Hi John
This is my technique. It still requires a single, accurate heading
measurement.
Take a string or small rope and lay it out straight. Mark three locations
on the rope. 1X the length of a single side, 1.414 * the length of a
single side, and 2X a single side. I usually tie in a long nail of spike to
mark the locations.
Unfurl the string to the 1.414X location. Use your compass to align the
string in the desired direction of the 4 square diagonal. The ends will be
the location of the corner elements. Then take the 2X location of the rope
and place it by the element at the 1.414X location, freeing the 1.414X from
the ground. Then take the 1X location and pull it out perpendicular to the
line between the elements. When you have equal tension on the string
extended from both elements. That will be the location of the side element.
Then do the same on the other side.
It only takes one direction measurement, and the string needs to be marked
accurately. If so, the placement should be very accurate if the land is
flat.
If you use stakes or nails to mark the string. It is possible to do this
all yourself relatively quicky if it is an open field. It is more tedious
if there are trees and bushes in the way. In that case an assistant will
help. As long as the string does not get obstructed from a straight path,
all should be good.
73, Tom
-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk <towertalk-bounces@contesting.com> On Behalf Of
john@kk9a.com
Sent: Monday, April 7, 2025 3:26 PM
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] Laying out 4 square
I hate to bring up the true north subject and I know that it is not super
critical with a four square but I was wondering if there is an app or a some
semi-accurate modern way to layout a four square instead of a compass and
tape measure. My phone's (Android Samsung S23) compass app shows true north
however I get varying results, I supposed depending on calibration and
perhaps how level the phone is. I also tried a GPS coordinate app to
layout the pattern but it shows an accuracy of 12 feet. In actuality it was
4' different between points than my tape measure.
John KK9A
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