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SnoWake

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Everything posted by SnoWake

  1. I ordered mine from getfeetwet.com last week, along with the auto-routing kit (of the places I checked, they had the best overall, combined price at the time). It arrived in two days, and I've been using it for about 4 days now, and LOVE it! Time to go search for a thread about lockups during auto-routing recalculating though... (yes, I've already upgraded the software in it Just sharing my experience, Billy (aka SnoWake)
  2. I couldn't be happier with GSAK - it really has taken the functionality of a handful of stand-along programs, used in a specific sequence, and replaced it with a single, multi-faceted tool. I'm still trying to explore all the bells and whistles - but this tool is getting fairly close to undermining my need/desire for a dedicated database (after all, that's what this IS!). Here's something I've noticed, and perhaps it's just a matter of RTFM - but when I do an export to M$ Streets and Trips, I can't seem to get the values to parse correctly. I haven't fully explored the options available, but it seems that mostly I'm just configuring what's included in the name (currently using %smart=10). By comparison, when I export from Utopia (after configuring the CSV export options, selecting exactly the fields I want to export and in which order) I can see exactly the information I'm after. With the GSAK export, I can get some of this information, but only as part of the "title" - which means I have to select that portion of text, and "scroll right" to see important information like cache type, terrain and difficulty. Again, all in all, a minor inconvenience - but thought it worth mentioning, as I still find myself manually loading all my GPX queries into Watcher and exporting them from there. I'd also like to second the comment above, relative to the export of hints/terrian/difficulty to a Garmin 60CS. I just received mine and have really been enjoying it - so in addition to adding USB support to GSAK (I'm currently loading my new GPSr from the latest Beta of ExpertGPS), parsing these values and putting them in the "comments" field of the 60CS would be OUTSTANDING! Thanks again for all your hard work and continued efforts in creating and evolving such an excellent tool. Have a great evening, Billy (aka SnoWake)
  3. DOH! I just did something stupid (make that two things) and wiped out my "found caches" database in GSAK. After all that work, pulling down all the .loc files, manually adding some of the data back in, etc. The process will definitely be streamlined now, as I'm going to go grab .gpx versions of all the archived caches, but... With over 500 finds in CA now - I've done the math, and it looks like I'm still going to be missing some. I can't think of a good way to "slice them" to get them into smaller groups - perhaps by date hidden? If I could sort by date I found, that might work, but... What I would really, Really, REALLY love, is a single query that returns all my finds. Okay - it doesn't even have to be all of them - just all of them in a given state? Regardless of archived status, availability, etc. I understand the increased query processing time and resources - just hoping Jeremy and friends can find a way to make it happen. To protect me from my own stupidity, as it were... Thanks for any status update on this much-desired query! Have a great evening, Billy (aka SnoWake)
  4. DOH! Much thanks, Pat. That'll learn me to behave like a kid on Christmas! So, I had the two City Select CDs, and the "Trip and Waypoint Manager" CD bundled with the 60CS... but somehow I had overlooked the Mapsource setup CD (you know, the one inside of a folder labeled "Mapsource Setup Guide - Start Here"! So, I'm a dork, but at least now, thanks to Pat - I'm all set! I KNEW this community could answer my question quicker than Garmin.
  5. Well, I certainly thought I understood all that, from long ago. I've used Mapsource Topo and Metroguide products with my Vista for years, and done the install(s) on a couple of computers, and even upgraded Mapsource along the way (I was running 5.4 w/ Metroguide and Topo). So, my 60CS arrives today, complete with auto-routing kit... and I'm stuck. Unlike Pat, I didn't receive a "Mapsource" setup CD, per se. My City Select v5 includes two CDs - disk 1 and disk 2 of the North America product. So far, so good... Until I try to install. At EVERY attempt, setup chugs for a few seconds, then throws a dialog box: "Severe: Please start this data CD install from the setup CD." The installshield wizard continues, and reports "The wizard was interrupted before MapSource - North America City Select v5 could be completely installed". HUH? At first, I thought it might be related to the fact that I've got existing Mapsource products installed. Closer inspection showed that I was running Mapsource 5.4 (upgraded via garmin.com), while the City Select CD indicates version 5.02. So, after several attempts, reboots, etc - I finally decided to de-install all existing Mapsource products (Metroguide and Topo). One more reboot, and ran setup on City Select again... NO DICE. I've already sent an email to Garmin with all these same details, after poring over their FAQ and support pages. I can find no mention of this problem. I don't know if it's relevant, but my OS is Windows XP Pro SP1. I'm at a total loss - wondering if anyone else might have exerpienced this problem? Thanks in advance for any insight... Billy (aka SnoWake)
  6. Fellow Cachers: I did some searching for any existing threads on this topic, and couldn't come up with a good example that answered my question or was right on the mark. Here's what I'm interested in -- a solution to automate the processing of delivered pocket queries (GPX files) into several other usable forms: E.G. "Spun" into a form for importing into my Palm, as well as compiled and translated into a file for Streets and Trips (.est file), and finally ready for import to my GPSr. I have seen some brief discussion of automating much of this, leveraging existing excellent tools like GSAK, GPSbabel, GPX Spinner, cmconvert, etc . I'm using all these tools now in a manual fashion - and unfortunately, they aren't an ideal fit for my desired automation platform, which is my Linux server where the pocket queries land. So - I'm already sorting the PQs off into a dedicated folder via Procmail - and realize that I could, alternatively, pass the messages to some sort of command line. I'm struggling with what tool/process might strip the attachment and save it off - and google hasn't been much help in my quest. Once that's done, and I've got a directory full of GPX files - I think there are Linux tools out there that can be scripted to accomplish most, if not all, of what I'm after. In a worst-case scenario, I can full all the PQ files over to a windows machine, or even retrieve the messages to a windows host for processing, if that's my best bet. Anyone out there doing anything like this... and willing to share? If I can bolt together a workable system, I'll definitely document and post the process for others. Thanks for any ideas or suggestions, Billy (aka SnoWake)
  7. Just a quick second on the comment regarding Netscape / Mozilla / etc: The new layout is great (still learning my way around) but that "ugliness" was enough to bother me a bit. IE may be the predominant browser at this point - but hopefully it's not considered the "only" one! Thanks for all the hard work - and I'll provide some more meaningful feedback as I actually exercise the new layout a bit through typical activities. Have a GREAT evening! Billy (aka SnoWake)
  8. That's the biggest "new feature" I'm jonesin' for. A recent laptop HD crash (WITHOUT good backups - a problem that has been remedies w/ rsync via ssh to my nearby Linux server) caused me to loose my "total finds" database in Utopia. I had identified, and then gone through creating .loc files for each of the archived caches - a tedious process indeed, even back then. Once I was caught up, running a daily "caches I've found" PQ and appending to this datafile worked great. The solution described be Jeremy fits all my needs - and with the inclusions of logs in PQs, really provides us that "full journal" of our activities, that we can then slice and dice any way we like with 3rd party of homegrown tools. My premium membership is up for renewal in about two weeks ("Happy Anniversary to Me, Happy Anniversary to Me..."), and I'm hoping that at least .63 cents of my $30 annual fee can make it past hosting fees, paying for that robotic tape library and RAID-5 disc arrays, and into the 'feature enhancement' tin cup to help fund this "top of my want list" addition. Thanks in advance, Billy (aka SnoWake)
  9. I'm with Marky - I'd really like to see a query option that returns ALL found caches, sans limit (yes, I understand the technical implications of this, but... that doesn't mean I can't want it!). Most important, for me, would be the ability to include archived caches. I had gone through the process of identifying all the ones that were missing from my queries, and grab .loc files for those caches, ultimately building a full list (in Utopia - a most excellent tool -- THANKS Prime Suspect!). Unfortunately, I just lost my HD in my laptop... and this file along with it So, let me just cast my vote for "adding archived caches" (as a toggle - wouldn't have to, or even want it to be the default) to pocket queries. Keep up the great work! Billy
  10. Can someone tell me more about these "known problems"? My Vista is LONG since out of warranty, but I would like to see more details on the various symptoms, as many of my problems have been alluded to here. I experience the following problems from time to time: MAJOR lag on updating map page (display "freezes" for long periods) Lines across the display Both these problems seem resolvable with a good "whack" - but that can't be good for the lifespan of an electronic device! ;-) Someone mentioned a website detailing a fix - is this a user-servicable fix, if I'm feeling adventurous and proficient at micro-miniature soldering? Thanks in advance for any links, insight, or Markwells. Billy (aka SnoWake)
  11. As an IT professional, I have to second Cruzin's suggestion. I've cringed at hitting .asp pages, which I know are querying SQL Servers. Based on my experience at a Fortune 500 company doing Internet Infrastructure, I've had to fight a CONSTANT battle against this platform, deployed for Internet-facing applications. Don't get me wrong - I'm not a Microsoft-hater: In fact, I'm even an MCSE. It's just that MS has a place (desktop, perhaps file/print and some backoffice stuff like Exchange - but hey, I even argue this point with my colleagues who are responsible for such decisions). It's just not really suited to Internet deployment - and I can tell you why (actually, it's a long list, so maybe I shouldn't start). In a word - just THINK about all the stuff a typical MS operating system has to "do" - from GUI interface right down to every service imaginable. And they're ALL very, VERY tightly coupled (inter-dependent). At any rate - it's all really a moot point, since I'm sure Jeremy and team are fairly well entrenched in the .NET camp. While I win the battles on technical merit, I virtually never manage to actually convert the masses - who are convinced that the application they just drag-n-dropped together in Visual Studio should be Internet facing. So, I'm sure there's no shortage of folks who could offer up services, ranging from infrastructure design, firewalls, web/application/database server expertise - all in support of an environment that would SMOKE on the same hardware in use today (assuming a dedicated server that could be re-installed w/ Linux, Apache, MySQL). We use a lot of Solaris, Java app servers and Oracle at work - but honestly, I'm starting to convince people that the open-source alternatives can provide comparable reliability and performance on lower-cost Intel hardware platforms. But alas - I'm TOTALLY thrilled with the outstanding job done by Jeremy, and the most excellent functionality of the site as it exists today. I'm not complaining, at all - just supporting the notion that there are solid, FREE, high-performance solutions for all tiers of a web application infrastructure. We'll probably need that .NET support from PHP before be can convince Jeremy, though... Much thanks to the whole community, Billy
  12. I think the key here is: With anything that is popular on the Internet - demands are very dynamic, and fluctuate wildly. Doing Internet infrastructure for a living, I'm sympathetic to the Geocaching.com support team. As more people are introduced to caching (I'm a newbie myself, and have already turned SEVERAL others on to the fun), we can expect some pretty "bursty" growth, and resulting congestion, server overload, and general slowness. The best thing each of us can do: Become a premium member, and if you can afford it, offer additional support: Time, money, constructive feedback. At a minimum - let's be patient, and understanding when things "get slow". Also, when experiencing slow-downs, or timeouts: Try to consider the type of activity you're performing on the site, and it's potential impact. Everything just looks like a link in the browser - but some tasks are FAR more computationally intensive to the backend databases and applications which access them. Try to "tread lightly" - and avoid the temptation to just keep mashing "reload". ;-) Just hid my first cache - now time to go out and find a couple...
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