SBPhishy

I used a SporTrak Map for a while. I just recently sold it because I got another one. I really liked the SporTrak Map. It's a great unit. You won't be dissapointed.

I recently purchased a GameCube as well. My first console in YEARS! I found out that I really missed being able to play video games. Anyway, the price of a GameCube compared to what else is out there is great. I want a game console to PLAY VIDEO GAMES. I already have a DVD player, etc. etc. I didn't feel like paying extra for features that are redundant. I have been impressed with the games available on GameCube, and the gameplay, graphics, etc. are great. While many of the games may be more "family" oriented, many of the games have the coveted BLOOD AND GORE AND GUNS! 100 bucks for a Gameboy SP is a decent and reasonable price, considering what else is out there. 100 bucks for a GameCube is a great price. Also, if you have both, you can have some extra fun with certain games by linking the Gameboy and the GameCube together. While I personally do like the PS2 better than the GameCube, for the money, the GameCube can't be beat. Nokias gizmo is INSANELY overpriced and I don't really see what the big deal is. A "gameboy" and a cell phone in one. It sounds like a PDA and a GPS in one! While it's a cool idea, I'd rather not have to carry my gamesystem everywhere, just so I can have a telephone. I'd rather have my GPS with me, but if I don't want my PDA, I would rather not have to sacrifice durability. Overall, electronics are great. I like them all! I think it gets a little crazy though, trying to make everything the smallest, and cramming 8 devices into one. Just to add, what is "out of date"? It all comes down to fun factor. Original Nintendos are still a lot of fun to play, and those are definitely out of date! Sometimes the "newest" and "best" isnt necessarily the "newest" or the "best".

I can't agree with the "easiness" of a Garmin either. I have used both, and they both have a learning curve. Some people find the Magellan's easier, others find the Garmin's easier. I am not technologically challenged, and learning how to use an eTrex wasn't any easier than learning how to use a SporTrak or a Meridian. That's cool about maps preloaded on an SD card. I've never thought of that, and didn't know Lowrance does that. I think a possible workaround, though it will cost a bit more, is to buy the unit you want, then, buy the mapping software. Then, you could load in a big section of detailed map of the area he lives in. If he doesn't travel anywhere far, the map you load on the unit will last indefinitely.

I think, before you start saying everything "sucks big time" you should at least take a look at the software. For the most part, it is just fine, and very useable. If you want street maps only, I would suggest Direct Route. It's the newest and most up-to-date software, and is surprisingly accurate. It is made to be an autorouting program, which gives turn by turn directions. It says that a SporTrak Map will not support the software, but it works just fine. I recently sold my SporTrak Map, and had Direct Route loaded into it, and it would autoroute me where ever. It looked just like it does on my Meridian Gold. The one problem would be is that the Direct Route detailed maps are somewhat big, and the SporTrak Map has a relatively small internal memory. It can be fixed a little by not uploading many POI's into the GPS. The Topo software is decent. The street maps aren't too bad, but somewhat outdated. The topo part of it is decent also. It's not too detailed on the GPS units, but it's what can be expected. The NGTopo! software for the computer is amazing, compared to Topo software for the GPS. Overall, because it is so new and updated, I would get Direct Route, and just deal with not being able to load huge sections of data. If you have a laptop that you can keep in your car, you can use the GPS as an antenna for the laptop, and run Direct Route on the laptop, in color, with a big screen. Either way, there is no amazing software for the GPS, Garmin or Magellan alike. They are all useable, and definitely better than nothing.

I too, agree that the Meridian quad helix "ownz" , hardcore. I really like my Meridian, and the reception is great. I own a real compass, that I carry with me, but I have yet to use it out of necessity. Actually, I don't really use it "just for fun" either. The barometer is cool I guess, but you have to leave it on, or some strange thing. It has to gather info for 24 hours or something stupid. It's neat if you are out hiking in back country, but in the city, I don't see it as that helpful. Built in compasses are cool though, but definitely not that important.

While I would still appreciate everyone's replies, I figured out a way around this. I upload the tracks from my computer back to my GPS, and then I download them to NGTOPO!.

I am trying to convert my GPS tracks on my computer to NGTOPO! tracks, so I can load them into the TOPO! software. The tracks are currently .trk files, and I converted them to .tpg files for use on TOPO!. It doesn't seem to be working however. It has the choices on the menu of GPSBABEL, so it seems like it can support this. When I try to open it in TOPO!, it says it's not a valid file. Am I doing something wrong? Should I be using another program instead? Thanks for all your help.

Why are you selling it? Gonna get one of those cool "new" Magellan's eh?

You should probably tell him to come on this site, and browse this garage sale forum. Also, many deals can be had on ebay. I wouldn't imagine many people taking the time to email him. Though, I could be wrong...

I've heard they were great also. I almost bought one so I could have a pocket-sized GPS. My Meridian Gold doesnt fit in my jeans pockets!

It should be in the manual. Also, make sure your datum matches that of the geocaching website coords. It should all be in the manual. In many other GPS units, you "mark" a waypoint, and then you go in and edit the numbers so they match the coords you want.

I haven't changed my name, nor do I plan to. I probably would, as it was somewhat picked in haste, but I don't want to go thru the hassle of changing everything. Also, my sig item, which I like a lot, has my name on it.

Just to add, the new Gameboy Advance SP is amazing. They finally nailed what a portable gaming system should be. I had the first GB advance, and the newer SP is definitely worth the little extra. The backlight is great, as is the rechargeable battery which lasts a long time, even with the backlight on all the time. Nintendo has definitely come a long way from the original game boys.

While I agree that it is technically "better", I don't think it is worth it either. My friend has a Plat, and he NEVER uses the barometer/weather station, and very rarely uses the compass. He doesn't care about having them, and I don't miss them on mine. I always find caches before him also...

They seem to list for 200 new, from many only retailers. I actually got mine in the Traveller pack with all those other goodies for 250 after the rebate (which I actually received!)

Yup. I love my Meridian Gold.

That sounds really similar to my first multi cache. Each leg was in a different park, and each one had the clue for the next one on it. It was quite challenging, and people seem to like it.

Well, having poison oak on your.... ummmm.... well... you know... sure isn't fun either...

Hey, most of the golf balls I leave in caches are clean!

One of my caches has a combo for the lock given in a different language. They have to figure out what it is. Also, there have been some caches with locks on them, and a lockpick set hidden nearby. The finder had to pick the lock to get in. Also, in my area, there is a key on a travel bug. You have to find and grab the TB to unlock the cache that goes with it. They are all great ideas.

In my opinion, the Meridian Gold is "hands down" the best unit for the money. You get MANY features that are available in the newest units today, and even some that are not. For 200 bucks, with "unlimited" memory, etc. etc. It is extremely hard (if not impossible) to beat the features-for-value of this unit. The ability to autoroute is great also. You can save tracks in segments, switch between different map files, and load in INSANE amounts of detail maps (depending on your SD card).

It's not cheating. However you wanna do it is the right way. I will often use autorouting (turn by turn directions) on my GPS, so I don't even have to think about how to get closest to where to park my car! Now, THAT might be cheating!

How close is the closest they are able to get you to the cache with only 2 digits?

Make sure it's whole milk. I heard, when you eat it, you can actually hear yourself getting fatter...

That's too bad. Though somewhat unrelated... Well, maybe not... considering the last few posts...