As has been said many times before................use your GPS to find your spot position on a map, then use your plain old compass to show your direction of travel. Don't rely on even the best GPS to accurately show your direction of travel....and if you have just renewed your GPS batteries it may show a route 180 degree in the wrong direction, if you have forgotten to recalibrate it.

Before everyone jumps on me......of course a GPS indicates your direction of travel, but only in a straight line to your destination and unless you want to walk off a cliff edge or wade up to your neck in a lake, you must use your eyes and common sense.

Unlike some of the foreign lorries drivers in Kent who regularly drive down narrow lanes and have to be towed out backwards when they become jammed.

Just to be clear - the GPS with a loaded route installed guides you from one 'Waypoint' to the next, in turn, or to one that you select. The more waypoints pre-programmed into the route the more accurate the guidence.
My Garmin Legend has a facility to reverse a route too, this feature I couldn't find on my Satmap, however I didn't have it long enough to fully explore it's ins and outs.
Dave.

I tend to carry a guide book and a satmap for emergencies these days, although there's also always a compass buried in the depths of the pack. The sat map is heavy but it does save taking lots of paper maps so the weight is off set. I'd like to sort out a reliable solar charge source that's light so the sat map could become the main item used on multi dayers.

"Before everyone jumps on me......of course a GPS indicates your direction of travel, but only in a straight line to your destination and unless you want to walk off a cliff edge or wade up to your neck in a lake, you must use your eyes and common sense.!

I beg to differ here. When using a SATMAP your current location (a small blue dot) is surrounded by a small blue circle. As you walk a "direction of travel" line is shown coming off the circle showing the direction that you are walking in. This is completely independent of any waymarks.

If you are on a summit and wish to check your direction (say in thick mist) the DOT line shows exactly which way you are heading, thus negating the need to use either a map or compass.

"this feature I couldn't find on my Satmap"

It is there under the "reverse route" heading!!!!

Not the best place for the compass Les! GPS or not...
Don't consider the Pico solar charger btw - unless planning on a desert trip... I got one charge out of it (this was from home) thereafter it was useless and not worth it's weight.

Thanks for that SC. I must admit I didn't give the Satmap much of a chance and have considered getting another one since as I do like it's large screen, and ease of handling.
I guess your point about the direction of travel indicator is common with all units accepting maps, when not on a specific loaded route. If on a specific loaded route I would think you be using the seperate specific pointer?
What put me off the Satmap was that it seemed to use a lot of battery power and with the C2C card that I used - the route graphics yellow line was too thick making it very difficult to actually see what features the path/track, next to a wall/stream or whatever, it was following.
I could be persuaded to give it another go, but would have second thoughts about getting any route card.
Dave

Another question for users, re Satmap Active 10 plus.
How long from switching on does it take to log on to the satelites, and give correct onfo regarding position etc.
Ive seen one on offer with full 1:50,000 Eng, Scot, Wales maps and all usual accesories for £309.., is that a good price. I'm sure I paid more than that.
Dave.

Hi Dave,
That's a good price I'd say. The 1:50K map alone is £200+ if purchased separately.

The Satelites. If I use mine on a day walk I switch it on when I arrive at the car park and by the time my boots are on and everything is ready it has aquired the satelites and your ready to go. From memory they did improve this on a later version of the software so you may have had an early model if this was a problem you experienced.

Re your issue with the route line covering the map, the best way to get around that is the quickly de-activate the route, then reactivate it again after, thats just a couple of button presses.

There is also a feature now where the device goes into sleep mode after a period of inactivity, when you hit a button it walkes it up and the satelite is still locked on so your in business straight away. Saves a lot of battery power.

Les

Thanks for the tip.I've tried one, cant remember what it was called but it wasn't great. Its something someone will crack one day hopefully....