Base Plate Compass, "every" part identified and explained

Here is a list of EVERY part and function on a standard Base Plate Compass.
I did an internet search this morning and there wasn’t one single website or video showing “every” part on a Base Plate Compass so I thought it would be interesting to make a video, so at least the information is out there.
This is a long video so if you want to fast-forward to a particular feature, here is the order they are described. You can "click" the time to jump to that point in the video.
1. Direction arrow 3:20
2. Luminous pointer 3:50
3. Romer scales 4:15
4. Bezel/dial 5:35
5. Orienting lines 6:09
6. Ruler (imperial) 7:08
7. Magnetic needle 7:30
8. Risers 8:15
9. Lanyard attachment 8:50
10. Orienting arrow 9:15
11. Ruler (metric) 10:00
12. Declination scales 10:15
13. Index Mark / Line 11:35
14. Hole with crosshairs 12:10
15. Parallax Line(s) 12:50
16. Magnifier 14:10
17. Label holder 14:35
18. Sighting hole 17:20
19. Sighting mirror 18:10
20. Sighting Lines (H) 19:25
21. Sighting Lines (V) 19:40
22. Index Line 20:45
Here are the links mentioned in the video:
Take UTM coordinates /Grid reference with compass • UTM coordinates & grid...
A simple method of dealing with magnetic declination • Magnetic Declination (...
Slope angle with and without an inclinometer • Slope angle with or wi...

Пікірлер: 553

  • @richardmeyer83
    @richardmeyer838 ай бұрын

    You left out the most important part of reading a mirror compass, if you look at the compass and then look back up at the mirror you will see a picture of a guy that’s lost

  • @Jimimac73

    @Jimimac73

    7 ай бұрын

    Unless there's an artist following you about you'll see the reflection of a lost person not a picture!

  • @Max-lf4br

    @Max-lf4br

    7 ай бұрын

    @@Jimimac73 or a photographer

  • @scottnorvell2955

    @scottnorvell2955

    7 ай бұрын

    😂

  • @PHSPictures

    @PHSPictures

    7 ай бұрын

    😂😂😂😂

  • @richardmeyer83

    @richardmeyer83

    7 ай бұрын

    @@Jimimac73 so true it’s hard for me to believe I said picture

  • @MrProphetius
    @MrProphetius2 ай бұрын

    never thought of buying a compass, never needed one. after watching this, i bought one.

  • @ianbelletti6241

    @ianbelletti6241

    2 ай бұрын

    I rarely need a compass. Most of my navigation isn't exacting enough to need the accuracy a compass provides. Normally, just using the sun as reference and knowing whether or not it's morning or afternoon is enough for most of my navigation.

  • @kwgm8578
    @kwgm85788 ай бұрын

    I learned to use a base compass in scouts -- about 60 years ago. Thanks for the refresher!

  • @BIG-DIPPER-56

    @BIG-DIPPER-56

    8 ай бұрын

    Ditto 😎👍

  • @davesradiorepairs6344

    @davesradiorepairs6344

    8 ай бұрын

    Yeah, same here.... Need a refresher course...

  • @QuantumMechanic_88

    @QuantumMechanic_88

    8 ай бұрын

    Same here and went on to teach land navigation in Army Rangers. All the best.

  • @rickieoakes5267

    @rickieoakes5267

    8 ай бұрын

    I learned land nav. in the Marine corps and went on to teach a lot of Boy Scouts 😊

  • @Skorpychan

    @Skorpychan

    7 ай бұрын

    Same here, but I didn't know what all the extra bits were actually for. Plus, of course, I left scouts about 20 years ago. Things have gotten fuzzy since then.

  • @allenmorgan
    @allenmorgan8 ай бұрын

    I love it when something unexpected pops up in my feed that gives me so much enjoyment. Bit of a hunt to find my old Silva to follow along but as a bonus came across my slide rule too. I hope kids and grandkids will humour me.

  • @TheMapReadingCompany

    @TheMapReadingCompany

    8 ай бұрын

    Glad you enjoyed it

  • @impromptu24
    @impromptu248 ай бұрын

    I've never in my 40 years held a compass in hand, but this is the KZread video I never knew I needed to watch! Great stuff!

  • @torgrimhanssen5100

    @torgrimhanssen5100

    8 ай бұрын

    Living in northern Norway, it is still probably part of the curriculum.

  • @CatatonicImperfect

    @CatatonicImperfect

    8 ай бұрын

    Tomorrow: The technological marvel that is the sextant.

  • @g3cwi_Radio_Adventures
    @g3cwi_Radio_Adventures8 ай бұрын

    I have been using compasses for well over 50 years and I still learned a lot! Thanks.

  • @YTusercomment
    @YTusercomment8 ай бұрын

    Fantastic instructional videos...thank you. I NEVER venture into the forest depending solely on a battery-operated GPS unit or smartphone GPS. I always carry my Garmin GPS, a baseplate compass, and printed maps.

  • @colsmith7257

    @colsmith7257

    8 ай бұрын

    I found surveying scrub much faster and easier than using a GPS. For example how do sight a GPS. The Team I worked with wouldn't share any information on how to use the GPS , I couldn't be bothered to acquire the skills, I was always given the defective Garmin GPS, there were quite a few. A compass is so simple, elegant and reliable.

  • @Ciaokat
    @Ciaokat12 күн бұрын

    You are so passionate and it comes through in your videos. Thanks for the lessons!

  • @gregryan3252
    @gregryan3252Ай бұрын

    Learning how to read and use a compass is one of those skills you never knew you needed until the battery in your GPS goes dead and you freak out because you just realized how lost you really are. Thank God I learned these analog skills when I was in the army.

  • @Man_Cave
    @Man_CaveАй бұрын

    I kept one of these on my person at all times when serving in the U.S. Marines from 1981-1985. I still have it to this day. It did everything I required for map and field navigation.

  • @raphaelandrews3617
    @raphaelandrews3617Ай бұрын

    Thank you I have been looking for this for 20yrs. BUY anything comes with instruction on how it work except a compass.

  • @timothyhowes2942
    @timothyhowes29428 ай бұрын

    Excellent, simple, clear and concise. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

  • @TheMapReadingCompany

    @TheMapReadingCompany

    7 ай бұрын

    Glad you enjoyed it!

  • @LockBits-ts6eo
    @LockBits-ts6eo8 ай бұрын

    I'm a bit miffed, that I hadn't found you before now! Thanks very much, you're great to watch. I'm also jealous of your collection of compasses.

  • @mikeyb4610
    @mikeyb46108 ай бұрын

    Wow all that in one small piece of plastic & numbers!….thanks for sharing I’ve learned so much from this 🗺️🙌✨

  • @billmmckelvie5188
    @billmmckelvie51888 ай бұрын

    When I was sixteen I'll never forget doing my Bonze Duke of Edinburgh Award in the Pennines, the fog came down whilst we were up a rather large hill on a peaty feature less landscape. Using a map & compass I managed to navigate my group down to the next checkpoint which was a phone box. It wasn't made easy when half of the group wanted to go back and I had a doubt whether they had really grasped the art of orienteering. It was one of those situations were despite explaining everything clearly they still weren't getting it, as I had the map & compass I stopped trying to negotiate and carried on and the group followed.

  • @uploadJ

    @uploadJ

    8 ай бұрын

    Good show. Carry on.

  • @savage22bolt32

    @savage22bolt32

    8 ай бұрын

    Bloody good mate 🇺🇸🇬🇧

  • @Cous1nJack

    @Cous1nJack

    8 ай бұрын

    Sounds like you were in the wrong landscape for bronze.

  • @billmmckelvie5188

    @billmmckelvie5188

    8 ай бұрын

    @@Cous1nJack Until I find my tan Duke of Edinburgh's book, I cannot comment whether it was Bronze or part of my Silver, I completed my Bronze and did a portion of my Silver which may have the orienteering and overnight camping but since we're talking about 1975, the photographic memory ain't so good! 🤣

  • @nickgreaves3355

    @nickgreaves3355

    7 ай бұрын

    @@Cous1nJackI had the same we had no choice in the Army Cadet Force you had to do The Duke Of Edinburgh Bronze if you were interested or not in orienteering that’s why half couldn’t be bothered by D.O.E Silver it was volunteer’s only and Gold was a whole new ball game.

  • @certuv
    @certuvАй бұрын

    I shall watch this later on as I have not time to rake it in at this moment , many thank's for the info.

  • @BothanboatsIdler
    @BothanboatsIdler8 ай бұрын

    This video makes me want a new compass... You deserve a bit of Silva sponsorship for this mate! 😆 superb stuff, thank you!

  • @ianbelletti6241
    @ianbelletti62418 ай бұрын

    One thing to be aware of is that not all maps are oriented to match North to being straight up from top dead center. Always check the map's compass rose to be certain of the exact North orientation on the map.

  • @kmr_tl4509

    @kmr_tl4509

    4 ай бұрын

    Why aren't they?

  • @ianbelletti6241

    @ianbelletti6241

    4 ай бұрын

    @@kmr_tl4509 they are usually oriented to the map North, not magnetic North. The compass rose marks the magnetic North orientation. Occasionally a map is drawn to fit the area to the page in the direction the area is oriented causing the top of the map to not match North. Only limited areas of the Earth have magnetic North match the map North. That's why the compass rose is so important.

  • @timcoolican459

    @timcoolican459

    2 ай бұрын

    Great point. Very important.

  • @KarlHeckman
    @KarlHeckman8 ай бұрын

    Bravo. Well done sir. I'm a map and compass nerd. It's nice to have you here.

  • @dallassukerkin6878
    @dallassukerkin6878Ай бұрын

    As ever, a fascinating topic covered clearly and presented engagingly ... someone should give you a job doing this :D

  • @pmb0001
    @pmb00018 ай бұрын

    A great refresher from my old Army Officer school days - very informative and got my vote and made me a subscriber.

  • @anim8torfiddler871
    @anim8torfiddler8718 ай бұрын

    *No longer a compass virgin: I watched straight thru.* [New Subscriber!] *_Plainly,_* THIS is a video I will need to watch a few times. I've done what I thought was a fair amount of BASIC map reading, driving about the USA, but just orienting myself very generally to the compass points from a general awareness of directions about me... principally, the directions of sunrise/sunset. (As long as you make no excursions from the roadway, this seems to work...) But Your video is my FIRST introduction to glimpsing the technical basics of cartography - a subject to which some have devoted their careers. I am humbled by your encyclopedic grasp of the business! Um...Moss still grows on the Northern aspect of trees in the forests, yes? *_Over the past decade, I've been following the reports on the drifting positions of our planet's magnetic poles from their long-stable positions._* When I've mentioned this to some people, they scoff and look at me as if *_I were a madman._* *_They stop to ponder a little when I mention that a number of international airports have had to redesignate the compass heading identifications for their runways, because of the meandering of the magnetic poles._*

  • @elmanoazul
    @elmanoazul8 ай бұрын

    When the students are ready the teacher will appear!! Thank you sooo much 🙏🏼

  • @outaspaceman
    @outaspacemanАй бұрын

    Thank you for this.. It reminded me of forgotten stuff in my head..😃👍

  • @pakleader4
    @pakleader48 ай бұрын

    You ab-so-lute-ly correct. I did a stint in my Facebook wall explaining what those do. But thank you for making a KZread video about it. SEMPER FI

  • @arturoaaguilarperez1200
    @arturoaaguilarperez12008 ай бұрын

    THIS COMPASS IS NUMBER ONE. THANKS. VERY HELPFUL.

  • @TheMapReadingCompany

    @TheMapReadingCompany

    8 ай бұрын

    I'm glad it helped!

  • @senatorjosephmccarthy2720
    @senatorjosephmccarthy27208 ай бұрын

    When bow deer hunting in the big woods, I carry two lensatic compasses, and am careful to lose nothing. Water, food, fire, compass.

  • @williamkennison8920
    @williamkennison89208 ай бұрын

    It took over a year of orienteering and boy scouts to learn how to use the silva baseplate compass for my youth. For making things simple for my grandson and his future children.

  • @nikob5899
    @nikob5899 Жыл бұрын

    This is brilliant. I've always wondered what the small circular thing was. I contacted Silva customer services, and they didn't even know. You are right. It's not shown anywhere on a website. But now I know, thanks!

  • @TheMapReadingCompany

    @TheMapReadingCompany

    Жыл бұрын

    Hi Niko, glad I could help!

  • @noel3422
    @noel34222 ай бұрын

    One of those posts that beg way more knowlege to understand than the average person possess, a fisherman never gets lost, but striking out into a forest is better left to a person who has this more knowledge than a person just reading trail markers.

  • @andrewemery4272
    @andrewemery42728 ай бұрын

    The compass that curves up at the back does so to clear the cord and allow the baseplate to sit flat on the map.

  • @uploadJ

    @uploadJ

    8 ай бұрын

    It does, the curve, provide a bit of a lip that prevents the fingers from slipping off the compass plate too. I just tried that on my Silva baseplate compass.

  • @Ninjahat
    @Ninjahat6 ай бұрын

    19:00 use the lanyard to aim with as well. Hold the compass out in a stretched arms length with one hand and hold the end of the lanyard with your other hand and bring it up to your eye. Aim down the lanyard, into the mirror's aiming line and up through the notch while looking at your target. Using the lanyard like this gives you better precision. Best regards from a Scandinavian veteran 😉

  • @farside51
    @farside518 ай бұрын

    Great refresher video for me. I was a scout leader many years ago and was in charge of teaching young scouts orienteering and maps out in wooded trails. So much more fun and interesting for them to lean the skill without use of electronics. No batteries required.😂

  • @jimrichards7014
    @jimrichards70147 ай бұрын

    As an ex geologist I carried 3. 1 Bronton for close and accurate. 2 Silva with mirrors and inclinometers. I’d check both Silvia’s before heading into the bush. You had to be sure because there are very few landmarks to re-orient if you get lost. We always had basemaps and air photos with us. The cost of getting lost in the northern Ontario forest is not a good place to be.

  • @jimrichards7014

    @jimrichards7014

    7 ай бұрын

    @@marktwain168 that would be way farther than I have ever been. Not sure how many degrees of declination you can adjust for.

  • @davewattles7237
    @davewattles72378 ай бұрын

    BONUS!! Not only good compass information..... British narration; my mother was a British war bride. So very good to hear the sound of a Brit speaking!!

  • @Cootapatamba
    @Cootapatamba7 ай бұрын

    1980's when serving in Australian Army, RAInf. we never got geographically embarrassed, taught Degrees Minutes and Seconds in Scouts but Mils in Army. I've used Mils ever since. Great presentation, off to watch your video about magnetic variations.

  • @danieljames2718
    @danieljames271811 ай бұрын

    This was brilliant. Thank you for putting this vlog on. I did many years in the army and probably only used a compass twice. Just being shown the parts really. Also our battery didn't have many. Officers only. Maps for us, or, [hahaha] route cards. Again thank you.

  • @leegarnier9396
    @leegarnier93967 ай бұрын

    I dunno, sir... I had no trouble finding this excellent video explaining everything I need to know and more about base plate compasses.

  • @davidcruz8667
    @davidcruz86678 ай бұрын

    In the military, using a lensatic compass, every part of the compass is named, described, explained, and practiced with. We even have it in our basic manuals that everybody is issued, with pictures and arrows and diagrams and terms and acronyms. So im surprised that nobody has instruction available for baseplate compasses. I own a couple that I keep in some emergency gear bags, but when I'm in the boonies I use my trusty lensatic compass.

  • @somefuckstolemynick

    @somefuckstolemynick

    8 ай бұрын

    What would these manuals be called? Maybe they can be found online

  • @davidcruz8667

    @davidcruz8667

    8 ай бұрын

    @@somefuckstolemynick They're in our "green monsters" for everything, I have about 15 of them, some even come put together with large rings or through-bolts that are screwed together from front and back. They all have different titles, such as "Small Unit Tactics", "Mechanized Infantry", "Artillery and Fire Support", "Amphibious Vehicles and Landing Operations". They are all issue "Technical Manuals" for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines, so they are listed as "TM-" followed by the specific number assigned to that publication, and is the first line you see at the top of the cover or plate. Just do a search for, say, Marine Corps field training manuals. Using the compass would be under basic infantry instruction, and is called "Land Navigation".

  • @somefuckstolemynick

    @somefuckstolemynick

    8 ай бұрын

    @@davidcruz8667 thank you!

  • @videodistro

    @videodistro

    7 ай бұрын

    I purchased a cheap base plate compass years ago. It had full pronted instructions that came with it that explained all.if this. All people need to do is actually look at the mauals/instructions!

  • @snowman333-
    @snowman333-8 ай бұрын

    thank you. sir circumstances ended my time in the cub scout. we relocated to a very small 'camp' of about a dozen buildings (some vacant) before hiking was on our itinerary. you have helped an older (59) teenager correct a shortcoming.

  • @-ca--
    @-ca--8 ай бұрын

    Really good video. I remember using some like this in the army, with 6400 mils. They used to keep them reverently locked in special cupboards and boxes. That were some fun times!

  • @TheMapReadingCompany

    @TheMapReadingCompany

    8 ай бұрын

    6,400 mils. The reason for this is here kzread.info/dash/bejne/moCdw5OrpJm3faw.htmlfeature=shared

  • @philiprobinson999
    @philiprobinson9992 ай бұрын

    Thanks for posting the video, I didn't know about all the features on a compass or how to use one properly.

  • @johnsullivan6560
    @johnsullivan65608 ай бұрын

    Very nice video. You might have shown aligning the compass when reading or getting bearings. The mirror and the line is for reading the compass bearing while sighting. This is a great instructional video on the parts. You have a lot of compasses! That makes me feel better about mine! Thank you for this video and sharing your knowledge.

  • @DoctorMangler
    @DoctorMangler8 ай бұрын

    Thank you so much for posting this, I've used compasses and hand transits for a long time and I learned a lot!

  • @robertbjorklund3934
    @robertbjorklund39347 ай бұрын

    Thanks that was very informative and easy to understand.

  • @joezephyr
    @joezephyr8 ай бұрын

    Wow! I have been bushwalking for more than 40 years and did not know some of that detail thank you very much!

  • @SuperRBurgess

    @SuperRBurgess

    8 ай бұрын

    Very good video. Full of imformation. The only thing you should do is adjust your voice level. On my phone with the volume at maximum you can't be heard.

  • @cybrpypr
    @cybrpypr7 ай бұрын

    This was a great video. I used to love orienteering in the Boy Scouts in the USA where I am from. I have never lost my love for being able to navigate by the land and maps. Thank you.

  • @peskycritter6580
    @peskycritter65806 ай бұрын

    I'm 68 and figured most of the features out myself eventually but the manufacturer could have helped. This is great, thank you

  • @johnbarbuto5387
    @johnbarbuto53877 ай бұрын

    This is a lot of fun. Your presentation style is delightful. It is surprising that manufacturers don't explain their "bits", isn't it. It's fun to actually learn more about these "relics". Being a digital guy, I have a couple of these that have just sat in a box. But, this will bring them out again! Thanks.

  • @sam2cents
    @sam2cents7 ай бұрын

    Brilliant video and badly needed too. I learned a lot.

  • @ianmitchell8747
    @ianmitchell87478 ай бұрын

    The notch on the bottom of the mirror is for sighting as well, when choosing an object in the distance to walk to when walking on a bearing.

  • @TheMapReadingCompany

    @TheMapReadingCompany

    8 ай бұрын

    Hi Ian, yes you're right. I cut loads of bits out of that video as it was getting waaaaay to long.

  • @snowman333-

    @snowman333-

    8 ай бұрын

    is a second video in the works? new sub, asking and thank you for the bonus info

  • @TheMapReadingCompany

    @TheMapReadingCompany

    8 ай бұрын

    Honestly I have that many videos on my “to do” list it’s getting crazy - as I keep coming up with new ones and adding them to the list. Next few: The “poshest” compass in the world - instructions Contour interpretation Night Nav Micro Nav Course/fine nav etc etc etc

  • @gardnerfiddle2927
    @gardnerfiddle29278 ай бұрын

    This is the kind of compass I used every day when I worked as an archaeologist back in the 1990s. So useful!

  • @sea-saw2654
    @sea-saw26547 ай бұрын

    No idea how I got here but very glad I did.. 👍

  • @liamst3879
    @liamst38792 ай бұрын

    Very helpful. It was on my list to get to know the components of the compass and how to use it in. This was a great beginning. Thanks!

  • @MrRiorust
    @MrRiorust8 ай бұрын

    Thank you for the refresher course. This is exactly what I was searching for today. Subscribed,

  • @ryanqvincent144
    @ryanqvincent1447 ай бұрын

    That was absolutely fascinating! Many decades ago I used a compass in the real world and it was helpful. For various reasons I obtained one recently. I wanted to to know more about it... You arrived! :) You have made it a lot more fun! Thank you! Seriously, much clarification. Appreciated. :)

  • @flamewave000
    @flamewave0006 ай бұрын

    Brought back memories of my dad showing me how to read a compass when I was 10. His had a way to turn the orientation arrow to set the inclination relative to the outer bearing degree measure. So you could quickly set it once

  • @paulhatcher6406
    @paulhatcher64066 ай бұрын

    I still have no idea how to use this compass but I will keep watching your program. Thanks for the information it’s pretty cool.

  • @senatorjosephmccarthy2720
    @senatorjosephmccarthy27208 ай бұрын

    Great compass parts instructional class. I knew a few, but learned a good amount. Thanks. And thanks for including the related links.

  • @GraemePayne1967Marine
    @GraemePayne1967Marine8 ай бұрын

    I haven't used one of that type of compass since I was in the military - 56 years ago! Over time I have forgotten a fair amount of that, so Thank You for this video. And I need to see some of your other ones as well.

  • @SteveSalisbury
    @SteveSalisbury8 ай бұрын

    Crazy that this hits my recommendations after I got home from a walk the other day and stared at my compass thinking "What the hell are these other things for?". Turns out those triangular bumpy bits don't have some hidden secrets. They just prop the thing up! Good to know!

  • @w6263
    @w62638 ай бұрын

    last time I used a compass was in NAVIGATION at school. Never used one since. Thank you for the video is so informative.

  • @raystewart6524
    @raystewart65248 ай бұрын

    I bought my own Silva compass when I was a serving soldier..still have it now..30 years after I finished..graduated in mils and I have a good old prismatic too..which I acquired during my service..found on the training area on Soltau West Germany so kept it

  • @JaEDLanc

    @JaEDLanc

    8 ай бұрын

    I’ve still got my own silva and I lost my prismatic in the queue to Wolfgangs bratty van, is that where you found it? Can I have it back please 😂😂😂😂😂

  • @Shaun137

    @Shaun137

    8 ай бұрын

    As did I, mainly used it for orienteering. Squadrons way of adding fun into a run and learning map reading too.

  • @DeadeyeLefty

    @DeadeyeLefty

    8 ай бұрын

    I learned in mils as well. I still had my Ranger as well until some crackhead broke into my storage locker and stole the backpack it was in. 20 years later and I'm still choked about that.

  • @johndufford5561
    @johndufford55618 ай бұрын

    Enjoyed that very much. Thank you. Learned of several features present on my compass but their functions were unknown to me. A genuine leg up. Thanks again, Sir.

  • @claytondennis8034
    @claytondennis80348 ай бұрын

    I loved my Silva baseplate that had a mechanical declination lock screw. You set the declination with the screw, and then went on your way. Easy to check fornaccuracy as well.

  • @geraldfitzgibbon7428
    @geraldfitzgibbon74288 ай бұрын

    This video is very good. It helps take alot of mystery an fear out of the compas.

  • @DFX2KX
    @DFX2KX7 ай бұрын

    the error circles on that one compass are actually quite a neat feature. And despite learning to use that kind of compass many years ago, I've never used a mirror compass. Honestly thought the mirror was for signaling so I learned a thing today.

  • @whaleoilbeefhooked3892
    @whaleoilbeefhooked38927 ай бұрын

    I inherited my grandfather's (now I know what it's called) compass some 40 years ago, so I'm going to find a map and try to learn how he used it! Thank you.

  • @joshuahessel4915
    @joshuahessel49158 ай бұрын

    I learned to use a compass in an orienteering club in the 80's. This brought me back

  • @superdivemaster
    @superdivemaster2 ай бұрын

    Hello, Jolly Good Show ... I too have searched the internet for the basic nomenclature of the baseplate ... I am a Pilot, and Scuba Instructor ... and I like to refer other people to the right references. Good Video ... thanks ...

  • @apistosig4173
    @apistosig41732 ай бұрын

    Excellent Presentation - I love my Silva compass

  • @davidmiller4078
    @davidmiller40787 ай бұрын

    Great job i was in the cubs and eventualy the scouts decades ago and went on numerous scout camps where we we shown basic land navigation from ex military chaps like ex dezert rats and retired Spitfire pilots i tend not to need compass but im always juding the position of the sun and stars when visible But this is another great presentation cheers

  • @theoriginalrecycler
    @theoriginalrecycler8 ай бұрын

    My favourite cycling accessory for many years.

  • @mikmike5475
    @mikmike54758 ай бұрын

    Remember teaching magnetic variation (the difference in grid bearings and magnetic) with the saying ' grid to mag add. Mag to grid get rid' . Also how to check and note any compass error ( how many mils/degrees the compass is off true) on your own personal compass. I once found a silva compass with a compass error of 160 degrees.

  • @philipsturtivant9385
    @philipsturtivant93858 ай бұрын

    And there is a difference, a big one, between "taking a bearing" between your position and a point on the ground, and "setting a bearing" using the compass to determine the bearing between two points on a map.

  • @Peter-od7op
    @Peter-od7op8 ай бұрын

    Your a good guy my eagle scout son learned a few things ty

  • @darkpitcher5242
    @darkpitcher52428 ай бұрын

    Thanks for a very concise and easy-to-understand video

  • @TheMapReadingCompany

    @TheMapReadingCompany

    8 ай бұрын

    Thanks. I'm glad you liked the video. I do try to keep them "non-technical" - well as much as possible.

  • @anangryranger
    @anangryranger8 ай бұрын

    Thank you for the detailed information about the comparison of the various types of the baseplate compass. Very informative!👍 Being an old school Ranger, I am well versed in the use of the G.I. compass. However, years ago, as a Scoutmaster, I found that the Boy Scouts of America use the Suunto A-2100 baseplate compass. It was so foreign to me that I simply didn't use it, and remained using my old army model.

  • @leberlin
    @leberlin7 ай бұрын

    Thanks for the lesson, I have had a base compass for many years and now I feel I can use some of the items on the compass I totally ignored, great video very informative and very useful. 👍

  • @fidsta30
    @fidsta307 ай бұрын

    Thank you your video is so well presented and a really good lesson for us beginners- trying to help my son learn the basics for his Army cadets thank you

  • @roverguy100
    @roverguy1008 ай бұрын

    Excellent content! I've been using compasses for many years and I picked up a few new bits of information, thanks. I recently replaced my VERY old Silva Ranger mirrored compass with a new model. I didn't read the description very well when I ordered and to my surprise when I wnt to use the compass it's bezel was NOT 360 degrees nor was it in Mils. The bezel was measured in 90 degree quadrants and was set up like a surveyer's transit. Since I was surveying this worked out well once I found out how to read the survey document. I did also buy a Sunto 360 degree mirrored to be sure I had what I needed most of the time.

  • @alexblue6991
    @alexblue69918 ай бұрын

    A few years ago my wife and I went out for our usual woodlands walks we went most weekends in Scotland we were so confident we knew the way we didn't even bother taking our mobile phone or cumpass but on this occasion it started high winds and heavy snow it quickly covered all the trails and everything looked so different it took us ages before we found our way back to the car Alec from Scotland

  • @Hiznogood
    @Hiznogood8 ай бұрын

    Thanks for a very informative video! Even if I’m rather familiar with a compass, but didn’t know about the EPA holes! Checked out the site for the Swedish Silva Compass and they do have a brake down on the different parts of the baseplate compass. Been using them since I was 9 or 10 years when my dad taught me to use a compass and a map when orienteering. Later on he also showed me how to use it at sea in the Swedish vast archipelago, but then I was a couple of years old probably 15 yrs. We used military maps and compasses a lot in the military (conscripted services). Having a compass in your pocket when roaming the Swedish woods is sometime necessary and should be in every survival kit. Btw, the lanyard is also used to have around your wrist when running in the wood so you don’t lose it.

  • @DeadeyeLefty

    @DeadeyeLefty

    8 ай бұрын

    A compass is like first aid kits and bear spray though: unless you learn how to use it and practice enough to stay proficient, it's of little use.

  • @createlovehappy
    @createlovehappy7 ай бұрын

    Thank you. I could not find much info until I discovered your video. I'm a beginner and have not bought a compass yet so this was very helpful. I was looking at the MC-2 global as a good investment. I like that it has a mirror for aiming it at a location, but also for signaling for rescue or checking for ticks in hard to see areas, or getting something out of my eye, etc.

  • @Rosiebeatle
    @Rosiebeatle8 ай бұрын

    Thank you for this... I have the mirror compass but no one could tell me how to use the features properly including the outdoor shop i bought it from! Thanks to this video all those mystery features make sense now and ill make better use of it 🙂

  • @nazaninnaderi3783
    @nazaninnaderi3783 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you for this very informative video. You are the only one who covers everything on the compass. I found one other videos, that half way through named and explained the purpose of the lines you called parallax lines (she called them tram lines). One more excellent video you maid. Looking forward to your videos.

  • @TheMapReadingCompany

    @TheMapReadingCompany

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for your feedback Nazanin. I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

  • @gaelhillyardcreative
    @gaelhillyardcreative8 ай бұрын

    I keep two Silva compasses in my studio. One like the one you show for plein air work, and a basic one I use in the studio for cross referencing the painted landscapes to nearby names for Gaelic meanings and features on OS maps.

  • @gaelhillyardcreative

    @gaelhillyardcreative

    8 ай бұрын

    Great video by the way. Thanks for posting.

  • @Saavik256
    @Saavik2567 ай бұрын

    It's probably been 30 years since I last used one of these. :)

  • @mc4ndr3
    @mc4ndr33 ай бұрын

    The magnifying glass feature of a base plate compass serves another critical purpose: As a backup firestarter. You'll want to focus sunlight onto a piece of very fine kindling, such as fresh cut shavings from a chunk of dead fatwood.

  • @daveffs1935
    @daveffs19358 ай бұрын

    this is a great learning resource. It took me ages to figure out what everything did. Thanks

  • @michaelmayo3127
    @michaelmayo31278 ай бұрын

    "All mirror compasses have this hole" My old army Silva type 15T doesn't.We were taught to use the lanyard when sighting landmarks. With the lanyard in one's right hand, hold the compass in the left-hand at arm length; then bring the lanyard taut up to the right eye, then sigh and take the bearing with the compass as you have dicribed. 1-5 lilometers, it never failled. The lanyard has more that one purpose.

  • @jackmacdonald8499

    @jackmacdonald8499

    8 ай бұрын

    I learned the same taut lanyard procedure, too, except the other end was fastened to my work vest. With the right length, it was easy to hold taut at arms length.

  • @john1182
    @john11828 ай бұрын

    you channel and video is a Absolut gold mine. i can do basic navigation but ive recently started going for me master's license in marine rescue in Australia and a large portion of that is good old-fashioned paper-based navigation. Your video has given a great heads up and understanding so thank you.

  • @TheMapReadingCompany

    @TheMapReadingCompany

    8 ай бұрын

    Best of luck with your master's license

  • @lukem768
    @lukem7688 ай бұрын

    I’m new to using a compass and this was a great video. Now subscribed and will be looking to learn much more from new and previous video’s. Thanks!

  • @diggerman3377
    @diggerman33778 ай бұрын

    Fantastic video, thank you for explaining all the features and uses of the compass, its cleared up alot of confusion for me

  • @joephup
    @joephup8 ай бұрын

    Great! Tip for accuracy: string around neck to ‘shoot’ your bearings. 😉 Thanks for posting. 👍👍

  • @mohare134
    @mohare1347 ай бұрын

    One note about setting your path bearing (if you didn't see it already); when you want to set bearing for a walking direction (instruction starts at 6:12) first turn your dial until the direction you want to head is at the top aligned with your pointing arrow.

  • @Oddi0

    @Oddi0

    7 ай бұрын

    Thanks, I was confused about that.

  • @tomtessier9771
    @tomtessier97718 ай бұрын

    Thank you for taking the time. Your explanations are clear and I especially like you have other videos that delve into details.

  • @patrickward5944
    @patrickward59447 ай бұрын

    Very informative, I learned a lot.

  • @DeadeyeLefty
    @DeadeyeLefty8 ай бұрын

    Good info, liked & subbed. Since so much of this is learned through use, I like seeing how other people do it. That's probably why you won't find this material in compass owner's manual: the manuals aren't a precis for orienteering. If I were writing the manual, I'd make a point of including tech info but not orienteering info - that's something you learn in a class (or in the army, like I did on the Silva Ranger) The curve on the Suunto being "ergonomic" is likely just marketing from someone who's never actually used the product. It's really there so the baseplate lays flat on the map and isn't held up by the knot on the lanyard. On the Suunto, the romers are next to the knot, on the Silva (and others), the bezel is next to the knot so it's not a problem. if the romers don't lay flat, it's tougher to get a 6-figure or 8-figure grid reference. Suunto mirror compasses have the lanyard mount raised to do the same thing without the curve. The lanyard mount is more important than you've suggested here. It's aligned with the centerline of the bezel to align the compass when you're shooting a bearing. It gives you a longer sight radius, which is exactly the reason why iron sights on a rifle are more accurate than those on a pistol. At 18:25, you'd hold the end of the lanyard in your left hand and pull it back to below your eye, ensuring a straight line through the lanyard, baseplate and sighting line on the mirror. Then you rotate the bezel with your right thumb until the needle is home. But of course, that comes from a career spent using mirror compasses. Another advantage of them you find when you use them is they slide in and out of a pocket SO much easier than a baseplate or lensatic compass :) The orientation lines inside the bezel can also used to orient the map. Rotate the bezel to 0/360/6400 and align the lines (or an edge of the compass) with an easting grid line and rotate the map and compass together until the needle is home. Now, the relative position of features will be in the same place on the map as they are on the ground. Kudos for helping to keep traditional orienteering alive !

  • @adriaanboogaard8571
    @adriaanboogaard85718 ай бұрын

    I recognized it right of the bat. I'm 55 lots of the department stores when I was a kid had a Boy Scout Uniform and supply as some call Kit section. They all had that compuss. I haven't used one since I was 14. I come from Dutch WWII survivors and am first generation I the U.S.A. I use and correct maps. I have my grandfather's talent of looking at my surroundings a map if needed for work the lay of the land and landmarks and know exactly my location and direction I want to go. In bad vissabilaty I prefer that Compuss. I have access to G.I.S. and internet maps .I've seen them off of accuracy often. My Uncle is 84 retired Airial Photagapher. 40 years on the job. Give me one of his maps on a bad weather day and a Compuss. I will find my way.😁