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Trango

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Everything posted by Trango

  1. I started thinking about this while reading another post in the GPS and Software section. Most of us realize that our GPS's have about a 30' margin of error. In addition, the person placing a cache could also be off by as much as 30', making a cache possible 60' from where you are looking. This we know. What I am wondering is after awhile, do you start adjusting where you look based upon your experience with a particular cache placer? The reason I ask is because I have noticed that I often adjust my search based upon who hid the cache. In particular, there is one local cacher that I have found that my reading and her/his reading are consistently about 30' off to the NE. So now, when I go off in search one of the caches placed by this particular cacher, I find where my GPS says the item is, then move 30' in a northeasterly direction, and generally end up right next to the cache. While this is the most extreme example I have, I have noticed that knowing who hid the cache helps me a lot in determining where the cache might be and what adjustments to make to my GPS readings. Anyone else have a similar experience?
  2. In my search for a solution to letting my MeriGold keep a lock, be in a place I can access it easily, and yet keep it out of my way, I found a holster for EMT communications equipment. I just attach it to my hip belt and the GPSr slips right in and works wonderfully. In addition, there is an additional pocket that holds my two-way radio and a few pen loops that hold pens, a thermometer, or whatever skinny item I want out on a particular trip. I found it at the local Military Surplus store along with several other holsters that may suit your needs even better.
  3. In my search for a solution to letting my MeriGold keep a lock, be in a place I can access it easily, and yet keep it out of my way, I found a holster for EMT communications equipment. I just attach it to my hip belt and the GPSr slips right in and works wonderfully. In addition, there is an additional pocket that holds my two-way radio and a few pen loops that hold pens, a thermometer, or whatever skinny item I want out on a particular trip. I found it at the local Military Surplus store along with several other holsters that may suit your needs even better.
  4. I used a Magellan 310 for my first caches and found it to be an excellent unit, however if I had to choose between a 310 and a Venture, I, too, would take the Venture. While I had a lot of fun with the 310, it really is a very basic model. However, while the 310 only measures to the 1/100th of a minute, I did not find that a liability when I first started this game. Since any GPSr has about a 30 foot radius of error, the 310 helped me to rely on looking at the area and thinking about you would hide a cache. Since I did not expect the 310 to take me right to the spot, I was not frustrated by having to search for a cache. I sometimes wonder how many times someone new to the sport gets frustrated because the cache wasn't where it was "supposed" to be?
  5. I do post my benchmark finds with the NGS if they have not been posted recently. This gives them information that the mark is still there, even if it has not been used for twenty years. If the benchmark has been logged within the past few years, then I figure I am not providing any new information. My feeling is the reason they opened it up to citizen reporting in the first place is to make determining if these benchmarks still exist easier for everyone.
  6. I do post my benchmark finds with the NGS if they have not been posted recently. This gives them information that the mark is still there, even if it has not been used for twenty years. If the benchmark has been logged within the past few years, then I figure I am not providing any new information. My feeling is the reason they opened it up to citizen reporting in the first place is to make determining if these benchmarks still exist easier for everyone.
  7. I have found the maps for Hawai`i to be so off that they are not even useful for using in your car. Because the maps are so off, the function I was hoping to be useful (giving me an idea of the terrain features) becomes dangerous because the terrain that it is mapping is not the terrain that I am on. Perhaps the maps are more accurate on the mainland, but they are off by about a thousand feet here.
  8. As a general rule, if the cache is near the shore or along a ridge trail, you can do without the bug spray. If the cache is in a valley, you might want to bring extra plasma. I don't use any bug spray when I cache as the mosquitos don't bother me (oh they bite me, I am just not bothered by it). Those who cache with me though are bugged by mosquitos and generally complain only when going after valley caches. Also look at the logs. People seem to mention the mosquitos if there are a lot of them on a particular cache. Aloha and enjoy your stay.
  9. As a general rule, if the cache is near the shore or along a ridge trail, you can do without the bug spray. If the cache is in a valley, you might want to bring extra plasma. I don't use any bug spray when I cache as the mosquitos don't bother me (oh they bite me, I am just not bothered by it). Those who cache with me though are bugged by mosquitos and generally complain only when going after valley caches. Also look at the logs. People seem to mention the mosquitos if there are a lot of them on a particular cache. Aloha and enjoy your stay.
  10. quote:Originally posted by Jamie Z: If only my Meridian had a lanyard attachment.. Jamie When I got my Meridian, I was initially upset about the lack of a lanyard attachment and was going to make one utilizing the data attachment screwhole. However, before I got around to doing that, I found a pouch at the local surplus store that fits the Meridian perfectly without obstructing the top. So now the Meridian sits in its pouch until I get close to the cache. (I have the alarm set for 100 ft.) So far I have found this works great for me. When I get to the cache, the GPS goes back into its little holster and I don't need to worry about it. Now if I can get a similar setup working for my camera...
  11. I admit that the McDonald's and Krispy Kreme cache are one's that stretch what is considered geocaching, but there are plenty of virtuals out there that actually provide you with something and force you to learn a little bit about something. Take for instance The Gates of H. Not only did I have to find the Gates of H, but I then had to do research to find out a little more about the history of Hawai`i before I could actually claim the cache. I like caches that give me something new, especially when they give me new knowledge.
  12. quote:Originally posted by Alpha6H: Now with my Meridian I do not have a choice of turning WAAAS off and still get the same accuracy. Go Figure!! Actually you can turn off the WAAS on the Meridian. When you are turning it on you have to hold down the Nav-Goto-Power keys (I think, I don't have my unit in front of me). You then go to screen three and you can turn off WAAS. To turn your unit off, you have to press Menu-goto-esc (I think). For more on how to do this, look for ClayJar's report on the Meridian on the discussion boards (plus he has the correct buttons to push to do this).
  13. quote:Originally posted by Alpha6H: Now with my Meridian I do not have a choice of turning WAAAS off and still get the same accuracy. Go Figure!! Actually you can turn off the WAAS on the Meridian. When you are turning it on you have to hold down the Nav-Goto-Power keys (I think, I don't have my unit in front of me). You then go to screen three and you can turn off WAAS. To turn your unit off, you have to press Menu-goto-esc (I think). For more on how to do this, look for ClayJar's report on the Meridian on the discussion boards (plus he has the correct buttons to push to do this).
  14. If you really have an ADB to serial adapter, that would be the wrong adapter. I think what you mean is the Mac serial (Mini-8) to PC Serial (DIN-9) adapter. The ADB is used to connect up the keyboard and mouse. Okay, if you have the serial-to-serial adapter, it still may not work if you are using a Mac PDA adapter. My understanding is that the PDA adapters do not necessarily match up correctly for other serial devices. It sounds like you have the everything set up correctly in VPC, but I will do some checking around and see what I can find.
  15. quote:Originally posted by MrGigabyte: One application you may want to get is MacGPSPro. Its an excellent GPS map, route, waypoint management application an allows you to do away with VPC. You only want to get MacGPS Pro if you have a Garmin receiver. Another good program for the Mac is GPSy and it works with a number of different receivers (like my Meridian Gold).
  16. In response to the first question, my Meridian Gold has excellent tracking ability under heavy tree (or bamboo, as the case may be) coverage. I did a cache out here that said that your GPS is pretty much useless until you almost get to the cache. I did not lose a lock the entire hike to the cache.
  17. ROFLMAO I don't know about anyone else, but I think I have a name I am going to be using now. [This message was edited by Trango on March 21, 2002 at 10:18 PM.]
  18. quote:Originally posted by player: As I see it now for more detailed maps (streets, POI etc.), I am forced to get the manufacturers more detailed offering in Mapsend whatever. If I use waypoints, routes etc . created with outside (compatable) mapping software and download it to my base map housed in the unit, what will I be giving up. Do most people buy their maps from their GPS manufacturer or will the process previously, described be satisfactory. (I Will use the unit for metal detecting, geocaching and some travel.) If you do not buy the manufacturer's software, the only thing you really give up is the ability to load detailed maps to your GPSr. I have bought the MapSend software for my MeriGold since part of the reason for buying the mapping GPSr was to load it with maps. However, I do most of my tracking, routes, and waypoint management with another software package (in large part because I use a Mac and this way I do not have to boot into VPC just to manage waypoints). If you are not sure you want the detailed maps on your GPSr, or just want to experiment before making another purchase, just get one of the other mapping programs (many are free or have trial versions) and play with it.
  19. quote:Originally posted by Wow!: Let me see if I understand correctly. If I have a MeriGold and DeLorme TopoUSA 3.0 I would be able to send waypoints from the MeriGold (upload) but not from the TopoUSA software (download). If I create a route from point A to point B with waypoints along the route in TopoUSA I could not send this info. to my MeriGold? This may sould like I'm very dense but I have never tried any of this stuff before. Thanks in advance. Actually you can send waypoint and route information back and forth from each. However, if you wanted to load detailed maps into your MeriGold (ie, maps with topo lines, street name, points of interest), then you would have to buy MapSend. As long as you are just working with route and waypoint data, you can use pretty much use whatever mapping software you want. You only need the GPS manufacturers software to load maps into your GPS.
  20. quote:Originally posted by Wow!: Let me see if I understand correctly. If I have a MeriGold and DeLorme TopoUSA 3.0 I would be able to send waypoints from the MeriGold (upload) but not from the TopoUSA software (download). If I create a route from point A to point B with waypoints along the route in TopoUSA I could not send this info. to my MeriGold? This may sould like I'm very dense but I have never tried any of this stuff before. Thanks in advance. Actually you can send waypoint and route information back and forth from each. However, if you wanted to load detailed maps into your MeriGold (ie, maps with topo lines, street name, points of interest), then you would have to buy MapSend. As long as you are just working with route and waypoint data, you can use pretty much use whatever mapping software you want. You only need the GPS manufacturers software to load maps into your GPS.
  21. I have been noticing something that concerned me at first, but now I just want to know others are seeing something similar. When travelling down the road with my MeriGold zoomed all the way in, I am pretty consistantly off of the road by about 50 ft. When in the car we run almost exactly parallel to the road. At first I thought it might be an accuracy thing with the GPS (although it was strange that it was so consistantly off), but yesterday, as I was out, I had placed a waypoint based on a USGS map. The point displayed on the unit way off the basemap road (and to the wrong side), but when I watched the track, we went right through the middle of the waypoint. Have others noticed similar things with their basemap, or is this just a Hawai`i thing? If I load up the detailed maps, will I have a similar problem, or are those maps better coordinated? I have not had a chance to see if I get similar results on the mainland. I was just relived to see that it was the basemap that is off and not the GPS.
  22. quote:Originally posted by player: I'm a little or perhaps alot confused. The confusion starts with infosponge's response to a very simple question. I was under the impression that mapping software that can be uploaded to our units was only available from that being offered by GPS manufacturer. As an example, I am in the process of purchasing a Magellan Platinum unit. I understand the only mapping software available is their (mapsend) programs. Am I correct? Why do people always talk about these other software programs if they can't be used by they're units. I've seen plenty of good looking maps that seem to be faily detailed on other web sites. Can those be printed and used in conjunction with the basic GPS unit as shipped, and forget about the software manufactured by Magellan?. HELP! Thanks You are correct in that for uploading maps to the unit, you need to use the map software provided by the GPS manufacturer. However, you can download the track, route, and waypoint information on your GPS to any of several mapping programs. Since most of these programs offer a lot of options that the Garmin and Magellan programs do not offer, most people use these other programs to keep track of things on their computer. Hope this helps.
  23. quote:Originally posted by MattandLaura: how bout this for a name of those cachers who absolutely have to be first to the cache. You know, the midnight runners, the ones who check caches before they are approved, etc. Anybody with any of these? And you bring this up because...? It sounds to me that your more upset about not being able to log caches first because others manage to beat you to the cache. Lots of people want to be the first to log a cache, precisely because there can only be one person that is first, but to attach a derogatory sounding label to someone who is a little more eager about being first? I don't think that is necessary. When I retire in about 500 years, I will use my free time to finally get my "first finds" in, and the more the better. (Gotta make up for the frustration of just missing being first for so long ).
  24. quote:Originally posted by MattandLaura: how bout this for a name of those cachers who absolutely have to be first to the cache. You know, the midnight runners, the ones who check caches before they are approved, etc. Anybody with any of these? And you bring this up because...? It sounds to me that your more upset about not being able to log caches first because others manage to beat you to the cache. Lots of people want to be the first to log a cache, precisely because there can only be one person that is first, but to attach a derogatory sounding label to someone who is a little more eager about being first? I don't think that is necessary. When I retire in about 500 years, I will use my free time to finally get my "first finds" in, and the more the better. (Gotta make up for the frustration of just missing being first for so long ).
  25. quote:Originally posted by Cachemere: And why do we think Jeremy did this? Because it was heavily discussed in another forum? (Which has now been locked since the point is moot.) What is more impressive is that members can make their own titles, as I see ringbone has taken advantage of, not just choose from an approved list. So, technically, one could become a "Mere Geocacher."
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