How do I convert Longitude and Latitude?

[tommy2tone]

I know there are computer programs to do it. I am looking for a way to it with pen and paper. I do alot of Geocaching. Sometimes the coordiates are in degree/min/sec or decimal. How do I go from DD/MM/SS to decimal and vise versa? I see where you have to convert minutes/60 to a decimal and other steps. But that is all Greek to me. I need and easier tutorial..

 

[magpens]

You will probably find that the value of DEGREES is always specified as degrees.

The MM/SS is the part that is decimalized.

There are 60 minutes in 1 degree, and there are 60 seconds in 1 minute.

So, suppose the decimal part of a longitude is 0.67354
multiply by 60 and you get 40.4124. The 40 tells you it is 40 minutes.

Next, take the decimal part of the minutes, 0.4124
multiply it by 60 and you get 24.744. The 24 tells you it is 24 seconds,
or, rounding up, 25 seconds.

You then have

xxx.67354 = xxx/40/25 approximately

Make sense? I have never done this before !!!!


Now, going the other way, you are starting with xxx/40/25

Take the 25 and divide it by 3600 and you get 0.00694 ( because there are 3600 seconds in 1 degree)

Take the 40 and divide it by 60 and you get 0.66667 (because there are 60 minutes in 1 degree)

Add the last 2 decimal numbers and you get 0.67361

So your longitude is xxx.67361 . Pretty close to what we started with, eh?

xxx/40/25 = xxx.67361

I can't think of an easier way to do this .... you need a calculator or a set of tables.

 

[tommy2tone]

Thanks magpens.. I think the lightbulb just went on... You explanded it very well.

 

[mecompco]

Haven't gone Geocaching for years--kinda funny that I got a "Found Report" email this morning from a White Jeep travel bug we placed back in 2005.

FWIW, I used software back then to download the cache data, which then uploaded it to the GPS. Very efficient.

Regards,
Michael

 

[Sabaharr]

I have been Geocaching since 2001. There should be a setting in your gps to convert any form of coordinates to WPS84 or to any other form. If using a phone it will accept the coordinates any way it receives them.

 

[Edgar]

Jeff, if you have an iPhone, send me a pm and I will send you a redemption code for an app that will do all these conversions for you (and much, much more).

It's only available for iPhone/iPad.

Edgar