How do I find my altitude online?

[Fat Tone]

I got this swanky new watch Casio PRG-50T for my birthday and the altimeter clearly needs calibrating (either that or I am under 50m of water and didn't notice the flood )

Does anyone know where I can look up the altitude for my grid-reference online? And my grid-reference for that matter! I guess I can always call in at my local high-point on the way home and read the stone on top of the hill.

Cheers

Tony.

[GNEP]

You could try ordinance survey (http://www.ordinancesurvey.co.uk/) but last time I checked they didn't like giving free stuff away

[GNEP]

Actually you can type your postcode in to the pink box under "free & fun" on the homepage, press "go" and they give you a local map. There were spot-heights on the mosty zoomy-in one I saw for my postcode.

[GNEP]

And it shows contours. They're just not very visible in a city

[RhinoZ]

By the way,
Happy Birthday

[Fat Tone]

That's Brilliant! Thanks George!

I didn't even consider checking the OS site because I've used them before to buy maps for use on-line and it was SUCH a nightmare...I never expected to get that level of detail for free.

I am now calibrated at 80M I had to grab the picture, blow it up and do a lot of squinting, but I think that is the right one. I can cope if I am 5M out. Next job is to calibrate the pressure...

@RhinoZ - Thanks I think I am now officially middle-aged! But at least I have fresh gadget to play with

[GNEP]

No probs Tony. Like you, I've used them before and they were crap, but it seems that they have improved somewhat. No if they only allowed us to download highest-detail, vector-driven and properly layered (allowing us to turn on/off layers we want) maps, and combined it with the aerial photos from getmapping, all for free - now that would be something

Glad you're enjoying your gadgets...

[mutz]

I've got the PRG-50. What's the T for?

I'm not so sure the altimeter is so accurate. I've had variances from right on to 50m off, average around 15m off, which Casio claims is it's accuracy margin.

[J1NG]

Solar powered?

J1NG

[Fat Tone]

@J1NG - yes it is solar powered. That's one thing that made me glad I waited nearly 2 years before getting it (solar wasn't available back then). If you use the sensors a lot then you can kill the battery pretty quickly. Normal use keeps is topped up nicely, and 30 minutes in direct sun enough for a full charge if you need it.

@Mutz - the T is for Tungsten, for the case and strap. I particularly wanted that both for the appearance (it looks more like a regular watch, although admittedly it is so large it has it's own gravity ) and for feel/durability.

I've noticed some small changes in the altitude reading here, but pressure has been dropping a lot in the last couple of days so that will affect it. I set it to 80m at work. On the way home I went down to 60m and up to 210m (where all the local comms towers are). Home is 155m. When I got back to work it read 90m, but as I said, atmospheric pressure had dropped somewhat.

For fun/informal use I can put up with that. When I get fit enough for some seriously hilly orienteering (which I hope to do) then I'll just put a set-point in on the day.

I think the compass will be particularly useful; Oftentimes here we can't see the sun, and Wifey's navigation leaves a lot to be desired... What do you use your's for? (apart from telling the time perhaps)

T.

[Fat Tone]

BTW, only cost £120, imported from Australia with a full warranty.

[J1NG]

Yeah, bought the previous version 2 years ago, but then I needed a new watch and didn't know when the Solar version was coming out since I already waited for 1 1/2 years for that one. (Mine costed £125 in UK)

And I wasn't interested in the other functions, the Compass was the thing that I liked. (Doing Feng Shui and what not, it'll be kinda silly without a compass no? ) Though even the old versions had the pressure changing super fast. (Close window, 10M, Open window -60M )

Anyway have fun with it!

J1NG

[mutz]

I use mine primarily for putting dents in things wherever I swing my arm. Glad mine isn't tungsten.

Otherwise, I like the BIG numbers, barometer and compass. The light too, but pressing compass and then light, gotta be quick! Gonna try it diving sometime soon.

[Fat Tone]

If I press Compass and then Light it kills the 'warmup' display and then operates normally. I can use the light normally after that. Is that what yours does?

The atmospheric pressure has dropped massively today so my house has apparently risen 60m

[mutz]

Better than sinking...

I mean when I press compass in the dark, then light, the compass is still "hunting" while the light goes out and I'm still turning and twisting to get the orientation I'm looking for. Press light again and the compass is fixed, and I'm not sure about the orientation. Gonna have to practice that one...