What alternative ways of using compass other than finding direction?
Posted by Consequence_Green@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 42 comments
Guide me
Posted by Consequence_Green@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 42 comments
Guide me
BBorNot@reddit
You can take a bearing on two objects and use triangulation to find your location on a map.
Dehydratedmoist@reddit
Is there a tutorial for this somewhere. Would love to learn this
BBorNot@reddit
I learned this pre-internet, so I don't have any links for you. But there are tons of navigation tricks you can do with a compass. Obviously, you need one that can take a bearing -- some fancy binoculars do this too. Hikers use Silva compasses a lot. Usually, if you can, you take three bearings and transfer them to your chart. Now, if you are perfect those lines will all meet at a single spot, which is your location. Usually you will get a little triangle. If you only have one target but know your speed you can make a running fix to determine your location.
I used to love this stuff, but GPS ruined everything. It is too easy, fast, and too accurate.
_learned_foot_@reddit
No need for a compass, though that is much more accurate. You can be raw reckoning with rough guesses at the angles needed, then plot the triangle out. With a major landmark and walking, as I describe above, you can then do even more. If you want a compass and don't have, because you CANT plot marks, stick method - follow the shadow as the day moves and you have cardinal (assuming you don't drift).
dittybopper_05H@reddit
You can be really precise by using a sextant for this.
Measure the angle between the two objects on a map, and that will tell you pretty precisely where you are.
Though the wider the angle, the more precise the location will be.
_learned_foot_@reddit
Assuming you have the item for it I absolutely agree (and of course you can make a rough one with a plumb method), but I was more thinking without any possible tools except that map (or even a rough knowledge instead).
dittybopper_05H@reddit
Why wouldn’t you have a sextant? Dont you want to know where you are when GPS goes down?
_learned_foot_@reddit
I hang my head in shame.
qbg@reddit
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snellius%E2%80%93Pothenot_problem
EricaDeVine@reddit
Go on ebay and pick up a Soldier's Manual of Common Tasks.
wanderingpeddlar@reddit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WohhHM3vVME&t=6s
Here you go
shikkonin@reddit
Primary school? High school trigonometry?
_learned_foot_@reddit
You remember trig? Apply it. Depending how you do it gives you the approach. You are the point on a triangle or you traveled between the two points. You can calculate those angles roughly either to two points (if not walking) or one point (if walking). Now you have a triangle, find one of the points.
If you walk you can now calculate a lot more, including height, by adding your average stride now knowing how far you walked. Sextants worked similarly, as does wayfinding with stars.
I would suggest any scouting book from 60-90s, not joking. These contain practical way finding, first aid, security, fun stuff to do, bush craft, etc. one of my favorites was the star maps (no longer as accurate for older books), letting you roughly calculate at night.
Rhodoran@reddit
Creek Stewart on the survival show on Weather Channel said you could empty the mineral oil that makes it float to flush bugs out of your ear. Mineral oil supposed to suffocate them and then make easy to rinse out
TheDev1ce@reddit
The obvious one, with a map, you can find your position with some landmarks. They actually make special compasses to assist with this; they're generally clear, so you can see through to the map. You can kinda tell time, but you can wing it pretty close without it. Other than that? IDK, detect magnetic fields?
blacksmithMael@reddit
You can also do this with the help of a map protractor, such as when using a prismatic compass like the M73.
EricaDeVine@reddit
You can use a compass, a pace count, and basic trigonometric functions to determine the rough height of something (mountain, skyscraper, etc) from a distance
pile_of_fish@reddit
Use it to draw a perfect Olympic logo?
TweegsCannonShop@reddit
Throw it in self defense, but you must yell "You shall not com-pass!"
PrisonerV@reddit
If its in a cell phone, you can call for help?
whagon-wheel@reddit
Also, if it’s in a microwave, you could take it out of the microwave, and then cook dinner
Pat0san@reddit
If it is integrated with your rear view mirror, you can just drive to a nice restaurant.
canoegal4@reddit
Fidget spinner or if you have one of those compasses with the mirror you can use the mirror for a fire starter
Seth0351USMC@reddit
Could also use to make a bobber. The trapped air in it should be enough make it float in the cheap plastic compases. The metal one or map compass not so much.
dachjaw@reddit
The heavy ones can be used as a sinker.
Seth0351USMC@reddit
Or use the mirror for signaling or to see around corners.
greenman5252@reddit
You can trade it for a pizza and your favorite beverage
JRHLowdown3@reddit
Triangulate on a shooter.
100 years ago in the field we did this- a base camp and a patrol group. Both hear a shot. Immediately both shoot an azimuth in the direction they hear it. Patrol radios base camp with their location and the azimuth and it's plotted on a map.
Did this "more than a few" times and got it accurate to within 100 meters on the ground.
Back before the proliferation of thermals, this was the answer to the often regurgitated "retreat sniper gonna get ya" question. Until you've done it, you'd don't realize how easy it is.
_learned_foot_@reddit
There's a challenge now of find something by a sound a week and get millions, don't by end of year die. Every single hunter, army, sound nerd, etc would have it by end of second month latest.
sargsauce@reddit
It's always amazed me how well we can locate something by sight after hearing it because of the offset of our ears. Like when you hear a bird in the trees but can't pinpoint it until you're focused on the sound.
Having two groups like you said is like having a giant set of offset ears.
JRHLowdown3@reddit
+1
kkinnison@reddit
make straight lines over long distances for something like a runway
think of it not just direction, but ACCURATE direction over a wide area
nobody4456@reddit
You can use a compass to tell time, but you have to some math. Not really useful I don’t think
halcyonforeveragain@reddit
You can also use time to make a compass. (Old boy scout trick to basically use a sundial to make a compas)
bondinchas@reddit
You could find live wires in a wall. Electrical currents create a magnetic field, that would make the compass needle deviate when you move it past where a cable is buried.
Unlikely_Ad_9861@reddit
Some have magnifying glass (start a fire?). Flat plastic (reflective surface to signal aircraft?). Ruler to measure fish.
kiwiberryman@reddit
You can use the mirror for signalling for help if it's the sighting mirror type. Or grooming I guess.
regjoe13@reddit
You can throw it into someone
It_is_Fries_No_Patat@reddit
You can store Whiskey in it!
https://www.ctsys.com/whiskey-compass-fact-vs-fiction/
buttchugreferee@reddit
You can measure the rough area of a plot of land
Take bearings, pace it out, then with some quick geometry/trigonometry, you can figure out how big that piece of land is.
canoegal4@reddit
Viking Sunstone
dropkickoz@reddit
https://www.almanac.com/find-your-way-without-compass