Fat Freddy

So, after finding one cache in 2004 something shiny caught my eye and I was distracted until just a couple weeks ago. Since then I've gotten back into geocaching and found two caches and hid one of my own. Just now finished upgrading my Mapsource software from the original version 2.03 to the current version of 6.15.6. Is this a record? - Fat Freddy

I'll try that if it yields up its spirit again. Thanks! - Fat Freddy

At the suggestions to see if it is user-repairable I disassembled the unit and discovered the ribbon cable connectors are secure, and the switch in question is a microswitch soldered to an IC board - probably a proprietery part, and beyond my scope of expertise to replace. It was an interesting experiment, though, and now I know how it comes apart, and how it is waterproofed. While apart I did "exercise" the click stick (Garmin's nomenclature) and then reassembled everything. I turned the unit on and, at least for now, everything is working fine. I think I scared it. As long as it keeps working I'll use this as my backup unit, but will put it through its paces in the next few days to see if it stays problem-free. Thanks for the encouragement to take it apart. Good learning experience for me and perhaps a fix to a transient problem. - Fat Freddy

Great idea! - Fat Freddy

Tried that - problem is the reset won't work because the enter button/stick does not work.

My Garmin etrex Vista (5 year old b/w unit) has just developed two problems. First, the screen occasionally displays dancing verticle lines making the display unreadable, unless I tap on the screen which can make the lines go away. Second, the rocker switch has stopped responding to the helm, making selecting submenus impossible. I've ordered up a new etrex Vista HCx, but need to know if the old unit is good for anything except using the case as a cache container. Can it economically be repaired? Anyone want it for parts? - Fat Freddy

Cat up and died several years ago but I found a replacement. Like Freewheelin' Franklin said, "One orange cat is pretty much the same as any other."

I agree. My thinking was that the best display I could request would be the one which would have the greatest precision. Again I agree. That's why my OP said "of course assuming a perfect accuracy." Best accuracy my GPSr has ever given me was 12 feet. The practical application of all this was to be able to make a reasonable estimate of a position where I couldn't make a direct observation, say under a forest canopy or indoors. For example, if I were 16.5 meters due south of a desired location where I couldn't get an accurage fix, and my current position was indicating an accuracy of +-17 feet, I would know that if I added fifteen clicks (0.00015 degrees, or 0.00001 degree per 1.1 meters) I would know the latitude of the "shaded" position, obviously with the same accuracy of +-17 feet. - Fat Freddy

Can someone check my math and logic? Being an analyst by profession I got to wondering if there was any difference in accuracy between my GPSr three data formats (DDD MM.MMM, DDD MM SS.S, DDD.DDDDD) especially when expressed as distance. I was curious about how far I could move before my GPSr would show a change in location, of course assuming a perfect accuracy. The circumference of the earth, pole to pole, is approximately 39,948.49 kilometers. Therefore: A. Each degree equals approximately 110.96803 kilometers (1/360 of circumference) B. Each minute equals approximately 1.84947 kilometers (1/60 of “A”) C. Each second equals approximately 0.03082 kilometers (1/60 of “B”) So, for any given change in latitude: For the format DDD MM.MMM the smallest measurable change is 0.001 minute. 0.001 times 1.84947 km (from B, above) is 0.00184947 km or 1.84947 meters. For the format DDD MM SS.S the smallest measurable change is 0.1 second. 0.1 times 0.03082 km is 0.00308245 km (from C, above) or 3.08245 meters. For the format DD.DDDDD the smallest measurable change is 0.00001 degree. 0.00001 times 110.96803 km (from A, above) is 0.00110968 km or 1.1096803 meters. Looks like I’ll keep my GPSr set at DDD.DDDDD. Am I right? - Fat Freddy

Very good suggestion - and I just happen to own a Brunton Eclipse 8099. Now I think I'll go back to the first cache I looked for, under the trees after a rain, and see if I can find it. That would give me TWO caches found! - Fat Freddy, newbie