Matthew 7:7 Too

Many thanks for that link. I find it very difficult to find anything on the feedback site! Chris

I agree that this is a useful faciility, and already do it using the GCVote website at http://gcvote.com/index.php. This adds the required scripts to Firefox, IE etc to let you give a 1 to 5 star vote to caches you have found, and display the ratings for ones that you haven't. Its drawback is that it relies on there being others cachers near you who use it -- there seem to be several near me in the UK, and lots in Germany -- and cache owners who object to their caches being rated can block your votes. (Not that I understand why they should be so petty as to do this!) Chris

I'm afraid I have to agree. I own one, and find it a fascinating little device, but it spends most of its time with my geocoin collection rather than in use decoding hints etc. as ROT hints are decoded on the fly by a Firefox script. The one time it does come in useful is for decoding puzzle codes using morse code or pigpen code. Chris

I agree with Talkytoaster. I have an Oregon 400t with built-in Topo Europe mapping and an added OSGB Discover map. I use Mapsource rather than Basecamp, but it can only use the Garmin Topo map. (The Topo Europe map has less details in the UK than the Topo GB map I had with my Etrex and annoyingly doesn't show as many tracks or any canal towpaths. But it gives me adequate mapping when caching in Europe.) Chris

Start with GSAK as it comes straight out of the box. That lets you build a database of local caches and record your finds. Then you can add automatic colours to the database entries to highlight your DNFs, caches that are temporarily unavailable, or for any other reason you want to distinguish them. It can then filter your cache entries to download particular sets to your GPSr before you go out caching. Adding buttons to the toolbar is the first step in customising it to better meet your needs. Then add macros to add extra tools to it. Many people use the FindStats macro to create detailed charts of their finds (as I do - see my geocaching profile). Yes it does seem very complicated when you first use it. This is because it is so versatile. I have been using it for 2 years and I am still finding new ways to tweak it! Do look at the help file, and GSAK 101 etc tutorials. I printed them out and found them invaluable as reference guides. Keep an eye on the GSAK forum - I still find macros being mentioned that I hadn't heard about before, and the forum users are all very helpful in building your skills. Best of luck!! Chris

All seems back to normal now thanks. Chris

Same here too. None of mine have run, but it seems impossible to delete PQs now. Selecting a PQ and delete now only strikes through its name without removing it from the list. This makes it much more difficult to manage your PQs!! Chris

I have 2 of your South Wales geocoins, and have just ordered a lit Miner's Protector Lamp coin. Please put me down for a penguin coin too - order to follow when its design is finalised. Thanks Chris of Matthew 7:7 Too

I also use GCVote. It has good coverage of mainland Europe, and an increasing number of users in the UK. Obviously any star system relies on gathering sufficient users to provide the data - and I don't know how well it covers other parts of the world - but it makes sense to use an existing system rather than create a competitor. Chris

I don't use Facebook, but would be interested in joining the group. Is this possible via the blog?? Chris of Matthew 7:7 Too

1) I bought mine about 3 years ago. 2) about a year and a half to 2 years. 3) Only when it was travelling to caches with me. Notes: a) Heat does seem to be problem that exacerbates this defect. A much older eTrex has never suffered from this problem, but lacks a USB connection and map so isn't in use. c) On reporting the problem to Garmin UK, I was told this was not a known defect, and the eTrex was replaced free of charge (and now passed on to my daughter as I bought an Oregon). Chris

Yep, I've modified my PQs to include an underscore (_) or a dash (-) - but without spaces - and both types result in correctly named PQs with the .zip suffix. So its a good work around until the coding gets fixed. Chris

I'd be grateful if you could expand on what you're proposing. Is a podcast a text message received via RSS or email? Or is it an audible message downloaded and played on a MP3 player? If it can be either (as suggested above) I'd be interested in the RSS text message version - as I already receive posts on this forum via RSS. Chris

I've set up and downloaded 3 new >501 PQs today. One was correctly named "Viehhofen.zip". The second was named "Luxembourg" (without the .zip so not recognised as a valid file on my PC) The third was named "St" (instead of "St Simeon.zip"). Adding the .zip suffix to both the latter files let them open correctly in GSAK. So there seems to be a bug leaving off the .zip suffix for some reason (all PQs were requesting zipped files) and truncating the file name if it includes a space. If your PQs also seem to be an unrecognised file, try adding the .zip suffix. Chris

I also find that if I type in my postcode (ST15 0HP) I get multiple places to choose from - some of which include ST8 locations! Typing it without the space (ST150HP) isn't recognised at all. But typing ST15 0HP UK goes straight to my local caches! This feature has been broken since the recent "upgrade" to the website, and in practice I'd access my local caches via my profile instead. Chris

I agree with ao318. I also use GSAK to do all that you want. You can also display the caches in Google Earth with their true locations rather than the deliberately "vagued" locations shown via Geocaching.com. Chris

I do this on my logs using Firefox and the great Prime Suspect greasemonkey script so can confirm the latest version is working fine again. Chris

I suspect that X is not 58 or 904! It's more likely that if you go to the posted coords, you will find a 2 digit number. This is X. You then substitute it in each if the bracketed expressions. They often then give you the various digits of the true coords such as N52 12.345. I haven't found one yet where you need to multiply the brackets together to give coords (though that's not to say there might be onbe somewhere!!) Chris

Yep, thanks for your post. I found the update via the Oregon Wiki website on my return from Sherwood Forest and installed it. All works well!! Not sure if WAAS location works any better yet as I need a clear view to the south to see the satellite. Chris

I can't find any reference to this macro in the GSAK Macro Index at http://gsak.net/board/MacroIndex.php. Is it still current? However there is this thread http://gsak.net/board/index.php?showtopic=...amp;#entry93634 in the GSAK Support forum which discusses the problems users are sometimes experiencing when updating from XP to Vist or Win7. The GSAK forum is well supported by experts in the program and its macros, and I'd always suggest seeking help there first rather than in the Groundspeak forums -- not that they aren't also used by GSAK users, but the GSAK forums are more used to helping to resolve issues with the program. Chris

Nice try, but that made no difference. However it is corrected if I log out and then back in again so it seems to be recording when I last logged in rather than when I last visited. Chris

Thanks for your post. I find that the OSGB maps lose definition when I zoom in beyond 300ft anyway, could you advise me when the geocache icons disappear for you please?? (I've also seen a link at the Oregon Wiki to reinstall v3.60 if you need to reverse your update!) Chris

A small point, but when I access the Forum website it tells me "Welcome back; your last visit was: Mar 24 2010, 05:21 AM". As I have accessed it regularly over the last few days, including adding new posts today, it appears that it is not recording my visits. Does it only update if you log out after each visit, and then log back in on your next visit perhaps?? Chris

Garmin have released a new update for their Oregon x00 GPSrs - v3.70. But although it seems to have improved the clarity of their OSGB Discoverer maps, a few users have reported they can no longer see waypoints or geocaches on these maps (although they are visible when using the TOPO maps on the same GPSr!) On the face of it I wouldn't recommend this update unless you don't mind this new bug - unless any intrepid users can tell me that they've updated their Oregon x00 to v3.70 without this problem showing up. Chris

I'd recommend a trip to the Cheshire Oaks McArthur Glen outlet site! You've then got a choice of Clarks, Nike, and various outdoor shops all selling waterproof shoes at reduced prices. (I favour Clarks for Goretex shoes, or Brasher walking boots.) Chris