Semper Questio

Looks great. I don't mind at all clicking the caches tab to drill down to more info - keeps the quick view less cluttered. However, on the quick view it seems the logs are showing the date the log was entered, not the date the log was visited. The calendar looks like it is using the right dates. Can that be fixed? Thanks for all the hard work!

My wife has a Palm Zire 71 (I still have an old Pilot IIIxe) and I must say that you will want a separate GPS. The Zire's ultra smooth and ultra-slick casing (asuming you have not put it in some sort of case) makes it far too difficult to hold onto under many outdoor caching conditions. Also, it is not at all made to take the potential shocks of being dropped, knocked against rocks, etc. Admittedly, we occasionally take the Zire along (in a protective case in a backpack) to store caching info in and to take some pictures with, but I'll take my rubber gripped and waterproof GPS over the Palm any day!

I have a conflict with my NokiaPC software that lets me manage my cell phone info on my PC so I have a serial port a/b switch connected to my PC and my SporTrak Map and Nokia cables on the switch. To use one of the devices I have to diable the other on the PC and and switch my box to the right device. Another connectivity issue - at least with the SprTrak Map - be sure the GPSr and teh software Comm port speed settings are set to the same thing.

Are you on the map navigatiopn screen when you press the menu button the first time? The menu system is somewhat context sensitive. It gives you menus based on what navigation screen you are starting from.

RATS! - my bad! I just re-read your post! I know loading maps will wipe out previously loaded maps and uploading waypoints will wipe out previously loaded waypoints. I DO NOT, however, know if loading maps or waypoints will wipe out the other. I have not tested that, but it sure needs to be checked out. This is easily enough done - just load a small map and 1 waypoint, check they are there ok, then load up a a different waypoint and see whats left. Then load up a different map and see whats left. I don't know when I'll be able to test this, so if you can do it before me, I'd sure appreciate it if you would post your results! Sorry for the confusion.

That's been my experience and it is documented - I think in the Topo help - that uploading new waypoints will erase all waypoints on the device just like it does with the maps. Apparently the programmers did not want to take the time to code for preserving data that exists in the devices memory. BUt come to think of it, I did not test if uploading a new map or waypoints will wipe out the other. That'd be something worth checking out!

GPSr = GPS receiver - your GPS device.

Hi blocko1000. I wondered the same thing, then I played around a bit. I found EasyGPS to be easier to use and that it runs faster for simply up/downloading waypoints. Also, MapSend Topo wipes out any waypoints on the GPSr when you upload. EasyGPS doesn't. So I stick with EasyGPS for waypoints and routes and only use Topo when I want to load in some detail maps.

Great magazine! Any plans to do a sign-up for email notification when a new issue is online?

Wlecome to the madness! I have a SporTrak Map. Not exactly the same, but similar. Your model, if I am not mistaken has no base map built in and is a little different on it's displays and functions. First I suggest going through the manual (I assume it came with one) carefully and it will help answer some questions and get familiar with your GPSr. But here are some links that may be of help to you..... Product Overview: https://www.magellangps.com/en/products/pro....asp?PRODID=154 Product Registration: https://www.magellangps.com/en/users/login.asp Magellna's Accessories Page: https://www.magellangps.com/en/products/accessories.asp I would not buy directly from Magellan's retailer - there are much cheaper alternatives. They are really quite easy to use, just take it slow and 1 thing at a time. Don't get overwhelmed by everything at once. The ampping software can get pretty pricey (100-150) but it does help having the map on your GPS instead of having to interpret what the GPS says as compared to a paper or internet map. I have seen some good deal on software on ebay, just be sure you are not looking at pirated stuff. HW

Staff Sergeant United States Marine Corps 7/27/1977 - 8/28/1992: Infantry... - B Co., 1stBn, 5thMar, 1stMarDiv, MCB Camp Pendleton, CA (including 2 rotations to Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan including side trips to the Phillippines, South Korea, Hong Kong, Tinian, Guam,) Data Processing - ISMO, 1st FSSG, MCB Camp Pendlton, CA - RASC, HQ, FMFPAC, Camp Smith, HI - MCCDPA, MCLB Albany, GA - RASC, MCB Camp Butler, Okinawa, Japan - RASC, MCB Camp LeJeune, NC Semper Fi!

Unfortunately I don't have the time, money, resources, or expertise to pull it off. But I thought of a whole new GPS activity along those line - maybe call it GeoSpying - where people can log things of interest like the markers, giant fiberglass people, roadside attractions, unique water towers, etc. Oh well, maybe someone will be able to go for it.

Had a thought to go with that - a new genre - GeoSpy - Taking pictures and logging sightings of tings of interest - markers, water towers, those giant fiberglass people, roadside attaractions (think largest ball of twine stuff), etc. Unfortunately, I have not the time, money, general reousrces, or expertise to put it together. Oh well. H

I started this topic in another forum. What is the Geocaching.com take on this idea? http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=64603 Thanks.

My general concspet was jsut to make a database of markers, their content, location, and condition and a bonus would be to make them searchable by state (and maybe county and/or zip) and to enable searching the content sections. But other than the historical significance I see the fun in this being twofold. First there is the fun in being the first to locate and post a marker (I'd spend weekends just driving around to do that!). The second is while planning a trip, cache hunt, or whatever, you could go online and see what is along the way that you want to stop and see for yourself. Perhaps when listing markers it only gives title, waypoint info, and link to content so no content spoiler is immediately given. The biggest problem I see is where do you stop calling something an historical marker? After all, there are plenty of monuments, informational displays and so on that have as much, if not more, historical relevance as the roadside markers. I'd be of a mnd to include those, but stop short of including building such as the lincoln memorial and grave markers.

Maybe you should check out the accident tourist multicache waypoint GCDB3C .... http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...8a-ce6190cbea88

Another example of why caches should NEVER NEVER NEVER be on private property. Got to area easy, but local muggles REALLY did not want us on "their" land. Took days to get to cache. By then wasn't worth it. Will soon head for the Lynch's Ferry Cache on the San Jacinto River. I KNOW things will get better there! TELN (Took Everything Left Nothing) CacherDeSantaAnna March 6, 1836 San Antonio, TX

I'd only hate "official" recognition because then before long you'ld be getting into governing bodies, leagues, arcane rules, participant hierarchies and so on. I just don't see that "official" recognition would do Geocaching any good. I say just keep it a low-key grassroots fun activity that it is. IMHO, Football, hockey, baseball, etc. all started going downhill when they atrted being "sports' and stopeed being "games". Subtle and sentimental difference, but my $.02. H

Yes, I see your point and I agree exept that locationless caches can be anything. This woul dbe specifically for offical historical markers. Of course, it seems that many agencies would have some location of their markers, though if they have GPS coords. is another issue entirely. Granted, the concept needs some thought.

I just had a thought while hitting up the virtual caches that are so often based on the roadside historical markers. How about a whole new cache type based on the same general principal as benchmarks? We band together and start cataloging historical markers, logging in their title, content, age, location, condition, and visits. This would be great for geocaching history buffs and add a whole new dimension to the game! I would not recommend pictures unless it is just something truly amazing due to storage issues, but the first person entering a marker would enter the text of the marker and sunsequent visitors would simply log thier visit like a virtual, but withoutthe confirmation question. Of course, I don't see why the site could not also be host to a virutal or any other kind of cache, but the main point here would be to get the markers located, transcribed, and cataloged. What a treasure trove of historical tidbits this would be! What does anyone else think? HW, The Kilted Cacher

Hi all. I tend to lurk a lot simply because I am quite new to this and I don't feel I have a lot to contribute...yet. On the other hand I have gotten great response when I posted asking for help on getting started. No one was snobbish or rude at all. Howard (KiltedCacher)

Thanks to everyone for the great info! Howard

Hi all. Please pardon these questions if they have been asked before and I missed it. 1. Are there any opinions about the Magellan SporTrac Map receiver and MapAource software? 2. I know you can find caches by zip code or state on the web site, but is there a way to search for those in a particular city or county? Thanks