Difference Between GPS and Map Location
Your GPS says you are standing on the trail, but the map shows the trail 50 feet away. Who is right?
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Convert Coordinates in Seconds (No Setup Needed)The Simple Explanation
GPS uses satellites to find your absolute position on Earth. Maps, however, are drawings that might use outdated reference systems (Datums) or have minor drawing errors. When they don't match, it's usually a "Datum Shift".
Real World Example
An old hiking map might be drawn using the NAD27 datum. If your modern GPS is set to WGS84, your location will appear to be shifted by over 100 meters on the paper map!
Pro Tip
When entering coordinates into map apps, always double-check if there is a negative sign (-). Missing a negative sign on longitude will place you on the opposite side of the planet!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I fix a map shift?
Check the legend of your paper map to see what Datum it uses, and change the settings in your GPS unit to match that Datum.