rlridgeway

Since I am approaching 50, losing my geacaching mojo is the least my lost mojo problems.

Does the PN-20 receiver have a similar chipset to the Sirf 3?

Are the topographic maps equivalent to the USGS 24K, 7.5 topo maps?

Backcountry Navigator costs 30 dollars and is excellent for off-road use like geocaching, hunting, fishing, and hiking. It deals well with geocache files for paperless caching. The price includes all the free downloads of USGS topo maps and aerial photos of the US you want, including the detailed 24k, 7.5 minute quads. Unlike most of its competitors in its price range, these maps come pre-calibrated. This is a major advantage. Waypoints(including geocaching GPX files) and tracks can be created, imported, and exported. While it can be used while driving, it does not have auto-routing or voice commands common to vehicle navigation GPS software. If you are still interested check it out, there is a trial version.

What if I wanted to place a cache in an interesting area of a wilderness where traditional geocaches would not be appropriate. There really is not much to measure, classify or otherwise involve cachers without really boring them to bits. There is a boulder field near me that would have been an ideal place for the old virtual type cache but since those are no longer allowed that is not an option. Any ideas?

1.A PDA/GPS setup. running Backcountry Navigator mapping software. 2.The PDA is a Dell X50, the receiver is an OnCourse Navigator. 3.Backcountry Navigator deals well with waypoints and geocaching files for paperless caching. 4.The big deal with Backcountry Navigator is the use of free USGS topo maps and aerial photos of your choice. Oh yeah, Backcountry Navigator costs a whopping $30.00. Unfortunately it use is limited to the US.

Its not a big stretch at all for low cost cell phones to include GPS. But we digress. The big GPS manufacturers have been overpricing their topo mapsets which are inferior to the USGS 24k topos. Magellan has stirred things up a little by utilizing the National Geographic topos. Still the price of the maps are outragous, 100 bucks to cover 1/3 the US. With my setup, Bachcountry Navigator, which costs 30 bucks, allows for free download of any 24k map I desire.

I don't wish to hijack this thread but I am a forester and use my PDA/GPS in all kinds of terrain and weather several times a week. I have Garmin's GPS Map76 CSx and Trimble's units for use but choose my setup due to better mapping features. The PDA is not as fragile as it is often said to be and there are protective measures that can be used. Yes, PDAs are being replaced by cellphones which may also replace stand alone GPS units. But so far, the major GPS manufactures have been terribly slow in adapting the USGS maps. The quality and pricing of the propietry topo maps that offered are outrageous, at least compared to what Backcountry Navigator (and other PDA GPS software) offers. It is nice to see at least one of the big dogs in GPS finally offer 24k maps. Even if the price for the maps are way out of line.

There is already a solution for this: a PDA/GPS setup that includes the Backcountry Navigator mapping software. The software costs 30 bucks and all the 7.5 USGS topo maps of the US are free to download.

I have been working in the outdoors for almost 30 years and snakes and spiders don't worry me a whole lot. I have more concern about falling and becoming injured or walking headlong into a hornet's nest. Meeting strangers in the woods can be a little unnerving, but I have never really felt endangered by anyone. These concerns do not keep me from going in the woods but I take a few common sense precautions. Anything could happen tomorrow but its a lot more likely to be in a car wreck. A lot more likely.

I also recommend Backcountry Navigator. If you can plunk down about 50 bucks or so, you could get a GPS receiver and have a dandy setup, the software really shines.

Either one of those units would be a good choice. I had used Trimble's products for several years before I was introduced to lower cost GPS units. I was pleasantly surprised by the features of these units, given they are a fraction of the price of the Trimbles. In fact, I have been trying to convince my employer's mapping folks that we can do most things we need with low cost units.

But Garmin topos are mostly 100K. When they come out with something close to 24K , I will buy.

Take the 2000 - It will take a picture of your waypoint, you will record a brief summary of the waypoint, and while you fumble around with the HCx, the 2000 will let you read a book in the dark. It has a bigger screen. No contest - be gone HCx. I should have been more specific. How would the Magellan Triton 500 stack up against the Garmin Vista HCx?

Given that the Triton hasn't been released yet, how do you'all think it will stack up against the Garmin Vista HCx?

Most if not all the long distance caches I know of are described well in the listing.

You should be able to find solutions to your problems. The GPS receiver will probably work as long as your mapping software is compatible with your device. It appears your operating system is Pocket PC 2003. Several GPS off road mapping programs can be found at Handango. Most of the developers offer a list of devices their mapping programs work with. Some popular programs for geocaching are Memory Map, GPS Tuner, TrackyPro, GPS Dash, and Backcountry Navigator. I personally have Backcountry Navigator and think its great.

I use a PDA/GPS setup and think it rocks. If you get a PDA with the Pocket PC operating system I strongly recommend checking out the Backcountry Navigator mapping software. I would recommend a PDA that has Wifi and Bluetooth.

Actually I have a PDA/GPS setup with Backcountry Navigator and think it rocks but... I have an aquaintance who is interested in GPS and geocaching but despite my best efforts wants a standalone unit. This person is familiar with mapping and also wants a solution that utilizes 24k topo maps. At present, Garmin only offers 24K maps of National Parks. Their standard topo mapset is 100K. It does appears that Magellan's Triton series will be able to utilize 24K maps when it is released. But are there any other brands of GPS (like Lowrance) that can use 24K maps? Apparently not, as I have not gotten feedback from the thread indicating otherwise.

I was under the impression that except for the National Parks mapset, the topos from Garmin are equivilent to 100K. Am I wrong? I am looking for devices that use 24K maps.

Any stand-alone units handle 1:24K equivalents outside National Parks? Yeah, I know there are several 1:24K map options for PDAs. I was looking for 24K maps for brand name stand-alone GPS receivers. Garmin seems to have limited coverage (see above). I was wondering if Magellan, Lowrance,or other brand names can use the equivalent of 24K maps besides the limited coverage Garmin offers?

What standalone GPS receivers have the ability to utilize mapping software that has topo features equivalent to the 1:24000 USGS topo maps?

Most folks here use cheap PDAs to manage geocache info so they don't have to string along printed copies of the cache pages. Some of us use GPS receivers designed to connect to higher end PDAs. With this setup mapping software is loaded onto the PDA. There are other vendor's but Dell has PDAs. GPS receivers can be found at www.buygpsnow.com Mapping software can be found at www.handango.com

I use GPS in West Virginia several times a week for both geocaching and at work. I have used a couple different brands and think any that has the newer high sensitivity receivers would do well. A few years ago, there was a need for external antennas but the improved technology has changed that.

Thanks...actually I had noticed that listing. I was really wondering about www.geocaching.com's official policy on earthcaches in Wilderness Areas. I am thinking of placing some earthcaches on the Cranberry Wilderness. I also understand the need for the Forest Service's permission before listing it. Just trying to get my ducks in a row before placing one.