Denis et Doris

You can use a program that comes with it to load caches on the unit, Mapsend Lite. Make your pocket queries up to 200 caches per file and load them with that program. Decent unit, I had one for years.

What you need is to install Mapsend Lite, which would be on the install cd's that came with the unit. If you bought it used, or don't have the cd, download it, use Google to search for it. Then import your PQ into the program, and export it to the unit as a Mapsend .gc file, up to 200 caches per file maximum, no limit on the number of files you can create. Make your query search for 200 caches and you'll be good to go. I have a 210 that I load this way and it works perfectly.

I did a bit more than find a cache on the 29th. First, I subscribed my 8 year old son as a Geocacher on GC.com, on his birthday, February 29. Next, we went out and found his first geocache ever, both of us earning a find and the souvenir (which was really a very minor bonus for me, considering his birthday was much more important to me than the souvenir). And after that, we went out and hid a cache together (in the dark), which would also be his first cache hide. It was a busy day for my son (the little trooper) on a school night, but we had accomplished many little things that will hopefully be the beginning of a pastime we can share together for many years to come.

As for the basemap, I don't know if it works on VP; I remember having copied mine into vp but I don't remember why I didn't keep it there. If you're looking for maps of Canada or US, MagicMaps.ca has free downloadable topo's in Vector or Raster format. I still use both at times, depending on the situation. I also have other detail maps, but these ones work very well for VP and they are plenty detailed for most uses. MagicMaps.ca, make a user account (free), then log in and download the maps for your area (free). You can also make your own maps using Google Earth, google maps, terrain, Microsoft Virtual Earth, or other sources, upload them to VP and they work very well also. Google MOBAC version 1.8, you'll find a download somewhere. As for the communication with the GC - it is supposed to work with VP. There is a download on Magellan's site, for a NMEA driver - used for communications between the gps and the laptop, so that the gps sends location data to the pc. You might need this driver as well - install it, and if it's needed, the pc will search for it. Plug the cable in, go to Settings - Communications - NMEA - then select 2.1, and then VP should be able to use the GC for location data. If you have any other questions, go to ExploristForum.com, they have the answers there.

As far as your Magellan goes, the unit already outputs in the 3 standard formats, but this driver is used for some 3rd party mapping programs that don't accept the unit's NMEA output correctly. It is designed for the new GC/x10 line of receivers, and not for the previous models. My 610 Canada already works as-is with Streets & Trips, VP and Google Earth, so it must be designed for some other program. The NMEA basically transmits the location data thru the usb cable to a pc, so your laptop can now show you where you are, and provide real-time location data on a mapping program. Try it !

Buy a Magellan Explorist GC, or Explorist 310. The GC sells for $150, the 310 for $200. The GC does Geocaching stuff exclusively, and does it very well. The 310 does all the same stuff with a different layout, but also does routes, tracks, topo maps, custom user-made maps (like Google Earth-based maps on the GPS), and is based on the same chassis as the GC. I own a GC, as of 2 weeks ago, and have recently ordered a 610 Touchscreen preloaded with Canada Topo. Waiting for it as we speak ....

All of the issues were present with the software that came on it, and after I updated to the latest firmware at the time they were still present. Now it may be possible that any subsequent firmware updates have fixed these problems, but I'm of the mindset that the software was so horrible it never should have been released in the first place. I will never, EVER, buy anything from Magellan again. We bought a GC a couple of weeks ago; uploaded a gpx file after leaving the store (in the car with the laptop), and found 2 caches with it, within 3 feet of destination. Battery life 10+ hours with Ni-MH's. Speed and odometer very accurate, identical to my Triton 500. Decent reception, gets WAAS in my basement apartment. BEST paperless unit I've seen to date. Until, that is, I receive my eXplorist 610 that's on order. For $160 at Wal-Mart, it's the Best Inexpensive unit for geocaching. If you want something that does more GPS-type stuff, like custom maps or topos, routes, tracks, etc., get the Explorist 310, which is the same chassis as the GC, with different programming and more utility-gps type options. I'd buy either for an entry-level unit.

Since this most recent release (or the one just before), when viewing cache pages, the lower Larger map (the interactive one) doesn't show the map images - just the geocache and zoom controls. I've created 3 caches recently, and none of them show the map, and neither does about half of the cache pages I view. It appears random, for the caches I don't own, but the ones I own don't show up ever. Any ideas or reason ? Denis

Try using NMEA Off option, I think I've used that one before. Never tried NMEA from my explorist on VP, but the Triton works.

I hope that the map you downloaded registers with your gps serial number and not the sd card. I have Topo Canada on a CD, which identifies the GPS serial number when you make maps, but the SD card I got with my Triton identifies the GPS s/n AND the card itself ! So I can't copy a map file from one SD card to another. A 2G card is WAY plenty, Topo Canada takes up half of the card I got, and all of Canada is on there.

Two warnings about Magellan Communicator : 1--If the Geocache you upload has an Additional Waypoint, the unit will create an internal error and shut down. (the additional waypoint icon is a Tree image, and the triton can't decipher that image, causes an error.) 2--If you upload a geocache into the Triton that's already in there, it will upload a duplicate of the same cache, will confuse the Triton and create an error and shutdown. (Ask me how I know....) More info on this on TritonForum.com.

Well, GOOOOLLLLLLLYYY, it worked for me too ! Minor issue though, the hex editor I tried using the search string given, but couldn't find it as shown, reduced the string slightly, and found several instances... continued searching and found the exact string, and replaced the code, and it works ! No cd required ! However, the only use I have for my Mapsend Topo Canada cd is naturally for making maps, but at least I don't need the disk anymore ! Thanks for the tip !

So.... If I'm using 1.0, (from my profile it says that's what it's set to use) and I do switch to 1.0.1 (oops on the 1.1), will I see attributes on my Triton 500 anyway, or will I at least see them on VantagePoint or in GSAK from a Pocket Query download ? I won't change it if it won't help me, but if it does.... it could be handy. Thanks all.

I've been a member for just over a year now. I always had my profile showing that I'm using GPX 1.0. The other option, 1.1, is there for what ? What are the differences between the two types ? I have 2 maggies, an Explorist 400 and a Triton 500. All my geocaches get filtered through GSAK to add logs, d/t, cache size, and remove html. They get loaded in by Vantage Point 1.73. But is there anything different between these GPX file types that makes any difference for my units and programs ? Note that I don't feel like experimenting and screwing things up, so I thought I'd ask first..... Thanks all. Denis ;-)

I'd consider driving down from Hearst to participate in such a novel idea for a news story ! It might cost you a coffee, though, with the price of gas so high....hee hee ! Let me know when you're thinking of doing it, maybe we'll plan a trip as a family.

You would find this a good place for an event, wouldn't you Jim !?! lol !

We joined last spring. Doris' nephew is 12 and started caching with us last year. Age is not an issue in this sport. I go caching with my friend GPS_Dude. He's a good sport, good friend, met him last year and we've been pretty tight since. Gave him a premium membership as an early birthday gift recently, he deserves it. I like caching with a friend, gives me something to do out of the house and to do guy stuff. With 2 young children at home it's a nice distraction to go spend time with Dude. Lets you know that you're not the only one with problems and issues and stuff to deal with.

Go to a Wal-Mart store and buy the Magellon Triton 500 Topo Canada value pack. I just bought one for $206, comes with carry case and Topo Canada SD card, very good maps (a $99 value). Love mine, has very good detail, color, etc. I also bought the 12v car power cord and swivel mounting base. Total cost under $300 tax included. Buy yourself a $30 premium membership from Geocaching, as it makes caching so much easier when you can download a ton of caches from the site, all with descriptions and hints included. It's well worth it.

If the OP's issue is with the total number of pq's available so that he can cover an area half the size of the moon because that's where he may travel over a week's time, then it's pretty obvious that the pq limit is an issue for him. If I ran a pq, the radius likely be well over 100 miles. So let's not compare apples to oranges. Has the OP's value for his PM decreased based on the PQ limit and his range of travel, yes. No fault of Groundspeak (like the ice cream store that has 400 flavours instead of the original 5), but that of the OP's need to cache while travelling. Absolutely not related to the $30 cost for the PM. To the contrary, without the PM, he has zero PQ's available. How fresh does your data need to be, really ? Can you function with week-old data, or does it have to be fresh, baked today ? I'd be curious to the percentage of caches in a given area that go unavailable/archived over a 1 or a 2 week period. The database of caches I keep of 400 caches (50 of which my wife and I own) covers a range of driving of 500 miles, easily. I have been able to hand-load caches for a year without the NEED for a PM. The WANT for a PM has come recently, with the purchase of a new GPS, a Triton, which accepts GPX files direct from GC.com, so the PM is coming soon. The other reason I WANT a PM is to be able to contribute to the collective good. We live in a "user pay" society now. You want to go skiing at the local hill, $25-30 per day, each. Movie night, $12 each, plus snacks. Get the picture, right ? 30 bucks a year is cheap. We want it, so we pay to have it. he OP feels that his pay is less than his get due to his work/play/travel habits. No argument that he's getting less for his pay than I do. So the question is : how do we fix it so that everyone gets what they want ? I think that data 1 week old is reasonable, especially if you get instant notification of new cache hides on top of that. So an urban environment might have 5000 caches in LA, for example. Set a weekly maximum of 25,000 caches per PM, anywhere you want. More ? Less ? Why not work from that as a starting point and see what kind of GOOD PRODUCTIVE discussion can come from here. Bickering and arguing don't create solutions, but good thoughtful comment will surely go a long way towards bringing a solid suggestion to Groundspeak that they might be inclined to accept. (And for pure respect, let's not go about bashing one because of his/her PM status, or lack thereof. Everyone is entitled to geocache, I'm glad I started, and without the freedom to try it first for free, I wouldn't have tried it. My PM is coming in the next week.)

Walmart Kapuskasing (others too likely) : Triton 500 c/w TopoCanada SD card and carry case : $ 206.95 Add : Vehicle mount $36.95, vehicle power cable $19.95 Total UNDER $ 300. TAX IN !!! (batteries not included...)

If your pc uses windows, get a Triton. I had 2 explorists (still have) before the Triton 500, and now that I know how to load caches it's easy. You just have to know how to do it. If you have any questions, e-mail me through the website. Denis.

You have to download the vista driver and save it to your hard drive, then keep it there. Go to Support / software & downloads / find your gpsr in the choices for Magellan, then it will show you all the downloads available for that unit. The vista driver will be there, as well as any firmware updates that are available for the unit.

We've also used 3 geeks and landsharkz, and found them both prompt and efficient. Used them both several times, no problem.

Just to make sure, I checked, and no, I didn't say it was easy ! It is tedious, as all government websites are, and don't work worth a crap. But the site did help me somewhat. It's the only place I know of to get bm info direct from the source, the government. Denis ;-)

Go to "tritonforum.com" and ask your question there in the "Other Magellan" section. I have a 210 and a 400, and learned tons from them there. It's the ultimate q & a website, they're super good with Magellans.