Hrethgir

I've never really used eier unit, but keep in mind that many people have complained that the touchscreen on the Oregon tends to wash out and be harder to read in direct sunlight. I've noticed this on both my car GPS units (Garmin Streetpilot c210 and Navigon 2100) as well as on my PDA (Dell Axim). So, if you can before you buy, try each one outdoors in direct sunlight and see if that's a problem for you.

This thread is getting stupid. Myotis like his CO and Garmins, we like our PN-40's; it's like arguing politics or religion, we'll never change anyone elses mind, just let it die already. The original poster already made up his mind, so this is just a big pissing match now. Anyways, I'm out.

Very interesting unit, looking forward to reading some reviews about it. I wonder if the touchscreen is going to cause direct sun readability issues? I'm guessing yes, since most touchscreens have that problem (both my car units, my PDA, and the Garmin Oregon, to name a few), but who knows, maybe they found a way to lessen the issue? Looks like a nice form-factor, just a touch smaller than the PN-40, but a little bigger screen. If I had the money, I might think about adding another handheld to the stable!

Pretty much any handheld has some way to manually enter coordinates. As for sending directly to the unit from gc.com, you do need to be a premium member to use that function, but you can download a .loc file and then use the software that comes with the GPSr to put it on there. Now, the .loc file will just be the coordinates, while the .gpx file you have access to when you're a premium member has the coordinates plus the description and ratings and everything. Just a little something to keep in mind.

Just looked at my stats: 34 finds 15 DNFs It is what it is, and it's fun!

I agree, stop looking for micros, go for bigger prey. I run a PQ for the town around me, and I have it filter out micros, I just don't really enjoy them most of the time, they can just be frustrating sometimes, as you've found. Maybe once you get your geosenses tuned, then start looking for those micros, but make it easy on yourself as you start. And really, don't sweat DNFs, the hunt and travel is at least half the fun, so even if you log a DNF, you can still have fun. Heck, I probably have 1 DNF for every 2-3 finds, but it's all good!

I'm guessing the motorcycle thing has to do with my screenname. I used that because I couldn't think of anything else that wasn't alreadt taken, and it's the name I use on my Subaru forums. Actually, I have an 84 Honda Magna V65, and I love that bike! Originally, I was looking at getting an 883 Sportster, but decided to get something older and watercooled that I wouldn't have to finance. Great bike, though, and a BEAST!

While it's true that getting a whole state downloaded might take quite a while, like you said, most of the work can be done while you are gone. I'll go in sometimes and set up 5-10 huge sections to DL, then let them DL overnight, it's all good. And even though it does take time, it's a one-time deal, you don't need to DL imagery ever time you want to put it on your PN-xx. I have a big network attatched storage drive (300GB), so I put all the imagery I've DLd and the map packages I've created on there, so if I need to juggle stuff around or whatever, it's nice and quick. I'm going to redo a bunch of the map packages I've already got on the PN-40, I've found better ways of doing it and have filled in some blank areas I missed. No big whoop, I have time for it all to encode while I'm sleeping

I anxiously await the comparison. I have the CO not the OR. The OR does have issues with screen visibility. I can see a major difference between it and the CO, that is why I have the CO. (But some people say they don't have a problem-I guess their eyes are better than mine.) The CO excels in direct sunlight. When you are driving into the sun is the only time I have issues with seeing the screen but I can hold it so I can see it better than my speedometer! Yes the Etrex (and 60CSX) also have small screens, but they are not Garmin's top of the line and they are previous generation technology. The technology was not as good as it is now when the 60CSX and Etrex were developed. Garmin's do not have a 3 axis compass which I think is inexcusable, but I do not think it is as inexcuesable as Delorome's top of the line having such a small screen. The small screen doesn't bother me, it shows me what I need, and it's bright and clear, works just fine. And I'd rather have a smaller form factor than a big screen. And I'm not a fan of Garmins controls, the click stick on my eTrex Legend makes me cover the screen to use it, and I've not spent much time with the CO, but the rock and roller control didn't impress me, either. I like DeLormes setup with the controls under the screen where you can easily use them without blocking the screen. Anyways, here are my screen caps of the area you posted before: I do agree that the Garmin Topos are much nicer han the DeLorme topos, but I like having all the different options of what you can DL, and then layering them to more and more detail showing as you zoom farther and farther in. Hard to show it with screencaps, but I'm more than happy with my PN-40.

When I get home, I'll try to find some time and DL the imagery and stuff for that location, myotis, and I'll post a comparison of what the Garmin can show and what the DeLorme can show. But if I don't get it done tonight, I will do it soon, unless someone else beats me to it. And why do people only talk about the screen size of the PN-xx, but never anything about the eTrex series? They are the exact same size, yet it seems that the only one ever bashed is the DeLorme. Which is crap, by the way, it's a great screen. And if my car units with touchscreens (Garmin Streetpilot C210 and Navigon 2100) are anything like the Oregon touchscreen in direct sun, I'm glad I passed, they get washed out and very dificult to read when the sun is right on them.

No, you are not correct. It limits the description to 800 characters, and places the hint at the top, but you still get pretty much all the stuff you need, unless the hider rambled on. But the upcoming Cache Register will take care of that.

Sorry, I just thought that saying you've cached all across the US AND in West Virginia was funny!

The HCx has the high-sensitivity reciever, while the Cx doesn't, and that is something you definitely want. And I don't think you can say Garmin has better support, especially since DeLorme has a presence here on these forums (Team DeLorme), plus their own forums ( forum.delorme.com ), and they have been very good with support and help. And there is now a plug-in that allows you save a cache directly to a DeLorme handheld just like you can with the Garmins, the newest firmware adds geocaching features that are much more like what is on the garmins, and the upcoming Cache Register will make loading PQs and large groups of caches into a DeLorme unit much easier. I have a Legend HCx and a DeLorme PN-40, and previously had a PN-20, and even without all the geocaching improvements, I liked the DeLorme PN-20 better than the Garmin, so I sold it to buy a PN-40, and I'm loving it! And remember, if you get a DeLorme, you don't need to buy the streetmap DVDs, they come with full topo and street-level detail maps in the box.

Yeah, if you can find somebody to go out with you a few times and give you some pointers, it should help you a lot. The friend who introduced me to geocaching took me out on my first few finds and gave me some pointers, and even later, we were able to talk about caching, and that helps too, as you discuss new hides you found, keeps you sharp. Eventually, your geosenses will start working better, and you'll be able to look at an area and just know right about where the cache is, but that takes time and finds to get it tuned, and going back to find previous DNFs is something that just feels really good! And don't let DNFs discourage you; when you do go back, you already know some places where the cache ISN'T!

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=144&pID=220 It's just a very basic Garmin handheld GPSr. Nothing spectacular, but it can get you to a cache, and that's all you really need to play!

Yeah, DNF's are a part of the game, I've had more than my fair share of them! And the Geko can't really "route" you anywhere, it just points you in the direction of your destination, kind of an "as the crow flies" thing. Maybe next time, bring a paper map with you and plan the route out on that, and then no need to break out the Geko until you are in the general area. It's all a learning curve, but at least you get some fun and excersize while you're doing it! Happy caching!

Never used the geko, so can't really help there (but knowschad sounds like he has a good pointer, and reading the online manual might help clear things up too.) Just wanted to say that I'm glad to see that you are giving caching another go, I remember your post about your first and almost last cache you found! Anyways, have fun and happy caching!

Yup, I plan on using my PN-40 this summer as my navigator on a long motorcycle trip. Not sure where I'm going yet, but that almost doesn't even matter, really! Haven't actually tried my -40 on the bike yet, as I don't have a mount for it yet, and the weather has been crappy enough that I've only had the bike out twice since late October.

Not quite true, the Gamin eTrex Venture HC (high sensitivity reciever and color screen) can be had at www.pcnation.com for $133 shipped, and just about $100 for a refurb Venture HC on www.tigergps.com.

I remember getting together with my parents once to watch the ISS go over, that was cool, but I'm going to have to look into these iridium flares, sounds way cool! Got several -8s within a few clicks of my place, should be a cakewalk!

I can pretty much already do that with my DeLorme PN-40 Takes up a lot less space than my laptop, too! Can't really think of any games or challenges that you could do with it that you couldn't do without it, though.

I did a multi this past summer where the first step was a film canister with the coords for the next part written on a piece of paper inside a Ziploc bag. The canister and bag had both leaked, and the paper was mush with the coords unreadable. Very disappointing, especially since I had to crawl about 3 feet inside a blackberry bush to get to the container. Make VERY sure that your container is up to the task. The way I tested my hide was to leave it underwater for a week, and since it stayed dry inside, I called it good for my hide. Of course, that may be a little extreme, but my hide is underwater. Maybe put what you plan on hiding underwater for an hour and see how it fairs. Or just get a better container. A cheap container on he first stage of a puzzle or multi can ruin the whole thing, as I found out.

Since you thought $419 for a Colorado 400t was a good price, you can spend an extra $60 at PC Nation and get an Oregon 400t: http://www.pcnation.com/web/details.asp?it...62AA&GEN0=Y I've bought from those guys, my eTrex Legend HCx, and it was a great transaction, and the free shipping was even 3-day, not whenever it gets there. And I know you love Garmins, but have you looked at the DeLorme Earthmate PN-40? It's a neat little unit, I really like mine, it's going to be taking the place of the Legend HCx once the weather gets nice enough that I want to go outside again! http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELibeCCtd...p;section=10461 And you can get it for $340 on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Delorme-AE-7985-201-...316&sr=8-1# Just throwing it out there....

Also, the coordinates of the cache could be off depending on what unit the hider used to get them, and conditions that day. Add in the hiders error plus your error, and it's possible that they are off a bit this time.

Uh, oh, looks like the original post got gobbled up by the forum monster. tomc61, if you could re-ask the question, that would be great!