Ken220

Just wanted to make a few comments. I have owned a PN-40 since December and have found over 260 caches since then with it. I am very satisfied with its accuracy, particularly under the tree canopy. Prior to the PN-40, I used a Garmin GPSmap 60 - no color and batteries lasted about 16 hours. I use Energizer rechargeable batteries, two in the unit and four in reserve. That's get me through a long day of geocaching. I use GSAK, Cache Register, and Topo 7. Most of the time if I see a cache that I want to find, I use the "Send to GPS". I have also found that rather than having 500 caches in a PQ, that I prefer to have 50-75. That makes it easy to set up one or two cache runs. I still use my old Garmin Streetpilot C530 to take me to the area then use the PN-40 to find the cache. I like the large screen on the C530. It's a lot easier to see than the PN-40 when you are driving. Don't forget to download the Firmware 2.6 update.

I have used both EasyGPS and GSAK. Both make it easy to transfer waypoints to your GPS. One click and it's done. I prefer GSAK because I do paperless geocaching. It is easy to transfer the information to the PDA and then turn around and transfer the same waypoints to the GPSr. I also like the GSAK feature of being able to export a file for Street Atlas USA and then having the caches located on a map. You can then click on the cache recorded on the map and it gives you the info for the cache. Print out the map and it shows you where the caches are. It really helps when you are in a strange area and don't know which road to take to get to the cache.

I, too, have had problems recently with a pq being corrupt. It has occurred three times in the last few weeks. I bought a new computer in February but didn't notice the problem then. All the corrupt files have occurred in April. Once I requested two pq's and one was fine but the other was corrupt. I found that to be strange. I requested the pq again the next day and it came through fine. I'm not sure if it's on my end or is something happening in transit.

I noticed that it's not clear about the house. This benchmark is located at the site of the old Orange Hall Plantation.

I have uploaded a picture of the benchmark. This is located at approximately N34 28.629 W 081 31.180 on the Maybinton Road, S-44-45, in Union County, SC. The coordinates are approximate as I haven't been back to the site since October. This would put the benchmark about 5.5 miles ESE of Whitmire, SC. I checked NGS for TT6P and found nothing. Nothing fits distance-wise either. I would guess that the age of this benchmark is probably why it is not listed. The US Forest Service bought this land during the depression. Nothing remains of the house but some bricks used in the foundation. There was a spring used by the house for its water supply. It is known as Jews Harp Spring. It was made in 1858. There is a geocache hidden near the spring.

I used to work with the US Forest Service during the summer as an educational specialist for the Youth Conservation Corps. I returned to an area I had worked in to locate a nearby geocache. While wandering around, I found a US Geological Survey benchmark dated 1933. It says the elevation is 501 feet with a "TT" stamped just in front of the 501. Beneath that is stamped 6P. Is the 6P the PID? I checked the PID "6P" with NGS and it is not listed. Any suggestions?

I fully concur with Pork King. I dropped off a TB in a cache and it went missing for nine months. The TB turned up in a TB Depot about 40 miles away from where I left it and spent more than 3 months there after being AWOL. I happened to be in the area and rescued the TB from the TB Depot. Brought the TB back home - about 150 miles - and released it again. That bug is still sitting there. Guess that it's just a slow mover. I know the owner is impressed with about 300 miles in one year. Travel Bugs are meant to move, not sit. JMHO.