Letterboxing USA - Yahoo Groups Archive

Compass Declination

4 messages in this thread | Started on 2005-06-24

Compass Declination

From: cpascott (seh-letterbox@comcast.net) | Date: 2005-06-24 02:20:04 UTC
Quick question ...

Would you say the majority of letterbox clues using compass directions
were developed using properly declinated compasses or no? In other
words, are the majority of planters considering true north or magnetic
north?

I have my compass set to 15 degrees west declination as that's what
the reading is for most of New England, but I'm wondering if I should
reset it to 0 to get more accurate readings against letterbox clues
(even if true north will no longer be shown).

Thanks


CPAScott



RE: [LbNA] Compass Declination

From: Mosey (PonyExpressMail@comcast.net) | Date: 2005-06-23 21:30:51 UTC-05:00
I do all my clues using magnetic north. But come to think of it, I don't
say that in the clues. I probably should.

I haven't seen all that many boxes in my area that actually give many
compass degrees in the clues but I'd say that all of the boxes I've found
that *have* had compass degrees in the clues use magnetic north. Or so it
seems on my compass. I always set north to zero.

~~ Mosey ~~

-----Original Message-----
From: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of cpascott
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2005 9:20 PM
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [LbNA] Compass Declination


Quick question ...

Would you say the majority of letterbox clues using compass directions
were developed using properly declinated compasses or no? In other
words, are the majority of planters considering true north or magnetic
north?

I have my compass set to 15 degrees west declination as that's what
the reading is for most of New England, but I'm wondering if I should
reset it to 0 to get more accurate readings against letterbox clues
(even if true north will no longer be shown).

Thanks


CPAScott







Re: Compass Declination

From: bcostley (bobbyeubanks@yahoo.com) | Date: 2005-06-24 04:45:54 UTC
I'd guess 99% of letterbox compass clues are magnetic. If they don't
specify, I'd assume magnetic and if the clues don't work, try the
other way.

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "cpascott"
wrote:
> Quick question ...
>
> Would you say the majority of letterbox clues using compass directions
> were developed using properly declinated compasses or no? In other
> words, are the majority of planters considering true north or magnetic
> north?
>
> I have my compass set to 15 degrees west declination as that's what
> the reading is for most of New England, but I'm wondering if I should
> reset it to 0 to get more accurate readings against letterbox clues
> (even if true north will no longer be shown).
>
> Thanks
>
>
> CPAScott



Re: [LbNA] Re: Compass Declination

From: Eibhlin/Aisling (eibhlinm@gmail.com) | Date: 2005-06-24 05:21:27 UTC-05:00
Hi,

After about four years of letterboxing, if the clues don't work out
with magnetic north, I figure that the box is probably gone or I've
totally missed an important step in the process.

Almost every letterbox I've seen with compass directions, is also
using magnetic north. I do on my own clues, rather than try to
include a quick course in compass use.

Cheerfully,
Ais

On 6/23/05, bcostley wrote:
> I'd guess 99% of letterbox compass clues are magnetic. If they don't