Alan2

Thanks Renruts. I have over 4000 caches in GSAK within over 100 miles. It seems that your program, while great, would create too many files. Also, what I do once the GSAK mileage files are created is to create other maplet files for my Mapopolis mapping program. This overlays the cache icons so when I tap on the map, I can see the mileage from home and then open the correct gpxsonar program for paperless cache info about the cache. Thanks for your ideas though. Alan

OK Thanks Take your time. Sorry you lost your hard drive.

Water views (sea and lake and other) ; don't suppose you have any mountain views?!? Not long hikes. Thanks

Visiting early in Dec on vacation. WIll be caching with my non-caching sister and I'm looking for some interesting caches with nice views. Any suggestion would be appreciated. Thanks. Alan.

Hi Alan, I don't think there is data available for 2099, because nobody can predict the drift of the magnetic north pole for more than a couple of decades. Try to set the date to 2009 for example, it should be 13° W! But I guess in 2099, most of us don't have to worry about declination any more. GermanSailor Actually it went up to W13.8 from 13.4. Nice to know it's a least moving

I changed the date of my computer to 2099. The declination for NYC of W13.4 stayed the same in Mapsource running on my computer as it is for 2006. That seems to indicate that Garmin, at least in the PC, Mapsource program is using a fixed preset value. Or the declination in NYC does not change over time

That's phenomenal-amazing!!!! A couple of more favors. The files are too big for my PPC so I need to break them up into smaller ranges as shown below. Note that I added hundredths otherwise caches on round tens of miles will be missed. Also, when the file is written can the name include the current date such as 11-3-06 20.01 to 30 miles I don't need to have new databases created and saved in GSAK so you can delete that part as it will clutter up the database file. As long as I keep my original default which I update weekly; that's all that I need File name actual computation in program (Current Date) To 25 (actual program will be < 25.01) (Current Date) 25.01-30 (actual program will be >25 to <30.01) (Current Date) 30.01-35 (actual program will be >30 to <35.01) (Current Date) 35.01-40 (actual program will be >35 to <40.01) (Current Date) 40.01-45 (actual program will be >40 to <45.01) (Current Date) 45.01-50 (actual program will be >45 to <50.01) (Current Date) 50.01-55 (actual program will be >50 to <55.01) (Current Date) 55.01-60 (actual program will be >55 to <60.01) (Current Date) 65.01-70 (actual program will be >60 to <65.01) (Current Date) over 70 (actual program will be >65) Comment to ve6dave: I get the 10 digit smartname also but I believe that's a function of what you have set in GSAK. I also get miles from home, D/T, cache type, container type, hider by setting up GSAK to create that when the gpx files are created. That comes in handy when I use the gpx files to create a maplet for my Mapopolis program that overlays all the caches on the navigation street maps. That way I can tap an icon on the map and get all that info automatically. Let me know if anyone's interested and I'll post how I do that.

That's phenomenal! Now I just have to figure out how to load it all in. Thanks for all your hard work. Alan

How would I do a macro to automatically create separate gpx files broken down with caches such as: under 20 miles from home, 20-30 miles, 40-50, 50-60, and over 60? right now I have to do each one separately every time I download my weekly cache updates.

You would draw the 1000 meter grid lines on a quad map so you can find a particular coordinate location uising the UTM coordinate system. Many of these maps now come with these lines drawn in. If not, you can draw them yourself connecting the tick marks at the map borders.

Why should it matter? The bearing arrow will always aim to the waypoint even if the declination is wrong, off or mis-set. The compass rose will be off, but if you follow the bearing arrow you'll will get there anyway.

Caching in NYC's Central Park at night is fun but I only go when Danny sets up one of his night tours. Danny is a cop and carries his piece just in case some "cougar" shows up.

I have an old Garmin Vista. I keep the Waas locked out as I found before that it would slow getting original locks. Does anyone know if that problem has been solved with the new satellites?

My dog Buddy just came off 4 months of two types of antibiotics. They couldn't identify what he had for sure but believe it was tick borne. He was really sick with a very low red blood cell count, lethargis as heck (although his appetitie didn't suffer too much), had leg problems, on and on. Can't stand ticks!

YOU MIGHT GET MORE INFO AT GPSPASSION.COM

The many "babies" around earlier in the season are gone. The only ones left at this time of the year are the fewer adults who made it this far and are ready to propogate by hitching a ride on you and meeting their soul mate there after having lunch on you. Isn't that a pleasant thought?

Do you mean while driving or while hiking or both?

Do a google search for: vista ipaq cable There are cables that connect between the two so that the etrex tells the PPC where it is. You have to switch the etrex to NMEA output rather than Garmin. For power a special cable is made that also allows you to plug into the car lighter so that car powers the GPS so batteries are not used and to the Ipaq that charges it while you are driving and the etrex talks to the PPc at the same time. I do this with my Etrex Vista and Ipaq 2215. However, I am not aware of any configuration that allows one unit powering the other in the field. For that, you need a diferent GPS that slips into the memory slot of the PPC.

Buy her a camera so she can post some pics

Good suggestion about rehiding it but I have, ahem, a problem. You see about two summers ago after three no finds, I went out there to check it out and couldn't find it either. Wasn't quite sure it was missing, or, ahem, I couldn't find my own cache. So I kept quiet, logged nothing, and...waited. Half hoping, embarrassingly, no one else would find it and it was plundered, I was let down when two months later someone logged a find. And people have been logging finds ever since! Sooo, rather than, well, you get it I'm sure...I'll just wait until; it disappears for good, one of the kids becomes a cacher and adopts it, or it just keeps going like it is. Ok. question #2. Anyone every had a problem relocating their own cache?

I have a Vista and it sems accurate to the same as my regular compass - a few degrees. You have to hold it faily level but not anymore so than a regular compass. Never had any problem with it. Do not know about the axis, though.

Mineral Springs Waterfalls outside of West Point.

That's another digit of resolution, not accuracy, something most people get confused with. Instead of thousanths of minutes or about 6 feet per digit, the fourth digit gives you about 8 inch resolution (ten thousanth of a minute) Problem is the GPS system overall provides much less than 6 feet accuracy so the greater resolution doesn't mean anything or provide more accurate coordinates.

Anyone else having their muggles regularly finding their cache and adding their logs like here? Seems like the local NYC school kids are making a habit of it but leaving the container.

Any Garmin, Magellan or other topographic or street type mapping program on your laptop that accepts the NMEA protocol should show your location when you connect your GPS to the laptop. The program description will say something like "connect you GPS, etc." Check the programs' specs.