jeanne123

Yippee! Whaetever you did to fix the problem uploading field notes from iphone, also fixed my problem uploading from Cache Register. Thanks.

I can no longer upload field notes - is this something that broke in this release?

I understand that many of the original stashes were 5-gallon buckets, buried in the ground, with only the top above the surface. If these are still in existence, is it possible that they are still buried? I recently posted a DNF on an older cache, but later wondered if I should have looked for places where something might have been hidden in that manner. There was a lot of leaf cover in the area, and even one spot where the soil was somewhat disturbed. I did not explore that possibility, because, to be honest, it did not occur to me. I had the mindset that caches are not buried. Do I need to re-think that when older historical caches are involved? When did they stop allowing caches to be partially buried?

Since we do not know how the database is designed, nor how the feature is coded, it's pretty hard for you or I to determine if it is hard or easy. Actually, it could be extremely easy, depending on what logic they are currently using to determine if they should use a smiley face. I can think of at least a couple ways the database query could have been coded. One way would be quite easy to modify. The other, not so much, but still not requiring a total redesign. I sorta doubt there is a separate table for just finds, unless the data was denormalized for performance reasons. If that's the case, it would not be that hard to do the same thing for DNFs. But all of this is pure speculation. I'd suggest letting the lackeys determine if it is hard or easy. p.s. I'd like to see that feature also, provided it is not too difficult to implement.

The release is up. Yippeeee! Yes, it's working much better now. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Thanks for the response. It helps a lot to know that someone is looking at it. Bookmarks re a great feature, and I use them a lot, so it was very frustrating when they were not working.

In another thread, TPTB stated that they are concentrating on keeping the Web site up and running efficiently on what is expected to be a busy weekend as far as Web site visits are concerned. It was also stated that work will resume on Monday regarding any bugs introduced or left over from the latest round of updates. Unless a bug surfaces that cripples the Web site, I don't expect to see much progress on working out the bugs or, for that matter, acknowledgment of problems until after the weekend. I'd love to be proven wrong. --Larry Yeah, I saw that. I was hoping that they would realize that this IS a crippling defect. Maybe it doesn't affect the entire website, but it makes Bookmark lists pretty much useless. You would think that they would at least have some concern about features that people PAY FOR!!! Or at the very least you would think they would acknowledge that it is on the list to look at. I think this was working after the upgade, so it probably broke with one of their "fixes". Should not be too hard to narrow it down. This is SOOOOO frustrating.

I already have PQs for most of my bookmark lists, but that does not help if I want to read the notes I included with the bookmark. Also, PQs do not come out in any discernible order. Bookmark lists are nicely ordered by whatever I put in the title line, such as the county or DeLorme page. Makes it easy to see what you still need for the challenges. PQ is not a workaround for that. Still no acknowledgement from GS that they are even looking at this problem?

Bookmark lists are broken and pretty much unusable. There is another thread on this.

Maybe that worked a week ago, but not this time.

Does this mean bookmarks will be totally broken all weekend? If you can only see one page, the feature is totally useless.

Here are some additional symptoms, just in case it helps. 1) If you select "next", "previous", "first", "last", or a particular page number, the new page number on the bottom is correct, but it still displays the first page of caches. 2) If you change the number of items per page, the number of pages is recalculated correctly, but you still see the first page with the original number of caches. Any word yet from the Groundspeak lackeys on the status of this? This should be a severity 1 defect, because it basically makes bookmark lists totally useless.

Looks like I'm not the only one. Help please, I NEED my bookmark lists. This was working earlier today. Any idea what broke it and when it will be fixed?

Hmmm.... First, I find it extremely interesting that you did not mention the camera on either list. Not sure if this is because it was not important to you, or if you just haven't had much opportunity to try it yet. I liked your comments on the touch screen, on both sides. I may regret not going for the touch screen myself - time will tell. You mention the reported accuracy numbers compared to the 60csx. It could be due to differences in the way the units calculate the accuracy, so might not mean anything. Also, accuracy while standing still is only part of what it takes to find a cache. The three-way compass might make a difference here. If you have both units in hand, you have an excellent opportunity to do a side-by-side comparison. Which one gets you to closest to the cache in a number of different circumstances, with the least amount of "drunken bee dance"? Have you tried marking a spot with one and trying to get back to it with the other? Or looking for a point that is known to be accurate such as a benchmark? Have you looked at the satellite pages to see if the two units map the same constellation? I'd be really interested to hear how they compare in the field under real usage situations.

Way cool! I think I am going to like Topo 8. I didn't mean to hijack the thread, but this is interesting. I can't wait for my new unit to arrive! I think Amazon sent it by carrier pigeon. I guess that's what I get for trying to save money on shipping. Oh well...

This was a tough choice for me, so I thought I would share my thoughts in case it helps anyone else making a similar decision. YMMV, of course, because what's most important to me may not be most important to you and vice versa. But seeing my reasons might help you to weigh them according to your needs. First, the Prelims... With so many choices on the market, we have to narrow down the field of contenders. Here are the factors I used to make my "short list". For completeness, I also included a couple of points that simply were not important to me. Mapping: I eliminated anything that did not do mapping, but left actual mapping comparisons for the finals. Paperless: I actually kept the 60CSX on the list for a while because of its strong user base, and because it seemed to be such a workhorse of a model. But in the end, I wanted paperless, including the ability to upload field notes directly, so this one did not make the cut. Changing Technology: I learned long ago that when it is time to upgrade, you pick what is best for you right now. Your decision might be different next year, or even next month, but if you keep waiting for the next newest feature, you will wait forever. But you have to be cautious about being on the "bleeding edge" rather than the "leading edge". On this basis I eliminated the Lowrance and the Dakota models as being too new, but I believe the Oregon has stabilized enough not to fall in that category. Smatrphone/PDA: It's a matter of picking the right tool for the job. There are still places where cell service is weak or non-existent. If you are in an area where you can't get a data signal, all that instant access is worthless. I carry my phone with me, but I don't want to rely on it for caching. As technology and coverage improves, I may change my opinion on this, but right now I can't see it. Road Routing: I did not care if the unit did road routing or not. In my opinion, these are two different uses, and you have to make too many compromises to get a unit that will do both. Take screen size, for example. A good size to see while driving would be awkward to carry in the woods, and vice versa. Budget: My budget was generous enough that I did not eliminate any models on that basis alone. I wanted to stay under $500 if possible, but would probably stretch it for the Oregon 550T if I needed to. Rather than a dollar limit, I was more interested in the best bang for the buck. Hands On: I really wanted to get my hands on both to see how they felt when using them, and what the displays really looked like, but unfortunatley no one here in Central Illinois carries them in stock. Based on the above, I narrowed down the choice to the DeLorme PN-40, and some flavor of Oregon, knowing that there were some interesting differences between the various Oregon models. And now the finals - PN-40 vs. Oregon Accuracy: Surprisingly, the most important reason I am upgrading turned out to be one of the least important factors in my final choice. I could find no solid evidence that any one unit was more accurate than another. All the newer units have a solid user base that swears that their choice is the best and the others are all terrible. I suspect the differences are actually minimal. Display: This category is a toss-up as well. Oregon is bigger; PN-40 is clearer. Pick your poison. Camera: Only the Oregon 550 has a camera. This is a seriously tempting feature, but in the end, I decided the price differential was not worth it. Touch screen: Even with an occasional fat-finger typo, I've got to believe that a touch screen would be superior to other means of input. Point to Oregon on this one. Aerial imagery: I use aerial maps a lot in pre-trip planning mode, either through Google Maps or Live Local Bing Maps. None of the Oregons support taking imagery along unless you print it. Point to the PN-40. Mapping software: Topo 8 looks like a pretty impressive package. I have heard people say it is hard to learn but wow, it looks like it does a lot. It would take a while just to learn WHAT it does. I have not seen anything that indicates that MapSource is even close, and I think if you buy the Oregon with maps embedded, you don't even get that. This point goes to DeLorme. Available maps: Other than the aerials, it was pretty hard to sort out the differences in what maps were available and which you had to pay more to get. Garmin charges through the nose for maps, but there are free maps available, but it is uncertain how the quality compares. On the other hand, you can get a pretty complete set of maps for the DeLorme for a nominal cost of $30 per year, which is pretty reasonable. But I'll give the point to Oregon since free maps are available. Even though the free maps are not routable, road routing was not a concern for me. 3-way compass: I would probably be one of the people who would end up turning off a regular compass. I don't think I would be very good at keeping it adequately level - I have trouble enough keeping myself level in the woods. The PN-40 and the Oregon both have the 3-way compass, but the point goes to PN-40 because of the price differential. Battery life: Some would give this point to the Oregon, but with with the way I will use it, not so much. I've never been out more than 2-3 hours at a time, so as long as I start out fully charged, I'm not likely to run out of juice on either. Bang for the buck: I eliminated the high-end Oregon 550 as not having enough extra for the difference in price. The others are all in approxmiately the same price range, with some variation depending on what is on sale where, and what optional choices are made about things like maps and power packs. The DeLorme probably has a slight advantage here even if you include the cost of the $30/year map subscription. And the Winner is.... The DeLorme PN-40. It's on its way. I'll let you know if it lives up to my expectations.

Cooool! So all that hoo hah about not being able to share maps with others is just nonsense? Well, I guess it's not nonsense if you wanted them to be able to actually load the map on their GPS, but I doubt I would ever need to do that. OTOH I can see posting maps for my muggle friends, to show them where I've been. ANYONE can look at the link, whether they have the software or not. That is too cool. I do intend to spend the $30 for the maps. The ability to have the areials right there with me was one of my deciding factors, though I have to admit it was a tough choice between the PN-40 and the Oregon. I think I will post a separate thread with my reasons, because other people might be interested. And it might be fun to watch the reactions.

I am curious about the maps you posted online. I am assuming you used Topo 8 to create them? The link goes to an area if the DeLorme website. Is this a service that comes with the software, or do you sign up for it separately? Or to put it another way, will I be able to do this when my new PN-40 arrives this week?

The fact that your phone is a GPS receiver will have no effect. The fact that your phone is a radio transmitter might. The only way to turn off the transmitter is to turn off the phone.

My Map330 is on Rev 2.1 and is WAAS enabled, so if your goal is WAAS, you may not need to upgrade the firmware. Mine says "WAAS enabled" on the startup page near the bottom. You will also see a couple of 'W' symbols on the satellite page. I had a WAAS lock just the other day, so it still works. I looked at the list of upgrade features on the link. (thanks, allory!) There were a couple of things that might make it slightly more convenient, but I saw nothing that would be tempting enough for me to risk turning the unit into a brick. Don't forget that if the upgrade fails, there is no tech support. OTOH, if the unit truly does not have WAAS, then it is probably worth taking a chance. This unit is well worth the $9 you paid for it. You will find it to be quite accurate when you have good conditions, ie, lots of sky. But since it is not a high-sensitivity receiver, you will have more challenge in heavy tree cover and urban jungles. No amount of firmware will fix that. Most of my DNFs are micros in the woods. Some of them I blame on the fact that I a a newbie, but some are probably because I just can't get close enough to narrow it down to less than a needle in a haystack. I would suggest staying away from those, but of course that hasn't stopped me... I'd rather miss a micro in the woods than find a dozen LPCs. I assume the PC cable you are talking about is the one that goes from the 9-pin serial adapter to a USB. You should have a cable that attaches to the back of the unit, and has both a 9-pin connector, and a 12-volt power adapter. Did you get the owner's manual and the MapSend software? We originally bought ours for marine use several years ago, and it served us well for that - not too many trees in the middle of a lake. Then it sat on a shelf for a few years until I discovered geocaching. I was fully aware of its main shortcoming (sensitivity), but decided it would give me a chance to start to get my feet wet, and to have some time to figure out which features were most important to me before upgrading. Good luck with your bargain, and happy caching. Let me know if I can help in any way.

If you have no idea at all, then you need to learn more before you spend any money. It's hard enough to know which unit to get when you know what features you want. Even harder if you have no criteria to start with. You need to have some idea what is important to you and what is not, because I will guarantee you that there is no one receiver that is the best at everything. If there was, it would not be a decent price This forum is a good place to start. Go back several weeks and read. Especially read the threads where people are arguing about discussing the best receivers for their needs. Take the comments all with a grain of salt, and you will be surprised what you will learn about what to look for. I hope this does not sound discouraging - it is not intended to be. It's all a matter of finding the right tool for the job. You could go out and buy the best hammer in the world, but it won't do you much good if what you really need is a screwdriver.

The "flat" is only for the compass. It has nothing to do with the GPS. Turn the compass off, they are garbage. It will work better with it off. Will try this!! However, I do like the compass and used it often on my PN! The PN-40 has a 3-axis compass. I believe the only Oregon that does is the 550. It would be interesting to see how the 550 compares to the PN-40 in compass operation.

If water interferes with the signal, the explanation is simple. Assuming the trees are alive, the leaves contain water. It may be only a tiny amount per leaf, but in dense cover there a lot of leaves giving a cumulative effect. Unless it has recently rained, hopefully your roof does not contain any water. Dense cover may not affect the timing of the GPS signal, which is crucial to GPS operation. However, anyone who thinks it does not affect the strength of the signal has never carried a GPS receiver into the woods. If this was not true, you would not need high-sensitivity receivers.

Ok, I'll bite - this is just my curiousity - if you are totally satisfied with the PN-40, why are you buying the Oregon? I will also be curious to hear your opinion of how they compare. well... Im obsessed with GPSr's, thats the simple reason, haha The PN-40 is a great device however. I'm not leaving it for any reason, I just want to try something else new as well. Honestly, totally satisfied with the PN-40. If you are looking for a comparison between the Iphone and a stand-alone GPS like the PN-40, as I said above, there really is no comparison. The iPhone was not really designed to be a fully functioning GPS. The update rate is one of it's biggest problems, as is the battery life. The update rate for a normal GPS is once every second, and for the iphone it is around 5-10 seconds (didn't time it exactly). It makes navigation difficult and annoying. Battery life, as you know, is already kinda 'meh' with the iphone, and that is while NOT using the GPS full-time. While using the GPS and having the screen up you can expect about 4-5 hours of battery life. And since the iphone is a sealed unit, no replacing batteries on the go... MAJOR negative there. So those are only some of my rants about using the iphone as a GPS. I downloaded the geocaching.com APP on it thinking I could maybe use it for like parking lot caches, but now realize that it was a waste of $10. I use it occasionally for looking up cache info on-the-fly, but never as a GPS. Hope that helps. If you're looking for my opinion on the PN-40 vs Oregon, I'll let you know as soon as I get this sucker, in about 2 hours from now! By all means, I will be interested in your comparison, presumably in a new thread. My apologies to OP for temporarily hijacking this one. My curiosity got the better of me.

Ok, I'll bite - this is just my curiousity - if you are totally satisfied with the PN-40, why are you buying the Oregon? I will also be curious to hear your opinion of how they compare.