Woodstramp

Thanks All. I'll try loading that other PQ tommorow.

I recently bought Cachemate for a Palm PDA. So far it's working like a charm with the first try. Loaded a PQ into CMConverter and I have 500 paperless cache descriptions in the Palm M105. This looks great. PQ, CMConverter, Save, Hotsync and BLAM!(well, not BLAM, but they did dribble in to the Palm)......now I have 500 in the PDA. This first 500 are from my local area. I'm going to load another set of 500 from another PQ from another area. I know that the original PQ and this new one will have some of the same caches where the two areas overlap. What I'd like to know is will Cachemate list these few repetitive caches or will it only load one? Does CM have some way to manually or automatically prevent redundant cache listings? Thanks.

Hello and welcome. Like Trainlove said above, GC.com lists it's caches in Degrees/Decimal Minutes. Not sure exactly how your Explorist 300's menu screen is arranged, but on a 400 you can check your GPS to see if it is set to handle GC.com's coordinate listing like this: Push Menu, Preferences, Map Units, Coord System, Lat/Lon, select DEG/MIN.MMM. That sets your GPS to the right format. Now push X until you get back to the Map Units screen again and make sure the Map Datum box is set to WGS84. Now try entering a cache coord and try it.

TCP, That sounds nice. 800 characters would probably be big enough to get most cache descriptions in there. That would be a lot nicer than just having coords/name/GC# only while out hunting. Thanks for the info.

TeamCowboy, What method of loading PQ's do you use with the Delorme PN-20? Can you send a .gpx PQ right into the unit or do you have to use GSAK? Or does Delorme have it's own geocache loading software? Thanks.

Like Mtnhermit said...Except I like to have my Nuvi set to "track up" instead of "north up". Also, if you have the caches set up for proximity alerts (and you're zoomed in close enough) the caches appear on screen as they break the boundary you set up for your POI alerts. Mine is set up to alert at 3000'.

Chrysalides, I answered in your text below. Some standard suggestions for any PC issues: 1. Do you have enough hard disk space? 34Gb is available. 2. Check your disk for errors (right click on disk under My Computer, select Tools tab, click on Check Now and select "Automatically fix file system errors". In my PC's "My Computer" doesn't have a disk under it, so I have no way of knowing how to do this one. 3. Disable any anti virus programs - unless you don't feel comfortable doing it. Or if you're not running any, scan your system for viruses, adware or spyware. AVG says everything is OK and I don't feel like disabling it. I ran Adaware and it just showed normal stuff it finds.Nothing unusual. 4. Check your system for other issues such as bad memory, etc. You can try memtest86 (google for it - all you need to do is burn an ISO image to CD and boot up from the CD). Googled/downloaded Memtest86 (Freebie) from C\net downloads, but something called WinRar pops up after download and says it's not a free program and I can't unzip the Memtest86 to let it run. 5. Do you have things like Google Desktop Search (known to cause problems with some software)? What can you think of about your system that would make it "non-standard" (in Garmin's opinion)? No, I don't have Google Desktop Search. Another thing.....I called Garmin's software support. The tech did a remote assist session and basically told me that POILoader 2.5.2 (the version I want) was installed on my PC and it was functioning properly.

Since I work on software, I can pretty much predict Garmin's response - that they can't reproduce the problem on their system. Some standard suggestions for any PC issues: 1. Do you have enough hard disk space? 2. Check your disk for errors (right click on disk under My Computer, select Tools tab, click on Check Now and select "Automatically fix file system errors". 3. Disable any anti virus programs - unless you don't feel comfortable doing it. Or if you're not running any, scan your system for viruses, adware or spyware. 4. Check your system for other issues such as bad memory, etc. You can try memtest86 (google for it - all you need to do is burn an ISO image to CD and boot up from the CD). 5. Do you have things like Google Desktop Search (known to cause problems with some software)? What can you think of about your system that would make it "non-standard" (in Garmin's opinion)? Thanks, I will try your suggestions this weekend.

Maybe you can call one of the facilities for help Very strange. Which version of POI Loader are you running, and are you using XP or Vista? I provided a link to the version of POI Loader I'm using (on XP) somewhere on page 13. I got it off Garmin's website. Chrysalides and Pilotsnipes, Today I dumped the POILoader version that I'd originally loaded from Pilotsnipes' page. It was 2.5.2. Then, just for giggles I decided to load 2.5.3 directly from Garmin's site and during the install it locked up my PC with a blue-screen. It acted strange with 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 locks it up For some reason my computer doesn't like POILoader. I'll call Garmin if they don't reply by email. BTW, the PC I have is running Windows XP.

Well.....today I moved mine around like you said yours is. All went well except that POILoader still did not appear in the bar below. Figured that the 450 caches files did go to POILoader so I found it in c:\gsak\poiloader and used it to transfer........it said I'd successfully transferred 4 custom POI's to my Nuvi's SD card. I check the Nuvi and the four it loaded on SD were like Garmin facilities in the US, Europe and Asia. Go figure. I think POILoader is the problem and I sent an email to Garmin to find out.

Can you run POI Loader and tell it to delete old POIs, with the Nuvi plugged in and SD card removed? Been trying to retrace my original steps (from tutorial) and to how I got it to work the first time. I tried your suggestion and still they were in the internal memory of the Nuvi. I decided to start from scratch...cleared the Nuvi (as per the Nuvi's help screen), the SD(via a card reader in the USB port on the PC), got rid of GSAK, this macro and POILoader. I reloaded GSAK, the macro and POILoader then dropped a PQ zip in GSAK. Everything is working up to the point were the macro sends it to POILoader. The Macro tells me that everything was sent to POILoader and that POILoader is "minimized below in the toolbar". The POILoader doesn't show up in the toolbar. When I hunt POILoader down in C:\program files\gsak\poiloader it apparently doesn't have the gpx file. Strange. My computer acted kind of strange when I downloaded the POILoader software. That may be my problem now. I may try this whole deal on my daughter's laptop to see if it works there when I get more time.

Was going to start another thread, but I guess this would be the right thread to ask on..... So far I really like the way this has improved my Nuvi 200. The only thing I don't care for is the bell on the POI alert and I'd like to undo that on my Nuvi. I'm using a SD for cache file storage and the last ones I loaded on it were done through POI Loader without the alert feature. The only problem is that old cache files are still in my Nuvi's internal memory and the DINGER drives me nuts. I'd like to go in and remove all these old cache files and I don't know what is what in there. Do these type files have a certain extension suffix. I'd like to clean house and start fresh, but I don't want to remove something critical. Anyone know how to do this? Or.....is there a way to just turning off the bell without muting the whole device? Thanks.

Ditto to that. I liked a Gerber that I once owned, but as far as something that I'd trust in the woods I like simple, time tested things like stout knives, machetes and hatchets. A small hatchet or a large chopping knife for processing fire fodder or shelter if the need arose. My favorite hatchet is a Fiskars. It cost like $20 at Wallyworld and is light and incredibly tough. The hollow handle seems to not transfer as much shock to the hand as a wood handle one does when chopping firewood for camp. If sharp, it chops and splits wood nicely. You can also cram other needed items in there in case of emergency. One that I tote for camping has a small 6" file (encased in a strip of closed cell packing foam) in the handle and some fishing line/hooks to boot. You could stow all manner of things in there.

Timber hitch. This is my favorite hammock tie. Holds tight and no knots left in rope. If you might need adjustment just timber hitch one side and trucker hitch the other. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/13510/13510...mages/fig38.gif

I've read through this topic and I'm still puzzled about permitting for these Earthcaches. Basically, from what I understand about it, an EC is only a suggestion for others to go see something you've made note of. You aren't actually leaving anything solid, liquid, vapor or plasma at the site. These park turkeys are requiring fees so that you can "suggest" a visit to a feature in a park they control? Seems like a cool racket.....they should gouge all the travel related businesses that "suggest" a visit. I was under the impression that government parks actually gained revenue with physical visitors though visitor entry fees. A listed EC, I would think, would bring in more money along with new EC seekers that would come looking for it. Gouging folks who'd send more money to your pockets is something I can't compute. Gooberment at work!

A new query is one you start from scratch. A PQ will have a long URL, here's part of one of mine /pocket/gcquery.aspx?guid=b113d4d3-a0fd-4f74-80bd-6371432bd5c1 I can modify that query, but the URL remains the same. It's an "old" query. If you've got one that works, keep it for reference, but start fresh with a new query if you want data fast. I assume that any new PQ I submit will be in my inbox in 2-3 minutes. Thanks.

NEW PQs have top priority.. What is a new PQ? Is it one that I have to start from scratch or can I just rename an exiting one and resubmit? The reason I ask is because most of the PQ's I've tried to run came up empty or had caches I didn't want. I'm still on a learning curve here on what boxes I have to check to get the correct results I successfully did a couple that sent the proper results and I'm reluctant to generate new ones. As far as it being an email problem...I don't think so. I noticed that one PQ that I submitted one day last week (even though I had checked it to go that day) had not been generated the next day. On the PQ list it lists the date it was generated. When I clicked the check box to generate that same day, it did finally generate and send to my email a little while later.

Since I've been using Pocket Queries these last few weeks I've noticed that once generated that they can show up in email anywhere from 30 minutes to several days. Is this normal?

If you have a Nuvi 200W you can access the screen. If you have the plain Nuvi 200 that screen is not available. TillaMurphs, Thank you, kindly.

Starbrand, Thanks for the link. I was able to zoom in on a spring that I do know of. That Garmin map did list it. It was a dot with the name. At least that does answer my question. One thing I do like about the Magellan Topos is that these type objects are shown with specific symbols. A spring is a small, blue splash for example.

Trainlove, I tried zooming in on the pics at the linked cache page, but couldn't get close enough to see that kind of detail. Thanks though.

I have Magellan's Topo software loaded on my Explorist. One thing I really like about it (in addition to the contour/elevation info) is it also lists things like historical sites, springs, etc. Does Garmin's topo software have the same kind of information?

Pilotsnipes, CLipped this from your tutorial (about accessing the Nuvi page that shows exact coords and sats). "Nuvi 2xx Owners - some 2xx owners have had difficulty in getting this screen to appear at all. We do not know all the facts yet, ie. which model/firmware is causing this. Please check the support forum for more info." I have a Nuvi 200 and nothing happens when I touch the green sig-strength bars in the upper left corner. In the above sentence you refer the readers to the the "support forum for more info." Is this the support forum you're referring to or is it elsewhere? It's no big deal but I would like to access the current coords function if you or someone here has figured out how to do it on a Nuvi 200. Thanks.

You can use the Nuvi but not on all caches. I used mine to find one last night. (Almost got two with it, but I think the second hide had a missing container.) It was a lampskirt micro cache I found in a large parking lot. Just zoomed the map in to the max and watched both icons (car and cache) until they merged. I noticed that the Nuvi likes to "stick" to roads sometimes and will still show you're on a road even though you're not. It won't "unstick" until you get a good bit off the road. That one I found was about 200' from the main road. The others I've used the Nuvi on successfully were right next to the road or at least 100' off the road.

Thanks for the help to you all. Got a chance to fiddle with the program again and it worked "slicker'n a mucousy onion skin with grease on it".