jollybgood

I've had no problems with my GPSV at all. Once in a blue moon it will shut off unexpectedly but this usually happens when I'm unplugging the power supply when getting out of the car. The only real quirk I've seen (three times in as many months) has to do with autorouting. If i'm following a route and go off course I've found that if I continue moving/driving while the GPS recalcualtes the route it can cause problems. (Such as telling you to turn left when you should turn right). Stopping while the unit is recalculating and giving it time to complete the task seems to solve this problem. As I posted previously I opted not to update my firmware to 2.02 because of the rumors of problems. I am glad to hear 2.03 is soming out. Hopefully it will add a few new features to expore. Jolly R. Blackburn http://img.Groundspeak.com/user/26453_300.jpg

There's no GPSV on the list!!! I can't vote! Jolly R. Blackburn http://img.Groundspeak.com/user/26453_300.jpg

I bought the Mapsource Topo maps for my GPSV when I first purchased the unit. I was really disappointed. I live in an area with lots of lakes, bogs and marshes so accurate shore lines and water features are important to me. (I hate approaching a cache from the wrong side of a bog). Unfortunately the mapsource topomaps have been very little help in this regard. many streams and even entire lakes aren't even indicated on the topos. I have all the MAPSOURCE sets (US) and it seems to be give and take. Each of the sets have their own advantages and disadvantages. I'm assuming it's a memory issue -- there's only so much detail they can put on the maps at this point. Overall, I've found the metroguide maps have much better detail in general. I'm wondering if all the elevation and contour lines on the topo maps resulted in many details being ommitted to save memory. Not sure. All I know is that in general the MetroGuide Maps consistently show streams and shorelines whereas the TOPO maps don't. I would encourage you to check out the samples of the TOPO maps at Garmin.com before deciding. Jolly R. Blackburn http://img.Groundspeak.com/user/26453_300.jpg

I steered clear of the firmware update because it was mysteriously pulled from Garmin's download area for several weeks with no explanation. At the same time there rumors here on this board that the update actually introduced problems. Since my GPSV was running flawlessly I decided to not tempt fate and wait til the next update. Anyway, having said that there are a few things I'd like to see. -- Nearest Waypoints. IT annoys me that the 'nearest' feature under find only shows waypoints up to a certain distance away (I think it's 15 or 20 miles -- I'm really not sure). Anyway with a capacity for 500 waypoints I'd like to see an option to set the range for 'nearest'. I like to go cache hunting and once i've logged a cache do a search for the next closest cache. Jolly R. Blackburn http://img.Groundspeak.com/user/26453_300.jpg

I steered clear of the firmware update because it was mysteriously pulled from Garmin's download area for several weeks with no explanation. At the same time there rumors here on this board that the update actually introduced problems. Since my GPSV was running flawlessly I decided to not tempt fate and wait til the next update. Anyway, having said that there are a few things I'd like to see. -- Nearest Waypoints. IT annoys me that the 'nearest' feature under find only shows waypoints up to a certain distance away (I think it's 15 or 20 miles -- I'm really not sure). Anyway with a capacity for 500 waypoints I'd like to see an option to set the range for 'nearest'. I like to go cache hunting and once i've logged a cache do a search for the next closest cache. Jolly R. Blackburn http://img.Groundspeak.com/user/26453_300.jpg

quote:Originally posted by Czar of Ridgeland: I think my cache is one of the two that Jolly B Good is referencing in his post. Yes it was one of the first PVC caches I encountered (excellent cache by the way). But I really had no concerns when I saw yours. In fact first thing that struck me was, "Kewl! I need to make some of these myself!" Yours would be next to impossible for anyone to find by accident. (unless they are in the habit of getting down on their hands and knees and looking up inside hollow trees -- ) It was only after my friend made his observation the other day at a different cache in a little more public setting that I began to wonder what would happen if someone stumbled across one. I didn't mention the specific cache or person who placed it because that wasn't really the issue. I was just curious to see how others felt about PVC pipe containers in general since it's been reported that at least once cache has been blown up by a bomb squad. Sounds like there are those for and those against them. Jolly R. Blackburn http://img.Groundspeak.com/user/26453_300.jpg

quote:Originally posted by Czar of Ridgeland: I think my cache is one of the two that Jolly B Good is referencing in his post. Yes it was one of the first PVC caches I encountered (excellent cache by the way). But I really had no concerns when I saw yours. In fact first thing that struck me was, "Kewl! I need to make some of these myself!" Yours would be next to impossible for anyone to find by accident. (unless they are in the habit of getting down on their hands and knees and looking up inside hollow trees -- ) It was only after my friend made his observation the other day at a different cache in a little more public setting that I began to wonder what would happen if someone stumbled across one. I didn't mention the specific cache or person who placed it because that wasn't really the issue. I was just curious to see how others felt about PVC pipe containers in general since it's been reported that at least once cache has been blown up by a bomb squad. Sounds like there are those for and those against them. Jolly R. Blackburn http://img.Groundspeak.com/user/26453_300.jpg

< Good point. Like I said if it hadn't been for my friend's reaaction I wouldn't have thought twice about it. I'm seriously thinking about making some PVC Pipe containers for future caches which is why I wanted to hear some opinions before doing so. I'm still undecided. I like the PVC containers because they are so indestructable and way kewl. I've run across so many tupperware caches which have been destroyed and contents scattered by racoons or possums lately. It's this potential 'trash factor' which I think most state parks have a problem with. So the PVC pipe containers are appealing to me for this reason. They certainly have no impact on the environment. My friend's paranoia, however gives me reason to hold off on this approach for the time being. Jolly R. Blackburn http://img.Groundspeak.com/user/26453_300.jpg

I wanted to raise this issue for discussion to see what the rest of you think. Recently I logged two rather unique caches which consisted of a section of PVC Pipe 4 inches diameter and about 18 inches in length). One end is capped with a PVC endcap and the other is fitted with a Rubber pressure plug (which has a huge wing nut which is tightened to seal the 'container'. Very ingenious really and virtually indestructable. I was even thinking of making some cache containers like these myself. Today, however, I logged a cache with such a container which was painted army green. My friend who accompanied me isn't a geocacher and was along for the ride -- when he saw me pull the green pipe from it's hiding place he commented, "Good lord! The dadgum thing looks like a pipe bomb. Are you sure its safe?" I laughed at his paranoia but quickly stopped. You know, it really did look like a piece of army surplus ordinance. Beign so close to the game I hadn't really thought of it from a non-cacher's point of view before. The thing did look very mechanical/dangerous even though it was clearly marked as a "GEOCACHE - DO NOT REMOVE" on the side. To make matters even more interesting this cache is in a hollow tree in a city setting. (Anyone logging it is partially visible by traffic on a very busy street about 100 feet away) I was ready to dismiss any concerns my friend had raised but now I can't shake the feeling that this is trouble waiting to happen.What would happen should someone not involved in geo-caching stumble upon it? I've heard rumors of bomb squads being summoned to blow up caches. Am I just being paranoid? Anyone else have any thoughts on the matter/ Jolly R. Blackburn http://img.Groundspeak.com/user/26453_300.jpg

oops - sorry about that. Was trying to figure out how to include my geocaching symbol with my posts. Why is it so HUGE? Do I need to shrink down the original image before posting it?

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quote:Originally posted by DorkyDog: Does anyone know of any company(s) that are planning on stepping up to the plate to make GPS software for Mac OSX? This silly Virtual PC thing has got to stop! Have you tried the new VPC5.02 update? I use VPC5 with OSX daily and the new update solved ALL my problems. Just make sure you run Windows 2000 instead of Windows 98 -- it runs much, much faster. I was about ready to break down and buy a cheap PC but the new update makes VPC5 a pleasure to use. I just uploaded 9 megs of maps to my GPSV tonight without a hitch. Map Source runs suprisngly fast (as long as you turn down the DETAIL -- do you REALLY need to see all of the local fastfood and grocery stores on screen? Other than VPC5 I wouldn't hold out much hope for anyone doing an OSX program for GPSing. I'm with you -- I would love to see it.

Actually I find the icons very useful. I use the Hotel symbol to indicate waypoints which are my base of operation. (sometimes I start out geocaching from my house, the office, or the folks place in another state). This is useful when I'm in unfamiliar territory and want to quickly autoroute back to my base. I also use the 'parking lot' icon for those cache reports which give coordinates for the best place to park or approach the cache from. I use other various icons to mark interesting things I find while hunting. (I seem to find a lot of junked out cars in the middle of forests -- I like to post the coordinates on the reports so others can find them. ANd of course I love the Geocache and Geocache Found icons. One of my favorite parts of finding a cache is changing that icon over to FOUND. IN short I find icons useful for organizing my waypoints. I use the Skull and crossbones to indicate cache's I've placed for example. I rarely use them for what they are officially named.

<> That's pretty funny. I did an 8 page strip (comic) in my magazine recently in which the characters discovered geocaching. In one of the panels the 'newbies' show up equipped to the hilt with shovels, backpacks, plum bobs, etc. Jolly R. Blackburn Editor/Creator, Knights of the Dinner Table

I still have the first item I found -- a dayglow orange tapemeasure. I have a large cigar box in which I keep EVERY thing I've taken from a cache. (I tend to take small items like keychains, coins, plastic toys, etc.) My plan is to celebrate my 50th Cache (coming up soon) by placing all my Treasure items in ONE special cache. Jolly R. Blackburn Editor/Creator, Knights of the Dinner Table

> Yeah that was mean. Wish I had thought of that. Jolly R. Blackburn Editor/Creator, Knights of the Dinner Table

> Yeah that was mean. Wish I had thought of that. Jolly R. Blackburn Editor/Creator, Knights of the Dinner Table

Had to share this. This morning I was searchign for a local cache (WATER PIT) and was having some trouble finding it. I expanded my search area from the trail which lead into the area and began poking about the bushes. About 10 minutes into my search I noticed a woman walking a dog heading down the trail. I tried to act 'normal' but how do you do that when you're just standing about twenty feet off the trail just 'standing around'. She gave me a weird look and moved on. After waiting a few minutes to make sure the coast was clear and returned to my search. I found the cache and logged it. On my way back to the car I was surpised to see two uniformed police officers heading my way. Yep! The lady had called the police. They were nice enough. After trying to explain what geocaching was one of the officers smiled and said, "Oh, I've heard of this. It's like a scavenger hunt -- Right?" I ended up showing them my GPS unit which was still locked in on the cache I just logged and they seemed to find the whole thing fascinating. Apparently the lady with the dog called in that a 'suspicious looking man' had some sort of device and was 'taking measurements'. I guess I can understand her nervousness. Anyway, I'm sure others have had similar experiences. It turned out to be an interesting hunt. Jolly R. Blackburn Editor/Creator, Knights of the Dinner Table

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What an idiot. It was as simple preference problem. Had it set to the wrong serial port. Works like a champ now. Looks like I'm off to a day of caching -- have a 117 caches in a fifty mile radious downloaded into my GPSV.

What an idiot. It was as simple preference problem. Had it set to the wrong serial port. Works like a champ now. Looks like I'm off to a day of caching -- have a 117 caches in a fifty mile radious downloaded into my GPSV.

I can get VPC5 to work with virtually all my GPS software except for EasyGPS. I have the version they posted specifically for VPC4. Any chance an updated vesion for VPC5 will be postd?

<> I'm planning on doing this next month. I have to attend a convention on the east coast and I'm acutally taking a few days of vacation so I can drive. The plan is to pick a dozen or so caches along the route there (in several states) and hit them on the way there or back. I'm really looking forward to it.

Last month I did 7 caches in one day. On the followoing Saturday I logged 8. Not likely to repeat that soon since I've depleted most of the local caches sights but it was a blast. (One of the caches was Al Capone's grave). What I did was to load all the local caches into my GPSV. Then I use autorouting to direct me to the nearest cache. Once there I've logged that cache I check for the "Nearest Cache" stored in my GPSV and then autoroute a course to it. I've found I can average one cache every 60 to 80 minutes this way by leap frogging from one 'nearest cache' to the next. Pretty easy in the Chicago area since there are so many caches and so many local forest reserves.