jtice

My first cache find got me 5 feet from it, i was kinda impressed.

Pdxmarathon, what do you mean? That the software is whats right on, and not the GPS unit? Hmmm, might be true, ive used USAPhotoMap, Mapsource, ExpertGPS, and they are all perfect. I guess i might just be Megellans software,,,, thats a shame.

Yea, I might be the one that told you that you can convert them to routes. Like I said, Ive dont is once ,, but forget. I MIGHT have used ExpertGPS and did it as a track , not a route. But, I swear, once I found a way to make it a route. I hope im not mistaken. Im like you, Id like to back them up on my PC. Sence you can only save 10. BUT !!!!! I found a new FREE program that lets you do waypoints, routes, AND tracks. Its called USAPhotoMaps. http://dcox116.home.attbi.com/ It will overlay your track over a sat image or topo map. And it will let you save them. Hope that helps. I use EasyGPS for managing my waypoints quickly and easily. I use USAPhotoMaps for all my imaging and topo needs. I use Garmin Mapsource Metroguide for all my streets and routes.

VISTA VISTA VISTA !!!!! I got mine last X-Mas. WOW its great, i personally dont like Magellan's. They are bigger, and have alittle less features, PLUS, Ive heard all the Magellan software doesnt compete with Garmins Mapsource software. I LOVE my Vista for its jam packed options, and its size and shape. Plus, In my eye , Garmins are better made, and seem better quality. I did about one month of research before i bought mine. Got mine for $290 after shipping.

I use USAPhotoMaps , it does topo and sat images. Its great. http://dcox116.home.attbi.com/

I FEEL SORRY FOR YOU GUYS !!!!!!!!!! My Garmin etrex Vista is RIGHT ON !!!!! I have done alot of tracks in my car and on my bike, they overlap Perfectly on sat, and topo maps. Even with the "lock to road" feature turned off. I use USAPhotoMap for all my main image and track laying, its GREAT.

www.gpscity.com

How did you get the tracklog downloaded to Mapsource? I thought you caould only download routes? I did this once in EasyGPS but forget how. Im thinking I got my GPS unit to save the track as a route.

Thats wild, I was JUST about to post the same thing. I have done it once a long time ago, but forget how. I know you have to have the GPS save the track as a route somehow, then you can dump it down to EasyGPS. Its REAL cool in ExpertGPS, cuz you can see a line where you walked over a map or sattalite image ! But my trial period ran out, and I havent bought it yet. Cant beleave Im so forgetful I forgot how to do this,, I did it when I first got my Vista in December.

I am planning on starting a few chaches and want to make my coordinates real close. But Ive never tried to average them. Does my Vista do that? And,, lets say that my Vista says its reading at 22 feet accuracy, is that good enough to use the coordinates it says for the cache?

OK, I think I understand now. I have been downloading caches into EasyGPS for a couple days now, but never just saved the file seperately. I'll have to experiment alittle more. But, for the most part I find EasyGPS does what I need it to. What exactly does spinner do that EasyGPS doesnt?

What are pocket queries , and what are they used for?

nevermind, im an idiot

Why doesnt geocaching.com have a search on the home page where i can enter the name of the cache so it will display the info on that cache? I have to find all the surrounding caches, then look at that page, going down the list to find it. What a pain. I cant beleave such a normally found websitte feature isnt included.

I wouldnt mind being able to look at the name and see what type of cache it is, BUT !!!! PLEASE donnot change the beginging letter,,,, if you have some that are MC, VC, etc, then when I view them in alphebitical order, they will not all be together,,,, and i hate renaming them. Plus, why cant I goto Geocaching.com and type in a caches name and find the info page on it?

OK, Next stupid question...... what is a GPX file? And where do I get it? And what is Spinner going to do with it? Oh, im so confused, lol.

Im not sure what you mean by that. Most of the benchmark pages have the altitude displayed on the page. But it doesnt include that info when you tell it to download into EasyGPS. I have to then right click them one by one and tell it to view online, then it brings up Geocaching.com's page for the banchmark, then i have to manually enter it into EasyGPS. I wouldnt think it would be that much harder for it to download the altitude along with all the other info it downloads.

Yes I've noticed i have to calibrate the compass pretty much every time i turn it on, just to be on the safe side. And,, Ive had that problem with it wonting to all of a sodden show a straight line like 200 yards off some direction when making a track,,, like i walked out to the laft 200 yards than right back to where i was,,,, for the most part, it doesnt seem to effect my distance readings , but it is anoying,,, it mostly happens when im walking, and dont hold the unit out in front of me, sometimes i clip it to the back of my boonie hat. It will keep good reseption,, but goes whacko sometimes.

yes, i tend to agree with both of you,,, especially for viruses.. I Love my Norton Antivirus.

i double click the icon that it put on my desktop, but it doesnt work, it just runs a small dos window for a sec then disappears. Whats up?

Please make the EasyGPS download function include elevation when downloading banchmarks. MAN ! it takes me soooo long to enter them manually.

I was doing the exact same thing !!! While bench marking,, i was about 30 feet from tthe benchmark, then all of a sudden, my Garmin etrx Vista tells me to turn 90 degrees right and walk 50 feet ! I have also noticed that if i make a track log, then go back on the same trail or road, that it will be off and not track right over tthe same line. AND ,,,!!!,, my home waypoint is also about 200 feet off. Thats what Really bothers me. 10, 20, even 30 feet,, OK , but 200 ! To tell you tthe truth, the builtin electronic compass is what REALLY goes wild, it seems to even be 180 degrees off some times, or, flicker all over, and not stay steady in one direction. What in the world is going on!! ?? P.S. and I was wondering how the heck our troops could keep getting lost over there when they have GPS units. I know now.

I figured it out, it was the toggle for GPS detail thing on the PC... And no Metroguide has no code, it is an addon to Mapsource. As for getting them? If this is bad , please tell me, I will delete this.... I have one word: KAZAA

I have an etrex Vista, and it lets me have 10 digit names,,, altthough i have to shorten them and be creative. I see how a main numbering system would be nice,,, BUT ,,, I dont like naming things with numbers, i cant tell what they are without looking them up. I recomend u do what I do: format all your cache names as such: C-VALFAL , C-RIVER , C-PARK2, etc. That way you can keep all your caches together when viewd in alphibetical order,, and know what the waypoint is by the "C" I do the same for benchmarks. ::: B-JX1800, etc.

My Mapsorce is not displaying city streets, even though MetroGuide is installed. And the map detail is set to high. What is wrong?