Abstract: An apparatus to enable one's position to be easily found on a traditional map having its own coordinate system distinct from a wide area coordinate system, data is associated with the map from which the relationship—between the map coordinate system and the wide area coordinate system can be determined. The apparatus has a reader for reading the data associated with the map, a memory for storing the read data, a GPS receiver for receiving transmissions from GPS satellites and determining the position of the GPS receiver in terms of the wide area coordinate system, a processor for processing the determined wide area coordinate position and the stored data to determine the position of the GPS receiver in terms of the map coordinate system, and a display or the like for annunciating to a user the determined map coordinate position. The data associated with the map preferably also includes information on the area covered by the map.

Abstract: A portable compass comprises a body (18) and a compass needle (22) mounted on the body for indicating North/South. A bearing signal representing a required bearing is received, for example from a GPS receiver, and a display (30) responsive to the bearing signal receiving means indicates a required position of the compass needle relative to the body. A fixed indicator (26) on the body points to the required bearing when the body is oriented so that the compass needle is in the required position relative to the body.