HAHAMICE

I just picked up a Garmin Oregon 400t. I love the paperless geocaching features. No more having to carry my GPS and my Axim to read the cache pages. The only thing I miss is being able to download a huge cache list, then being able to filter the list in the field. Also it was nice to be able to write your cache logs in the field and upload them later, but you have to walk before you crawl. Just being able to read the cache pages and log your finds is a big improvement. I was a little disappointed when it came to the map. When it said topographic map I was expecting USGS topo maps. The Garmin Topo maps do show some terrain and elevation, so by definition I guess they are topographic. They're better than looking at a blank screen with major roads (which is what I'm used to). I just wish they had some more detail or landmarks on them. I guess you can purchase USGS maps as an add-on. I just wish they were included. Again on the wish list ... Recharge rechargable batteries without having to remove them from the device. Expand the wireless exchange feature or add bluetooth to allow upload/download of GPX files from computer to GPS without having to use a cable. Screen time-out should have a "remain on while navigating or changing position" feature and not be solely dependant on touchscreen activity.

I've been unable to zoom in close enough with the Navteq street maps to make it usable for the final approach to a cache. I haven't tried loading Topo maps onto the Nuvi. That might alow you to zoom closer. Do yourself a favor and download Garmin's POI loader! You can copy a GPX file to the GPX folder and the Nuvi will take it, but it consolidates the points into the "current.gpx" file. Your points show up in the "favorites". This is fine until you go to upload a new set of points. There is no way to batch delete the favorites. If you delete them from the current.gps file, the nuvi rebuilds them from memory. You have to delete each one individually or do a hard reset which fowls-up all your other custom settings. You'll hate yourself if you have a couple hundred waypoints in your pocket query. The POI loader takes an external GPX and uploads it to the "Extras" folder. The next time you send a gpx, the loader askes if you what to delete the old one. It's a much better method. I guess it's right tool for the job. The nuvi is a great navigator, but has some drawbacks as a "field" GPS (most are mentioned previously by other users.)

Magellan Meridiam Platinum ... It's a dinosaur, but it's virtually indestructable. I thinking about upgrading to a Garmin Oregon what they come out.

Are you reporting the errors to Garmin or Navteq? You should be going through Navteq if you want to be heard. Navteq could be a little faster on the updates too. I have about 6 change requests for map issues and incorrect POI's that I placed in January and have yet to be answered. I was hoping they'd make the next map set. Guess I'll have to wait for 2010.

I don't know if anyone is still following this thread, but stonemaps has their Disney World product online now. I'll let you know how it is.

Wrong OS. Only runs on Palm. Thanks anyway.

Thanks gang. That answers my question. I was concerned that mapsend or one of its twins wouldn't make use of larger sizes. From what you're telling me, it certainly will. I think I'm going to purchase a big card for the PDA and retire that card to the magellan.

I have an OnCourse BT-339. It's bluetooth. It has a rechargable Lithium ion bat that is rated for 17 hrs of continuous operation. Also comes with a vehicle charger with a "Y" cable so you can power both the PDA and the GPS off the same circuit. I usually set mine on the dash, but actually you could probably set it anywhere in the car and be OK. I was able to get a fix on the ground floor of my house with the BT-339. My Magellan can't do that. As for voice ... try setting it to "text to speech" rather than one of the "human" voice options. It will give you more information and will do it's best to phonetically pronounce the street name. Takes a little getting used to. If you don't mind having Stephen Hawking as your navagator, you'll be OK. I've been told that you can upload custom wav files, but I haven't figured that out yet.

I use Mapopolis. What do you mean by Proximity? As an aside I use gpxtomaplet program that overlays all teh caches on the Mapopolis maps so you can see the geocaching waypoints. Is that what you're referring too? Tip for using gpxtpmaplet utility with proximity alerts: With the current version of Mapopolis you can only set proximity alerts to one landmark catagory. By default gpxtomaplet saves the cache "type" as the landmark catagory in the mlp file. You may have noticed that each cache type (traditional, multi-, virtual, etc) has its own landmark catagory. That's a nice feature, but if you have proximity alert set to Traditional cache you might drive-by a multi without getting an alert. If you change the cataory output in gpxtomaplet from the default (<type>) to "GEOCACHE" it will lump all the waypoints in your gpx into the same catagory. I just add the <type> info into one of the additional information fields.

Mapopolis has versions for both. Also, there are demo maps available that are good for 30 days. http://www.mapopolis.com

I've had some success with my PDA and mapopolis software. Mapopolis has a proximity feature that works great for caching along a route. You can upload a GPX file and the program will alert you when a waypoint comes into a specified radius (say 2 miles). It then gives you an option to preempt the existing driving directions and re-routs you to the selected waypoint. Mapopolis has no restrictions on the number of waypoints you can upload. I figure I'm taking my PDA with anyway to read pocket querries, why not put it work full time. My PDA has built-in bluetooth so I purchased an additional bluetooth GPS that sits on my dash (about $100). Mapopolis is freeware, but they charge to download maps. I tested it for aabout a week before I purchased the receiver and maps and I'm very impressed.

If you have a PDA and can interface a GPS I recommend Mapopolis Software. Mapopolis application is freeware, but you have to purchase the maps. The maps are county-level street maps and can be purchased individually or an annual subscription (about $100) allows unrestricted download. All depends on your needs. I borrowed a bluetooth GPS from a friend (my Dell Axim has bluetooth). I spent about a week testing Mapopolis and I think it works great. I made a couple of round-robin cache trips into neighboring counties. "Next turn" directions are given by voice commands as well as a large-font screen display. The display also gives a quick graphic of the intersection and an arrow showing the turn maneuver. You can use the "proximity" feature to find nearby caches along the route. If you accidentally miss a turn or get off route for some reason, Mapopolis automatically recalculates a new route. If the waypoint you happen to be looking for it near a road, you're in luck. If not, you're routed to the closest on-road location, nearest the wayppoint. That's not always the best point from which to start, but at least it gets you in the neighborhood. I still use my Magellan Platinum to go portable and find the cache. I used to use it on a car power adapter for about two years as well, but I'm definately switching to Mapopolis for in-car navigation. The features allow you to keep you eyes on the road, rather than the GPS. Like I said, I'm using bluetooth and it works great, but any GPS solution that can interface with the PDA should work. Bluetooth GPS receivers average about $100. Good luck.

I'm consdiering a purchase of an SD Card for my Meridian Platinum so I can make use of some of the mapping software. The largest card that Magellan sells is 64Mb. Obviously there are much larger cards available. I borrowed a 512 card to test if it would work. The GPS started OK with the larger card, but I don't have the sofware yet. Is it worth having a larger card? Will mapsend and/or the GPS make use of it or is it just a was of memory?

MobiPocket files generated by pocket querries has a nice feature that hyperlinks the listing in the table of contents to the cache page. I believe the hints listings also link back to the cache page, but there is no link from the cache page to the hint appendix. I don't know if that by design or an oversight, but I think it would be a handy feature. Thanks.

I apologize in advance if this was discussed previously. My search feature is not working. I really enjoy the pocket querry feature. Generating mobi-pocket reader files to take electronic cache pages on your PDA of laptop is very helpful. I wish there was an option to generate them "on demand" rather than off-line. I know it's probably a lot of processing time. Maybe an "on demand" feature could be scaled down (No logs). Maybe another option would be to batch print caches that are selected from a search screen. Users could direct a batch print job to hard copy for their anticipated caches without having to surf to each page or direct the output to Adobe and create a PDF file which would serve the same purpose as the mobi-reader.

What's the best way to add hyperlinks to cache logs. I've seen several logs with hyperlinks, but I can't figure out the procedure. Thanks.