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Yeah, for just working with waypoints, routes & tracks, easyGPS works great.

Most of the USGS disks around here aren't in the NGS's database, or on the Geocaching.com site. Nothing really to do about it. Maybe there's a condition report for the USGS somewhere?

I would. They are MUCH faster than 1.1 (as long as it says "high speed" or "fast"). You need to have USB 2.0 ports in your computer too, or you might as well get a 1.1 reader. Don't get me wrong, the USB 1.1 will still be a night and day difference than using your serial cable. If you don't have USB 2.0 ports on your computer, and only plan on uploading maps once in a while, a 1.1 reader would probably be fine too. I just had 2.0 ports in my laptop, and found a 2.0 reader for only $10. I actually had a 1.1 reader in my hand for $15 willing to comprimise speed for price before I found that other reader on clearance.

Whew, you have a lot more time for BM hunting than I do! I get one on a long lunch, maybe and weekends...

I have only used a Compass (Magnum 420 - anyone have a manual they can send me?). It seems to work pretty good. If I tune it just right, it will ignore stuff like aluminum pull tabs. Very first thing It beeped on, and I pulled out of the ground was a buffalo nickel. What a way to get you hooked!

Deckyon, your first post was mostly on topic, but mixed with personal attacks. tutzismydog's post was not on topic in any way shape or form, and was strictly a personal attack. EagleI's post was 1/2 on topic, with a snyde remark. Vagabonds was 3/4 on topic with a personal attack. I love the on topic, but if you're going to do the personal attack/snyde remark bit, don't bother. I'd rather not even hear the legitimate part of your post. Closing the topic is a good idea, since it has degraded into drawing the people who can only feel better about themselves by attacking others.

Your post was so close to not having some smart-a snyde comment, until the last sentence. The MeriGreen has 2mb base memory. The Platinum has 16mb base memory. This base memory is where the maps are stored. I think the firmware may be in seperate memory. I know that there is a chance I'll do something that will cause me to send it in to Magellan, but your last comment is completely inappropriate and asinine. Why would I blame Magellan for something I clearly did myself. Do you suggest that it is something I would do because it is clearly something you have already done? Stick to the topic, or don't post.

Oh, I dind't answer how well it worked hooking it to a laptop. In Delorme, it was great. Spot on. In USA Photomaps, the sofware will put a dot accoring to a grid. When you go down a road that is running, say, NE/SW, it will plot zig-zag dots down the road. Nothing to do with the GPS, just limitations in the software.

I vote for the Meridian Gold. I have Meridian Platinum, which is almost the same as a gold. I have hooked it to my laptop and have done realtime tracking in Delorme TopoUSA and in USA Photomaps. I haven't tried it in Mapsend Topo yet, but I'm sure it can be done. Make sure you get the cig/data cable if you are using it in your car, it will save you a bundle in batteries, just buy it from Best Buy or somewhere that isn't going to charge you the full on 40 something dollars for it. my 2¢

SWEET! So it boils down to: Get approval from BLM & don't put them in 'protected' areas. Good to see Government doing something right.

I use the compass at least once every time I use the GPS. I use the barometer a little bit, just mainly to play with it, and see if the pressure is rising or falling (for good or bad weather).

The cache that was too close to the train tracks and the bomb squad blew it up and the cacher got prosecuted.... I tried a search, but I guess I'm searching on the wrong words...

Bons, What are you using to map the benchmarks?

That's because the code for the smiley is B ) (without the space) the code for © is ( c ) without the spaces

Why is this board so combative? All I wanted to know is if anyone had done it, or knew if it was possible. The basic answer was "no". I tried it, I posted the results, then, some jerks post smart-a** comments about it. If you don't have anything constructive to say about the topic, shove off. We don't need your snyde comments here.

Oh, I don't smoke either, I just want it to power my GPS power adapter!

OK, I'm a geek. That is FREAKIN' AWESOME!! I kinda feel dumb that I haven't thought of it myself. I know that desktops have a 12V line... I'm going to make my own now.

I know what you're saying, I know what everyone is saying. I have an SD card, I use it. I just hate wasted memory. The factory basemap = 16MB of wated memory in my mind. Why not have the detailed AZ maps as the basemap, then use the SD card for other things? More maps? Bottom line is that if I could get it to work, I would save 16mb of SD card space. Just because you don't like the idea doesn't mean it's a bad one.

I bought a Fast USB 2.0 card reader/writer for $10 at Fry's Electronics. They were normally $40, but I think they were clearancing them. Anyway, if you're going to use big SD cards, I suggest getting a Fast USB 2.0 reader/writer, and if your computer only has USB 1.1 ports, get a Fast USB 2.0 card. MAKE SURE IT SAYS "fast" or "high speed". There is a USB version 2.0 that isn't! It takes less than 2 seconds to completely fill my 8mb SD card (literally). It takes 30 minutes to transfer the same stuff over the serial port. Edit because my fingers are too fat to only hit one key at a time

It's a very common "indiglo" type of backlight. I don't think it would burn out in your lifetime... I use the backlight in my MeriPlat constantly, and I'm not afraid of it burning out. Just my 2¢

Just to report what I did. I almost screwed it up bigtime. Let me tell you, DON'T TRY IT. Luckily, I have the ability to figure out how to fix broken things, and had the foresight to back up my basemap. For a little while, I thought I was going to have to send it in to Magellan. The FAQs don't cover what I did to my MeriPlat. Happy to say, it's all back to normal now. I still would want to do this. Why on earth would I want a major highways only map of 49 states I almost never visit, when I could have a detailed map of almost the entire state I live in? It's not like I'm going to drive cross-country based on my crappy basemap! It's 16mb of wasted space that I'd like to use for something else. IMHO, the basemap is at least 95% useless. I guess it time to break out with the hex-editor and see if I can make it work anyway (since I now know how to un-ruin it). edit for clarity

Meridians don't have the cracking problem, and they have expandable memory! Did it come with the data cable?

Because I want 16mb of detailed AZ maps, instead of 16mb of very undetailed nationwide maps.

I have a MeriPlat. It has the standard US basemap. I want to make a map of just Arizona using Mapsend Topo, then erase the basemap in the MeriPlat, then reload it, but tell it that my Arizona map is the factory basemap. Will it work? Will it fry my GPS? Has anyone done or tried this? I have instructions on how to 'reload' the basemap from a SD card, and just figured I could use those instructions and lie to the GPS. I'm just afraid of causing problems with it...

I usually don't use the coordinates. I go by description, and have coordinates as a backup. The listed coordinates can be as much as 500' off. Quite a bit of area when you are searching for a small benchmark disk.