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Brainerd

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Everything posted by Brainerd

  1. Whenever you load new MapSource data (i.e. City Select) to your unit it will erase what was previously loaded in the 56 megs of memory. When you buy the unit, Garmin has placed about 3.8 megs of POI info for the base map. It is very thin, as it covers the whole county. That POI information is erased when you load your own selected map quadrants. This should not be a problem, because the map quadrants that you are loading will include the POI info for those quadrants. The main/only reason that you would want to re-load Garmin's default POI data, is if you are removing all local maps, and will just be relying on the base map; which is not the best for travel. Note: the base map is never effected by loading new maps. It is stored in another area of the memory, and will remain throughout the life of the unit.
  2. Because your Magellan is 8 years old, I am assuming that it does not have WAAS correction. WAAS is a grouping of satellites and land based towers that help add correction data to the government's Military GPS satellites that are the backbone of the GPS system. With WAAS correction, yes, you can get down to just under 10 feet Estimated Accuracy. Without WAAS, Estimated Accuracy is usually in the teens. Here's some great information from the Gamin Web site: What is WAAS? You've heard the term WAAS, seen it on packaging and ads for Garmin® products, and maybe even know it stands for Wide Area Augmentation System. Okay, so what the heck is it? Basically, it's a system of satellites and ground stations that provide GPS signal corrections, giving you even better position accuracy. How much better? Try an average of up to five times better. A WAAS-capable receiver can give you a position accuracy of better than three meters 95 percent of the time. And you don't have to purchase additional receiving equipment or pay service fees to utilize WAAS. The origins of WAAS The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) are developing the WAAS program for use in precision flight approaches. Currently, GPS alone does not meet the FAA's navigation requirements for accuracy, integrity, and availability. WAAS corrects for GPS signal errors caused by ionospheric disturbances, timing, and satellite orbit errors, and it provides vital integrity information regarding the health of each GPS satellite. How it Works WAAS consists of approximately 25 ground reference stations positioned across the United States that monitor GPS satellite data. Two master stations, located on either coast, collect data from the reference stations and create a GPS correction message. This correction accounts for GPS satellite orbit and clock drift plus signal delays caused by the atmosphere and ionosphere. The corrected differential message is then broadcast through one of two geostationary satellites, or satellites with a fixed position over the equator. The information is compatible with the basic GPS signal structure, which means any WAAS-enabled GPS receiver can read the signal. Who benefits from WAAS? Currently, WAAS satellite coverage is only available in North America. There are no ground reference stations in South America, so even though GPS users there can receive WAAS, the signal has not been corrected and thus would not improve the accuracy of their unit. For some users in the U.S., the position of the satellites over the equator makes it difficult to receive the signals when trees or mountains obstruct the view of the horizon. WAAS signal reception is ideal for open land and marine applications. WAAS provides extended coverage both inland and offshore compared to the land-based DGPS (differential GPS) system. Another benefit of WAAS is that it does not require additional receiving equipment, while DGPS does. Other governments are developing similar satellite-based differential systems. In Asia, it's the Japanese Multi-Functional Satellite Augmentation System (MSAS), while Europe has the Euro Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS). Eventually, GPS users around the world will have access to precise position data using these and other compatible systems. It just keeps getting better 100 meters: Accuracy of the original GPS system, which was subject to accuracy degradation under the government-imposed Selective Availability (SA) program. 15 meters: Typical GPS position accuracy without SA. 3-5 meters: Typical differential GPS (DGPS) position accuracy. < 3 meters: Typical WAAS position accuracy.
  3. I ordered a 60cs, and I should get it by Thursday. Two quick questions: 1. Will the auto-routing work faster with 24mb of maps loaded vs loading close to the 56mb max? 2. If you press FIND-FIND does it pull up routing options to a waypoint that you have labeled "HOME"? (this works on my GPS V) Thank you in advance for your help.
  4. I hope not. After installing the v6 upgrade (over the v5 upgrade over the v4 full) I blew away v4 and v5. Hopefully it sees v6 when I upgrade to v7 next year. David I think the key is that you need a fully functioning copy on the computer. So, you are fine. If you get a new computer, or have to reinstall all of your software, you will probably need to install v4 to be able to install the latest update CD.
  5. I just finished a couple of calls to Garmin Tech support. Here's the scoop as they told me. City Select software will come with a "Registration Code." This code will give you the right to request 2 unlock codes for your own units. Each unlock code is an algorithm that is tied to the specific serial number of your GPS unit. So, it will only work on one unit (not all units of that model). The first unlock code that you get will be tied to that GPS and to your original version of City Select's registration code. When you buy updates to City Select you will be able to get a new unlock code for the 1st GPS and an additional one. So, if you first unlocked City Select with your GPS V, then that unit is forever married to the City Select Registration Code. However, you may get an unlock code for an additional GPS. That unit may change with future updates. The City Select Update CD will only install if there is a previously installed full version of City Select on your computer. Whew. Confusing, but I finally think I got it.
  6. The Quest seems to be created just for the car. It does not look "sturdy" for hikes, and its screen is only made for horizontal orientation; which would be awkward to hold while geocaching. The battery issue is a concern. Using rechargeable AA batteries is much better on the trail. You can always carry a couple of spares in your pocket. I think the quest looks great, but it doesn't seem to be well suited for geocaching.
  7. I have a V and I just ordered a 60cs. The memory should be fine. Of course, I would like more, but 56 meg should be fine unless I am driving cross-country; which I can't remember the last time I did that. If you fish, you may want the 76. It floats! That could be a key factor if it goes overboard.
  8. I don't believe that the legend has auto-routing. So, if you plan to have the GPS give you driving directions, you will need the 60c or 60cs.
  9. For me is it. Over twice the memory for more maps, lighter, more battery life with only 2 batteries, color, faster route calculating, faster map loading with USB port, magnetic compass, and color. The V is still a great unit, and is the pioneer of hand-held auto-routing units.
  10. The GPS V has been one of the best units for geocaching. I'm upgrading to a 60cs, but you cannot go wrong with the V. The WAAS receiver, auto-routing (to drive to the cache), and the size of the V have made it a very popular model in the geocaching community.
  11. Okay, I found it. But, it's just a temporary page, while he loads the site. It looks like I will be drooling and rocking in the fetal position for a little while longer.
  12. My ISP has not updated its DNS directory to the new host. Nuts. Another day or two I suppose.
  13. ALLright, ALLready! Enough of that.
  14. Respect is key. And the history and artwork can be wonderful. Here are some links to the caches mentioned by Cachepal: Eternal Fame - Forest Lawn Glendale Eternal Fame - Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills
  15. I'm having a difficult time dealing with not being able to post to the SCG Forums. Post. Whew. That feels better. ----------- FYI...I have an appointment with a therapist tomorrow. She specializes in Internet chat room disabilities.
  16. Having been on an 83 cache day with EMC, I believe that they all went to, and searched for each cache. Also, having 4 cachers look for the cache is a bonus, as it can speed up the find. Boy, 83 sounds so pathetic, now!
  17. Oops. Sorry Team PP. I wasn't sure who the other guilty party was, so I didn't list ya. Congrats! I'll still talk to you at the picnic. It will be a rather short conversation, since you won't be responding.
  18. Rumor has it that EMC, Cachepal, and another cacher bagged 130 finds in Palm Springs on Saturday. It's a fairly reliable rumor. Congrats to all! I gather that they will be sleeping all this week. (*** I later discovered that the "another cacher" was the venerable pairing of Team PerkyPerks.)
  19. Bummer. I gather that LarsThorwald didn't send FullOn his $300 check this year!
  20. ieSpell is wonderful. Yes, it only works on Internet Explorer, but it is much faster than using a web based spell checker.
  21. I recommend In-N-Out Burger. It is the best hamburger on the planet; and they are only available in the Southwest. There is one right next to Pushing Tin LAX.
  22. Thanks 9Key. They just logged it on the 27th. It's nice to see the bug moving again.
  23. I own a travel bug that is a Mother's Day Card for me dear old mum. And it seems to have stalled in Texas. The goal of the card is for it to travel from California to a specific cache in the Sarasota, Florida area before Mother's Day. So, if you are near Squirrel's At Hill Creek Park in the Tyler, TX area, and have a chance to move the Mother's Day Card travel bug further East, or to an "airport" cache, it would be greatly appreciated. Tom "Brainerd"
  24. Here's the scoop from Rich. (This is a copy of a post that he had on scgeocachers.org)
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