keen fishing instincts that have been honed through years of experience. Still, they accept help wherever they can get it. An Eagle fishfinder features a combination of sonar and GPS mapping technology, allowing anglers to pinpoint the likeliest location where a school of fish might be hanging out. When pride and prize money are on the line, a fishfinder is practically as essential as the boat itself.
What are Gimbals, and Why do I Need Them?
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
posted by outdoorlover 12:24 PM
Gimbals are used in mounting systems, especially for marine vessels, which consist normally of two concentric rings mounted such that their axes are able to pivot at right angles from each other such that one swings freely within the other. They work much like a gyroscope and are used as a mount for equipment such as a compass or other nautical equipment (even stoves, lamps, etc). Gimbals operate in such a manner that objects are permitted to swing freely between them so that the object will remain suspended in a level manner regardless of any motion of their support. Gimbals are commonly used for sea-faring instruments so as to counteract the motion of the vessel.
There are several parts to a gimbal mount. Normally it is made of a set of rings, but sometimes is a ball and socket arrangement, attaching ultimately to a bracket which will support the equipment and another part which will attach to the vessel. In this case, we would use them to attach our GPS fishfinders and/or chartplotters as important and useful marine accessories.
So what exactly is a geocache? Caches are typically waterproof containers which can vary in size and often contain a log book and several trinkets from geocachers who have previously found the cache. If you like you can help yourself to one of the trinkets but be sure and leave one of your own in return! Geocaching is a fun game that is played worldwide, sort of hide and seek using a portable or handheld GPS device. You will find coordinates posted on the internet of different caches in your area. There are hundreds of caches in our area alone. If you find a cache you write in the log inside it and post your finding on the web. If you should move the cache (be sure it is one that can be moved before you do), you want to then post the new coordinates on the internet so the next geocacher can look to see where you moved it to.
Be sure to be considerate of the environment while caching, and it is a nice idea to bring a bag to collect any trash you might see on your adventure. The national parks do not allow caches to be placed within them, but New York State parks have a permit system for geocaching activities. It is a great family activity so you can get your children outdoors hiking and learning and having fun together. Now get out there and enjoy the great outdoors.
Most marine GPS fish finders and chart plotters either include or need a transducer to work properly. The question comes to mind “What is a transducer and what does it do?” According to Wikipedia a transducer is a device, usually electrical, electronic, electromechanical, electromagnetic, photonic or photovoltaic that converts one type of energy or physical attribute to another for various purposes including measurement or information transfer (for example: pressure sensors).
There are three kinds of transducers. A sensor is used to detect a parameter in one form and report it in another form of energy (usually an electrical or digital signal), such as a tachometer. An actuator is used for the transformation of energy or in other words, it converts electrical signal into generally nonelectrical energy. An example of an actuator is a loudspeaker which converts an electrical signal into a variable magnetic field and, subsequently, into acoustic waves. The third kind of transducer has both functions — for example, typical ultrasonic transducers switch back and forth many times a second between acting as an actuator to produce ultrasonic waves, and acting as a sensor to detect ultrasonic waves.
The bottom line here is that a transducer is what helps the fish finder or chart plotter “find” the fish or the contours of the bottom of the lake, river or other body of water.
Our daughter-in-law had quite a drive ahead of her this weekend to visit her mom. It would take at least two hours each way on strange roads. Mom had moved to a new place, and she did not know how to get there yet. The roads were strange and it started raining heavily while she was on the way. Traffic was building, and things were getting pretty confusing. It was a good thing she had her automotive GPS unit with her that announced the streets by name for her and told her which lane to be in for the upcoming turn.
Also, while she was on the road, our son called to check to see where to find their son’s shoes. With the Bluetooth technology on her automotive GPS, she was able to tap the screen to answer the phone and keep on driving. What a mom. She sure is a pro at multitasking!
In helping our new friend search for the best GPS chartplotter navigation for his enclosed wooden boat, we have discovered that the manufacturer’s descriptions do not always educate you on whether your unit will work in an enclosed area or not. We are finding that it is important to do more research and be sure that the unit can handle an external antenna before purchasing it. There are often situations where you do not want to navigate your boat from the fly bridge and would appreciate the comfort of navigating from within an enclosed cabin, so be sure your unit has that capability before purchasing the wrong GPS navigation system/chartplotter for you. It would be convenient if the manufacturers would include that in their descriptions, but that is not always the case.
Several GPS chartplotters have the capability of being used with or without an external antenna and should be reviewed with this in mind. Be sure to look for more than an internal antenna. An internal antenna is convenient as it is more compact and does not need to be set up separately; and although it will work quite well on many boats, it will not serve in all situations. Another thing to consider is purchasing a 2nd mounting station in order to easily switch back and forth between navigating either from the cabin or the fly bridge. Happy boating!