Seeker_Knight

Thanks for the tip on this GPS unit. I had to go check this one out. What a box! I have put this unit on the wish list. Have to wait a while though, as I just got a new 60Csx in December. I'd love to go out with someone who has the PN40, so I could compare the units in action. Thanks again. Kevin

The whole swap swag idea is like the movie "Pay it forward". At some point, there is always going to be some weak links that cause the chain to break down, and the caches suffer. I expect it in the caches I am just now putting out. I have four to start. My goal is to keep enough nice stuff in the caches, so the kids get a bit of fun out of it. Everything I buy is great treasure to kids, not so much for adults. As time goes on, and I get some more experience, I may place different stuff in the caches. But for now I just want to keep mine family friendly. The main exception to this rule is my FTF momentos. I put a real nice brand new, LED light in each cache. I even ordered some new LE FTF trackable coins. Won't say when I'm going to use them. If it looks like too much time between finds, I may just restock with a few really nice items. That is half the fun. You never know what you might find. And you get a really great feeling knowing that you made some little kid real happy for a few minutes. I think the main thrill for adults is the conquest of the find. That in itself is why I do this. There is nothing like finding a real sneaky cache. One that sits right in front of your face, mocking you while you search. It feels great when you emerge the victor over such a quarry! For me, the swag is secondary. I just try to keep it as even as possible. If I skimp on one cache, I add a bit more to the next. It all evens out in the long run. I just use the old rule of the mirror. If I look in the mirror, and I like the guy staring back, I made a fair trade.

The easiest way by far is to just pay for the premium service, and use the caches along route feature. That alone is worth the $30 annual fee.

I just went through the same process you are going through now. I got my 60csx in December of 2008, and couldn't be happier with it. The one glitch is the basemap it comes with. It is pretty much useless, so expect to shell out some money for upgraded maps. Other than that, the unit works flawlessly, accurately and quickly. I've seen it in action against other units, and it blows them away for satellite aquisition and mapping. I've also seen it hit the ground several times, including bouncing off some rocks. Sure am glad I got the "tank". It takes what the trail can dish out! I also looked at the Oregon models while I was shopping. They have some great features to offer. Not the least of which is paperless caching. You will appreciate the beauty of that within the first few days on the trail. One note: If you choose the 400t, you get the software with it. You will be buying some software, so it is wise to just go with a unit that has the software you want loaded on. Garmin is very good at guarding their software from multiple uses, so don't think you'll be able to just use a friends copy. I have no idea how durable these units are, but that touch screen seems a bit whimpy for what a geocacher puts a unit through. Time will tell how they fair in the real world. If you get one, let the rest of us know how you like it. For the times, they are a changin!

Hi Mike, You can check the amount of space required as you are selecting your "map set" for installation. You can also check the amount of free memory on your actual unit. And yes, this stuff can be replaced at any time. The memory these units use is designed to be erased and re-written. If you take a bit of time with the manual, it will get you through the basic procedures needed to use the unit. I think the biggest shortcoming in the directions is that they assume the average person knows more about this subject than most of us newbies actually do. Thank heavens some of the other people on this site are very knowledgable, and willing to help us out.

Two Gig is going to be plenty as long as you select only the maps that you will actually use at any given time. And yes, you can delete those maps, and load others in their place. The software that comes with them will make it plenty easy for you. If you have any real trouble, just look for the average nine year old. They are born knowing this type of stuff these days. LOL Wow, that was very helpful. Thank you. Do you think I should buy 2ea. 2gig memory cards and put streets on one and then I have plenty of space for topo on the other?

You are now at the point where you realize that the "Base Maps" supplied on your unit are pretty much useless. Happens to everyone. Do not dispair. It just means you are about to get about a hundred bucks lighter. First thing you need to decide is: How many maps are you going to want on your unit at one time? If the answer is: All the maps for a large area, or both Topo and Street Maps, then you will need more memory. The unit comes with 256Meg, but two Gig is easy and cheap these days. Go for it. You'll have plenty of space for all the maps you need unless you are going cross country, and coming back by a totally different section of the country. Just remember, you are still limited to the same number of waypoints regardless of how much memory you have. The actual installation is simple. You have the directions in the manual that came with the unit. Next you have to decide which maps you want. Be careful here. There are several different maps available, and different versions of them to boot. The one I chose for "Streets" is: "City Navigator North America NT 2009" If you happen to somehow end up with the 2008 version, you will be able to get an upgrade through Garmin for a certain period of time. The disk will have a program called "Mapsource". This is the workhorse that allows your computer to communicate with the GPS unit. This is how you will load the Maps from the program disk, as well as your Waypoints (geocaches) from this web site onto your unit. Once you have the software on your computer, you just click on the "State" maps that you want loaded to create a subset, and then click on a button that says "Send to GPS". A screen will come up that allows you to select exactly what you want sent to the unit. Check the box for maps, and hit send. Expect this process to take quite a while, as there is a huge amount of data that is going to go through the USB connection. I know the unit will support a serial connection, but I don't think I would live long enough for it to send all that data over it. There is a reason they supply the USB cable with your unit. Even with that connection, you may want a fresh cup of coffee, and some other task to do while your waiting. I only did a transfer of the region I live in, and it took about a half hour. A full load I've heard can take a few hours. If you plan to load Topo maps onto the same unit, you will have to limit your load to the main region you are going to operate in. Even with a 2 Gig chip, it won't hold it all for both Topo and Streets. I havn't bought the Topo yet, so I'm not familiar with it, but I'm sure it's just as easy as loading the Street Maps. Best of luck! I hope this helped.

I just got mine in December of 2008, and have never lost data. I do turn mine off while changing batteries. This is just a normal routine with me when I am working with any type of computer. I never tried to swap out batteries while the unit was "hot".

My Daughter (now 17) has a very open relationship with my Wife and Me. It may surprise the heck out of most of you to be aware of what your kids already know. If you think these caches are the most probable sources of introduction to adult material, think again. Any typical kid of age 8 and up (possibly younger) is exposed to a lot of things at ages we would be shocked at. When my daughter was only ten, we rented a movie that we had not previewed or researched. While it was playing, my Wife and Me stepped into the kitchen to check on dinner. We heard sounds that grabbed our attention real fast (use your imagination). When we ran back into the living room, sure enough, there was a couple having sex on screen with very little left to the imagination. What could we do? We paused the movie, in anticipation of an involved explanation. Our Daughter was just annoyed that we interupted the movie. Her response was a very matter of fact "They were just having sex. What's the big deal?" Well you could have knocked us over with a feather. We had no idea she was so worldly at such a young age! It seems that a LOT of parents are none too discriminating about the content they keep on their computers, or in their media collections. These kids find this stuff all the time, and then share it with each other. If you think your kid is in some kind of bubble, you may be very very wrong. Talk to them as soon as possible. These kids today are growing up way faster than we did. They may be able to tell you a thing or two. As strange as it may seem, some of them are having sex before they even know what it is. We lucked out on this one, but our kid had friends at age 10 who had already had sex. BTW - They don't consider Oral stimulation as being sex. Nor do they consider active heavy petting as sex. It's nice to think we live in the Ward and June Cleaver era, but those days are gone. The internet has opened the flood gates, and nobody is going to stop it. If they can't get it on your system, one of their friends can get it from someplace else. A single Aunt/Uncle may not have any blocks on their system, so they can look it up when they visit. If they want to see and learn . . . it will be available to them. These caches are the least of your worries. The best defense is a strong offense. Talk to your kids often and openly. They will let you know when they are ready to learn more. At least that way, you have the opportunity to guide them properly and morally. I'm just glad my kid is on the verge of adulthood, and past the stage of being oblivious and mired in complete innocence. What a relief!

I took the time to watch your first production. This says something! I don't know how well it will be recieved by the general public, but other geocachers will find it interesting. Good luck, and I'll look forward to more episodes. If nothing else, it would make a great pod cast.

Welcome to the game! I'm another newbie with only 43 caches. I'm sure you're getting hooked already. It's been a blast for me so far. I'm even working on placing my first cahces already. Can't wait for the weather to break to make it easier. Not that it's stopping me the way it is. I had the same question about muggles a few weeks back. That was ironic, as I was a muggle up to that point, and never knew it. I found most of my answers in the postings for newbies. It's all spelled out, and easy enough to understand once you stumble in to all the information on here. This is a great place to get started. Hope to see you "on the trail" sometime! Seeker_Knight

I bought one from one of the online companies back in December. I got my unit fast, and in good shape. Could not be happier. I got the same $159 price too. It was Target.com in my case. I think it was an overstock problem that they needed to correct. Those companies pay inventory tax on all this stuff this time of year, so it's a great time to snatch a deal. For those looking to get a good deal like this ($159.00) try using www.pricespider.com . That is how I got mine. It is a website that runs a "spider" program which searches the net 24/7 till it finds the deal you are looking for. It costs nothing to use by the way. Good hunting!

Thanks for the pat on the back. Being such a newbie, I apprciate the kind words. I've met some real nice people so far, and I sure do hope to meet you at one of the events. I just need to get informed of the various things that are going on. I'm having so much fun chasing caches, that I havn't had much time to spend on research.

I don't know if this is still open for entries, but I'll add my story for any newbies to motorcycling. At the time this happened, I had only had my 1600cc v-twin putt putt for about 6 months. I had taken the Maryland motorcycle rider safety course, so I knew about emergency manuevers etc, which saved my butt. I was cruising down state highway #1 (Belair Rd) in the northern section where it stops being so congested, and begins to be a bit more rural. I was cruising at least 50mph or so (not certain) as I know my habits to be a bit liberal. Out of nowhere (from behind a parked truck) comes a car from a side entrance to the road about 50ft ahead of me. And she stopped when she realized what she had done! There was no time to think, and for some reason my prior training kicked in. I made an emergency swerve that set this huge bike so low in the turn, I was certain I was going down. Then amazingly, My left mirror clipped the bumper of the car on my LEFT. I have no idea how I missed hitting her, but the bike stood back up, and I scooted back to full control of the bike. There was an abundance of profanities, and not so nice gestures, but I came away with my hide intact. My undies were not in quite so good condition however. LOL. So what did I learn from this flash of terror! Always, Always prepare for what you think will never happen! Take a rider safety course if you havn't already. Do the safety routine, even if you think you are superman! That bothersome helmet, and leathers may save your hide someday!

--> QUOTE(brian b @ Jan 6 2009, 11:09 AM) 3778703[/snapback] I wonder if this guy is a geocacher? I don't know, but I think he's nuts. The Scariest Hike You think he's nuts? I don't even know if "nuts" covers this one! That guy is a maniac! I mean, SURE, I would give it a try, but I don't think I could carry all the fresh underwear I would need. LOL I also noticed the odd fact that he ran into other people on the way. Just shows that there are other brazen souls looking to test their metal. I lost my need to "test" myself a long time ago. My ego is just fine with being part of a LIVING organism.

I completed the MML trail, and recieved my first trackable geocoin. I was also the first to claim a coin at the Montgomery County office! This took several days, and more than a few gallons of gas, not to mention lots of coffee! It was a great way to spend my winter vacation, as I'm new to the sport. I feel like I'm still on top of one of those mountains! The coin is a real nice one too. It's brite gold, with inlaid graphic of "America in Miniature" on one side, and the MML logo and "Celebrating Maryland Cities and Towns" on the reverse side. Very nice coin. The towns I visited were all very friendly, and I had no idea there were so many of them in such a close area. It seemed one was more beautiful than the next! The website listings gave a brief history and/or description of the towns, and that made it so much more fun. Even the code words were descriptive of the towns they represented. MML - YOU ROCK! What a great job you did for us. I'd be glad and grateful to participate in any future trails/hunts you organize. Below is a list of the towns/caches I found to qualify for my coin. I would have done more, but I ran out of vacation time, and wanted to be certain of getting one of those coins. It is a much nicer coin than I expected for being given out free to anyone meeting the qualifications. Without more of my 2 cents, here is my list: District One Cambridge East New Market District Two Chestertown Trappe District Three Baltimore Cache #1 Baltimore Cache #2 District Four Annapolis Chesapeake Beach District Five Rockville Washington Grove Gaithersburg District Six Walkersville Frederick District Seven Cumberland Frostburg District Eight Hagerstown Hancock District Nine Bowie Greenbelt District Ten (Where I started) Bel Air Havre De Grace Rising Sun Aberdeen Port Deposit Charlestown Northeast Elkton Chesapeake City Cecilton District Eleven Sykesville Mount Airy Special thanks to all who did so much work to make this trail possible. You went above and beyond to make this fun and educational. I hope to work on some of the caches I didn't get to. Even though I got the coin, the best part was getting to see the State, and getting to know the people and history. Maryland is really a great State, with some great people! What a beautiful place, I'm proud to call Her home!

I'm not even going to try saying I know enough to recommend one unit over another. I bought the unit that most people seem to swear by. Enough said! LOL What I did learn fast enough, is how to get more unit for the money you want to spend. I stumbled accross this site called http://www.pricespider.com This is a great little site that sets a computer to work searching out deals for you. It works for just about anything electronic. You just do a search, select the item you want from the list of results, then tell the site what you are willing to pay, for what you are looking for. It bassically goes shopping for you 24/7 until it comes up with the deal you are looking for. I happened to get lucky when I ran mine, as one of the BIG retailers bought too many Garmin 60Csx units. They were afraid of getting stuck with them, and sold about 30 or 40 of them for $159.00 each. Not bad for a unit that retails for almost $500.00. Needless to say, I jumped right on that deal. I wish now that I had ordered two at that price. They all sold out in about twenty minutes. Oh well, I did get one! If you really want an edge for getting the deal on one of the better units, give this website a try. You may find you can afford a much nicer unit than you think! The money saved can always go for gas and swag

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I'm just getting started too! Already found seven caches. Hope you have as much fun as we are with this. Thanks to all the "Old" players who set all this in motion. Starting out at this point, we could search for the rest of our lives and not run out of caches. Can't wait to learn enough to set a few of my own.

I just got hold of one of the GPSMAP 60Csx units brand new for $159.00. The way I did it was to use a site called "Price Spider". It does the shopping for you! Best little gadget site I've found so far. It constantly monitors lots of sites for deals on whatever you ask it to seach for you, and then it notifies you if it finds a deal that meets your criteria. It works all day, every day, until it finds what you are looking for, at the price you want to pay. Then it sends you a notification when it finds the price you want to pay. I got lucky, and it found a retail site the stocked too many units. They just wanted to unload their extra stock, and I got a great deal. The best price I had seen for these units to this point was around $250.00 Hope this helps you out. My unit is perfect. Not one problem with the unit, the purchase or the shipping. It arrived the very next day in fact, and I only paid for standard delivery!

I just got hold of one of the GPSMAP 60Csx units brand new for $159.00. The way I did it was to use a site called "Price Spider". It does the shopping for you! Best little gadget site I've found so far. It constantly monitors lots of sites for deals on whatever you ask it to seach for you, and then it notifies you if it finds a deal that meets your criteria. It works all day, every day, until it finds what you are looking for, at the price you want to pay. Then it sends you a notification when it finds the price you want to pay. I got lucky, and it found a retail site the stocked too many units. They just wanted to unload their extra stock, and I got a great deal. The best price I had seen for these units to this point was around $250.00 Hope this helps you out. My unit is perfect. Not one problem with the unit, the purchase or the shipping. It arrived the very next day in fact, and I only paid for standard delivery!