skysensor

I'm sure Skysensor means the Venture CX. Garmin also has a Venture and it's a totally different animal. The Venture CX is a great value. The Venture is an older unit in the vein of the Legend and basic eTrex. Yeah. What briansnat said... (I meant the currently available Venture CX).

The Venture may be the best value out there right now in a new unit, particularly if you own a digicam or MP3 player that came with a mini USB cable and if you already own the memory cards. If you're just starting out, definitely look at used, as well. I recently purchased a 60CSX (decided to treat myself), and one of the things I really like about it is that I can leave it between the seats in the car and it still has solid reception. It is also superior under a heavy canopy. My old one had to see sky to maintain a reliable lock. Don't know about the Venture's sensitivity in comparison. Good luck.

I'm thinking of having some wooden nickels printed as a signature item. I contacted the vendor that seems to be the "big dog" in wooden nickels, and requested full color samples (not custom, just anything they had printed in full color), offered to pay for them, and received a response within a day stating that samples were no charge and that they would be sent right away. About ten days later, having received no samples, I sent a follow-up email to the vendor, asking to confirm that samples had been sent, again offering to pay for them. This email received no response. That was about 2 weeks ago. I will not order without seeing samples, so I've come to the conclusion that this probably isn't the supplier to work with. For those of you with signature wooden nickels (particularly full color ones), where did you buy them, and how do you rate the product and experience? I think I prefer those printed directly on the nickel, and not the printed to decal type. Opinions? Thanks.

Pretty much without exception, every cacher I've met has been congenial and helpful. However, I hope it doesn't make ME a curmudgeon to observe that (like many other internet venues) this forum seems to bring out the "combative" in some...something about anonymity. Early on, I found myself sucked into some never-ending debate on a hot-button topic. Since then, the best decision I've made was to limit the time I spend reviewing the forum, and limit the topics that I bother to read. Those who can, cache. Those that can't, play on the forums. Given a choice, I'd rather be caching. Enjoy the hunt.

Looking for ammo cans? How close is the nearest Fleet Farm? There's a good size supply at my local store (Rochester, MN), for prices that beat eBay. I assume they might be available at all the stores. If you have one somewhat nearby, check the hunting supplies area. Edit: I guess the nearest Fleet Farm to you would be Baxter. Alot of territory north and east of there, but maybe if you're planning a road trip...

Are you using it with a Z22? The Vista/Palm workarounds don't apply to the Z22, because the only interface available (on the Z22) is USB: no card slot, no wireless. I can't get my Vista PC to recognize the Palm via USB. I was very disappointed to discover that my newly purchased Z22 wouldn't work as desired with my brand new Vista laptop. Had to set-up with the older XP machine. Again, I think the Z22 is a fine choice for use with apps like CacheMate, but be aware that it is not going to work as expected with a Vista machine.

The Z22 works fine for the application. It is smaller than many, and you'll learn what you have to do to read it in bright sunlight. I bought a refurbed unit for $49.99 plus S/H from outpost.com, and haven't had a problem. My only warning: you may want to hold off on *any* Palm device if you're using a Vista machine. Palm Hotsync still doesn't support syncing 3rd party apps through Vista. If you're using XP (or earlier), no problems. Good luck.

The best real world analogy for the GPSr reported accuracy figures are automotive mileage ratings. Each manufacturer calculates mileage per gallon figures based (theoretically) on some standard calculation. But ofttimes, assumptions and interpretations affect the result: average speeds, ambient temperatures, elevation, etc., and these assumptions may vary from maker to maker and model to model. Have you ever found that one model's mpg rating seemed a lot more accurate than another? The only real accuracy figure that matters is your actual accuracy. If you logged it for each find like many log their auto mileage, over time this might indicate that one unit has better overall actual accuracy than another... but only in the exact conditions under which the accuracy was measured. If I'm standing at GZ with a caching partner, and my GPSr estimates error of 20 feet, and my partner's indicates error of 12 feet, the only thing it means (really) is that the manufacturer of my GPSr probably uses a more conservative calculation of error. The most meaningful comparison between our receivers would be actual, measured deviation from a known benchmark (and of course, accuracy is only one - albeit a very important - measure of comparison between them).

Has anyone been caching today?

Pot, meet kettle. If that's the type of generality you want to deal in: I'm starting to think that most of the pro-LPC crowd really simply wants to avoid the addition of a "Parking Lot" attribute so that those that hide them don't have to "admit" what they are. How's that? The solution we (those you label "anti-LPC") want is an attribute that can be filtered on. This should be easy for the site to provide. How would anyone be adversely affected by it? Those who want to hunt them can (by not filtering), those who don't want to hunt them can avoid them (by filtering). This seems like a logical enhancement. Why the debate rages on and on is beyond my comprehension.

Found a letterbox last week while looking for a micro. Still haven't found the micro...

To the original poster: Nice story of great customer service (regardless of the company). To RR: How do you think a manufacturer becomes aware of a possible product problem, if not through direct customer feedback? Customer feedback is a primary driver for continuous improvement. Every manufacturer calculates into its cost of doing business a certain amount (generally described in terms of a calculated percentage of sales) the cost of warranty/quality/customer satisfaction. Actual expenses are measured against these expectations, and indicate to the company if there might be a quality issue that needs to be addressed. Certainly, the company can take steps to limit these costs. Any step taken to improve quality without raising cost is a no brainer. Sometimes, however, it makes sense to add cost to your product to increase quality (and customer satisfaction). It's possible for a company to become so focused on the bottom line that cost-cutting efforts in quality and customer satisfaction lead to customer backlash. In my opinion, the OP acted honestly, ethically, and exactly as I would have in the same situation. I can't fathom why you think otherwise.

I'm still a newbie, but two things really keep me excited about geocaching: After I got my first few finds, I made a deal with myself (and my wife) that I'd upgrade to a really nice GPSr when I got to 100. I've been working toward that goal. Secondly, (and I just did this today): On a nice day, take the afternoon off and dedicate it to geocaching. I got 12 in the bag today, and had a blast on an absolutely beautiful spring day. Actually got a bit of sunburn here, with temps in the upper 40s. Great hiking, and encountered some nice people (and their dogs) out on the trails. Good hunting.

I think that might take some of the fun out of it for most cachers. The location being a mystery adds to the overall experience, I think. I think that level of detail is frequently revealed in the cache description. All I'd like is a way to automatically filter on them, instead of having to read those descriptions one by one. I don't understand why the request for this functionality generates the type of response it does. We're told "if you don't like them, don't hunt them." Absolutely right. But if we get the "Parking Lot" attribute, avoidance is made much simpler; and if you don't want to avoid them, you don't need to use the filter. Are those two positions really at odds? Seems like the logic is the same.

I'm not sure. I don't really have an opinion one way or the other over it. I guess if we started having "Parking Lot" attributes, then we'd have to start having "Fallen Log" attributes, and then "Fence Post" and "Fake Rock" attributes would soon follow, wouldn't they? I don't think that's an apples-for-apples comparison, but perhaps we should have "Park", "Woods", "Meadow", etc. attributes, right along with "Parking Lot". I'm just trying to determine objectively why someone who enjoys Parking Lot caches would be resistant to label them such (or why someone who enjoys urban park caches would be resistant to label that type "Park").

I don't disagree at all. I'm not proposing any sort of restriction. I'm just asking for labeling to enable filtering for those of us who aren't interested. I'm genuinely interested in knowing: Would you support the addition of a "Parking Lot" attribute? If not, why?

Here is a request for the GC.com powers that be, free from emotion, free from personal attacks: Many members would appreciate a cache attribute indicating "Parking Lot Cache" or "Skirt Lifter". This would be just another attribute like "Dogs Allowed", "24/7", etc. It would allow those members who are not interested in this type of cache to filter them from queries/downloads. It seems like this functionality would be easy to provide. I am not suggesting rules against this type of cache. I am only asking for (what seems to me to be) a fairly simple enhancement of GC.com functionality. ********************** If implemented, couldn't this put the debate to rest, once and for all? Or is there some objection to labeling a cache a "Parking Lot" cache?

Whatever. Many would consider your statement to be a personal attack. Am I now allowed to return in kind? Whatever. The smilie was supposed to denote "tongue firmly in cheek". Many of those who enjoy the squirt gun assassination game could consider *your* reaction to be a personal attack. Can't we just agree to disagree? Agree that personal attacks are not automatically forgiven by the presense of a smiley? Unbelievable... **plonk**

Whatever. Many would consider your statement to be a personal attack. Am I now allowed to return in kind? Whatever. The smilie was supposed to denote "tongue firmly in cheek". Many of those who enjoy the squirt gun assassination game could consider *your* reaction to be a personal attack. Can't we just agree to disagree?

1. I can't prove the owner of this particular cache didn't have permission for the placement, but I am entitled to an opinion. In a big box store parking lot, whose permission do you need? The store's, the land owner/developer, both? In many cases, it can be difficult to determine. Perhaps I'm 100% wrong, but if *I* were a manager of this type of store, I wouldn't grant permission, even understanding what geocaching is. Why? I'd get tired of people reporting the suspicious person who was messing with my lamppost. I'd get tired of finding the access panel laying on the ground next to the post (no lie: someone had actually removed the access cover at the first LPC I found, and it was laying on the ground. Can I *prove* it was a cacher? No, but I believe it's a reasonable conclusion to draw. If I were the owner of a small business, with it's own parking area that I could monitor, things might be different; but then, that would be a different type of cache. 2. The harder/more often we try to be stealthy, the more likely we are to be perceived as "suspicious". The best encounter with a LEO or suspicious bystander is the one avoided. Every encounter of this type, regardless of the outcome, is bad for geocaching. The slippery slope leads to bans in public areas. If you dig the stealth part, maybe you should be playing the squirt gun assassination game instead.

eBay. Just bought 100 2" x 3" ziplocks for 1.99 including postage. Available in more sizes than you can imagine. Good Luck.

The first LPC I found had me scratching my head. Actually got in the car to leave, and then wondered: Is that box attached or just a bezel? While I enjoyed the find, I did NOT enjoy the feeling of exposure, and the near certain knowledge that no permission had been requested or provided to place it on this private space. I don't like any cache where stealth is a necessity. How does this benefit the image of our game? Having stated this, I have found a small number of other LPCs among my first finds (currently a noob at 62). What bothers me is: if the cache listing doesn't indicate that its a "parking lot cache" or a skirt lifter or whatever, and if I'm not familiar with the area, I end up wasting my time to navigate there. Two caches I tried to grab after work today turned out to be (unannounced) skirt lifters, and these were of the worst variety: the magnetic kind, and totally exposed to onlookers. I left without logging the finds. If some onlooker saw me, then I'd get blamed for somehow revealing the (poorly thought out) cache to muggles. Geesh. I am a proud newbie, and I give an emphatic thumbs down to this type of cache.

The local Gander Mountain in my town (Rochester, MN) had several 60CSX in stock last evening...at suggested retail price. They were located in a case in/near the fishing stuff.

They appear as part of your log entry. You won't know about them unless you actually view the log or get it electronically via a PQ. The coordinates you enter do not become the new 'listed' coordinates for the cache. Someone who grabs the posted coords and goes out the door without reading the cache page will have no clue that corrected coords exist for a cache. Thanks. Now I see where they appear. I'm not yet a premium member (waiting for a GPSr upgrade), and I've done no downloading. Am I correctly interpreting your comment to mean that a PQ includes log entries?

If you need or want autorouting, the Lowrance is not an alternative. If that feature isn't important to you, then the value part of the equation makes the comparison more interesting.