These last several years, I have been spoiled by GPSs and MFDs and really have not scratched LOPs on a chart in a while. Since my youth working paper charts, I used Degrees, Minutes, Seconds. Verbally, I would even say all out loud 80 degrees, 20 minutes, 15 seconds west. Written it would look like 80°20'15" W. I have also used 80°;20;15 W. These last few years I have observed my old method and; degrees, minutes, decimal minutes degrees, decimal degrees These were easy to understand but if precision was needed. I would type (copy/paste) whatever the format into my Dell dash computer and it would make a plot for me. Never really needed much precision in a while, I aim for 30N, 81W and always got home. But between these 3 standards (and others) if misinterpreted could be hundreds of yards or maybe miles in error. This could be bad if I had to call for help and who ever I was talking to used a different format than myself. But wait, there's more. I get these emails from the USCG/Space-Force. Security areas off shore for rocket launches. I figure here I would find their standard, adjust my devices to display the same and start practicing my communications more correctly. I just further confused myself. What format is; " 28-37-54.93N/080-36-53.64W 28-40-00N/080-36-00W " So my questions to the forum; What is the more modern/correct L L format? What the heck does a dash mean? Thx Caveman Ralph
Mr Flintstone I read this as 28 degrees, 37 minutes, 54.93 seconds. This is incredibly precise, but hey have you ever been too accurate?
54.93 seconds. Crazy. So, using degrees, minutes, seconds, just with dashes. Is this still the normal mode to communicate L L? And no, just degrees gets me to a familiar inlet. Probably why I don't like pennies. Thx Ken
When typing, it's much easier than finding the degrees symbol. TBH- I have no idea where that even is!
