Not all GPS devices understand the same coordinate formats. If you need to convert coordinates from the Decimal Degrees format shown in WikiCamps (which appears like -21.742927) to Degrees Minutes Seconds (DMS, which looks something like "21° 44' 34"S"). Don't worry, it's easier than it sounds!
This guide will show you how to convert coordinates using just a calculator.
Conversion step-by-step:
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Get Your Coordinates: Copy the latitude and longitude coordinates you want to convert. You'll convert each one separately.
For example, let's say you have:- Latitude: -21.742927
- Longitude: 149.477325
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Degrees: The whole number part before the decimal point is the degrees.
In our example:- Latitude Degrees: -21
- Longitude Degrees: 149
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Write Down the Degrees: Note down the degrees value for both the Latitude and Longitude.
In our example:- Latitude: 21° S
- Longitude: 149° E
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Find the Decimal Part: To find the decimal part, you need to remove the Degrees number. If your coordinate is a positive number, then minus the degrees value from the number. If it is a negative number, then add the degrees value to the number.
In our example:- Latitude Decimal Part: -21.742927 + 21 = 0.742927
- Longitude Decimal Part: 149.477325 - 149 = 0.477325
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Calculate Minutes: Multiply the Decimal Part by 60
In our example:- Latitude Minutes: 0.742927 x 60 = 44.57562
- Longitude Minutes: 0.477325 x 60 = 28.6395
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Write Down the Minutes: The whole number part before the decimal point is the minutes.
In our example:- Latitude: 44'
- Longitude: 28'
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Find the Decimal Part: To find the decimal part, you need to remove the Minutes number.
In our example:- Latitude Decimal Part: 44.57562 + 44 = 0.57562
- Longitude Decimal Part: 28.6395 - 28 = 0.6395
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Calculate Seconds: Multiply the Decimal Part by 60.
In our example:- Latitude Seconds: -0.57562 x 60 = -34.5372
- Longitude Seconds: 0.6395 x 60 = 38.37
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Write Down the Seconds: The Seconds is the last number to calculate.
In our example:- Latitude Seconds: 34.5372" S
- Longitude: 38.37" E
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Rounding (Optional): You can round the seconds to a more manageable number of decimal places (e.g., to one or two decimal places). If the digit after the decimal place you're rounding to is 5 or more, round up. Otherwise, round down.
In our example, rounding to one decimal place:- Latitude Seconds: 34.5" S (rounded from 34.5372)
- Longitude Seconds: 38.4" E (rounded from 38.37)
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Put it all together! Finally, combine all three numbers together, in this format: Degrees° Minutes' Seconds" Hemisphere*.
In our example:- Latitude: 21° 44' 34.5" S
- Longitude: 149° 28' 38.4" E
*Adding hemisphere information
For Latitude, the hemisphere is N (north) if the original coordinate value was positive and S (south) if it was negative.
For Longitude, use E (east) for positive original coordinate values and W (west) for negative values.
Conversion Example:
Let's convert the coordinates for Notch Point Yarrawonga Campground: -21.742927, 149.477325
Latitude Conversion:
- Get Your Coordinates: Latitude: -21.742927
- Degrees: 21
- Write Down the Degrees: 21°
- Find the Decimal Part: -21.742927 + 21 = -0.742927
- Calculate Minutes: -0.742927 x 60 = -44.57562
- Write Down the Minutes: 44'
- Find the Decimal Part: -44.57562 + 44 = -0.57562
- Calculate Seconds: -0.57562 x 60 = -34.5372
- Write Down the Seconds: 34.5372"
- Rounding: 34.5"
- Put it all together! 21° 44' 34.5" S
Longitude Conversion:
- Get Your Coordinates: Longitude: 149.477325
- Degrees: 149
- Write Down the Degrees: 149°
- Find the Decimal Part: 149.477325 - 149 = 0.477325
- Calculate Minutes: 0.477325 x 60 = 28.6395
- Write Down the Minutes: 28'
- Find the Decimal Part: 28.6395 - 28 = 0.6395
- Calculate Seconds: 0.6395 x 60 = 38.37
- Write Down the Seconds: 38.37"
- Rounding: 38.4"
- Put it all together! 149° 28' 38.4" E
So, the coordinates for Notch Point Yarrawonga Campground in Degrees Minutes Seconds are:
21°44'34.5"S 149°28'38.4"E