GridNav Blog

How to read a grid, plot a bearing, and stay oriented offline, explained simply, with the standards and field workflow behind each step.

how to read mgrs

How Do You Read an MGRS Coordinate?

An MGRS coordinate reads coarse to fine: grid zone, 100km square, then equal halves of digits for easting and northing. A plain-English guide to reading the grid.

Read the guide → June 9, 2026
mgrs vs utm

MGRS vs UTM: What Is the Difference?

MGRS and UTM share one projection but format location differently. UTM uses long numeric eastings for math; MGRS adds a lettered square for fast field use.

Read the guide → June 2, 2026
plot a grid coordinate

How Do You Plot a Grid Coordinate on a Map?

To plot a grid coordinate, find the 1,000 meter square, then use a romer to step right along the easting and up along the northing. A plain-English plotting guide.

Read the guide → May 26, 2026
offline gps app

What Is the Best Offline GPS App When You Have No Signal?

GPS works with no cell signal; your phone gets a fix from satellites directly. A field guide to truly offline navigation: cache the map, read the chip, carry backup.

Read the guide → May 19, 2026
grid bearing

How Do You Find a Grid Bearing?

A grid bearing is the angle from grid north to your target, measured clockwise on the map. Plot, draw, read with a protractor, then convert to magnetic to walk it.

Read the guide → May 12, 2026
grid zone designator

What Is a Grid Zone Designator?

A grid zone designator like 18S leads an MGRS coordinate: the number is the UTM longitude zone and the letter is a latitude band. A plain-English explainer.

Read the guide → May 5, 2026
convert lat long to mgrs

How Do You Convert Lat/Long to MGRS?

Converting lat/long to MGRS projects the coordinate into UTM, then relabels it with a grid zone, square, and split digits. Match the datum and use a tool.

Read the guide → April 28, 2026
mgrs app

What Makes a Good MGRS App for Search and Rescue?

A SAR MGRS app should show a live grid, plot a called grid in under a second, work offline, and drop waypoints. It supports incident command, it does not replace it.

Read the guide → April 21, 2026