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What3words

Re: What3words

Postby Marty_JG » Wed May 05, 2021 12:21 pm

Lakeswalker wrote:You can read about the rescue concerned here: https://keswickmrt.org.uk/rescue/base-brown-9
One letter difference between the two locations. Disbanded.measure.snapper and disbanded.measures.snapper according to https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/what3words-not-suitable-for-safety-critical-applications/


That's hugely important. Previously I tried to defend W3W, at least conceptually (it wasn't something I was using or planning to sue) I now withdraw that defence: the 'three distinct words' only works if they are truly distinct from other combinations and currently they are not.
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Re: What3words

Postby DopeyLoser » Wed May 05, 2021 12:23 pm

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Re: What3words

Postby Bonzo » Wed May 05, 2021 2:57 pm

I'm planning on climbing Ferret Banger Sprout this weekend.

What's the parking situation?
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Re: What3words

Postby gaffr » Wed May 05, 2021 4:20 pm

Perhaps an Ordnance Survey map would be helpful.:-)
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Re: What3words

Postby WalkWithWallace » Wed May 05, 2021 4:59 pm

Stick to OSGRs, W3W isn't compatible with our mapping system. Only any good for rural or cities, not the mountains.
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Re: What3words

Postby jmarkb » Wed May 05, 2021 5:28 pm

WalkWithWallace wrote: W3W isn't compatible with our mapping system


I'm sorry, but I don't understand - could you expand on that, please?
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Re: What3words

Postby gaffr » Thu May 06, 2021 7:57 am

Does it need to be compatible with the Ordnance Survey system when as the posters on here say that it obviously is not.
When we go to walk on the hills we take with us, or should take, an OS map for the area to be visited, a Compass with a romer on the baseplate to enable Grid refs. to be read accurately. Most folks today have Maps and from the Satellites a Grid Ref. can be had on their mobile phones and also many will carry a Global Positioning device with Maps included.
Never have we had the means to know exactly where we are on a hill?
I haven't read anything on here to tell me that the three words would be any use for navigating on the hills.
I just don't know but is this 3W system used for the delivery of parcels in the cities?
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Re: What3words

Postby WalkWithWallace » Thu May 06, 2021 9:28 am

jmarkb wrote:
WalkWithWallace wrote: W3W isn't compatible with our mapping system


I'm sorry, but I don't understand - could you expand on that, please?


A W3W location would be a hassle to place on a traditional OS map. Plus W3W relies on Google maps, so to see the map you need mobile data, mobile data isn't a given and drains your battery quicker. OS app based maps work offline.

W3W is next to useless as a navigation app, it's simply for emergencies, but even a few MRTs have come out and said they'd prefer people to download and use OS Locate instead.
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Re: What3words

Postby jmarkb » Thu May 06, 2021 9:44 am

Ok, thanks, I'm with you now!
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Re: What3words

Postby Paul Webster » Thu May 06, 2021 10:38 am

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Re: What3words

Postby gaffr » Thu May 06, 2021 11:54 am

Thanks for that ....basically a useless system to use by folks on here going on the hills. Maybe that should be said to make it clear. Also that using the 'other than Ordnance Survey/Harvey maps' are perhaps not the most ideal ones to take on a hill-walk?
I once created confusion with someone when using the abbreviated O.S. to describe an Ordnance Survey map when they in turn were thinking of an Open Street map.
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Re: What3words

Postby simon-b » Thu May 06, 2021 1:04 pm

As for Overloaded's original question, if such a list were compiled, I imagine it would be the first one in which all the Munros had 100% English names. Cultural implications here, perhaps! (Please don't take this comment too seriously.)
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Re: What3words

Postby Giant Stoneater » Thu May 06, 2021 5:50 pm

Sometimes Mountain Rescue will guide you off a hill from a distance if there is no serious problems to overcome, something that is easy with the grid system but would be impossible with What3words.
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Re: What3words

Postby davekeiller » Thu May 06, 2021 6:22 pm

As I said before, I doubt that anyone has compiled such a list, and I'm not sure that anyone will because I don't think it would be particularly useful.
The Ordnance Survey grid system works perfectly well for the purpose, and because of its intuitive nature it seems to have a number of advantages over W3W for mountain navigation.
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Re: What3words

Postby ncliffe » Sun May 09, 2021 3:51 pm

A bit late on the discussion, but Mountain Rescue Teams have been using SarLoc for 10 years to find those requesting help.

It needs a smartphone for the person seeking help, and a minimal data connection (3G/4G), but data needed is small. MRT sends mobile a text with URL, those requiring help click link in text, taking them to a web page which sends their location (from phone's internal GPS) to the webpage. MRT see that webpage report and now have the coordinates of those seeking help. That's it, no need to read out words / numbers, no need to have the "right" App installed in advance.

Having an App like OS-Locate, or a stand-alone GPS, which can report a grid-reference will work when the signal is down to 2G (no data). And, if really pushed on weak signal or fading phone battery, a text might send through better than a scratchy fading voice call.
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