Alan2

OK so I installed the micro SD (2GB) and loaded Metroguide, Topo and Road and Recreation (R&R) for one area. It appears that only Metroguide map shows. When I go to Setup Map - Information, only Dec 2007 shows in the Map Name box with the check box to the left. That's it. None of the other maps I loaded show. I know I loaded them because when I opened a new Mapsourse file on my computer and downloaded to it from the Vista, all the maps trasnferred to the computer? What's up? How do I select Topo or R&R

1. What size would you recommend for microSD?? 2. Recommendations for belt holder? (unit come with a special clip-does the holder work? have problems? 3. What Mapsourse for autonavigation on roads recommended? Thanks.

Automatic archiving is a bad idea. It will encourage crummier hides and discourage different and interesting types of hides in unusual or distant areas. I spent 6 months developing and hiding and writing the web pages for these 8 multis. They're all related and consist of 8 containers and about 35 intermediate but interesting "question to answer" type stops. They don't get a lot of visitors as they take time to do and some are out of the way for most visitors. However, if I knew they would be auto-archived at some point, I would not have even bothered. Likewise, how many others who hiked 6-7 miles to place a cache or a multi in a beautiful area would not have done so if they it would be archived without their input? And then force them to go back out there and collect the containers when someone else decides to pull the plug? What you'll wind up with are even more quick, throw it anywhere type hides than before. Boring and unimaginative. NO to auto archiving.

It's not so much going to a cache that I have a problem with, it's getting a decent signal to hide caches. Our first hide had many complainers about our coords being way way off. .. and thanks for the replies everyone. I always check the "accuracy" figure displayed when I set a waypoint for caches I hide. Also, leave it on the spot without moving for a minute or so and the accuracy increases as the signal reception settles down. Wait for it to be under 15 feet or so. With one of the above mentioned GPS's, that will work even better. REI has a great sale on the Vista HCx for around $200. I just ordered one. Check their web page.

When I drive in Manhattan with my Sirf Star III gps connected, I have the same problems. Positions jump all over whether I'm in lock on road or not. The tall bldgs just cause too much bounce something you get to live with. You could move to the surburbs!

Sounds good I got the 350 recently for $369. The 650 comes with a larger screen.

Hmmm...

I'm not clear what your problem is. Are you saying that you cannot download gpxsonar from their web site or that you have a problem loading it the program into you iPaq?

Magellan did the same thing a few years ago. It took them forever to ship their units after the announced release date. Then there were all sorts of problems indicating they still rushed it out without taking care of the design. Garmin must be gloating. I'm a Garmin fan but frankly it's too bad Magellan plays this game. Bad competitors make the rest of the mfr's sloppy figuring they don't have to be so "together". Also, they have no incentive to lower prices if the competition is lousy. I just hope Garmin ignores Magellan's problems and keep providing good support and innovation with their products. It'll be good for them and us in the long run.

Thanks for that great $25 discount tip. I called REI back and although they already shipped they gave me the $25 discount as a credit to my credit card in addition to the 2.99 shipping that had already been applied. They normally allow only one or the other coupon but she was really nice. This brought my total cost to 197.98 When I told her that others may be interested in buying the unit, she suggested you call the 800-426-4840 number directly and ask the sales person if you can have both coupons. What a nice company.

Does anyone know if the old software works/ (Heck of time to ask this ) 1. Metroguide USA 4.01 2. US Topo3.00 3. Roads and Recreation 3.00 Does the old Vista car lighter cable work witjh the new unit?

Just ordered one from REI by phone for 219.99. They're shipping 11/29 Don't forget to give them the special zip code of SHIP299. SHipping is $2.99 through 11/26 for orders over 150.00 No sales tax. http://www.rei.com/?cm_mmc=ps_google_reibr...d-_-REI-_-r.e.i.

I've used the Nuvi 350 in the woods. You switch to pedestrian mode and it gives direct line-of-sight distance to waypoint. What happens though as you get close, it says you have arrived. You might be 30-40 feet away. So you do another "go to" and it gets you closer. Another way is to switch to the Nuvi satellite page which shows your current coordinates. You just watch the coordniates as you move closer. Both methods are not the most intuitive but they work. Also, the Nuvi has Sirf Star III chip which is the same as the Vista HCx. So sat reception is excellert in the woods. You can also download up to 500 cache waypoint so an icon displays on the map for each cache. You can then navigate the roads to the cache using the Nuvi. Also kind of neat. The Nuvi makes a nice backup GPS too when you go into the woods with your HCx. Just slip the Nuvi in your pocket in case the HCx breaks, gets lost, etc.

In my NYC neighborhood, you have to watch out for tigers. One romped by past my cache in Forest Park just yards away as it crossed a highway and caused a couple of car accidents. Funny thing is the cache is called Carousel and there are tiger and lions in the carousel to ride on. The real tiger neither found the cache, rode on the carousel or ate any cachers. Just goes to prove that two-footed varmints are more dangerous!

The only have one report because the guy with the second unit is still in the woods trying to get a signal so he can find his way out!

Why don't you tell him how you feel?

I would do more multi's if there distance and stages were listed so I could have an idea of what I was getting into. Interestingly, most of the caches I hid are multi's but of a different nature. Instead of hiding a container at each stage, the stages are specific and identifiable points like covered bridges like this one. sample The road and walk distances are listed - there's even a map. I think if multi's were changed from hiding containers at the intermediate stages to just answering questions from the areas were the coordinates are, more people might do the multi. Another negative I find with the traditional multi hides is the tremendous tme you spend looking for the containers, often little micors, just to get the coordinates for another micro container stage. It's boring. And where they are hidden is boring too. Why not create something else that's interesting to find at the intermediate stage to arrive at the final coordinates for the one container at the end? I use covered bridges as the interest. You could use a question like;"Stage 2: coords listed for the spot. Question: "looking northeast about 250 feet, what's there? (A. a lake B. a farmhouse C. A waterfall. ) The correct answer provides some of the correct coordinates for the final where the actual conntainer is hidden. This way you don't get hung up for an hour looking for each internediate and you can actually see something that's pretty interesting. It kinda combines multi with puzzle with offset.

My Pocket PC mapping programs and my Nuvi 350 orient to true North. I keep my Vista the same way so all are the same. Since the deviation where I live is about 13 1/2 degrees, it's more noticeable than a place that has only 3 degrees. Regarding correcting ddeeviation, the Vista and I assume others can be manually set to whatever deviation you want if you don't like the auto setting the unit provides. So it never really gets obsoleted.

The bolded statement (bolded by me) above indicates that you cherry picked the features you wanted. 90% of the people would not think of something like that unless you brought it up. Some car windshields do not pass satellite signals making external antennas very important. And if you're operating in the field with an older laptop with a serial connector only, it would be nice to know that before you bought a GPS. I don't want to seem like I'm piling on, but your excuses for cherry picking diminishes your otherwise good analysis by highlighting your prejudices. Just state all the facts and let others decide.

I've used The Selector a courtesy of Texas Geocaching. Since the icons and text are in the cache description, it will show up in gpxsonar because its included in the gpx file. Here's what is looks like on a typical page. Look below the picture. Sample.

Now that's a good one. I read somewhere that a guy was able to tell both his actual altitude and the "pressure altitude" of the cabin, I thought he had the CSx. (I'm trying to figure out what to buy as well). I'd like to be able to do that, any idea what he was talking about? Also If y'all don't mind me busting in, what abut the compass in these units? is it magnetic, and does the unit apply the correct deviation? Electronic? Just curious. Best to you, madam, you certainly are doing a nice thing for your husband. Thanks all, Tom The "S" stands for sensors which means the unit has an barometric altimeter and a magnetic compass. The compass can be set to magnetic north, true north (the GPS applies the correct deviation automatically any where in the world) or whatever degree offset you want. Display is in digital digits and it also creates a compass rose electronically on the display showing the direction you are walking and an arrow that shows the bearing. If the unit is like a Vista, you can site the GPS and click and store the direction to folow afterwards or project a waypoint.

Yes! I visited 2 new caches lately where there were signs everywhere stating "no animals allowed". No mention anywhere of it on cache page. As a pet owner, I might have thought animals would have been allowed there. I would have been disappointed to have driven the distance to find the 3 caches at this location & not be allowed admittance. I will skip a cache in a park if there are no attributes and I'm with my dog. One way around that, check other caches nearby. One of those cache owners might have posted the attribute.

I like people finding my caches and posting what a wonderful time they had. So I give very specific hints. I also like to find the cache I'm going after after driving miles and walking whatever, so I appreciate caches that have hints, but make it a real specific hint like "uinder the white rock" not "you're getting close" or "its by the tree" when you're in a forest full of trees, or something inane like that.

I appreciate when people place them especially to let me know if dogs are allowed or not. But I also understand why people don't. If you don't have a dog, why would you even think to check to see if they are allowed? It would be nice if you did though. Maybe you'll look next time and post the attribute? Thanks if you do.

If you buy one of the National Geographic 24k state series maps, you can use their MapXchange. What this is people have walked trail and post the route with all the waypoints on the NG web page. You the downlown the routes "free" and load them into you GPS or onto the NG map on your computer. You can then overlay the waypoints and transfer or print out the maps with all the rioute and waypoints. Very neat!!