Pax42
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Posts posted by Pax42
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Is that really true?Also note that "internally", the 76 series is exactly the same as the 60 series.Visual and external differences between the two different series is buttons above the screen vs buttons below.
The reason I bring it up is because , right now on Amazon the 76 Cx is advertised for $171.72 VERY good price! Operationally and accuracy wise they are the same.
Does the 76 have the Quad Helix antenna inside its case?
Perhaps you'd also comment on just what a Quad Helix antenna is, and why its better/preferred over a patch antenna.
Thanks
According to specs on Garmin website, both 76 and 60 have quad helix antenna.
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That may be one of the most unscientific science projects I've ever seen. You're drawing conclusions comparing "apples and oranges" data. Unless you knew how many so called complaints there were for the garmin and magellan when google search brought up only 39,100 entries for those, the comparisons are meaningless. The PN-40 came out at the end of November 08. I have no doubt that any new consumer product would have a higher percentage of complaints early on but the complaints begin to dramatically drop once the initial "bugs" are resolved. The garmin and magellan have had time to reach that phase. There are other problems with your conclusions but I'll let others voice opinions as well.
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How about these:
Delorme PN-40
Delorme PN-20
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Not sure about all the Garmin models but I can tell you that with the new beta firmware, both the Delorme PN-40 and PN-20 now show all the different icons.
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Nothing against it at all. Just make sure you've gotten permission from who ever manages the property. Also be aware if a boat is required to get to the cache the terrain rating should probably be a 5.
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I just got it this morning and already found my first cache with it!
I actually had to get two, the first device was faulty and wouldn't even turn on. So, I settled for REI's display one.
Quick question though... doesn't seem I can get the notes and hints about the caches to show up, just the name of the cache. The device does have a "notes" section, but it just repeats the title. Am I downloading the wrong file? I'm just doing the "send to GPS" button. I know there was already a thread about this, but I can't seem to find it.
I would have recommended the Delorme PN-20. It's the only GPSr in that price range with paperless caching. That means it provides you with the info you were seeking on the Vista. REI sells it as well.
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Also, while you're perusing any forums, bear in mind that the majority of the posts are going to be "complaints" because that's why people come to the forum in the first place - they need help. What point is there in posting "hey guys, just want you to know there's absolutely nothing wrong, everything's working fine, haven't had any trouble"? Ever see the episode of The Simpsons where Homer invents the "everything's OK alarm" that beeps every 3 seconds until everything stops being OK?
If Garmin hosted & participated in their own forums (which, BTW, they do not), you'd find the exact same sort of thing Tigerz is warning about with the DeLorme forums - for the exact same reason. People would go there with problems and looking for help.
Actually, you can peruse the forums we're currently on and find many complaints about all models and brands of units. Most new consumer products go through aches and pains early in their release due to missed design issues and poor initial manufacturing quality. Neither Delorme or Garmin are immune. You hope that the company you buy from takes care of their customers and their issues in a timely and satisfactory way. I have both a Garmin 60csx and the PN-40 and can tell you that I believe both companies provide very good customer support but I think Delorme goes the extra mile.
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Finally, you might want to read this thread about the two kludges that are required to get more than one geocache in the unit at a time. If you read to the end of the thread, you'll learn how the involved website was recently hacked exposing us all to malware.
Let me first say thank you to Tigerz for helping provide the "kludges" many of us use to load PQs to our 40s.
Unfortunately I must now point out Tigerz incorrect statement. The kludges are NOT required to load PQs onto the 40. PQs can be loaded via the Topo 7 software. Since Topo 7 was around long before the recent PN-40 beta firmware update, you are not able to take advantage of the new geocaching features and icons but the caches are on the unit.
The OP should also be aware that Delorme will soon be releasing the new Cache Register widget which will eliminate the "need" for any kludges.
Delorme will also be releasing Topo 8 in the near future which might, and I do say MIGHT, answer many of the complaints some have had about Topo 7.
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...but if you’re doing a multi-day camping trip I’d encourage the e2 Lithiums for optimum performance...
I just want to get off my spectator chair for a moment and emphasize this note from Chip. I've learned long ago that the Energizer e2 Lithium AA batteries last a long, long, long time in my dSLR; so naturally went with them in my PN-40. After about ten hours of use, they still register a full charge. More expensive than most AA, but you can get a three-pack of four from Sam's Club for about twenty bucks.
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By the way, I've had my PN-40 for several months now and questioned the utility of imagery on such a small screen. So, for the past few weeks, I purchased and have been using a GPSmap 60Cx side-by-side with the PN-40. I much prefer the PN-40 over the 60Cx. (I don't use imagery yet on my PN-40.)
You might also look for the lithiums on Ebay. I've purchased new 4-packs from several sellers for as little as $5 per pack. I also recently started using the custom Li-ion produced by Cabornay and discussed on the Delorme forums (sold on Ebay as well) and find that it gets me nearly as good of performance as the lithiums.
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A search of the forums will bring up many discusions about the PN-40. The "Which is Better" topics tend to get a little heated and sometimes lose sight of the original question. Hopefully this one won't turn into that.
I've had my PN-40 since the day they hit the shelves. My opinion is that it is an outstanding unit for geocaching and hiking. I'd like to have a little bigger screen but I don't find it a big deal. Sunlight readability is very good. Road navigation is not one of it's strengths. Dedicated car GPSrs are far better for that task. Being a new unit, It's had its share of bugs but Delorme has been doing a great job getting updates out to solve the issues. My particular unit works great. It's got very good accuracy, maintains 3D lock under tough conditions, and has gotten acceptable battery life (10 -12 hours with lithiums or good quality Li-ion). The paperless caching is fantastic and the aerial imagery has proven very useful. The Delorme forums are great for helping people with problems and questions.
My 2 cents.
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Got it! 
I tried the suggestions above and managed to get myself completely confussed and lost. Thank you for the assistance but I must have been to dense to grasp it. LOL
I stumbled on it by accident tonight. I set up a pocket query from google earth. Saved it as a GXP/GPX, something like that, file. Then opened the topo map program and used the draw tab to pull it into the topo map then transfered it. Hmmmm Once I got it to the topo map it is amazing how reading the directions in the book can sometimes help. I just could not figure out how to get it there but finally. I downloaded 500 caches in about 3 minutes from start to finish and that was drawing it into the map program.
Thank you again. I would be lost without this forum for getting information and educations. Much better than when I was in school.
Lassen
PS If anyone with the PN40 would like written steps on how I stumbled onto this mass download, that was really easy, kick me an email and I will try to spell it all out. I was amazed at how quick it went. I tried it again to make sure I wasn't dreaming. I used the GSK format but the topo map program that came with the PN40. I would love to be able to assist someone the way I have been helped in this forum.
The Delorme forums are currently down for maintenance but once they're back up I highly suggest you head over there and post any further questions you may have. Many knowledgeable PN-40 owners over there and they're happy to help out. There is also a PN-40 wiki here: http://delormepn40.wikispaces.com/
The wiki has many tutorials (most of which are also on the forums) to help with issues like the one you just resolved. Sorry I didn't respond to you post earlier. It might have saved some of your frustration.
Oops! I'm too slow typing. Lee beat me to it.
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If you go with Garmin, you may want to stick with models having "H" in the name. They have more sensitive receivers and therefore will perform better under tree cover.
You might also check out the Delorme PN-20. It has a couple features that others in that price range don't.
On second thought...
It appears you may be in Canada. The Delorme handhelds don't currently have detailed, routable map coverage outside the U.S. I would drop it from my recommendation.
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If you go with Garmin, you may want to stick with models having "H" in the name. They have more sensitive receivers and therefore will perform better under tree cover.
You might also check out the Delorme PN-20. It has a couple features that others in that price range don't.
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Same story here.. After the 2.5 update I began seeing WAAS gradually kick in after the unit had been on an hour. After a couple weeks WAAS began locking on quickly and consistently. No WAAS complaints from me.
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Does Delorme accept .gpx files directly or do you have to run it through a converter??
Several options. You can load the gpx file to the device via the topo 7 software which doesn't give you the full paperless benefits of the new PN-40 firmware or you can use GSAK along with the "Delorme Send to GPS" macro created by Tigerz and Jam4ar which does take advantage of the new firmware.
In the next month or two Delorme will be releasing "Cache Register" which will handle gpx file uploads for the 40 and negate the need for topo 7. It will work on PCs and Macs.
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The send to GPS feature was meant to be a premium member feature. Apparently a website release made it available to everyone and it wasn't supposed to be. That's been fixed and it is once again a premium member feature.
That's interesting. I've got a premium account and basic account. I just logged into the basic account and was able to use the Send to GPS feature just fine.
Are you sure it's not just the GPX exchange and PQ features that are premium only?
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Thanks for the tips folks! Looks like the Delorme is a great deal! It'll be extra super when the new firmware comes out to enable paperless caching... I've always thought that my budget precluded paperless!
If I were to purchase a PN-20 now, I would be able to upgrade the firmware myself when the time was right, right?
Absolutely. Check out the Delorme forums for a wealth of information on both the hardware and the software.
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A writing instrument is always a must have because sometimes even the regular size containers are missing them. Having a few small sheets of extra writing paper comes in handy in case you come upon a cache with a wet/ruined logbook. A small multi-tool (one with needle nose pliers or tweezers) is very nice to have when you come across a micro or nano container that doesn't want to release its log.
Edit to add: A small first aid kit if caching in the woods or on rough terrain. I've gotten a few ouchies from big thorns and falls on rocks. Antiseptic and bandaids where nice to have.
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As to being skeptical about Delorme, no need to be. Delorme is a solid U.S. company that's primarily known for their map products and software but have gotten into the handheld GPS market in the last few years with the PN-20 and now the PN-40. The reason you see the low price on the 20 is because its been out a couple years now and the 40 is now Delorme's top dog. Delorme's customer service is fantastic.
As Embra mentioned, the slow redraw rate of the 20 shouldn't be as much an issue while caching or hiking. Road routing, however, is not a strength. The big advantage of the 20 over similar priced Garmins is what you get for the price. Topo and detailed routable road maps come in the box. The powerful TOPO 7 software comes in the box. Aerial and satellite imagery can be downloaded from Delorme and loaded on the device for a $30/year membership. Finally, the 20 can do paperless caching. The paperless features are a bit limited right now but as Embra said, a version of the same firmware we have on our PN-40 will eventually be available for the 20 providing much better paperless caching and many other improvements specifically for geocaching.
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... Then all you need to do is slect "menu" and you will see the option to mark the cache as found or not found. It will then take you to the window to add field notes and then ask you what you want to do next i.e. go to next closest cache.
Select Menu while you are on the Geocache Waypoint Page
Actually, as long as you are actively routing to the cache, you can be on the map or compass page and selecting "menu" will bring up the option to log the cache. I'm usually on the compass page when I find the cache and mark it as found.
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I just had the same conversation with my nephew the other day and like you he wants to take up geocaching but but hasn't used a GPSr before. I discussed the good and bad points of some of the same models mentioned here but ultimately recommended the PN-20. As for the mixed reviews, I think they probably come from primarily 2 complaints, The slow redraw rate and the learning curve of the TOPO software.
I told my nephew that the slow redraws are only a major concern if you plan to use the 20 for a significant amount of road navigating. If its mainly for just geocaching and hiking, then its probably fast enough. As to the learning curve, the fact you are tech savy tells me you wouldn't have any problems with it. The Delorme forums provide a wealth of information if you have questions.
I believe the other Garmin units mentioned are very good but what, IMHO, makes the PN-20 stand out is that for about $140 you get all the maps you need in the box, paperless caching (which will get even better with the release of the next firmware update), and the ability to load aerial and satellite imagery. No other handheld in that price category has those features.
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The answer depends on the firmware you have in the unit.
If you don't have the latest 2.5 beta firmware there is really no way to mark the cache as found. You can only manually change its icon to an open treasure chest.
If you have 2.5 beta firmware (highly recommend you get it at the Delorme forums if you don't) Then all you need to do is slect "menu" and you will see the option to mark the cache as found or not found. It will then take you to the window to add field notes and then ask you what you want to do next i.e. go to next closest cache.
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The only GPSr at that price point that comes with all the maps you need, has the capability to display aerial imagery, and offers paperless caching is the Delorme PN-40. Rather than list all the specs and features here I'll just recommend you check it out at the Delorme website or Amazon.com.
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If you have a card reader you can load the firmware to the card outside the device. Once again, instructions are over at the Delorme forums.
GPS External Antenna Repair
in GPS technology and devices
Posted
Well, a google search brings up several online vendors with a 90 deg MCX but the lowest price I saw without a minimum $25 order was about $11.
Another option would be this Gilsson antenna http://www.sureneeds.com/mcx1m09b090awm.html
Some say it's just as good or better than the Garmin and it's only about $20.