Crystal Sound

I've been watching the thread, but have remained outside. I have to agree with chstress53's comments. Although spelling & grammer are important, I dont see it as a show-stopper. The requirements should remain as-is. A polite email pointing out errors would be proper, especially in the case of a "key word" being misspelled. The ability for an officer to make edits & changes to a listing would be beneficial. I have several marks that have been listed in my Ohio Historical Marks category that need some "fixing" (errors that were noticed after approval). In the past I have sent an email to the owner requesting the fix. Sometimes it would probably be just as easy to fix it myself.

Are you sure about that???? I just looked in the manual for my Legend: 500 Waypoints, Tracklog of 2048 points, 10 saved tracks with 250 points each 20 Routes with 50 waypoints each 8MB map memory As I understood it, the difference between the Legend & Venture was the basemaps & memory. I'm sure. Download the latest firmware update from Garmin. CLICK HERE Changes made from version 2.50 to 3.10: Increased active track log to 10,000 points. Increased saved track log to 750 points. Increased user waypoints to 1,000 waypoints. Increased waypoints per route to 125 waypoints. Hmmm. I wonder how I missed that one - I thought I was subscribed to the updates mailing list. TY!

I've got a Foretrex 101, and Legend (blue)... My foretrex performs better than the legend, in much the same manner as you describe. I beleive the foretrex / forerunner are about as similar in "guts" as they are in looks, the differences likely being in programming. The same could prob be said in general about the etrex series. I know my foretrex is a newer design than the legend, so I attribute that to the accuracy I notice with my units.

Are you sure about that???? I just looked in the manual for my Legend: 500 Waypoints, Tracklog of 2048 points, 10 saved tracks with 250 points each 20 Routes with 50 waypoints each 8MB map memory As I understood it, the difference between the Legend & Venture was the basemaps & memory.

I couldnt agree more. I was at an event cache last night. One of the other cacher's commented that she rarely logs her cache finds online, due to the fact that she doesnt have enough time to spend online logging. I thought about if the same idea of a photo requirement was applied to caching, what would happen. Would people decide not to cache? Or would they cache, and just not log online? I"m betting the latter. Same goes for Waymarking, I think. Some may still visit the site looking for interesting locations (mazes, for instance). They may visit the site, but may not bother to log it online.

I assume that you mean the waymark owner. As a category owner, I am likely not going to visit every location in the world that people create waymarks for, just because they are in my category. Correct assumption. Apologies - it was an early monday morning.

I'm mixed on the idea of making photos or other proof of the visit a requirement. I think that a category owner should make the inital visit, and take the time to photograph and verify coordinates - especially if such information is available online. However, as a visitor, I have mixed feelings about said requirements. Some categories, such as the ones in the "Waymarking games", I fully understand (and support) a requirement for such. Other more general ones, I'm not as certain such is really necessary. If a photo or other proof of visit is requirement to log a visit to a waymark - I think i would be less likely to log a visit. I rarely upload photos to cache logs, unless I happen to have taken my camera with me on a cache (not likely) and have something interesting to post. I do not feel the need, nor have the time, to upload photos of every cache/waymark I visit. Not to mention the issues with having another piece of electronics to carry, lose, break, etc. The requirement / proof idea is fine for the "games", but beyond that it seems to me like "hoops to jump through" for a Waymarking-numbers-game. I dont cache for the numbers. I doubt I would waymark for numbers either. I would very possibly visit sites that interest me, but not every site on the Waymarking website. (Eduted for gramer an spellung airors.)

I'm game.

Edit: Requirements fulfilled. Additional members are still welcome.

I noticed a typo... On the right hand side, when viewing a groups details, you have a link called "Group Details" in white, with black letters. When you hover your pointer over the link, it turns red with white letters, and is labeled "Group Detalis" - I thought I was seeing things at first.

I agree the the ability to view the approver - possibly only within the management group. I was considering posing the same question as the OP, this morning, in fact.

Thanks Leprechauns! This should be fun! I've done the same with my Ohio Historical Markers Category. Although the process took a little learning, it wasnt too bad, and it didnt take long to do.

Yes, by abandoned, I mean by railroad use. Tunnels that are on a rails-trails path would be perfectly fine.

Anyone want to help manage this one?

I've done the straw trick (actually, I used a coffee stirrer). I've also taped my log to the straw/stir. This seems to give good results with both keeping the log intact, and making it easier to insert/extract.

From what I understand about both units (I have a foretrex) - I would guess that they didnt include WAAS to add some other functions (timers, I believe). I've heard of several other cachers using the Forerunners to find caches. Considering the point is to "get into the area" and then look for places that a hider would have placed the cache - the difference in position error will probabally not amount to much. Even with a 7 foot accuracy circle on my Foretrex, the actual cache may be 30 feet or more away, due to differences in my unit, and the hiders unit, as well as inaccuracies in the hiders coordinates. I wouldnt worry about it. Enjoy!

I think I would like to assist, if it would be of some benefit. Iron Furnace Ruins is one of the categories I've submitted to, and think makes a great waymark category. I've visited a number of sites in the southeastern Ohio area, and have a list of sites I would eventually like to go. Websites I've visited, as well as topo maps and other sources are valuable resources. I have a few more I'm planning on submitting, as soon as I can visit, get good coords and pics. That is, unless somone in my area beats me to it (which they are welcome to!).

Just to throw my $02 in... I was involved over the weekend in helping to locate a property corner in some woodland. Without going into alot of details, I use FORWARD to project the property corners from the "known" starting point. Even with using ~20ft error starting coordinates, and among trees in a valley for an end point, I managed to find a couple paint marked trees not very far from where the gps led me. Did I find it useful? Yes. The forward function on my GPS only works to a degree & .1 mile increments. The FORWARD program gets much finer with it's decimal places. I could see where it would have been some help last fall when recovering an azimuth marker.

I hunted a similar mark (near my home) a previous hunter (from another area) had not found. US Rt 50 had been relocated, and the scaled coordinates were .25 mi off (but still along the RR tracks). Only by knowledge of the area, and following the to reach description (keeping in mind the way things were) was I able to find the mark.

Have you tried the transfer of data between the 101 and your PC ? I am a MAC user - so I know that I will have a challenge on my hands if I get a 101. But if it works flawlessly PC wise at least that is a start. La perouse I've got a FT101, and use it regularly on my MAC.. I didnt have any problems getting it to work. Contact me privately, and we can discuss details.

As TeamGuisinger mentioned, I had thought about doing such, but I figured the results would end up a bit glossy. A 20 lb ammo box, eh? That would take some dedication to pack-in and/or steal. lol

Just my $.02 : I'm not sure I like the idea of imported data. As mentioned before, sometimes the validity of the data is suspect. I'm not sure having such information in "our" database is truely useful, when much of that information is available elsewhere. Also, adding canned data, almost seems opposite to the requirements that most category owners have for creating a listing: actually visiting the location. I manage "Ohio Historical Markers" - information (including coordinates) for each of the markers is available on the "Remarkable Ohio" website. If someone really wanted, they could mine the RO website, get the data, then create listings for each marker on WM. This would be seen as bad form to many (including myself). By actually visiting the location, several hunters have discovered errors, and missing markers and help update the RO website, something that would never happen without an actual visit. The McDonalds Category (although large) seems to be pretty low in the popularity rating. I'm not sure commercial categories such as this truly belong. This seems simliar to the "sprawlmart micro" situation in geocaching. But where does it stop? Why not a Burger King, Jack in the Box, (or whatever)? Do I need Waymarking to help me find fast food? To each their own. I liked the "mom & pop record shops" category, but I'm sure someone out there dislikes that one and likes the McD category. There's something for everyone. However, if such canned information is put online - I did like the idea of "signal" being the owner. That was cute. I also liked the wiki idea. Maybe I'm wrong, but I see Waymarking as a way of sharing locations with others, that would be otherwise unsuitable for caching. Although discussions such as this are valuable, after all, to build something, you have to have an idea of where you are going with it to accomplish the task - I think this is getting "ahead of ourselves" in some ways. The process of adding new categories has yet to be unveiled. WM needs to become a little more solid first. Edits for readability.

Let me know how the granite works out for you. I primed & painted an ammo can like yours last summer. Never got around to placing it, but left it out in the side yard as a test. After 1 or 2 "Ohio snows", most of the paint had flaked off. I'm not sure the cause. Strange that it flaked off, even with use of a primer coat I also did a screw-top plastic container, and had the same issue. Edit: spellung.

I've copy/pasted most of this reply from another thread. I've found that short of a few specific programs, there isnt much I cant do on my Mac, this is done on a PC. I'm currently using on my iBook G3/900: aGarmin Foretrex 101 GPS, a Etrex Legend GPSs, a Keyspan USB-Serial Converter, and a Palm Visor Edge. Software: National Geographic Topo Mac (state series) for mapping use. THis software has very good topo maps (not downloadable to the Legend, though). and will upload/dowlonad tracks and waypoints to the Garmin, as well as doing live tracking. The detail of the 1:24,000 maps is awesome! Mac Simple GPS for waypoint transfers Cachemate is prob the best money I ever spent on software (especially the palm). Mac CMconvert is the companion program you will need to transfer pocket query GPX files from the Mac to Hotsync to you Palm. MacGPSBabel is a good program to convert file types. There are a good number of Mac/GPS programs out there. It does take a little searching, though. Unfortunately, there is not Mac GSAK (yet), though I keep hoping! I do have a Win XP laptop that I run Garmin's Mapsource & a few other programs on. The Mapsource Topos (for the legend) are only 1:100,000 series, and lack much of the detail that the NG Topo maps. It was a free machine, but I find I really dont use/need it much. I can do everything on the mac, that I need. I'll use the PC for the BMGPX program to process the NGS datasheets for benchmark recoveries, but that is only on occasion I need to update that data. It mostly collects dust.

There's another thread concerning Macs & GPSs going in the forums (right now). You might take a look for it. However, I thought I'd throw my 2 cents in for you: I'm currently using on my iBook G3/900: aGarmin Foretrex 101 GPS, a Etrex Legend GPSs, a Keyspan USB-Serial Converter, and a Palm Visor Edge. Software: National Geographic Topo Mac (state series) for mapping use. THis software has very good topo maps (not downloadable to the Legend, though). and will upload/dowlonad tracks and waypoints to the Garmin, as well as doing live tracking. The detail of the 1:24,000 maps is awesome! Mac Simple GPS for waypoint transfers Cachemate is prob the best money I ever spent on software (especially the palm). Mac CMconvert is the companion program you will need to transfer pocket query GPX files from the Mac to Hotsync to you Palm. MacGPSBabel is a good program to convert file types. There are a good number of Mac/GPS programs out there. It does take a little searching, though. Unfortunately, there is not Mac GSAK (yet), though I keep hoping! I do have a Win XP machine that I run Garmin's Mapsource & a few other programs on. The Mapsource Topos (for the legend) are only 1:100,000 series, and lack much of the detail that the NG Topo maps. It was a free machine, but I find I really dont use/need it much. I can do everything on the mac, that I need.