Rhinomike

Thanks for all of the help guys. I really apreciate it.

What map form is most everyone else useing to Geocache? Thanks. Depends how you are doing it. If primarily urban caching, I'd go with CN. If heading out into the "wilderness", I'd go with Topo. Personally, I use both, picking which one depending on the info I need. Where do I get the software? I think I will get them both. Also what about the sim card or memory chip? Do I need that too? Sorry for so many questions but you guys are a big help. Thanks.

What map form is most everyone else useing to Geocache? Thanks.

I am a newbie .... I have only been out 1 day. I have a Garmin etrex Legend HCX. One of the features is a voice prompt that will give me directions. I have downloaded some waypoints (cache's) to find. However when I go to find them I only get an arrow and a distance. I would like a map to appear to get me close then I could switch over to the arrow and distance. Is there some additional software that I need or does my GPS already do this and I just havent figured it out. Please help. Thanks.

I just got the premium membership and I also downloaded EasyGps..... Wow this is much easier now. Thanks again for the help. This is addicting.

Wow Thank you for the help. I wanted to become a premium member anyways. Thanks again.

This last weekend me, my wife and our 4 kids went out hunting. We had a great time. I am loking for a easier way to download the cache's into my GPS. I have a Garmin etrex legend HCX. What I am currently doing is clicking on each individual cache in order to send it to my GPS. This is very time consuming. I would like to click on several at once or use the "check all" box and download several at once. This will save me lots of time. How do I do this? I tried to do it but it appears that I may need some software that I dont have. There has to be an easier way. Please help. Thank You.

You are correct. I just clicked on the link and it is the Legend. However I double checked my Invoice and it states Vista HCX. I will receive it today so I gues I will find out shortly. Thank you for pointing that out.

I ordered mine from Amazon and it was $243.xx (free shipping) I just checked to see, and it's showing as $239.85. Where do you find it (at Amazon) for $217? This is where I got mine ...... http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00...ractiveda742-20

Well, this isn't something you would like to happen, but it won't affect your ability to find a cache. The GPSr will still show you where you are and lead you to the coordinates you've entered. Given the excellent sensitivity of this new chip, it will do those things very well. What it does mean is that, if you want to know how far you've walked, you won't know based on what is on your GPSr screen, because it will not count any distance during which you moved at a pace less than 2.2 mph. This could matter if you're comparing your GPSr readings to your paper map where it would be nice to know that you've traveled 2 miles so you can pinpoint where on the paper map you are. Or, if you're trying to decide whether to go farther that day, and you use the trip page to see how far you've already come in a particular length of time, you'll not have an accurate reading to help you figure out how long the next leg will take. So, overall, it IS a serious issue, one that Garmin has known about since the model was released and one they should have already fixed. But firmware updates have come and gone without a solution so far. I've been waiting to buy this model until they fixed it, but I'm not sure when or if that's going to happen. Of course it's easy for me to wait because I have both a Vista C and a 60CSx to use so I'm not without resources while I wait. If I were in your shoes, I probably wouldn't wait to buy since you're missing out on a great deal of fun in the meantime. I would consider both the 60CSx and the Vista HCx. The two are virtually the same in sensitivity (despite using different chips). The 60CSx is easier to use (more buttons and labeled with words), it is larger and has the antenna sticking up. The Vista is smaller and more pocketable, but has these issues (which are probably temporary, but you can't know for sure). Personally, I think you should just pull the trigger and choose one because they're both excellent units and the most important thing is to get out there and find those caches. I just placed an order for the Vista HCX with Amazon.com. I got it for $ 217.00 and free shipping. Well kind of. The shipping was free but I am so excited to get started that I paid the extra 20 bucks for overnight shipping. Thank you to everyone for all of the help. I am sure I will have more questions once I receive the unit and I am ready to get started. Thanks again.

Wow, that is a good price, quite a bit less than I paid in July. Was that for a new unit? Yes it is a new unit not a refubished unit .... Here is the link. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00...ractiveda742-20

Go for it. I think you will enjoy it. One suggestion. The owner's manual for the HCx models is sparse compared to the manuals that came with the earlier models. You might go to the Garmin website and download the manual for the Vista or Vista HC. They contain more information about using all of the various pages and most of it will be applicable to the new model. Thanks for the tip. I just placed an order for the Vista HCX with Amazon.com. I got it for $ 217.00 and free shipping. Well kind of. The shipping was free but I am so excited to get started that I paid the extra 20 bucks for overnight shipping. Thank you to everyone for all of the help. I am sure I will have more questions once I receive the unit and I am ready to get started. Thanks again.

That speed filter issue has not made one bit of difference to my geocaching. It will probably get fixed by Garmin with an update eventually, it seems. I have also not experienced any of the other sporadic problems some people have mentioned in other threads. Great. Thank you for all of your help. I really apreciate it. Hopefully someday I will become experienced and be able to help others as you have done to me. I just placed an order for the Vista HCX. I got it for $217.00 from Amazon.com with free shipping. However I am to excited so I paid the extra $ 20.00 for overnight shipping. I am sure once I get it I will have more questions. Thank you again to everyone for all of your help.

No. With the improved sensitivity, the unit is also a little more accurate that older units in the eTrex series, especially in situations where signal reception is not quite as good. Thus, the Vista HCx is very good for caching. The trip computer tells you how long you have been on the trail and, of that, how much time you have been moving; velocity while moving; average velocity; highest velocity; and, the length of the trip. If you need that information while hiking on the trail, the data currently is not reliable. But, it has not effect on your ability to either find a cache or accurately locate a cache that you intend to hide. I'm optimistic that Garmin will correct this issue - eventually - with a firmware update. But, who knows how long it will take. I'm guessing that the Legend HCx has the same issue. The difference between the two units is that the Vista has an electronic compass and an electronic altimeter. In the earlier models (I also have a Legend C), I didn't think the price differential was worth those two features. But, with the availability of the HCx series from some online stores that are selling the units at less that suggested retail, the price wasn't that great and I decided to get the Vista this time around. If I really need a trip computer - which I use for applications other than caching - I will rely on the Legend C and put up with the occasional lost signal, until Garmin corrects this issue. Thank you for clearing that up. I will probably never know there is anything wrong with it as I am a newbie. I am going to order it and get started. Thanks again.

I was all set to buy the Vista HCX but then I read off thes problems they are having (see link). This kind of has me worried. It seems to be just the H series. Will this have an affect on my hunt for a cache? Should I start looking at a different unit? Since I have never owned a unit it was kind of hard for me to follow the problem that people are having...... Thanks Guys. http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=173260

I have never owned a GPS before. I am excited to buy one and start my hunting. I was all set to buy a Etrex Vista HCX today. However now after reading this I am rethinking it. Does this have any affect on looking for a cache? That is going to be the primary use of my GPS. Should I purchase my second choice which is a Etrex Legend HCX? I am confused can some please clarify this for me. Is there a problem with the Vista HCX or not? Thanks guys.

I have never owned a GPS before. I am excited to buy one and start my hunting. I was all set to buy a Etrex Vista HCX today. However now after reading this I am rethinking it. Does this have any affect on looking for a cache? That is going to be the primary use of my GPS. Should I purchase my second choice which is a Etrex Legend HCX? I am confused can some please clarify this for me. Is there a problem with the Vista HCX or not? Thanks guys.

Thanks for all of the help guys ... It looks lioke it is narrowed down to 2 choices....... The Etrex Legend HCX or The Etrex Vista HCX From what it sounds like the Vista HCX is the way to go. I have been calling around here local trying to find one without much luck. I am to excited to order it online. I want it today. I have a few more places to check then it looks like I will have to order it online.

1 Don't even think about old technology. 2 The best 3 Same as 2, but without electronic compass ridiculous to buy to save $20 Funny but that is the same way that I was thinking. I think I am going to go out tomorrow and get the Etrex Vista HCX. I cant wait to find my first cache. The wife and kids are more excited than I am. Thanks for the input guys. The one issue with the Vista (or any unit with an electronic compass) is that it has to be calibrated frequently. At least every time you change the battery and sometimes in between if it starts acting fluky. Some people find this to be a pain and would rather go with a unit that doesn't have an electronic compass. It also eats batteries faster than a unit without one (i.e. the Legend HCX). Others wouldn't buy a unit without an electronic compass (I'm one). It's all a matter of personal preference. Is it possible to turn the compass off and not have to calibrate it?

1 Don't even think about old technology. 2 The best 3 Same as 2, but without electronic compass ridiculous to buy to save $20 Funny but that is the same way that I was thinking. I think I am going to go out tomorrow and get the Etrex Vista HCX. I cant wait to find my first cache. The wife and kids are more excited than I am. Thanks for the input guys.

I have just stumbled across this hobby. I cant beleive I have never heard of it before. Me, the wife and kids are very excited to get going. I tried to do some searching utilizing my navigation system in my Suburban yesterday but I was not succesful. It is not made for this type of searching. I have never used a handheld GPS before. I am ready to buy one so we can get started. I have read some topics on this forum. I have narrowed it down to 3 units. What is the best unit for a neewbie to get started. I want a good unit. Money is not so much of an issue. I want it to be easy to use and I want it to be accurate and get me to where I need to be to start searching. Any suggestions would be grreatly appreciated. Thanks. Garmin Etrex Venture CX Garmin Etrex Vista HCX Garmin Etrex Legend HCX