Saving Waypoint Data

[Mickey G.]

I have been using an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of all my waypoints where I list:
Waypoint Number - this is the number I write on my charts to identify the waypoint for my course.
Waypoint Name - this is the name of the bouy such as R12 Fl R Bell 4 sec
Lat and Long
Bearing on course and the reverse bearing for return.

I also have a separate page in the spreadsheet for all the courses I have plotted.
such as East Greenwich, RI to Nantucket Island by way of Newport, RI, Cuttyhunk Island, MA, Edgertown on Martha's Vineyard Island and finally Nantucket Island.

I copy each waypoint from my waypoint list and past on my course page with all the information on the waypoint.

I was wondering does anyone have a better method of saving their waypoints.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Sounds just like what I was doing

for many years with our old Magellan Blazer GPS.

Just bought a Garmin GPSmap 76Cx. The unit, the chip, the software and your computer now do all that for you.

I keep the old list and the old GPS on board as backups.

 

[Paul Akers]

When I saved mine...

...I included a "region" uch as CCC for "Ce cod Bay" or EP/WP for "East" Passage or "West" Passage. This would be a sortable field that would help me to "localize" the waypoints by region.

 

[Roger (Ninette Manitoba)]

Garmin 76 Cx and Mapsource

Firstly the disclaimer. I am not an employee of Garmin nor have any affiliation with them. Just a happy customer. The Mapsource program that comes with the 76 allows you to analyze in minute detail each leg of a track. Some legs can be as short as several yards depending on when you change headings, so a track can have hundreds if not thousands of waypoints. It tracks time, speed, heading, location and duration for each leg. From this, you can export to an excel spreadsheet, then massage the data endlessly. For instance, in your case, you want to name the significant waypoint, and that is easily done, but because the GPS keeps all kinds of other data, you can also record the date and time that you were at that waypoint, and the approach headings that you took so that you can replicate your entry to perhaps a tricky or dark harbor.

One of the things we have done for our lake is to create a cruising quide which amoung other things has a page dedicated to each likely anchorage. This page lists the coordinates, , positin on an ariel photo, a picture of the area, approach strategies, depths, bottom conditions, prevailing winds, facilities, sights, shore features etc.

Good luck with your project.

 

[navigator97]

More on saving Waypoint Data

I, too, have used Excel Spreadsheet for many years to capture, and keep up to date, the waypoint data.

I also use the Garmin Mapsource software for all of the waypoint and route data.

Prior to Mapsource (Garmin), I used (and still maintain) EasyGPS, whch is a free download. You can upload all waypoint and route data from your GPS (Garmin 12XL and Garmin GPSMAP 492 in my case)into EasyGPS, then make any additions of waypoints or routes, correct any data, update any data, and then download back into te GPS. You can do the same with MapSource.

I use a waypoint naming convention similar to what Paul described. In the Excel sheet I have the lefthand column as the Light List Number. For names, I start with 2 letters for the area then the Bouy (or other). Example: SR-G19 for Sakonnet River Bouy Green 19. NEHIG3 for Naragansett Bay East Passage Hog Is. Green 3 bouy. That way, when I look a name, I can easily know what area it is. I have about 500 waypoints and 19 routes.