Devinearia

Hey everyone! Well when I got involved with caching last summer I bought a travel bug and had plans to create and post my own first cache and put the travel bug inside. Sadly due to issues I wasn't able to post the cache for numerous reasons, now my problem is that it shows my bug as being in this archived cache. Is there a way to remove my travel bug from a un posted cache? I would like to take it with me to my next cache find and leave it for the next person. Thanks! Brandi

It will involve Pocket Queries (PQ's). For info on PQ's see this FAQ. The other important piece of information is what type of GPS you have. The way to load them varies within a brand and from brand to brand. Jim It's an Venture HC Etrex.

I have found that if I click on a particular geocache I can download it directly to my GPS. My question is do I have to go to each individual cache to upload it? Or is there a way of doing a mass upload of caches? My ultimate goal is I would like all the caches in certain areas loaded so that if I'm ever out and about I can just look to see if there are any nearby where I am located. Any information would be helpful thanks! *smile* Brandi

I have a geocache ready to hide but have a slight problem, it is a "Halloween themed" cash at first and I was hoping to hide it somewhere at our around a cemetery to give it an extra creepy effect. Problem is I'm guessing most cemeteries in the Redmond/Bellevue/Kirkland area are private, does anyone know other than a cemetery a public land adjacent to one or a generally creepy place for night caching? Any information would be appreciated thank you. Brandi Devine aka devinearia

Any ideas what the sites are? Your best bet is to check the GPS and Technologies forum. Here's some I've come across: http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/ IBYCUS has Canadian topo maps, and limited street maps (non routing) for USA. http://www.ibycus.com/ibycustopo/ http://www.ibycus.com/ibycususa/ You can try googling to see what other choices pop up. Thank you so much! Truly appreciated really! Brandi L. Devine aka devinearia

Did you pay for the maps? Can I ask where you got them? I just bought the hc as well and am In need of maps. Brandi

IIRC... there are some free maps from Garmin that you can download from their website and then load into the GPS and mapsource. Thanks for the information it looks as though it would cost me $100 I don't have to purchase maps, oh well. There are free maps you can get from other parties. They just don't work with the routing (no turn by turn directions) Any ideas what the sites are? Thanks! Brandi

The eTrex H cannot display maps at all. To get to where you want to go, you follow the arrow on the screen. With the cheaper units without electronic compass, the arrow is accurate only when you're moving at about 2 MPH or faster. As you pointed out, all this is not a problem. However, the eTrex H is also has a serial interface, instead of USB. Serial is a pain. The cable is expensive (because it is rare), the USB to serial converter sometimes have major compatibility issues, and serial is slow. USB alone is worth the price difference for the Venture HC in my books. Ok... I think I understand now... I won't have maps but it'll still tell me where I am and where the cache is on my screen and lead me towards it.... I just won't be able to upload any coordinates from the internet without the serial cord... I'll have to enter them manually, which is fine with me... Am I right?? Also, a model question.... Is the eTrex Venture the same as the eTrex H? Is it a Venture H? All the different models are sooo confusing... If we enjoy caching enough to warrant a nicer handheld, we've been directed towards the Garmin 60CSX from a fellow cacher... From the earlier post, I'm gathering C is color and X is expandable... but what does the S stand for?? Thanks everyone!!! I hate to ask so many questions but I just dont have the extra $$ to drop on a more expensive model right now... I need to stay under $100... preferably around $50 or 60.... which I why we're looking at the H's on eBay... If your looking for something inexpensive, there is a model called a Apisphere Geomate jr., it usually retails at about $70. There aren't any maps but it shows you the direction and I believe and the distance from the geocache. Once you find that one you can click next and it will show you the way to the next geocache, there is also an update kit sold separately to upload geocaches from online. The guy at REI told me that would be a good idea for a beginner but instead I bought the expensive one. *doh!* Brandi D. aka devinearia

Hi Brandi How many items you put in a cache is influenced by the size of the container. If you have a good location that will support a Regular size cache I personally would put at least ten items in it to start. Most of the good stuff will get traded out quickly. Might be good to keep a few more items in reseve for a maintenance visit. Obviously a log book is required. I prefer something with a spiral binder so the pages don't fall out. Put in a pen and a pencil (in some climates a pen could freeze up). Groundspeak has recently decided that "Waypoint" is outdated terminology and has changed the term "Waypoint" to "GC Code". Obviously they think "GC Code" is less confusing. In any case, both terms refer to the "unique identifier associated with every geocache listing. The GC Code starts with the letters "GC" and is followed by other alphanumeric characters". You have found two caches so far. The "Waypoint" or "GC Code" of Holly Tennis Adventure is GC1R113 and for Big Bookworm it's GCHB8W. Check your found caches to verify that. Very few cachers provide their actual Name and Phone Number as contact information. Most just provide the Geocaching.com web address and their caching name. A cache note explaining Geocaching is also a good idea. Are you planning to keep your "Halloween themed" cache in place all year round? The guidelines don't allow you to only place a cache for a month or two. Do you have a good cache name picked out? I have always been surprised that nobody ever borrowed the title of the Donovan song "Season of the Witch". You could be the first. I bet you will have more questions before you get the cache published, but this is enough information for now. Come back and ask again later. Good luck. Thank you for the wonderful information! My last question is. "How do I know what the GC code is to put on my chache container?" I'm guessing I don't get the number until I have approval for posting of the geocache? But if I have already hidden it in order to get the coordinates than how can I put the Waypoint on the cache if I already hid it? Once again thank you so much everyone, this has been a lot of help! Sincerely, Brandi L. Devine aka devinearia

Hey everyone! Halloween is coming up and since it's my favorite Holiday I figured I would make my first cache "Halloween themed" so my question is, when you start a cache how many items do you put inside the cache? I have it mostly full at the moment as i figured it would give more options of things for people to pick from and replace etc. I also have a cache container which says on the front "waypoint number" and Contact name and info. What is a waypoint number? (sorry only found two caches so far so I don't know what it means) And for contact information I'm guessing my real name and phone number? Any information would be appreciated, thanks! Brandi L. Devine aka devinearia

IIRC... there are some free maps from Garmin that you can download from their website and then load into the GPS and mapsource. Thanks for the information it looks as though it would cost me $100 I don't have to purchase maps, oh well.

OK so I bought one yesterday and I'm confused, I downloaded the disk that came with it to my PC which is a Mapsource CD-ROM with Trip and Waypoint manager. It keeps asking me for an unlock code to unlock maps? Other than that according to the tutorial it's not allowing me to copy any maps to my GPS. Does this one not have maps? Do I only have large black spaces and major roads and that's it? Or should I be calling REI and asking what I should do about the unlock code.... Thanks! Brandi

I went today and bought my very first gps for geocaching, I'm new to this all so I'm a little confused. I went to run the trip and waypoint manager program so that I could get maps downloaded to my device. And going through the process it tells me that I need to unlock my maps and in doing so I need my unlock certificate with a coupon code. Problem is I don't have one! I didn't get one with all of my stuff that came with my eTrex and I'm wondering should I have one? Are all MapSource CD-Roms suppose to come with an unlock code to get maps? Thanks, Brandi D.

Went to REI today in Redmond Town center (WA) and found that they now have beginner geocache kits/ containers, log books, geocoins and travel bugs. For anyone who might be interested in actually seeing before buying go check it out! There is a whole end cap full. Sincerely, Brandi D. aka devinearia

Went to REI today in Redmond Town center (WA) and found that they now have beginner geocache kits/ containers, log books, geocoins and travel bugs. For anyone who might be interested in actually seeing before buying go check it out! There is a whole end cap full. Sincerely, Brandi D. aka devinearia

You crack me up!

Hey everyone, well last night I went to find my second geocache ever and found that my Garmin GPS that I use for my car doesn't work worth crap on foot when trying to find a small cache. SOOO I am looking into buying a hand held GPS specifically for geocaching. I'm looking at buying a GARMIN eTrex Venture HC GPS and I was curious if anyone knows if this is a good model and works well? My problem last night with my gps was that no matter where I walked or how far I walked or which direction I turned my gps didn't get me any closer to the coordinates. So it looks like I need to purchase one! Thanks! Brandi D. aka devinearia

Thank you everyone! I will do some hunting of ones first before starting one of my own. I'm very excited! Sincerely, Brandi D.

Hello everyone, my name is Brandi and I am a newbie to geocaching. I recently bought my first gps and plan on possibly going looking for a geocache soon. My question is, does anyone know of an actual storefront that sells geocoins, caches or travel bugs in the Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland are of Washington state? Any information would be appreciated, thanks! Brandi D. aka devinearia