*** GPS Units for Search & Rescue ***

Thu Jul 20 09:18:15 1995
Message : #29138981    From: Ken Hill
Address : khill@husky1.stmarys.ca
Group   : Usenet.misc.emerg-services
Length  : 181 words
Subject : Re: SAR and GPS: Has anyone have any experience??????
Org.  : Nova Scotia Technology Network


We got on the GPS bandwagon quite early, doing some of the first work on
the application of GPS to land SAR in 1990 (brag mode off). We have a
"boxful" of assorted (and unfortunately somewhat dated) receivers, and have
learned a _lot_ over the years about (1) how to apply GPS during a search,
and (2) what kind of receivers to get. Right now the hands-down choice for
wilderness SAR work is the Silva gps/compass (IMHO). It completely blows
the Trimble Scout (e.g.) out of the water, especially for its ability to
track satellites under thick forest canopy. At the recent NASAR conference
in Nashville, it held a constant fix inside a closed convention center,
without an external antenna!

Anyone interested in the application of GPS to SAR might want to get a hold
of our RESPONSE article, entitled "GPS Navigation in Land Search," which
appeared in 1992. I can email the text portion, without the nifty
illustrations.

Ken Hill
khill@husky1.stmarys.ca
Waverley SAR
Nova Scotia, Canada

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