Alan2

Entering zeros for the extra places is correct. For example if the cache is N40 53.452 W73 25.456, you would enter N40 53.4520 and W73 25.4560 for the DD MM.MMM coordinate format It's probable that entering nothing instead of zero in the last place has the same effect but you can try that to make sure. The GPS probably assumes zeros for those number places if nothing is entered. Also know that the three digit decimal .MMM place GPS indicates within 6 feet or 2 meters. The 4th place on your unit .MMMM gets you to within 1/10 of 6 feet or under a foot. However, since the accuracy of the GPS system overall is 10-20 feet under good conditions with the consumer grade equipment we use, the extra place really doesn't give any more accuracy than 3 decimal GPS's. You won't notice a difference even if you enter a wrong number in the 4th decimal place.

I agree with Brian that dedicated GPS's are less prone to damage in the field than Pocket PC's. However, I asked if he has a PPC already. If so buying an $80 Sirf Star III CF GPS that slips into the memory slot is a quick entry into trying geocaching before spending hundreds of dollars on a 60csx and then learn he may not be interested in caching after trying it. He could always use the PPC with GPS attachment for car navigation even if he has no long lasting interest in caching. IF he likes caching, he can then get a dedicated GPS and carry the PPC with the CF GPS in his bag or pocket for backup and paperless caching or for viewing 24K topo maps from National Geographic or just listening to music on the trail. Also, a PPC can be protected in plastic waterproof cases with neck lanyards for about $20. Not a perfect solution, but it works. Dubbin: I'm don't understand your point. What do you mean?

Do you own a Pocket PC or Palm. If you do, GPS attachments are available for about $90 that have the Sirf Star III chip. Add another 30-40 for software. You can also use it for paperless caching. Add 80-100 and you have voice prompted auto navigation, something the stand alone GPS models do not have. (Sorry if I confused the situation even more).

Boo's gone fishin' By George! What a bridge. The Rusty Gantry The Great Falls of the Passaic Mianus Falls East River Transportation

While Pocket PC does not allow transfer of waypoints from the desktop program, what I do is convert the waypoint to Notes and then it trasnfers. You have to do this one at a time, but if you trasnfering an area with only a few points, it's not a big deal. Right click on the Waypoints using the Waypoint tool. Select Create Waypoint Note. Do all the waypoints. A long name with coordinates will be created for each waypoint. To shorten the name, switch select tools to A or notes. Right click on the note label displayed and change the name to something simple like A, the next to B etc. When you download the maps from your PC to PPC the waypoints tranfer as Notes. You can Go To etc just like a waypoint.

I was 55 once.

You might want to check out National geographic Topo State Series. Besides giving you 24K USGS quad topo maps, the have loads of trails already routed for you. Scroll to California. MapXchange. One thing to keep in mind that although you can create trail, an load waypoints and routes between Topo and your GPS, the maps themselves are only for your computer as only Magellan can be loaded into Magellan GPS's.

That's Buddy on the right. OK, my socks pulled over my pants looks nerdy, but I'm in heavy tick country even wearing my Buzz Off Pemethrin clothes including the socks! Alan.

Hate to through a ringer into this. But you didn't say what kind of GPS you have. The answer could change if you have an on-board magnetic compass in your GPS or not.

Coincidence. The GPS receiver uses the satellite signal to determine its location and provide an altitude readout. Entering altitude data is only for "show". On the other hand, entering data may slow you down so the GPS receiver is not bouncing around as you enter the data. This means getting better and more accurate reception. So continue what you've been doing. It seems to work.

In reading that thread, it seems to me like Mapopolis made a deal to sell their business to another company who will develope their product as their own. I might be wrong but that's my sense of reading between the lines. I always got the impression that Mapopolis was a great product but the company had limited capital to market themselves widely. So if I'm right, Mapopolis will be around just under another name.

Before Mapopolis, I use to squint at my Vista's grayscale maps doing just that. It's amazing I survived driving like that. I guess I'll stay with Mapopolis. Like you all said, the streets aren't going to change that fast. Now if I can only remember where I misplaced my Mapopolis CD? Right now I have only the counties I've been using for a couple of years saved on my memory card. If I move I be in trouble. Tks all.

Do your little friends always go along too?

I read on another site that Mapopolis might be going out of business. I don't want to start a false rumor but has anyone heard anything about this? If it's true, what programs come close to Mapopolis. Things I partial too I'm on a Pocket PC): 1. Voice as well as visual prompts 2. Ability to overlay the caches (using gpxtomaplet) 3. Quick recalculations when your miss a turn. 4. Compass rose screen and data windows showing bearing arrow, distance to cahe, heading etc. that allow in-the-woods navigating.

Here's a program that you can load in your PPC. http://davidbray.org/mobile/#conv You want geomaginfo I haven't tried it.

The Vista will calibrate its barometric altitude to the satellites. Make sure you have the latest download for the Vista from Garmin. It can do this automatically. Or you can check the altitude and then hit calibrate to set the barometric altitude. I don't have my Vista handy to check the exact page and functions, but it is there. It could be on the satellite or altitude screens or both.

The iPhone appears to be little more than a Blackberry without a keyboard or a Mac PPC (Pocket PC) with phone. Anyone who's used a PPC would say that deleting all the buttons except one is not an advantage. Being able to tactally feel buttons for some fundtions is better than a touchscreen. PPC's do both. I can move around on my PPC's maps (Mapopolis streets and NG's Topo) just by moving my thumb over the screen (which is twice as large as dedicated GPSr's another no first for Apple). Apple is going to be faced with the same problem with touch screens that PPCs now have. How do you differentiate between small letters in the keyboard display when you try to punch them with your fat fingers? That's where a stylus is better than your fingers. Plus the stylus allows your to write in script which the PPC program converts to words eliminating the need to "type" altogether. You can't write in script using fingers. iPhone doesn't seem revolutionary but is more Steve Jobs' great ability in marketing Apple products - by taking a product that is already there basically and making it appear lightyears above the rest. That's the real genius!

He raised a point that's never been clear in mind becauseI cannot get past the algebra and geometry in my mind. The question is how does the GPS know you're at a particular location regardless of your height at that location? Let's you're standing at sea level and you take a reading. The GPS system and sats calculate your location. Then you climb a hundred foot ladder at the same location. The first satellite west of you gives signals to your GPS that you're further west,. How do the other satellites also not place youi in a location different from your actual location not lnowing you're standing on a ladder?

Y'know, this might be a good deal for some users. Verizon's VZ Navigator service costs $10/month ($120 year). If the "total cost of ownership" for your GPS or Pocket PC is much lower than $10/month - and the convenience of carrying one less device doesn't appeal - then the service fee model obviously wouldn't work for you. BUT: I'm guessing the TCO of a GPS or Pocket PC for many users is close to (or even more) than VZ's service cost - when you factor in software and map data updates, plus buying a new GPS or Pocket PC device every few years. The service fee model works even better as more more features converge into one device. The more the gadget can do, the easier it is to bundle more services for less than what it might cost to buy and routinely upgrade lots of stand alone devices. Just like games on Verizon phones, their site says you get charged airltime and you must be in their coverage area. That might be great to get around urban areas, but you lose the coverage on remote roads and certainly in the woods. Plus, how to you load up the cahe waypoints? Verizon phone navigation does not seem good for caching.

Is your compass turned off or disabled above a certain speed. There's a setting that keeps the electronic compass off above a certain speed - the satellites provide the direction. However, beow that speed the electronic compass kicks in so the bearing arrow is always there. Do you have a bearing arrow when you are not moving?

If Cingular is like Verizon, they'll charge extra for GPS service, auto-navigating with maps etc. Better off getting a Pocket PC and pay a one time charge for all the programs, and keep the cell phone you've been using as a phone. If cost doesn't matter, then it looks like a nice toy. Like an upscale Blackberry without the keyboard.

Grandpa: If you left the compass feature off, how do you know which direction to travel when you're standing still?

My electronic compass on my Vista has always worked for the 5 years I've had it. You ought to calibrate it (recommended) whenever you change batteries but that takes a few seconds. When you're close to the cache within tens of feet, the arrow moves all over the place not because the compass isn't working but because of the limited accuracy of the satellite signals. A regular compass would provide no more accuracy since you would be basing the direction to travel on the same satellites since you use you GPS location to determine bearing. Carrying a second device such as a compass ties up two hands. I like keeping my second hand free to hold a camer, or a hiking stick or a tree while walking down steep trails. I recommend getting a GPS with a on-board compass. Keep a cheap regular compass in your pocket for backup.

This may complicate your need but there are system that tie-in cel phones with GPS that report back to a base station so the bay station knows the location of everyone. Turcking companies and others use this to trak where all their vehicles are. Obviously you can use this with people. I believe so phone services offer this recently with the GPS being on-board many cell phones. The problem here though is the cell phone GPS is not very good yet.

I hate caches like this for the very problem you ran into. They're too close to where people live and I don't like looking over my shoulder for the cops. So I try to stay away from these and cache in the woods or in a park far from prying eyes. If I wind up in the first situation, I have often bailed out because I felt uncomfortable.