nm_geo

You will like GSAK enough to pay for it. You will find lots of things you can do with GSAK and macros. I do paperless by loading my NUVI with databases from GSAK and it is pretty much like carrying a connected laptop with you (hints and all). Then I add those same caches to my handheld Vista HCX, limited to 1500 caches. Clyde needs the guilt too.. LOL.. It is a one time expense and IMHO well worth the bucks.

Having encountered three rattlesnakes this caching season in NM, I would recommend hiking sticks and be very very careful while you are hiking. As an example, we were leaving a cache on Capitan Peak near Roswell NM and I stepped over a large rock and felt a thump on my left ankle. I took another step and turned to see the lizard or ground squirrel that had stupidly ran in to my foot. The culprit turned out to be a five foot Western diamondback and I took a fast number of steps backwards and yelled "Snake" to my partner. She was carrying the camera but was not fast enough to get a picture. The snake only rattled a few time and went under the large rock that apparently had a den under it. No fang marks on my hiking boots Thank God. Most of our caching is done in wilderness areas and we will not be caught without or walking sticks, cell phones, GPSr and at least 3 L of water. You will see all kinds of caches in NM but be aware there are snakes near most of them.

I did find mine on the downloads page, but only after reading this tread. Thanks for the information. I see why you are mad busterbabes..

Just repaired the rubber on my Vista HCX last night. I cleaned mine with alcohol and would agree mineral spirits would work very well. The glue I found recommended most is Loctite Xtreme. Of course, I could not find it locally so I added the purchase of the glue to an Amazon Order. You can get it through Amazon if you can't find it locally. As I live in New Mexico and use my Vista for hiking and caching, my unit will always be exposed to extreme weather changes and it sits in the sun on the dash of my Jeep often when out caching. I will update this post as time goes by with the Loctite Xtreme glue and it's condition. I love my Vista HCX and Do Not plan on using any other GPSr for hiking or caching. By the way there will be enough glue left in the tube to do about a dozen units.

allory, I emailed the tech support with the same exact symptoms we were both having and he said thanks and that a new upgrade will be out to address the problems. You know I think I like version 2.80 just fine..

Got back an email from Garmin Technical support. He said he would recommed me reverting to Software version 2.80 from 3.00 and the power off problems. I have not responded yet, but I will tell him I already did that. It strikes me as odd that this problem affects some Vista owners but not others.. Maybe it is the size or type of SD card.. Who knows??

The last time we had a thorough discussion of the chip question on this board, I think the conclusion was that all of the Vista HCx's have Bravo 2's. I forget the method for getting that information, but I'm pretty sure mine has a Bravo 2. Method hold down the enter joystick.. straight LOL Hit the power on button should display this

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I am running 2.80 both software and chipset but I have not tested much... Just finally returned from the mess software 3.00 made. I think you are wise to stay with what works. What chip do you have in your unit? I just wonder if some of the issues are due to different chips? My Vista HCx has a Bravo 2..

I would try to reinstall maps again too.. In fact I did but it had no positive effect. allory do you know the chipset in your Vista HCx? It seems strange to me that some people are having this issue and others aren't. I read how to pull up my diagnostic page on my unit by pushing in the enter plunger and then the power on button. My chipset is Bravo 2 just wondering if yours is as well. It may not make any difference just wondering.

The electronic compass will not be missed.. The limited space for adding maps might be an issue if you decide to use it for hiking.. I have a Vista HCx and I can tell you the electronic compass is not all that helpful.. I carry a real compass with my Vista when hiking out in the boondocks. If all your caching is in or around urban areas ..The Venture will be great.

There is good news and bad news The good news is I found software version 2.80 and reinstalled it. You have to rename the Garmin folder and create another folder and extract the software version 2.80 to the new folder. Then start the newly created updater.exe file and tell it to change to the older version. Installation went fine Bad news was I lost all my waypoints, Geocaches found and unfound.. The unit reverts back to the factory default settings.. I think I have all my preferences fixed.. Had to even remark my Home coordinates.. Good news I keep all of them in GSAK databases and reloaded all but the few new hides I am working on. Software Version 2.80 GPS SW Version 2.80 NO BEEPING when I shutdown.. my unit is healed .. I am

I've never had good results with webupdater. Might try the manual install which is what I used. I did try the manual download and install at least twice with the same results, but I also read above where someone took the SD card out/changed and the problem quit. I have a 2 GB card and sure enough if I take it out everything works fine..of course all I have is the base maps.. Think I will get me another micro card and see what happens.. I like my topo maps installed when I am caching. I had a similar problem on windows vista home before. When moved to Windows XP, it installed as it should be. I guess the failure to install had to do with windows vista. If you used windows vista and it failed, you should give it a try on windows xp if all possible ... Appreciate the idea greenleaves, but I installed from Win XP..all three time.. Other than I might wear out the battery cover from removing the batteries to stop the beeping noise all is well...

Same thing happened to me. However if I take out/change the Micro SD Card it works fine. I'm also having problems downloading maps onto the device. Bet it's a problem with the SD card. M Question: Did you change out the SD card and now everything is working? I had the same results when I removed my card .. The unit worked properly so I reinstalled all my maps on the card and put it back in the power off beeping problem started again. Just wondering if you put in a new card and resolved the problem?

I've never had good results with webupdater. Might try the manual install which is what I used. I did try the manual download and install at least twice with the same results, but I also read above where someone took the SD card out/changed and the problem quit. I have a 2 GB card and sure enough if I take it out everything works fine..of course all I have is the base maps.. Think I will get me another micro card and see what happens.. I like my topo maps installed when I am caching.

Thanks coggins.. I have downloaded and reinstalled 2 times.. In fact the webupdater is where I installed originally.. I then tried the reinstalls. Still has same problem!!

- On my Vista HCx, i have Lexmark 4GB Micro-SDHC. And it works very well. shiva.. I would highly recommend you not download the 3.0 software upgrade. If you have and it is working please let us know.

You got it guggie.. I usually don't upgrade my units when the revisions first are released, but as you see I messed up this time.. Maybe revision 3.02 will be out soon to correct this problem..

I have the same problem after updating to the 3.0 software. The tone is the (on/off power) alarm that should just beep when we turn on our units. I bet if you don't remove one of the batteries you can not restart your unit too. Wish I had never upgraded Now.. I do have a email sent in to support and maybe I will figure out how to go back to the 2.8 version.. It seems obvious that if you don't remove a battery the unit will eat up the batteries and my tone is annoying.

Just wanted to stop by and thank you for all the work you have done on the macro. I have been using the pilot's version on my Nuvi 260 but I sure wanted the usernotes too. Those who work mystery caches certainly appreciate this addition. Anyway thanks to the pilot, thanks to jjreds and thanks to the joker99 who got the usernotes started. By the way I had to go back a ways to get the latest Advanced Nuvi Download webpage so here is the link.. http://jjreds01.googlepages.com/download Thanks again

I have the eTrex Vista HCx and I would highly recommend it for your hiking, biking, back packing and geocaching. It is a great light weight unit and my batteries actually last 24 hours as it says. You will probably want to drop another 75 bucks for the topomaps if you are going to do much back packing.

I have been doing some research on this subject, but I have not tried to use GSAK and the macro yet. In fact I just bought a new nuvi 260 and will be trying soon to put the caches into it soon (where is that mini USB cable?). You would think Garmin would include the cable .. Oh well.. Here is a site that might help http://pilotsnipes.googlepages.com/index.html It is pretty technical but that is the beauty of geocaching.

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