alandb

For a few dollars more, you can get the Oregon 450 so you might want to add it to your list of units to consider.

That is a pretty cool app. That said, moving the pointer for the cache placement based on the Google map image instead of using the calculated average coordinates is no different that using the Google map to determine the coordinates in the first place. So you would be incorporating any error that exists in the Google map accuracy. I think I would stick with the calculated average coordinates. But again, it is a cool app and one I will have to have if I ever get an android device.

Sounds like you already have it in Spanner mode, so that isn't the problem. You can test the Garmin Communicator plugin on this URL: http://software.garmin.com/en-US/gcp.html. The only other thing I can think of is to try a different USB cable and/or different USB port on your computer (don't go through a USB hub).

When you plug your Oregon into the computer, does it show up on My Computer as two drives (one for internal storage and one for SD slot)? Make sure you have the Oregon set up for storage mode (Setup > System > Interface, select Garmin Spanner or Garmin Serial).

How about here: http://gawisp.com/perry/etrex/eTrex_10_20_30/

Yes, you will need to license and install the CN NA map for the new unit by purchasing the DVD. If you want map updates, they are purchased separately (either one-time updates or lifetime update subscription). https://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/case.faces?caseId={16315fb0-39b2-11de-5dd5-000000000000}

If you changed your request to "Caching GPS that is good for automotive navigation", then I think the Garmin Montana with the automotive mount and City Navigator map would fit the criteria. It is an expensive solution ... $600 or more.

I see this used eBay unit sold for $177.50 + $8.95 = $186.45. I don't know if you were the winning bidder, but for my money I would spend $14 more and get the new unit with full warranty from GPScity. I have been watching eBay sales of Garmin GPSr's for several years. In general they sell too high on eBay IMO ... good for the seller, but not the buyer.

If you keep the GPX files on a micro SD card, you can try this to force the reindexing of GPX data. Remove the card, boot the GPS without the card. Shut it back down, reinstall the card and boot it back up.

Here are a couple of ways to see the coordinates: Where To > Waypoints > select waypoint > press button at top of map screen. Waypoint Manager > select waypoint > Change location

I have uses the Open Street Map US for street navigation on my Oregon 550. Street address lookup is a little wonky, but the navigation works good.

For a small sandwich box size container, Plano makes a nice heavy duty waterproof container with snap down locks on 3 sides and a hinge on the 4th side. It is available at Walmart for about $5, available in their sporting goods dept. near the fishing tackle boxes: http://www.planomold...CID=139&PID=726

10' to 17' is within the expected accuracy range for consumer grade GPS receivers.

IMHO, the best $200 GPS right now is the Garmin Oregon 450 ($199.99 refurbished at Garmin's eBay store, can also sometimes be found new for that price on sale at various online and sporting goods stores).

I have a Casio Exlim-H20G. The GPS function on it works quite well although the built-in base map and POI data base is VERY basic. The Casio even does a crude form of projecting your position when indoors or when you lose satellite signal. The geotagging function of the Casio is as good as the Oregon 550 and of course it takes better pictures. For geocaching, I don't carry the Casio unless I know I am going to a scenic spot; I just use the Oregon for recording finds and other interesting things I might see. It's picture quality is usually "good enough" unless a flash is needed. For other picture taking opportunities I don't always have the Oregon with me and/or am not actively tracking, so I like having the geotagging function on the Casio itself.

One other small tip ... After you use the Mapquest Send button to send the route file to your GPS, you still need to import it on the nuvi menu. You will find the route import function on the Tools > My Data menu.

Google does not support direct transfer of routes to a Garmin. There are some 3rd party plugins that will reformat the Google route into a correct GPX route file that can be imported. Or you could create your route in Mapquest which does support route transfer to the nuvi. Note that route import on a nuvi only imports the start, end and any explicitly set via points. It does not use shaping points that are not vias. The nuvi then recalculates the route using these points and the routing preferences and map you have on your nuvi. If you create a route in mapquest, be sure to change your via points to "stops" before you send the route to the nuvi (right click on each via point and on the pop-up menu select "Make this point a stop")

I have occasionally had this problem on my Oregon 550 too. Once it happened in the field when I added a new waypoint and all my geocaches disappeared. It seems it has to do with the internal indexing of GPX files becoming corrupt. The solution is to force it to re-index. One way to do this is to remove all GPX files, boot the Oregon without any GPX files. Shut it back down and copy all the files back in, reboot and everything is OK. If you are unable to do that because you are not at a computer, and if some or all of your GPX files are on the micro SD card, you can remove the SD card, boot without the card, then replace the card and reboot. That is what worked for me. I wish Garmin had a function for a "soft reset" which would force the reloading and reindixing of all files.

What kind of maps are you trying to download? from what site?

The 500t comes with topo maps preloaded. That's the only difference. Not quite the only difference. The 550T has 3 GB of additional internal storage which is needed to hold the topo map. If you remove the pre-installed topo (as I did on my 550T) you have the additional storage to use for other purposes (maps, pictures, GPX files, etc.). That said, with micro SD cards being so cheap, I would not pay much extra to get a 550T over a 550.IMO, the pre-installed topo map is pretty worthless. Better free maps are available.

Are you going through a USB hub or directly into a USB port of your computer's chassis? I have seen this happen on my laptop when going through a USB hub that apparently does not have sufficient or consistent power.

A discrepancy of 30' is not unusual and can be caused by several factors including different satellite constellations between the two readings. If I were you , I would use the waypoint averaging function on the Montana. Let it run until it shows a high confidence level (95% to 100%), then save and trust the averaged waypoint coordinates. If you want to increase the accuracy further, go back and re-average on a different day.

Garmin has been known to transfer a map subscription if you do the repair/replacement through Garmin support. Their prices are usually pretty high though, so it may be cheaper to just buy another map subscription for the replacement unit. It doesn't hurt to call them to see what they will do for you.

Garmin's eBay store has the Oregon 450 refurbished with full warranty for $199.

If you are referring to Ding Dong! (a 2 stage multi) (archived 12/8/2012) and Log It! (published 12/8/2012) they would not conflict with each other. The older one was archived when the CO placed the new one. Nope, not that one. That was an archive/new placement by the same CO.