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WaylessWood

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Everything posted by WaylessWood

  1. The limits of custom raster maps for Garmin units that support them are ok, if you don't need large coverage areas available all the time. I've got a good number of local hiking trail maps scanned and loaded on my Oregon 450. I can switch them out as needed, but you must have a computer to do that. There are a number of application s that support creating Garmin custom maps. I find Google Earth to be difficult for all but the smallest of maps. I've used MAPCTOMAPC to calibrate scanned map images. It supports a wide variety of map datum. The trail maps I use have grid overlays with coordinates, so calibration is not too difficult in this case.
  2. The list of caches in a PQ on the web site is intended as a preview of the actual results. If your PQ has 500 or less caches, it will be emailed to the account address or another address if specified. If your PQ has more than 500 caches, you will receive an email indicating that the results are available for download from the site along with a link. Click on the link and then on the web page, click on "Pocket Queries Ready for Download".
  3. I can't speak for the 300's screen, but I agree with arcs about the screen on the x50 models. I've had my 450 for about 6 months and don't miss the "hold level" message from my old 76. So, for me, the 3-axis compass is a big win.
  4. No, you don't need to worry about the maps. What you have is a file of waypoints in kmz format. The link I provided earlier provides information on how to convert the kmz into a gpx file that you can load into the Garmin\GPX folder, as you would with a Pocket Query.
  5. The CustomMaps folder is normally located as <drive:>\Garmin\CustomMaps. Where <drive:> is either the unit's memory or an optional flash card in the unit. However, I don't think a kmz file with waypoints is going to work in the custom maps folder. The custom maps folder is for kmz files of raster maps. This thread convert kmz should help.
  6. I've got a 16Gb class 2 card in my 450. I place custom maps and Garmin's TOPO 2008 on the memory card. The unit's memory has the base map, OSM routable maps and Ibycus maps. I have different maps enable/disabled per profile. I cannot comment on using alkaline batteries, as I have only ever used NiMH and AA Lithium batteries in it. A freshly charged set of NiMH will cover me for a day of hiking. AA Lithiums give me a day and a half. In both cases, I have battery saver mode turned off. I have the backlight timeout setting at 1 minute. You could try using the gps in the field without the memory card and see if that helps. If you keep everything else the same, it would help evaluate the information you received from Garmin.
  7. I replaced my 76CSx with the Oregon 450 back in August. Based on my experience with the unit, I'd go with the Oregon 450. Paperless caching, decent screen size, 3-axis compass, and solid accuracy. I've never had any issues when out caching with the 450 and my friends 60CSx are almost always in agreement on GZ.
  8. If you are looking for input from NY cachers, the Mid-Atlantic forum would be a better option. RIP Good Friend is the largest that I've found. It's quite unusual too. For more traditional caches check out Gigantor - the mega cache and Claudius Smith: Outlaw's Lookout.
  9. I replaced my 76CSx with an Oregon 450 back in August. The Oregon is a great GPS and I am more than satisfied with it. To me it seems to do a great job of getting me to GZ. Tree cover can still be a bit of a challenge, but not as much as it was on the 76. If you already have TOPO maps for the 76, they will work fine on the Oregon. Otherwise, go with gpsfiledepot as StarBrand suggests.
  10. I'm not sure if it is an easier way, but I've used GeoBuddy to calibrate scanned maps and trace trails as tracks. The trick is identifying the three calibration points to get a decent calibration. Maps with UTM grids are easiest. Otherwise, I use road intersections and try to find a matching point in MapSource. Recently, I started using Google Earth to create custom maps for my Oregon. I've found that for some maps it is easier than GeoBuddy and for others it is not.
  11. It sounds to me like you downloaded a map .img file and loaded that into your device. Best I can tell, MapSource cannot use these directly. Some sites offer map data with an install program that will make the data available to MapSource. You can then use MapSource to create .img files based on selected map tiles.
  12. I don't own a Nuvi 1300, but on my 765, Custom POI only show on the map at a zoom level of 200', which is not useful for driving. Favorites show when zoomed further out. You are getting the proximity alert from Custom POI that are still on the 1300. If you reload the Favorites the way you initially did, then you will see them on the map again.
  13. I really like the Oregon 450. I got mine as a replacement for a 76CSx that stopped working, so I can really only compare it to that device. I find the Oregon to be accurate and easy to use. I do a good bit of caching that involves hiking, and one of the features I've been using lately is custom maps. Creating a map, if you can't find one online, requires a bit of work, but I find the result to be well worth the effort. The only complaint I have is that the screen can be difficult to see in certain lighting conditions. Full sun and it is no problem at all. The backlight works nicely for the times where it is harder to see.
  14. I'm not sure if this will help, but on my Nuvi, if I delete all favorites and copy the exact same files back on there nothing shows up. What I suspect is that the Nuvi some how tracks the files based on the timestamp in the gpx data. Opening the file in Mapsource and saving it back out, then loading it onto the Nuvi and the favorites are there. My workflow is different with the Oregon, so I don't know if this is the same issue. You could try re-running the PQ and try loading those files onto the Oregon.
  15. I updated to 3.90 and have no problems with it. The unit worked flawlessly in the field today. What sort of problems are you having with 3.90?
  16. Then why the Oregon 450? There are cheaper models out there. The 450 really works best with gpx files and pocket queries. Compared to a lot of other sports, $30/year is a bargain.
  17. I'm not sure I understand what your seeing. If you've unplugged the gps from the computer, what are you looking at to determine that the files are still there? If you delete the gpx files and replace them with fresh copies, you should get only the ones in the new copies. Do your PQ's include caches that you've already found?
  18. Another option is to use a program like GSAK to generate the gpx file with all the caches you want. You can filter out or delete the ones you don't want and generate a new gpx file.
  19. I'm curious, is the clip different between the 450 and the 550? Based on the owners manual, they appear to be the same. On the 450 the clip stays in the unit, you slide the the clip out of the locked position and flip it up, insert the card into the tray, lower the clip and slide it back into the locked position.
  20. I updated my 450 from 3.50 to 3.80 using the webupdater last night and had no problems. I had the unit in the field today and am happy with the result. I did notice that if I use the "geocaching nearest" dashboard for the map display, and press the cache information box in the upper right corner, pressing the back arrow on the "view your geocaches" page, the unit will shut down. It seems to be related to using the "custom" fields option under map setup and using the nearest dashboard when not navigating.
  21. Watkins Glen State Park offers a handful of geocaches along a scenic trail through a river gorge. I highly recommend it. And I'll add my vote for the Corning glass museum. My family and I enjoyed our visit there too. If you are feeling like a bit of a ride, you can venture to The Spot, the oldest active geocache east of the Mississippi.
  22. Sounds like the ride is on, I'll be there.
  23. You will get more detail by generating custom points of interest, however in order to see POI on the screen you must zoom in to about 200'. You can load GPX data as Favorites and then they will show up on the map. GPX files for favorites gets placed in the Garmin\gpx folder. There are a number of GSAK macros available to assist you with both POI and GPX.
  24. Ammo cans are my absolute favorite. Micros generally get the lowest marks from me, but mainly because of where they are located. Here's a micro I found recently that is in the "right" location. Urban Micro in the Woods?
  25. I do not have an Oregon, but once my gps had me in the middle of the Atlantic. It was amazing how fast I traveled when it finally got a proper fix again. You might check the track log and see if it shows you being far off course. You might get more/better feedback from the GPS and Technology forum.
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