DorkX2
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Posts posted by DorkX2
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Now that the Ape cache is gone in Seattle, has there been any word on if there will be a new Geo Triad? I live in Portland and have been to the original cache plaque and stash many times. We wanted to complete the Triad this summer, but its been archived. This is sad. Does anyone have any information?
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You're ahead of me. I'm trying to open a Pocket Query. Where do I start? I read a tutorial which said there were
a "list of options along the right hand side." I see none.
If you are a premium member, scroll down on the right or do a search for pocket. You will see it on the right hand side under premium member options from the "my profile" page.
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Has anyone been able to export from GSAK to the new Explorist GC? I have tried several ways to export it because the GPSr is not listed in the program but cannot get it to work. Has anyone else had this issue and what have you done to resolve?
Thanks!
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If you use one database per PQ you just need to select that database,
I see a bunch of people that have individual database's for their PQ's and frankly don't understand it. There seems to be a feeling by some that they need the individual databases to keep track.
I use one database and load all PQ's into it. My PQ's for the area always overlap some and this eliminates the redundancy. If I want to export a certain part I just use a filter. Such as click on one in the area I am going to and set it as center. Filter for xx miles around and then export.
Having them seperate over complicates the use IMHO.
I still dont understand how GSAK works but Iw ill ask over on the GSAK forum.
Thanks for all the input though.
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I do use GSAK but dont know how to use it for this functionality. There is some small overlap and I want to eliminate the duplicates but dont know how to import multiple files into it and eliminate the dups.
I have a Dakota 20 and the new Explorist GC - so they both hold quite a few caches.
Please advise.
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If a cache needs maintenance, fixed, or if anything is wrong with it that I can fix, I do it. I would hope the etiquette for most cachers is to do the same, I would want them to do it to my cache is well.
This is why I carry a BUNCH of supplies with me in a bag when I cache.
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Depending on what software you are using and on your GPS, you should be able to load them individually if you want to. I personally put a different prefix before the GC number of the caches in each PQ to distinguish the caches in one PQ from those in another and then upload them separately.
So you just rename the zip file? Or the GPX file?
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If I have 5 pocket queries run, do I have to somehow combine the 5 files before placing them on my GPS'r? I don't know how exactly how this works.
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Does Groundspeak or geocaching.com keep a running tally of how many active caches there are in the world at one time. I was curious to know an exact amount there are.
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How is the screen visibility outdoors in bright sunlight, especially compared to the D20?
The visibility is not great outside in direct sunlight. I will, however, say that it blows the D20 out of the water as far as resolution, clarity, and over-all brightness.
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Hmmm - it was sitting on my desk. I turned it on. The time was 3 hours ahead again. I have the Satellite signal off. I was watching it without doing anything, the time jumped ahead 2 more hours. With no satellite signal.
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Well good news tonight - it along with my D20, we hid a new cache tonight and the waypoints were only 2 seconds off. I took 6 readings from each one and averaged them, very very close!
It doesn't seem as "clunky" to me after using it for the second day. I will continue my reviews after i use it some more this weekend.
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As far as the filter -
I have changed the filter to not include "found", but it is still showing them. I don't know why, but I am trying to figure it out. It is more than likely a user error.
As far as the time -
The time zone and DST setting are set correctly on the unit. I set the correct settings, and it said the date/time fine. I turned it off, and it was 3 hours ahead. After finding signal, it updated the time. I turned the GPS off, turned the unit off for about 20 minutes, turned it back on, the time was off by 6 hours. Maybe this is by design, but I don't know why it wont hold the correct time.
I agree with the positive feature you listed above. I am just writing my initial responses and I am sure we will get used to how this unit works. It will be a good unit, just the perspective from a current D20 user to this GPSr
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Hmmmm - micros. They can be tricky. Here are some of the things I look for:
In an urban area, or even out in the woods, a common micro type is a very small (1/2" round, 3/8" tall) container with a magnetic base. Look for any place that a magnet could stick to. The first one of these I found was on the back of a "no-fishing" sign on a bridge. I was 3 miles into the woods, but there was this bridge that crossed a stream. And there on the back side of the only metal for hundreds of feet, was a magnetic container. Truly evil hide. There is also a micro that looks like a bolt, with a magnetic base - again look for any place a magnet could stick to, or a bolt that looks out of place (3 bolts on one side, but only 2 on the other).
For the bison tube, 35mm film canisters, water proof match containers, or pill bottles - look for these hanging from branches in trees, velcroed under things, or tucked under the covers at the base of light poles.
In wooded areas, fake rocks are a common type of micro - look for rocks that look out of place with the rest of the area. I recently found one that matched very well, but the last person to re-hide it made a mistake. They set it down on top of a vine. I saw the vine come down from a tree, go under the rock and then come back out from the other side - Bingo, got it!
And then there is that hide that just is hard to find. Start looking for anything that does not seem to belong. In the woods, look for sticks on the ground all laying the same way - probably covering the cache. Look for any paths others before you might have made. Look for broken tree limbs, or vines that are packed down.
And when you can't seem to find it, go in further then you think it can be, and start looking again on the way out. I've found many that way, as people like to hide things on the back side of a tree from the trail, or behind a sign that others pass every day - no one looks behind them though.
Hope a few of these may help, and as a previous user suggested - practice makes perfect!
Welcome to the madness!
Always remember though - a micro or a nano or a cache of any size for that matter, is in the imagine of the creator. Whatever they can muster up can become a cache. I have seen a hollowed out pine cone. I didn't find it, but someone showed it to me. Wow, now that would be hard to find!
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*Once you locate the cache you want to find and hit go, it stays on the same screen, you have to backtrack 2 screens then either choose "Map" or "Dashboard" to see it on the screen. On the D20, when I hit go, it went to the map track screen and I dint have to go anywhere else.
When you highlight a cache on the geocaches screen or actually open the cache information if you press the stick left it shows it on the map and if you press right it makes it your destination and starts tracking.
Thanks - I don't know if I would have figured that out.
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Went out caching after having it for 2 hours. In my results, I will refer to is as the MEGC. So my thoughts, I didnt write them down, but I will post more as I remember them:
Pros -
*I like the feel in my hand, it is small like my Dakota 20
*The screen is brighter than my Dakota 20
*It looks nice, with the green and gray colors
*The search option is very nice, being able to list a cache by type, size, D/T is very nice, if you want to find an easier one for the kids
Cons -
*The compass is very clunky - when I was standing on GZ with my Dakota 20, it said zero feet. The MEGC said it was 6 to 7 feet away. When moving forward only one foot, it didn't register. I continued moving forward about 1 feet every 30 seconds to test it. Finally after moving about 15 feet, it re-registered and said the cache was now behind me
*The paperless caching feature is OK, I personally like the paperless caching options better on the D20. After a cache is found on the MEGC, and you mark it found, rather than hiding it until you log it, it puts a smiley face next to it and leaves it in the main list of caches, with the added smiley face.
*When you mark the cache as found, it doesn't ask you if you wanna find the next closest cache like the D20 does.
*the map included with the unit is HORRID! But maybe I am just used to the Garmin.
*Once you locate the cache you want to find and hit go, it stays on the same screen, you have to backtrack 2 screens then either choose "Map" or "Dashboard" to see it on the screen. On the D20, when I hit go, it went to the map track screen and I dint have to go anywhere else.
*I constantly had to use my D20 to find the cache location. I am not very patient and the map updates when walking are not that dynamic on the MEGC. On my D20, if I move 6 inches it is completely dynamic on the map track.
*If a cache has multiple trackables in it, it didn't tell me. It just said there was one there. On the D20, it would tell me the number of trackables in the cache.
*Cannot find a place to enter my current stats (# of caches I have found) It seems to only recognize the caches you have found on this GPSr. Id like to load my previous finds so it tracks my lifetime finds.
Most of this are probably settings. I am going to dig in tonight and see about playing with some options. My first impression, there is NO WAY I would replace my D20 with this. But, give me a little more time.
************ADDITIONAL NOTES**********************
CONS -
*The first time I went to upload my field notes from this unit, I browsed to the newlogs.txt file on the unit and hit upload, nothing happened. I tried it again, rebooted, and nothing worked. I did the normal upload from my D20 like normal so I assume it was not something wrong with the site. I will try again some other time
*I am not finding anywhere to update the clock. When I am outside with GPS signal on, it picks up the right time. Every time I turn it on, it has the incorrect time. After a minute or two of being on, it sets the correct time. Next time I power it off and back on, the time is off again. By like 3-6 hours.
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Garmin -
Colorado 400t
Dakota 20
E-trex
Magellan -
Explorist GC
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OK, I just picked up my new Magellan Explorist GC. So far it seems OK. I am loading it up with caches now and headed out to test it. If you have any questions, send em my way and I can answer them. When I get back, I will post some pros and cons on the new unit. I am also taking my Dakota 20 so that I don't get lost hahaha!
Wish me luck!
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Awesome thank you! I am setting it up now and yes, I can receive it on my phone!
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OK, I posted a new cache today, and within 20 minutes, someone was here looking for it, and within 30 minutes it was found. So, for all of you FTF'ers - are you sitting at home hitting F5 on your PC's waiting for a new cache to arrive, or, is there a special way to get notified of new caches right away so that you can attempt an FTF?
Thanks!
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If I had to go in and buy one today - which I do, which would anyone say buy today for the features I want?? My Colorado 400T isnt working, too complicated, and has way too much stuff!
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I have a Colorado 400t - I want a new one.
This is what I want.
I only want the features of paperless Geocaching. I want to be able to load files from the GPS to geocaching.com and back and forth. I dont need any other functions of my GPS as I do not use them. Any GPSr's out there that are made just for paperless geocaching that will come in handy for me?
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How do I see caches I have found that are more than 30 days old? In my profiule it only lets me go back 30 days.
Thanks!
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No one has ever placed any underwater caches?
New Triad?
in General geocaching topics
Posted
Have they said when? I'm excited to complete the Triad!