Wheresmycows.com GPS Farm Mapping. Farm Mapping and Design Made Easy
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Recording Points

There are a couple of little tricks to taking points out on your farm that make drawing up your map on your PC easy. The method for easily recording and mapping your farm is outlined below.

Make sure that you start with fresh memory

To make downloading and drawing your farm map easy, you’ll only want to download the relevant points that you have taken relating to your farm. The best way to ensure that you only get these points is to delete any existing track logs and waypoints from your GPS before you start. To do this, refer to section 2.4 Clearing the Memory.

Handy tip: Whenever you are moving, the GPS will be adding to the track log. We use the track log to draw lines between waypoints in the order they were taken, which makes drawing your map much easier than just looking at a galaxy of dots on your screen! If you are travelling between paddocks or around a large obstacle, turn off track logging until you reach the place where you wish to start recording again.

To turn the track log on and off follow these steps

Recording Fields/Paddocks

Before you record any points, we recommend that you allow your GPS to “warm up”. When you first turn the GPS on, it will begin acquiring satellites. Once it locks on to enough satellites, the accuracy is displayed in the top left hand corner of the screen. Wait until this number gets down to below 10m before you start recording points. The lower the number, the more accurate your mapping will be.

To be able to draw your paddocks on your computer, you will need to record every angle of every fence line with your GPS. We do this by recording waypoints on the angles, and a track log which shows how the angles join together.
When recording a paddock, start at one post (usually by the gate is a good start, but it does not matter where you start) and make your way around the paddock, recording waypoints at all angles around the fence line until you get back to where you started.

Check out the GPS Recording Tips leaflet included in this pack for some handy pointers to help you along with your point recording.

Before you record your first paddock, be sure to turn the track log ON.

GPS60 Series

 

Oregon and Dakota Series

To turn the track log on or off

  1. Press MENU twice to enter the main menu page.
  2. With ‘Tracks’ highlighted, press ENTR.
  3. Press the rocker pad left or right to highlight ‘On’ or ‘Off’.
  4. Press ENTR to make your selection.
  5. Press QUIT to return to the main menu.

To record a waypoint (angle post)

  1. While holding the GPS over the post, press MARK. (Tip: we recommend that you hold the GPS over the post for several seconds before pressing MARK which will give a more accurate position.
  2. Do not worry about naming the waypoint; the GPS will automatically number and increment them for you. Press ENTR to store the point.
  3. The waypoint is now recorded and you may proceed to the next post along the fence line where you will repeat this process again.

 

To turn the track log on or off

  • Touch the Setup icon.

Oregon setup button

  • Then touch the Tracks icon.

Oregon Tracks button

  • Then touch the Track Log Do Not Record icon.

Oregon Tracklog button

  • Then select the Record, Do Not Show or Record, Show On Map icon to setup how you would like the track to be stored and displayed.

Oregon Tracklog do not record

To record a waypoint (angle post)

Important Note:

  • If you notice that the bars showing the GPS accuracy have a red cross through them the GPS will not record your point accurately. The “red cross” means it could not lock onto any satellites. The easiest way to correct this is to turn the unit off then restart the unit once you are out in the paddock.

oregon showing no gps satellites available or no lock

  • While holding the GPS over the post, touch the Mark Waypoint.

Oregon mark waypoint button
(Tip: we recommend that you hold the GPS over the post for several seconds before touching the Mark Waypoint which will give a more accurate position.)

  • Then touch the Save icon. The waypoint numbers will increment automatically each time you save a new waypoint.

Oregon save waypoint button

    • Or if it is a special feature that you want to remember later on touch the Save and Edit icon. This will allow you to edit the waypoint properties and enter a name for the waypoint.
  • The waypoint is now recorded and you may proceed to the next angle in the fence line where you will repeat this process again.

Moving between paddocks/fields

When you move between paddocks, your track log will record where you go. This means that when you download your track log to your PC, you will see the outline of the paddocks, as well as lines through your paddocks where you have changed between them. This is not a problem, and as long as you are aware of the reason for these extra lines they will not cause you any hassles.

There is a method to remove the lines between paddocks by saving each paddock as a separate track log. However, the benefit gained by doing this is outweighed by the extra time involved setting this system up.
We recommend that you simply record all of the angles as waypoints and use the track log as a guide to show how they all join together. After drawing the paddocks in you can then hide the track log and you’d never know the lines between the paddocks ever existed.

When you reach a new paddock, just continue recording waypoints on the posts as you did in the last paddock. Note; it is not necessary to re-record points or fence-lines that you already recorded in the previous paddock.

Finish recording fields/paddocks

When you have finished recording paddocks it is not necessary to save your track log. You can simply turn the GPS off and go home. It will be ready to download your points.