Per page discussions (new posts)

Gps Position Formats And Map Datums: OSGB

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 07:56:46 +0000

If you pick positions off OS maps, or report in a position based on an OS map, or using an OS map to find someone using their "Landranger" ordnance survey reference; need to be aware that these all use the OSGB36 datum.

I have seen on the very basic Etrex (not suitable for competition admittedly) that you could set it to "OSGB Grid" but have any datum you liked. Result - (cross country) pilots ringing in an incorrect "TM135635" style location.

In summary:

If using GPS in "ordnance survey" mode then needs to be OSGB Grid and OSGB(36) datum.
If working in long-lat, use WGS84.

First year of competition for me this year, so will be interesting to see how this works in real tasks.

Chairman: Chairman

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 10:46:04 +0000

Role of Hang Gliding Competition Panel Chairman

“The Panel is responsible for the fair, effective and impartial administration of UK hang gliding competitions, the selection of national teams and any UK representation at other international hang gliding events” (excerpt from the constitution)

The role of the HG Comps Panel Chairman is, therefore, to enable that administration by directing the Panel in their duties. The Chairman should also complete specific duties including:

1. Arrange date/time of meetings.
2. Produce agenda for meetings.
3. Chair meetings ensuring proper debate and fair decisions in accordance with the constitution. If unavailable for a meeting, the Chairman can delegate the position to another Panel member.
4. Approve minutes.
5. Disseminate information to Skywings/Cross Country magazine/Website as required. This includes Panel decisions, competition dates and Team selections.
6. Liaise with BHPA Exec including annual report for AGM.

BOS final: Sunday: BOS Sunday Update

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 13:48:23 +0000

The wind is off, and the drizzle is on.
No Task.
bugger!

BOS final. Saturday: Up date:

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 10:21:52 +0000

The Sports Class did not have a task

Task to Uttoxeter called.
Gary was the only one to make it. Grant fell short by 200 mtrs.

Task Results are here
http://bhgc.wikidot.com/bos2009:r3d2

Ager nats. day two results: here

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:48:44 +0000

http://bhgc.wikidot.com/comps2009i:uk-nationals-results

Ager nats. day two results: Results page?

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:38:44 +0000

Can you tell me where the result page is?

Go Girls Go: Can you oblige?

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:08:42 +0000

No. Not yet!. Can you help out here and educate us ??

Go Girls Go: go girls go

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:55:39 +0000

Its true then… Carl is officially a Girl!
Have you seen the photos where he's dressed as an air stewardess?

Worlds 2009: Crystal Balls at the Worlds

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:24:17 +0000

I enjoyed the Vids from Jonny, as well as his blog.
Its easy to see how he does it. He flies one handed. Probably because his sprogs are set correctly so he has no fear of being spat out, upside down. :-))

Jamie's Tweets I found rather good as well. It least it shows that a blonde knows how to use a phone!.

By far the most "fun" was the Irish blogg. Its good to know that there are still some out there that are still adept at taking the piss.

The Ager open, fortunately has Jonny and Jamie reporting. Without them we wouldn't have much of a clue that 24/7 Carl is doing rather well.

Worlds 2009: Thanks

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:45:37 +0000

.. I kind of lost the ball, but it's updated with the final results now. Getting any media coverage proved to be difficult … had we won, I'd like to think we might have got somewhere. But coverage for us, enthusiast couldn't have been better with the official sites and blogs. Really enjoyed Jonny Durand's contribution:-

http://jonnydurand.blogspot.com/

How does he do it? Come second in the worlds and provide the best coverage on the net!

Not quiet as exciting as Jonny's movies, but my BOS 08 and 09 efforts (as mentioned in Skywings! ) can be seen here:-

http://www.film41.co.uk/F41/00-BOS_Videos.html

in site map - panel - ex members are listed: Looks good

Mon, 18 May 2009 04:23:44 +0000

Thanks!

in site map - panel - ex members are listed: Had a bit of a re-arrange.

Sun, 17 May 2009 20:50:15 +0000

And hopefully its a bit better now.
or is it?? :-)

in site map - panel - ex members are listed: Are you refering to this?

Sun, 17 May 2009 18:58:00 +0000

Comps Panel

* John Aldridge
* Kathleen Rigg
* Mike Armstrong
* Nigel Bray

I shall redesign the way this works. So they are not linked that way anymore.

BOS Round one: Thanks to everyone for making Sports event so much fun!

Tue, 05 May 2009 22:15:09 +0000

Hi, to all the guys in Sports and the main task that we're so welcoming and so willing to help us with anything and everything. It was a real pleasure to be amongst such a great flying event and learning from the top guys and fellow novices alike! Pete Coad as Comp Director helped make it entertaining and good natured too.

2 great XC's in 5 days, both my longest in the UK and the only ones I've managed since 2005, when I was flying my Rio. Looking forward to more, new sites, great scenery and 'craic'. Cheers, Craig. PS hopefully you'll see my website contact here too!

Enquiry: Exec review record to be corrected

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:29:02 +0000

At the next exec meeting the official record regarding this complaint is expected to be modified to show it was supported by other pilots - as was requested by Richard Lovelace and Malcolm Brown.

Batteries: hybrio

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:49:20 +0000

The new (early 2009) hybrid NiMH batteries are very good for this task.
Uniross Hybrio are one example, Sanyo Eneloop are another.

They have nearly the capacity of a full-blown NiHM, but whereas they self discharge at about 30% per month, the hybrids do the same 30% in a year.

Garmin air map: missed one!

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:39:32 +0000

http://www.img2gps.co.cc/ (March 2009)
The free program IMG2GPS is my preferred method of getting the airmaps into a gps.
Much easier to set up and use than MapSource.
It is a graphical interface, and includes Sendmap to do the dirty work.
Like others you need Garmin's USB driver if you want to use the (much quicker) usb cable on 60/76 series.

If you actually want to look at the maps before you send them to your gps, I second the recommendation of GPSMapEdit which is shareware.

Another note: the transparent maps work really well :)

2008- Nov 717-734: uknxcl formats

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:42:57 +0000

The GPX format is XML, with lat and long in WGS84 decimal degrees. Very easy to read and handle, and edit!

387.548584
2009-03-05T13:31:06Z

For that reason I don't think gpx would ever take over from IGC: the comps need a secure format for scoring, which only IGC can provide, and there's no reason to use a different format when everybody's used to gpsdump etc. which produce IGC.
My using gpsbabel and gpx files is very unusual. The reason is gpsdump requires the garmin driver, whereas gpsbabel doesn't.

2008- Nov 717-734: More ~ uknxcl formats

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:21:59 +0000

To date, using the igc format to exchange gps flight track data seems to be the standard. The gpx format may well become the standard to replace it. If, or when, it does we could look to make use of it. However, whatever happens, we will settle on using one single format only. In the meantime the format we'll continue to use will be the .igc format.

You are right, we do not make use of any security information contained in any .igc file. The UK NXCL competition has always relied on the integrity of its competitors, and this will continue to be the case. It remains the responsibility of competitors to police their own competition. Should any decide to cheat they'll simply be named, shamed, barred and historical results expunged!

If, Andrew, you have examples of your GPS flight tracks in GPX format do please forward them so I can have a look. To date, no one has sent one in and no one else has queried whether of not they can/could be used.

2008- Nov 717-734: uknxcl formats

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:14:47 +0000

For anyone who may follow this:
The 2009 UKNXCL handbook, available at the UKNXCL collectivex site (http://nxcl.collectivex.com/), says that waypoints are now accepted in either OSGB, or WGS84 decimal degrees formats. The IGC file you may submit to the website is for drawing on Google maps/earth only, not scoring, so I wouldn't expect that the .IGC security stamp is required (i.e. gpsbabel might be ok). However, if you want to store some irrefutable evidence to support your competition entry, then a securely stamped .IGC from gpsdump will do the job.

If .IGC can be supported, then I think it's likely that the common .GPX format could be supported by the website too.

By the way the online Calameo viewer thing is pretty good :)