Wyomingguy

I have never used a smart phone for geocaching, don't even have one. My suggestion for a GPS is to shell out the bucks and get a good one. When you project the cost over the life of the unit the price becomes a minor factor. I have used a Magellan Explorist 610 for four or five years and I am completely satisfied with it. As far as smart phone geocaching. I attended an event a while back where one of the reviewers gave a talk. He said if you want to search with a smart phone, that's OK. But he was very adamant that you do not use a smart phone for placing geocaches. They are just too inaccurate. An analogy: Don't try to haul two tons of fertilizer in a one ton truck.

I use a Magellan Explorist 610, terrific unit and very easy to use. It took a stretch a while back of eating batteries. Then I discovered that it was set for rechargeables while I was using alkalines. I reset it for alkalines- problem solved. My suggestion for any problem is to go through your "settings" first. Maybe even restore factory defaults and go from there. A word about the Explorist 610- money well spent. It has the three axis compass which works even when standing still. Very compatible with GSAK. I have an extra 4GB mini disc installed but have never needed it. One time I got curious how many caches it would hold. I downloaded 10,000 caches and barely scratched the internal memory. I have used it for four or five years and am completely satisfied with it.

For several years I have used a Garmin NUVI 250W to get near a cache site then use my Magellan Explorist 610 to locate the cache. The Nuvi holds thousands of geocaches in the "Favorites" file and will give me turn-by-turn instructions to a cache. I recently purchased a Magellan Roadmate 2230T-LM hoping to use it like I do the NUVI. I can download geocaches into the Roadmate, but then I cannot find them anywhere on the menu. Any ideas? Does anyone use a Roadmate for geocaching? The NUVI 250W is about six or seven years old and I thought the Roadmate would be a step up, bur so far it is a giant leap backwards. Added note- I am totally satisfied with my Magellan Explorist 610.

I have been questioned by various law officers and never had a problem. I simply tell them what I am doing and that is usually the end of it. One time a deputy game warden got real interested and helped me look for the cache. He figured it would make a great family hobby. That said, I have taken a pass on a lot of caches just because I did not like the location, too close to private homes, businesses, etc. There are enough caches out there that I don't need every one. One good trick, I have the names of two law officers who are also geocachers. I figure they will make good references if ever needed.

Thank you, Walts. I had never thought about recording my finds through GSAK. Your pointer was exactly what I was looking for. I poked around on the GSAK page and found the "Publish Logs" directions. I experimented with some of my own caches and it all worked like a charm. I am hoping to go to Nevada around early May and hit some of the power trails there. This procedure will make things worlds easier. Thanks again

Thanks, Walts. I will look into that. I use GSAK to download pocket queries and caches along a route, but I didn't realize that I could upload my field reports through it. It makes sense and is probably exactly what I am looking for.

I use the "Upload field notes" when logging multiple finds. I would like to be able to log several finds in bulk instead of one at a time. I have seen reference to this procedure but have never seen an explanation. Anybody know how? Thanks.

I use a Magellan Explorist 610 (A terrific unit) and I use the "upload field notes" option when logging multiple finds. The unit has a preprogrammed response that reads "Found [time to find _ minutes]". I can edit the logs individually on the unit or when uploading field notes, but I would like to reprogram the automatic response to something a little more cordial like "Found it, thank you. SL." Does anyone know the trick to doing that? Secondly, when sending my field notes to geocaching.com, I would like to be able to send them in bulk instead of one at a time. Any Ideas? Thanks, and happy caching, Wyomingguy,

I found that the "User Guide" that came with my 610 was not much help. I suggest that you go to http://www.magellangps.com/ click on "Support" and then click "Manuals and Software Updates. I was able to find a 42 page users manual with free download. It was a tremendous help. I think you are going to like your 610. I am satisfied with mine, although it did take a while to get it all figured out.

I never used the 62S, but I did use a Garmin Colorado 400T for about two years. I never got comfortable with it. Just over a year ago I bought a Magellan Explorist 610 and I have been totally satisfied with it. I use it primarily for geocaching. The simple "User Guide" that comes with it is quite lacking, but I downloaded a forty two page "User Manual" from Magellan for free.

Started with a Garmin E-Trex legend. Easy to use, but cannot paperless geocache. I still use it as a backup. Used a Garmin Colorado 400T for about two years. Never got comfortable with it. Now I use a Magellan Explorist 610. Terrific unit. Easy to use. (I have a friend that uses a Magellan Explorist GC. It works just fine for him and not nearly as expensive as the 610.) I also use a Garmin Nuvi 250W. It makes geocaching by car much easier and safer than using a handheld unit while behind the wheel. It will take pocket queries just fine. I use it to get close then finish up with the 610.

After fighting with my Garmin Colorado 400T for about a year I bought a Magellan Explorist 610. I, too, wish it had better battery life, but, otherwise, I couldn't be happier with it.

Started almost five years ago with a Garmin E-Trex Legend. Worked great as a starter and I still use it as a backup. A couple of years ago I wanted to move up to paperless geocaching so I got a Garmin Colorado 400T. I should have saved my money. Just a year ago I bought a Magellan Explorist 610. I couldn't be happier with it.

I also started with a Garmin E-Trex legend. Worked great aa a starter GPS. But, I wanted to move up to paperless geocaching so I bought a Garmin Colorado 400T. I will keep my opinions of it to myself, but about a year ago I got tired of fighting with it and I bought a Magellan Explorist 610. Much better receiver, much easier to use, I couldn't be happier with it. I especially like the three axis compass that works when standing still. I have a friend that uses the Magellan Explorist GC (Much less expensive than the 610, but designed specifically for geocaching) and he is very satisfied with it.

I quit fighting with my Colorado 400T about a year ago and bought a Magellan Explorist 610. Couldn't be happier.

I have a Magellan Explorist 610 that eats batteries. I tried a set of Energizer Lithium and didn't get an hours worth out of them. Energizer or Duracell alkaline batteries are only good for about two hours. Yeah, I'm frustrated.

Actually, now I'm not so sure my problem is with Magellan communicator. I have a Magellan Explorist 610. When I try to connect it to the computer I get a response "USB device not recognized." I have tried several computers with different operating systems, all give the same result. I have sent a message to Magellan but I am open to any ideas here.

When I download Magellan communicator, I get "Download complete" but I don't get any install instructions. Any ideas?

Many thanks for all the great answers to my questions about the 710. Ken.

I am looking real close at getting a Magellan Explorist 710, but I have a few questions that I hope someone can answer for me. It will be used primarily for geocaching. 1. Can you download multiple pocket queries or does one pocket query push the previous one out? 2. When you locate a cache, can you move it to a "Found" file seperate from the unfound caches? 3. Can you delete individual geocaches in the field, or do you need to hook up to a computer to delete. 4. Does the electronic compass work as well as advertised? I could go on here as to why I am unhappy with my Garmin Colorado 400t, but I won't. Thanks.