G-Squad

PN-20 it is. Thanks to all for helping with the decision!

I was the one asking about the difficulty of the software, so let's not get sidetracked on comparisons. I have the answers I was looking for regarding that so let's move on with some other questions. Thanks to all of you for the responses and the tutorials. I am now giving the PN-20 the higher consideration. But some final questions. Is the PN-20 limited to 2GB cards max? Caleb's post indicates the region I cut would contain integrated topo and street maps. Then the aerial would overlay those. Embra mentioned I should be able to get a 40 mi x 40 mi region cut. That's actually about the size of the area I would want to keep loaded. Is the size likely to be under the 2GB? Or is the answer to that question dependent on other factors I am unaware of? If I have two regions on the same card, and the regions are geographically adjacent to each other, and I am walking from one region over to the other, will the 20 transition by itself or will I manually need to switch maps? Thanks again to the responses!

My 8 year old Magellan Map 330 stopped working so I need a replacement. Mrs. Santa gave me the ok to spend about $200 to do just that. So, I have been doing some research and with the budget given and some shopping around, I've narrowed it down to the Legend HCx or the Delorme PN-20. Whichever I buy, it will only be used for geocaching and minimal, lightweight hiking (upto 3 hour roundtrip). I am not worried about screen size, nor the size or weight of the unit. I am leaning more to the Legend since it has been around a while in different flavors and is a pretty solid unit. Free maps are a plus for it. But, the PN-20 with aerial and satellite imagery for $30 all you can stuff on your hard-drive really has caught my eye. From what I have read on the PN-20, the mapping software (T7) has a high learning curve. It seems the process to load maps and a gpx file spun from GSAK is a PITA to say the least. And, what about the mapping refresh rate? How well does it refresh while walking, hiking, cache searching? Can someone give me some answers to those questions? And is there some other gps in the $200 range I am missing other then another Magellan? If so, why should I consider it over these two? Thanks for your help!

No Fry's brick & mortar nearby. Couldn't fine the $20 Keyspan at Frys.com but did find a Keyspan for $40. Sewelldirect.com has one for $13.45 + s/h but it's USB 1.1. Will I see any appreciable speed difference if I get an adapter that is USB2.0? Reading the other threads, it seems a driver is required. Does the Sewell come with one? Thanks for the input. Keep it coming!!

I have a new laptop. I have moved everything over from my desktop pc, including GSAK. My problem is I still have an old gps...a Magellan Map330 which uses a serial connection. Unfortunately, the laptop doesn't have a serial connection. I googled for the USB to serial connection. Many, many options out there. Pricing is from about $14 to $40. Has anyone purchased one and would you recommend it? Pro's and con's appreciated. And, any problems with GSAK using USB to serial? AJ

If I understand correctly, the "winner" would be the cacher with the highest "points" at the end of the day? There is no easy answer for this question. How are they weighted? I would want to know how many lower ones equal a higher one. This would help determine if the effort for several lower ones is worth it. Example...if 2 lower equal 1 higher, then I am scooping up the lower ones as fast as I can. If 5 to 1, probably could go either way. If 10 to 1, then I am going for the higher ones. Are they variably weighted? Maybe I would go after 3 lower, 2 medium, and 1 high. Or maybe a bunch of medium ones. good luck!

In general, your gpsr could be off by upto 30 feet or so. As could the hiders. So, looking out past 50-60 feet beyond your GZ (ground zero) is not unusual. In fact, most experienced cachers will stop somewhere around 50-100 feet from GZ and put away the gpsr. They will look towards where GZ should be and start looking for the odd pile of sticks or rocks or something that is out of place. They are also thinking "Where would I hide a cache?". Oh, you should also make sure you are using WGS84 Datum and dd mm.mmm for lat/long. I can't tell you how to determine that as it depends on what gpsr you are using.

Original Poster

We already have that problem with TB's and virt's. I can't begin to count how many virt's I have come across that have TB's parked in them.

I'm wondering if it was a cacher or a muggle.

Due to a problem with PayPal, my premium membership lapsed. I finally got around to purchasing another year of premium membership on Sunday night. Stupid me, not until I received the confirmation email did I realize I entered my account name incorrectly. I had transposed two letters. I quickly sent a reply and requested the correction. By Monday afternoon, I had my premium membership! I just wanted to give a shout out to Groundspeak for the great service they provided! T H A N K S ! ! AJ aka G-Sqaud er, no, its G-Squad

A similar situation with PayPal happened to me. I was hoping it was an error on their part and would get fixed before my premium membership lapsed. But, alas, that was not to be. It lapsed. I will opt to renew directly with Groundspeak but I just have not got around to it. I can't do it from work (which is where I am now) and I keep forgetting to do it once I get home at night. When I need a PQ is when I will probably remember

Thanks, but that site appears to be cables for the ppc only. Bingo! That's what I was looking for!! THANKS! AJ

Sometime ago, someone posted a link to a website that sells all kinds of connecting cables. I tried searching but way too many matches. I am hoping someone out there has the website at their fingertips. Thanks, AJ

GPXSonar has an older version that can be used on PocketPC 2002. I believe it may be compatible with WinCE3.0. Click here to get to the download.

I use the Maxpedition Thermite Versipack. It's great for my caching needs! If you look at the linked photos, the very last one shows a green notebook in a slot. I keep a compass in here. Behind the slot is a zippered pocket which fits my Dell Axim perfectly. The cover-flap has a zippered pocket where I keep extra batteries. The main storage has enough room for swag and my GPS if I need to store it. Side pockets can hold cell phones and other things. Along the beltline is another zipper. That pocket goes all the way down the back of the pouch.

I use a Map330. My way to combat the "slingshot effect" is to set the proximity alarm to 100 feet. When it goes off, I stop moving and stay in place for about 30 seconds. By then, it has settled down. I also change from the map screen to the compass screen. I take my bearing and estimate about where the cache should be. I go to that spot and start hunting. If no cache after a few minutes, I check the Map330 again. Repeat until found.

Well said Silly Look. I whole-heartedly agree to keep your name as-is. But, if you do change your name, your finds will stay with you. However, the name on the cache page will remain the old one until the cache page itself gets updated somehow. Hmmmm. Maybe not anymore. I changed my name last year and checked some older archived caches. They still had my old name at that time. I just went and looked again, and it appears all of them have been changed to the new name. Maybe the cache pages on the archived caches were updated during some of the maintenance?

Don't forget to make sure the GPS is set to WGS84 datum and the lat/lon is set to ddd mm.mmm. These are the default settings for geocaches. However, there are some caches out there that will use other settings. The cache page should let you know if thats the case.

If you are going to post a note, you will want some way to keep track of the caches you already found. One way is to become a premium member. That way, you can create an "ignore" list. Once you post your note for a cache, you can then put the cache on the ignore list. Another way is to use GSAK software. Best $20 I have spent for geocaching. For basic database stuff, it is fairly easy. However, the learning curve for stuff beyond basic database can be kind of steep.

Do your kids log their finds? If so, for those you don't remember, perhaps they can give you a list of their finds so you can match it up.

Someone else noticed this new "feature" of V2.0 of EasyGPS and previously asked about it in the forums. Unfortunately, forum search is not working. As I recall, someone from Topografix replied that the table version is now only available in ExpertGPS. So, I will be staying with the older version thank you very much. Actually, I am using GSAK for my database on my desktop. I still have the older version of EasyGPS on my laptop.

The typical tanks on a topo map for AZ are indeed as you described. Basically a stock pond available for grazing cattle. Much of the BLM and State Trust Lands in AZ are leased out to ranchers for livestock grazing.

Although OT, I want to address part of the article Bret linked. Overall, it was a good article. However, the last paragraph regarding James Max Chamberlain is misleading. He did not die by falling from a cliff. He suffered a massive heart attack and passed away. It was coincidental he was next to a cliff. In fact, this past weekend, the local cache community held an event to honor his passing. See In Memory Of Mr. James Max Chamberlain.

I believe this link will take you to the archive page for GPXSonar. There is a PPC2002 version in either CAB or EXE format for you. However, this version is no longer supported. AJ