GPSrChive Discussion Forum

I'm on my first venture into hand-held GPS with a GPSMAP H1 [Software version 12.08]. I must say that, despite a lifetime in IT including developing user interfaces and using a multitude of different ones, I still find it as user-friendly as a cornered rat... So, help required with something basic.

I go on walks for which there are detailed instructions: "From the road carry on NW for 500m and then turn left on the footpath". I've been pacing out distances, with varying degrees of accuracy, for years. But how do I read off on the H1 my distance from some point passed earlier?

I can just about put in a waypoint, but I can't find any way of showing me how far I've come from it.

henrylaw wrote: Fri Aug 28, 2026 3:43 pm I'm on my first venture into hand-held GPS with a GPSMAP H1 [Software version 12.08]. I must say that, despite a lifetime in IT including developing user interfaces and using a multitude of different ones, I still find it as user-friendly as a cornered rat... So, help required with something basic.

Well, welcome to the exciting and fantastical world of Garmin!

Many of us have been using Garmin navigators for decades, and we can still be just as lost as you are, as Garmin made a lot of UI changes for this model, and their are plenty of things we have to 're-learn' or 'un-learn'.

henrylaw wrote: Fri Aug 28, 2026 3:43 pm I go on walks for which there are detailed instructions: "From the road carry on NW for 500m and then turn left on the footpath". I've been pacing out distances, with varying degrees of accuracy, for years. But how do I read off on the H1 my distance from some point passed earlier?

I can just about put in a waypoint, but I can't find any way of showing me how far I've come from it.

What I would do with these instructions, "to travel in a specific direction for a specified distance", is to use the 'Sight 'N Go' page to project a waypoint at the specified distance and direction, then travel to it. This way, you can go off course to avoid obstacles (when necessary), or for any other reason, and not loose your place, as you will always be navigating to the Sight 'N Go destination waypoint.

See GPSrChive > How To... > Navigation > Projecting a Waypoint for more details on 'Sight 'N Go' operation.

I'm sure some of our members will chime in soon with some more great ideas.

Welcome to GPSrChive!

GPSrChive wrote: Fri Aug 28, 2026 11:02 pm See GPSrChive > How To... > Navigation > Projecting a Waypoint for more details on 'Sight 'N Go' operation.

That looks very feasible; I'll have a go at that when I'm out next.

And that "How to" pages is priceless; thank you.