imajeep

If you are using the Path tool in Google Earth to create your route, you are actually creating a 'track' instead, which GC.com chokes on. In Google Earth, ask for directions to the end of the route from the beginning, rather than using the Path tool. Asking for directions creates the 'route' that GC.com is looking for.

Dr. Evil, I presume?

My Palm Z22, which popped off my belt when a tree snagged it. Fortunately, I noticed almost immediately. Plus, three Powerex 2700 rechargeables (not cheap!), which fell out when the bottom catch on my digital camera failed. No GPS yet!

Good points, and thanks. Maybe this idea isn't worth pursuing. The micros we have enjoyed have all shared something in common: Cleverness of the hide. Usually, a cammoed attachment to something on-site. Once you get past the obvoius lame hides, the best way to learn how to find them is to struggle over a few.

Try Splash Photo. I use it on a Palm Z22, but I think there is a version for PPC, as well. Basically, we take screen shots of Google Earth (aerial photos of cache sites) and use Splash Photo to download those to the Palm. We can download the photos full-size, then use the Palm app to zoom in and pan as needed.

I've used a 60 CSx on Kennesaw Mountain (and a bunch of heavy forests in Illinois), and it works like a champ. I average a half-dozen satellites locked under the heaviest cover. Since I upgraded from my Vista, I've had no problems under trees.

Don't know if this will work, but bookmark the benchmarks you want to hunt. Then PQ the bookmark list.

Does anyone know if there is a difference in the chip between these 2 models. Does one have the new SirfStarIII chip that I have heard mentioned? Duxx The 60 CSx has SIRFStar III, which isn't so new. But the eTrex 'H' units have a chipset that is rumored to be just as good, if not slightly better. Either one should give you good coverage under forest canopy. The eTrex is smaller and less expensive, but it's not very good for recording a 'breadcrumb' track. The resson is that it has to be held horizontally to get a good fix. The 60 CSx records a great track hanging from my belt.

One of the biggest surprises to us about geocaching is how much we enjoy urban micros. I know; we're nuts! Anyway, we are thinking about creating a series of urban micro caches in our area, specifically designed to teach the basics of urban micros to new players. Basically, we would do the sorts of hides beginners should learn to look for. The description would be fairly typical for these sorts of hides. But the hints would be out-and-out spoilers--they would tell where to look and why. The object would be no DNFs, unless the cache goes missing. Sort of an anti-evil hide, if you will. We aren't going to start developing these caches until we have a few more under our belts (we want at least 100 before we do any caches), and we want to do more urban micros ourselves before we start this project, but we've begun asking ourselves, what kind of hides should we include in the series? -- Obviously, a couple of 'lame parking lot hides' (lamp post, parking barrier, nano on a stop sign), since so many UMs seem to be of this type. -- Some slightly more creative hides (chain-link fence post, cammoed piece on a waste bin, and so on). But where do we go from here? What sorts of hides do you think a newbie urban micro hunter should learn? And what should they learn from each one? Thanks.

This post is for Groundspeak: I put a local cache (GCNV8A - Woodchuck Hill) on my watchlist after a DNF yesterday. Today, I received an email showing activity on the cache. Activity was a find, dated 9/26/2006, by The Randaddy. I checked the log, and it shows no current edits.I thought Groundspeak would want to know.

This is true of any handheld mapping unit, regardless of model or manufacturer. I guess I like the idea that the 60csx has been out and it's track record for performance is good. The newer models is yet to be seen. Another question would be about the screen size. I use the summit now and I have to put on my glasses to see it. Just wondered if the screen on the 60csx is easier to read? Thanks That's one of the reasons I love my 60 CSx. It does have a bigger screen, and I find it easier to read.

Much improved! High-sensitivity receivers vastly improve reception under challenging conditions (tree cover, canyons, and so on).

Be careful using Google Earth to callibrate a GPSr--Its coordinates are actually less accurate than the receiver! 50-100 feet off is not at all unusual. The best way to determine the accuracy of your GPSr is to find a nearby benchmark. These things have known geo coordinates, which are very accurate. Mark a waypoint at the benchmark, and compare your GPSr waypoint coordinates to the known coordinates for the benchmark. My experience has been that 20' accuracy is about the best I can count on, even when the GPSr claims to be more accurate than that. Apparently, that limitation is inherent in the GPS system. So, if you get within 20' of your benchmark, I'd say you're doing about as well as you can. With some units, how you hold the GPSr has an effect on its accuracy. I started with an eTrex Vista that was pretty accurate if I held it horizontally. But if I held it vertically, I could be up to 200' off. I sold it pretty quickly and moved up to a Garmin 60 CSx, which is pretty accurate no matter how you hold it.

Make sure you are looking for 'traditional' caches, instead of micros. TCs are larger and generally easier to find. Go after caches that have been found in the past few days--these things go missing sometimes. Finally, when you get to the site, look for telltale signs that something has been covered up. Here in Illinois, forest hides in downed trees are popular. About half the forest caches are stuck in the end of a log, covered up with loose bark and twigs. Took me an hour to find my first one, but I'm getting pretty good at them now. Only takes me half an hour!

I just tried to delete a route, and it didn't work. Which is odd, since I deletes a few routes a few days ago.

Welcome to the game! If I understand your post correctly, I think you are actually asking how to set the center point for a search. The best way is to use geo coordinates. Take your GPSr outside your home and mark a waypoint. The coordinates become your home coordinates. Enter them in your member profile, and gc.com will automatically list caches near you when you select "Search for nearest caches from your home coordinates" from the menu on the right of your Account Details page. If you want to center a search on another location, you can use Google Earth to find the location and create a Placemark, which will have geo coordinates. Enter these coordinates into the "Hide and Seek a Cache" page (see the menu on the left of the gc.com home page), and the site will return a list of caches centered of that location. Great for holidays and the like. Cheers!

Sides? There are sides?

no caches, though. Not allowed in national parks.

So are we talking about geocaching or ascending now? I am confused. Nope--can't ascend any more. Stargate got cancelled!

I'll add my voice to the previous posters. The 60CSx is a top-of-the-line unit, and I swear by mine. But I'm a hiker, so I didn't mind spending another $200 for maps (1:100K US Topo, and 1:24K National Park topo. If you are on a tighter budget, one of the eTrex 'H' models looks like a good bet--they have a high-sensitivity receiver that is rumored to be as good as the one in the 60CSx. You will still need maps, though. The base maps included with any of these units is very limited.

Hats off for being a dilligent cache owner and maintaining it!

I've done hiking in the the McDowells, Oak Creek Canyon, the Superstitions and down in Chiracahua. I used to use the standard t-shirt and shorts, but I've recently changed over to light (color and weight) synthetic shirt and pants. Plus, I use a good Tilley bush hat. Keeping the sun off is a priority with me, since I burn easily. Cotton kills mainly in colder climates (think northern AZ in the winter), because it holds moisture on the body, which promotes hypothermia. But IMHO, synthetics work better in hot weather, too. I use long-sleeve shirt and convertible pants (zip-off legs) even in hot weather, to keep the sun off. The synthetic wicks moisture away from the skin, so I actually feel cooler than in the old t-shirt and shorts, which basically got wet and stuck to my skin. I use light-duty wool socks and either boots or sandals (for a wet hike). The wool socks work well, even in heat, and eliminate the problem of blistering.

Just got a Palm Z22 for under $100 a few weeks ago. Color screen, which means I can load cache site aerial pictures. Works pretty well--only drawback is poor visibility in bright sunlight.

Cool! Where can I get one of those?

To quote a reply from an earlier thread, "Does it smell like socks in here?"