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Author: Subject: GPS
shawn
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posted on 10-1-2005 at 09:54 Reply With Quote
Al - you've got to be loosing some accuracy when it's inside yer suit and an aqua pac - mines an etrex too and it barely works in my coat pocket! It will work in the car though (if near a window). I've used mine with no bag, tied around my spreader bar - it's not let any water in so far & i've had some excellent high speed wipe outs with it. I reckon the safest bet would be the aqua pak and then tie the lot to yer mast or boom or spreader bar..... One of the guys at kirby has doctored an old boom front end so it's attached to the boom right under his nose, and the etrex clamps into that so he can see how fast he's going all the time (if he dare look at it).





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IainO
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posted on 10-1-2005 at 10:01 Reply With Quote
GPS works on similar Radio Frequencies to mobile phones so if you've got inside your wetsuit you still should get a signal. Difficulties will arise when you're inside metal containers (the back of a van with no windows). One thing to be aware of is that your GPS performance will deteriorate as the batteries get low.
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shawn
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posted on 10-1-2005 at 12:54 Reply With Quote
I'm not convinced mate... They don't even work very well under trees. I'll give it a try in my suit though, just to be sure...

[Edited on 10-1-2005 by shawn]





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shawn
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posted on 10-1-2005 at 16:49 Reply With Quote
Ah - and I have just found out that garmin actually make a neoprene holder for the etrex..... maybe it can see through yer wetsuit afterall!





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justal
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posted on 10-1-2005 at 17:03 Reply With Quote
It does work inside my wetsuit, but not as well as outside of it. I was having trouble getting a signal with it inside my wetsuit yesterday. I need to find a way of fixing it to my harness really.

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IainO
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posted on 10-1-2005 at 20:27 Reply With Quote
Al, is there an option to plug in an external aerial? If so you can tuck the GPS away and strap the aerial outside your wetsuit - should be ok as long as you keep the GPS watertight where you pass the aerial cable out of the bag.
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justal
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posted on 10-1-2005 at 21:14 Reply With Quote
I don't think there is, but I shall hav a go at somehow fixing it to my harness I think. I just don't want it to get in the way or flap about at all, and I don't want it too exposed to heavy landing.

It has worked OK inside my wetsuit, but I guess it will be better outside of it.

The wrist mounted versions obviously have an advantage from this point of view, but they are a little more expensive and I'm not convinced that I wouldn't break it in no timne with it on my wrist.

Having the GPS has certainly added a new dimension to me time on the water though. I'd never been too bothered with going fast before, but now I have a reason... I'm even in the process of getting a faster board (2nd hand Sputnik).

Al.







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shawn
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posted on 11-1-2005 at 13:21 Reply With Quote
I was amazed at how much ground we cover in a day!! As a result I'm considering doing a sponsored 250 mile sail when it warms up a bit - shouldn't be to diff given some decent wind......

It does give u an urge to push out those extra few knots doesn't it - my wave board seems a bit inadequate when looking at the 35kt barrier. How fast are wave boards meant to go d'ya think?





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justal
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posted on 11-1-2005 at 14:49 Reply With Quote
I'm not sure really, but it didn't feel safe at 33 knots!!!

I'm looking forward to one of those summer days with Westerly winds where I spend the whole day blasting back and forth from Tywyn to Borth, with a 7 mile long reach I should even get a decent average speed as well.

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badexcuseforasailor
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posted on 11-1-2005 at 22:54 Reply With Quote
They see through wetsuits ok you just have to make sure that you have got a lock on the sats before putting it in there.






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justal
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posted on 10-3-2005 at 07:12 Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by justal

Having the GPS has certainly added a new dimension to me time on the water though. I'd never been too bothered with going fast before, but now I have a reason... I'm even in the process of getting a faster board (2nd hand Sputnik).

Al.


I collected the Suptnik yesterday. Unfortunately I couldn't get hold of the really fast 270 version so have the 275 instead... It should still be pretty fast though and I might get chance to try it out tomorrow if the wind is dead westerly.... Not sure how it will cope with the waves though as it has hardly no rocker at all!... Should be fun.

At 105 litres it will be my biggest board as well and at 275cm my longest by a long way!

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dunk
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posted on 10-3-2005 at 14:15 Reply With Quote
Al,
I used to have a hollow Sputnik 280, it was faster than the 275. I maybe able to get hold of a hollow 270 if your interested.
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justal
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posted on 10-3-2005 at 14:48 Reply With Quote
Maybe .... Although I can't afford anything at the moment!!



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