GPS Datum for Walking in France?

Q. Can anyone confirm the GPS Datum settings when using the GPS with IGN Bleu 1:25000 maps.

Jeremy Brunger, Bromley

A. The Institut Geographique National (ING) Carte De Randonneée 1:25 000 maps cover the whole of France and are similar to the Ordnance Survey Explorer Series (Orange Covers).

Each map is over-printed with a blue 1km square grid. This grid refers to GPS co-ordinates using Position Format: UTM/UPS and Map Datum: WGS84 - as indicated in blue type on the edge of the map (albeit in French).

So for walking in France, in order for your GPS Device to match the blue 1km grid squares on your map you should set your GPS Device to:

Position Format: UTM/UPS
and
Map Datum: WGS84

To give you an idea of what this looks like - the GPS co-ordinates for the summit of Mont Ventoux (1909m) in Provence are:

31T 0682284
UTM 4893591

For more information on our GPS Waypoints, download our free GPS samples which includes sample GPS Data files and links to the software and a cable vendor - see the current edition of our regular Newsletter.

For more general information on GPS and GPS Devices - see

For fellow user Questions and Answers about GPS and GPS Devices - see Q & A - GPS Waypoints

Hope this helps

Mike (Editor)

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