cachegirl20

I have asked this on a different post a few weeks ago, and someone with a similar setup gave me some good suggestions. However, after contacting Garmin and getting shoddy answers, and checking all sorts of Clie forums, I am going to ask here again. Does anyone have their Venture connected to a Sony Clie? I have an SJ-22 and a cable that connects the two together succesfully. Howerver, when I try to send waypoints via Cachemate and the Garmin upload plugin, I get an error in Cachemate, saying the GPS is not responding. I've tried every setting, baud rate, etc. I've spent 80 bucks on cables already. I'm starting to think that these two devices, no matter what the cable salespeople tell me, do not hook up to one another. Someone prove me wrong, please!

Thank you both. I was afraid of that. I'll have to send back my cable to semsons-inc. It is a Sony to Garmin cable, and of course they said it would work. The cable obviously hooks the two devices up, but apparently they won't communicate. That just doesn't make any sense? Why sell a cable if the cable doesn't do what it's supposed to?

Yes, I tap the Ex button, and then I tap "Send Waypoints to GPS". My Venture is set to Garmin protocol, but on the Palm I get an error saying the GPS is not responding. Am I supposed to be able to change the baud rate? It won't let me change it from 4600. I've played with the baud rate in the Cachemate settings too. I assume the baud rate needs to match the GPS. I'm sure it's a setting that I haven't tried yet, and eventually this will work. I'm seriously hoping that it's not my cable, since I just dropped 40 bucks on it. Thanks for your help.

... except now I have a new problem. I can't get my waypoints to transfer from my PDA to my GPS. I have the cable, installed the GarminUpload plugin for Cachemate. What's the trick to exporting from a Clié to a Venture?

I got it working now. Thanks everybody for your help. Who knows what I was doing before.

Hi I posted this in the Cachemate thread because I thought I was having a CMConvert issue, but maybe GSAK users have come across this: Right now, I load the Pocket Query into GSAK, and export the Cachemate PDB file. (On the dialog window to save as a PDB, I do specify to save 5 logs (finds)). Then I hotsync the PDB file to PDA and Cachemate lists the caches. Only problem is, the last 5 (logs) do not show up in Cachemate. So I've figured out that before I hotsync, I need to launch CMConvert, import the .gpx file and manually choose "show 5 past logs." Then create a new PDB file and name it something different. Somehow I end up getting everything in there, and it all works out. But I feel like I'm doing too many imports and exports. I'm sure I'll eventually figure it out.

Yes, I've done exactly that. Thanks. But the logs still don't show, unless I use CMConvert. I'm sure I'll figure it out. Sorry I infiltrated the Cashemate thread.

OK, I've read this thread and I've seen the mentions about CMConvert and I'm slightly confused as to why I need this. Right now, I load the Pocket Query into GSAK, and export the Cachemate PDB file. Then I hotsync the PDB file to PDA and Cachemate lists the caches. Only problem is, usually the last 5 finds (logs) do not show up in Cachemate. So I've figured out that before I hotsync, I need to launch CMConvert, import the .gpx file and manually choose "show 5 past logs." Then create a new PDB file and name it something different. I see that I'm doing one too many steps, and that I probably don't even need GSAK, since CMConvert does the same thing. But I really love Cachemate. Somehow I end up getting everything in there, and it all works out. But I feel like I'm doing too many imports and exports.

I've enjoyed reading the different ways people prepare. Thanks everybody for posting. Since I have a Venture, I can't really get any topo maps on it. (Unless someone knows something I'm missing) I think for the time being I'll use Topo Zone or USAPhotoMaps to save the JPG with the caches on them and then view them on the PDA. Or print them out if I'm going to do a few caches in one day. I haven't quite figured out how people mark their routes on these maps. But on some of the maps that were posted, I can see how it would help to have your turn by turn drawn on the map. (That might be phase two for me )

Wow, great ideas everybody. Thanks for the great information!

Exactly the situation that I am finding myself in! That's why I knew I needed the maps, but couldn't figure out the logistics of whether to print them out or figure out an electronic way to do it. I can see now that people can print the maps out if they are planning on doing a few hunts in one day. Thanks! PS, if anyone else wants to chime in with ideas, feel free.

OK, that helps. Thanks. You're right, this is such a huge topic, and of course it differs from person to person. I know there are tons of software options out there. I really like what Fugawi looks like so far. But I guess I was more interested in how people "prepare" with their maps. You must know ahead of time where you are going, so that you can either print out that map or have it on your PDA, right?

Can someone help me make sense of the use for topographical maps? I understand that I need them in order to have an idea of the terrain, topography, trails, etc. when hiking. Maybe this is a stupid question, but if the software is on my PC, how does that help me if I am 30 miles from my house and decide to go on a hunt? Logistically, how does one get prepared for this? (I have a Venture, which means I don't think I can use Mapsource and a Sony Clie, which I use Cachemate on). Are topographical maps really only used by people with wireless internet access? I feel like such a loser, but researching and reading isn't getting me anywhere but confused. Thanks.