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wildlifewriter

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Everything posted by wildlifewriter

  1. Answers:- Maps: Pharisee is correct above - you can't obtain OS landranger maps for the 60CSx. Garmin's own 'Topo GB' product is a substitute, but has a number of weaknesses and is ferociously expensive for what it is. The reason you haven't seen many 'aftermarket' mapping products for the 60CSx is that it uses a proprietary map format. (There is no industry standard for electronic mapping, more's the pity.) As supplied, the unit comes with a 'basemap' which is, er... basic. Detailed, street-level mapping can be bought from Garmin (City Navigator), but get it on DVD, not on a card. Memory: A 128Mb card would probably store all of GB street mapping, but it's a tight squeeze these days. Suggest 256Mb as a minimum, 512 even better. Paperless caching: The 60CSx has some facilities for this. From a GC.com cache page, you can send the info direct to a GPS (if it's connected to a PC), and this will set the cache icon correctly, load the co-ords and should include the hint. It is not a substitute for a printout of the whole cache page, which can be a problem with complex multis or puzzle caches that need the extra info. Many experienced cachers (and myself) use a handheld GPS like the 60CSx, for on-the ground navigation, and a cheap-'n'-cheerful PDA or old palm device (you can pick e'em up for next to nowt on eBay) to store an offline database of cache info using applications like GSAK or Cachemate. (Google these to see how they work.) Hope this helps, -Wlw
  2. I agree that the bold Yotter would be just the fella for this. I was interviewed by BBC Radio Ulster last year, in similar vein. (Below, with BBC's Jim Kelso) For copyright reasons, a copy of that piece isn't available on the web. (Not on my site, anyway. ) but I used to have a recording of it, somewhere at home... -Wlw
  3. I am that local cacher. Having done most (if not all) the caches near the top end of Dino's search list, I can honestly assert that there ain't a duff one among 'em. However... you mentioned "quick and fun" - and most of these would involve a fifteen- or twenty-minute stroll to find. Of those within 5 miles of Crossgar, Ballydyan is undoubtedly the pick - even though it's a micro! Any other queries on Norn Iron caching (or other activities), the suggestion about posting on the GeoX forum is a good one. Good luck, -Wlw
  4. This news causes me great personal distress. Earlier this year, I enjoyed a brilliant day's caching in Scotland with Ewan, and we got on like a house on fire. I can only hope that his condition improves, to any degree, and that some kind of recovery may be possible. There's little else that can usefully be said, as of now. -Wlw
  5. Back at the topic, I can explain the reason for that... Local cachers here have discussed the possibility of a TB Hotel several times in the last two years. On each occasion, the idea was shelved - mainly because of the very stringent security measures in place for Belfast International Airport. There are only two major roads giving access to the airport campus. All surrounding minor roads were closed and blocked off years ago. The idea of a visiting cacher trying to find a nearby TB hotel, suddenly finding themselves looking into blinding lights while a voice orders then to remain still and keep their hands in sight, is not one that we could contemplate with equanimity. None of this affects the "new" cache - it's more than 20Km from the Airport, by road, and isn't near a major city. Not a problem then - but not really an Airport TB hotel, either. -Wlw
  6. Still doing this? Good... Garmin eTrex Vista 1 Garmin iQue 3600 1 Interesting stats, so far. -Wlw
  7. Coming up on three years behind schedule now, massively over budget and still not working properly. Still, the EGNOS experience gives us a good way of forecasting how GALILEO will go... Implementation date: 2010 Budget: Eur 3,250,000,000 So that'll be.... Implementation: 2013 (but probably even later.) Cost: Eur 7,500,000,000 (and counting.) -Wlw
  8. The best way is to use the portal at Nearby.org.uk Instead of having to convert co-ordinate formats, and then type commas and colons for Streetmap to understand, you just copy-'n-paste co-ords from the cache page into Nearby. It will understand this format, and give you a whole selection of online mapping and other facilities to select from - one of which is Streetmap.co.uk. Nearby.org.uk is brilliant - we'd be lost without it. (Literally) -Wlw
  9. A large majority of Scottish cachers hang out at the Geo-X discussion forum. If you post there (registration required) you'll be in touch with most of the leading geocaching figures in the region - including Dave HH, who did an interview for BBC Radio Scotland last year. Hth, -Wlw
  10. You Metroguide Europe 7 will display correctly on a Legend Cx As you already realise, it won't be able to "find address/route-to" on the unit, but everything else will work OK. The road mapping is exactly the same as City Select Eur7. So you are right - if you don't need auto-routing, why pay for it? -Wlw
  11. Heavens - where would we be if people read the manuals? Enter a waypoint in in the usual way, then go into "SETTINGS"*, change the location format to "British Grid" and the datum to "OSGB", then back to the waypoint page and read off the grid ref. Don't forget to put everything back the way it was, after. -Wlw * - or, SETUP or whatever.
  12. Why not use your GPSr to do it? (If you're taking it with you.) -Wlw
  13. I believe you are wrong about this. The Vista Cx (mentioned OP) has full auto-routing capabilities. -Wlw
  14. There is no issue. See the Cartography FAQ on Garmin's own website. -Wlw
  15. There is no reason that City Navigator V7 would not work on a VistaCx. However, I haven't heard of it being done. Other Streetpilots use a different type of mapping (NT) and this is NOT compatible. Right now, I suggest that you wait for a few weeks. A new version of Garmin's mapping (CNEurV8) has just been introduced (Link) so you may want to get this as an upgrade, first. After getting it, you would still be entitled to an additional (free) unlock on a second unit. You can't "overlay" OS maps on a Garmin mapped display. (And the result would look very strange.) There are certain PDAs which can run EITHER routable mapping or OS-based maps - not at the same time - but it all starts to get very complicated (and expensive) at that point. -Wlw
  16. It may be a compatibility issue, rather than a problem with the new mapping. If so, it's likely that there's a firmware revision already available for your 60C, which will cure this. You should contact Garmin UK on 01794-519944 or 0870-8501242 -Wlw [edited for alternate number]
  17. There is nothing even roughly equivalent to Memory Map for Ireland. Online OS maps are not available for Ireland (apart from NI) The best web mapping is at Maporama, which uses the most up-to-date Navteq road maps available. These are not fully detailed, but they're better than nothing. (And better than Garmin's current product, as well.) For motoring, the best nav product for visitors is still this one. None of these maps can be used to find leprechauns. Hth, -Wlw
  18. I can't comment on the location of your house, but the statement I made (related to geocaches) is still correct. Jeremy's name for it is "obfuscation"... -Wlw
  19. It's done by geocaching.com, to make the location of TBs "fuzzy". This - and other measures - have been taken to stop smart-alecs like me finding caches (containing TBs) before they're even listed. -Wlw
  20. OK - I thought you were referring to a certain TB which was in the cache when you moved it a short distance. That apart, Craig's explanation above is the correct one. -Wlw
  21. This would be at your Shorne Wood cache, right? -Wlw
  22. There's a short answer to this, and also an almost unbelieveably long and boring answer which no-one in their right mind would want to read. The short answer is that that it makes no difference. -Wlw
  23. Strictly speaking, it's not. The number shown is an estimate of the probability that the position shown will be found within a certain distance. This calculation takes a number of different factors into account. Where the receiver actually IS, is not one of them. The Forester is right - but he's also being unnecessarily pedantic. For practical purposes, the figure is a useful guide to how the unit is behaving - and "accuracy" is a useful word to describe it, since any alternative word would cause more confusion than otherwise. -Wlw [Edited for accuracy]
  24. That's the reason why I mentioned the plugin. On an iQue, this enables Cachemate to export all, some, or any of the caches in its database, to the iQue waypoint list. These then appear on the mapping (as a "geocache" symbol, even) and can be routed to using the Que software's own facilities and settings. (It will normally route to the nearest point on the road - this may or may not be a suitable parking place.) -Wlw
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