GeckoGeek

Saying that you want to use it with a PDA doesn't change much over the age old "What GPS should I get" question. Really about all it does is eliminate the Garmin Geko 101 because it has no computer interface. Bluetooth sounds like it would be very nice to have because connecting/disconnecting the PDA is going to get old quick. I guess the first question is just what is the PDA going to be used for? I think most of us just use it to hold data sheets and the like and except for uploading waypoints really doesn't need to be connected. If you want mapping and auto routing, then buy a GPS that does that from the get-go. Something like the aging Garmin GPS V or newer GPSMAP 60C/60CS.

Ah. In that case I think it's not there for any or all of the reasons that many benchmarks aren't in the NGS database. Either the survey work wasn't up to NGS standards or the information was never submitted.

All's well that ends well. Given your later answers, it doesn't sound like the PTT. Maybe something stuck in the connector jack or something.

What, no cables to upload the waypoints to your GPS? Oh, with only 385, you can pre-load those as home. No need to load in the field. Oh well. Glad you liked it. What state only has 385? We may have to get you into Benchmarking

Try RD3152 I agree, send Deb a note.

Who? Are they really their own service or do they resell someone elses? It's possible they don't support data. It's possible they've turned off the modem feature in the phone. I do know there's a fair amount of customizing that can be done, but I'm not sure if disabling modem is one of them. I don't know what else to suggest other then hitting Yahoo Groups or News groups that cover your model phone for more specific information on how to set it up. Sorry.

While that's probably the official line, I'll bet they'll still fix it if the date of manufacture as indicated by the serial number shows that it's still in warranty. I suspect what they don't accept is the sales receipt of non-authorized dealers as indicating the initial date of purchase. Otherwise I could dummy up "GeckoGeek's House of GPS" receipt and get warranty for a out of warranty unit. Simply call them up and say you've got a dead unit and it was a gift so you don't know how it was purchased. Ask about warranty by serial number lookup. You'll probably still pay shipping to Garmin, but otherwise you'll come out OK.

From what I understand to get full accuracy from GPS, it needs to be used in differential mode. That is one unit sits on a known point while another sits at the location to be determined. The data is later taken back and number-crunched. Existing stations such as triangulation stations are used for the "known" location. GPS also eliminates or minimizes the need for triangles as a way of finding a location by traditional measurement methods. GPS has eliminated much of the need for NEW triangulation stations, but it still values the existing ones.

What service are you on?

Try the instructions at http://www.gomadic.com/support.html

I believe they are "benchmarks" only in the very general sense we at Geocaching.com call all survey control marks "benchmarks". Not to be confused with what real surveyors call a bench mark which is a vertical control station (elevation). As far as I know they are usually only used for horizontal control, so there is no elevation involved. And while you could use any set of high points, it's nicer to use high ports that someone else has already determined their position. Otherwise you'd have to go out and take 2 to 3 other measurements from known horizontal survey points for each of the landmarks you used to figure that out.

In a word: yes. While 14.4Kbs may be slow, it's better then nothing and you can still retrieve your email and clear out your mailbox when on the road and there's nothing better around. If you've got unlimited nights and weekends, you can do it so as not to even put a dent in your cell phone bill.

Depending on the accuracy required, they may be "good enough". The nice thing about those kinds of points is that they are high enough you can sit in one spot and take your measurements without having to send a light man out to a regular mark. Just like everything else, time and money are a factor in survey work too. They may also serve as a "reality check" for more accurate surveys. I can think of lots of ways they can be useful.

A USB data cable? That could make things interesting. Does it show up as a serial port? If so, then you should be able to configure that port as a serial modem. Otherwise, I'm not sure.

Are we talking about a Rino 120? Check the PPT (push to talk) switch. I've got a feeling that it's stuck on transmit. That would explain the heating and battery drain.

If you can't find a way to carry it, then you'll need to clue something to the front of the unit to give some protection to the power button. I'm tempted, but haven't figured out a way to do that without making it look really ugly. You don't have to completely surround the button. Just something high near it would help.

*sigh* Alaska and Hawaii are left out, but Canada is there.

Buy a serial data cable and configure the phone as a 14.4 modem, probably. That's how it works on my StarTac.

Find an adjusted benchmark. (Do not use "location scaled") You might try turning off the WAAS feature. While it's supposed to give you more accuracy, it seems to make you run around more trying to close in on the last 10 feet. Your mileage may vary. Some people have advised to stop about 20 feet away and look at where the unit is pointing. Try from different directions. Then hunt.

If people don't get out of my way I find a way of making them a part of the picture just like you did. Silhouetting them against a sunset works well. I find it actually makes the photo more interesting.

Nice composition and use of depth of field.

No disagreement there, but has a way been found to get Geocaching logs? Last I knew you couldn't make GPX files for benchmarking. Even if you could, the main database is several years old. Anyone find a way to combine the two?

So how does it work? Is it a calibrated ruler for reading distance from maps, or is it something else?

If I remember right, GPX as delivered by CG, is 5. CacheMate will support up to 10. I do fine with Benchmarks and Cachemate, but then I have a trim program that removes a bunch of junk that I'd never use.

Since I don't use GSAK, I must be missing something. If you don't put those long descriptions into CacheMate, then how do you know the details of what you're looking for? I do use CacheMate's logs to log my finds and didn't finds, but all the NGS is part of the description. My only task left to do is modify my NGS data sheet trim program to reverse the order of the finds so that if goes over the 8K limit and gets cut off, it's the real old stuff that's been superseded that gets cut off.