avaloncourt

As the previous poster indicated the Find arrow is somewhat useless when you get anywhere close to the cache. I've found that the phone sensitivity is seriously lacking. If there's any tree canopy at all the accuracy falls apart rapidly. Basically I've had to look at the map location and my location in an open area. Then I have to reconcile a guess where I think the cache might be because there's no finding it reasonably as you enter any density of trees. The find arrow has not been useful yet. The update on it is insanely slow (>5 seconds per update). I thought it might have been the phone and I did a restore. After the restore it was exactly the same. It's a nice application to have just to simply look up caches but I can't say it was worth $10 based on the things everyone has found and noted above. I hope there's a significant improvement in the app. I can't do much about the accuracy and sensitivity of the phone.

I haven't been in the forums for ages. I had the first iPhone which was dismal for accurate locating in the maps app. I have the 3G and it's very accurate. Big thumbs up. I look forward to trying it for a cache. As for the coordinate entry comments, since there is no cut and paste, you'll save yourself a huge amount of jumping around by entering decimal degrees. Just use the "other conversions" link next to the location. This is a lot fewer key strokes and jumping between screens in 41.63757 -80.15465 than N 41° 38.254 W 080° 09.279

I haven't posted in the forums in ages. I have checked on locator positioning and mine doesn't force a snap to road. It shows me exactly where I am. I can go in my back yard and it shows my position away from the road. You don't need any kind of app to set a lat and lon position in the maps application. Just use a decimal degree location. I just used: 41.63757 -80.15465 and it put the pin exactly where it should be. That function has always been in the Maps app. I turn on hybrid and I get a realistic view of what the roads and terrain should be. For basic caching you really don't need anything else.

I am a SAR crewman for the US Coast Guard and I thought I'd pop a little note in here that might make things easier when the need arises. Be sure whatever GPS you decide on has the ability to convert between Lat/Lon formats on the fly and that it can be done easily. I have several GPS receivers and two of them don't have the ability to do anything but DDD MM SS. Whenever we are specifying any position it is always in the decimal minutes format ( DDD MM.mmm ). Depending on whom you may be having assistance from you will probably run into this especially if you are getting air assistance. You may also run into boaters who don't have anything but a Loran. (Been there. Done that.) Having a GPS that can switch between Loran locator to GPS is also a plus.

You beat me to this post. I have an iQue and, yes, it's a specfic version to the iQue. The Palm Desktop for the iQue handles the map selection, loading and transfer. This will be unique to the iQue.

As a follow-up, I called Delphi this morning and spoke to them about the problem. This is indeed a known problem and, according to the tech support person, it has only been seen on Garmin GPS units. He said they do have a shielded version which is available for people having problems. You'd think they would all be shielded. So, it goes back to them today.

I have the GPS mounted centered on the dash and the XM Roady sitting down by the shifter in the center console. The antenna for the XM is on the trunk.

This is specifically a problem with the Roady model of XM Radio receiver. From a thread on the XMFan site it's been seen by several people. Unfortunately, there seems to be only an occasional solution. Some people returned the units to Delphi because of the problem and just got another one with the same problem. Supposedly Delphi seems to be getting a handle on the problem because two people did get one back with no problems whatsoever. One person who complained that they got another one with a problem was told by tech support that they got a 'pre-fix' unit back. Hopefully, they have clearly identified the 'fix'. This was not related specifically to the iQue. People with other Garmin models including the 2620 have had problems.

Yesterday I bought an XM Radio / Delphi Roady satellite radio receiver and I discovered something very quickly. The satellite radio receiver is seriously degrading the performance of my Garmin iQue 3600 GPS receiver. The GPS suddenly announced that it lost satellite reception. I put the satellite page up and disconnected power to the XM receiver and the signal came back full strength. I plugged it back in again and the GPS lost its signal again. I then started moving the XM Radio receiver away from the iQue (It had been about a foot away) and the GPS signal came back. It appears that if the XM receiver is within about 2 feel of the GPS it significantly degrades the signal. I thought it might just be me but, in looking at an XM fan site, I discovered that I'm not the only one who has this going on. Apparently it's more prevalent than I would have expected. It also seems that the complaints are coming from the owners of XM Radio / Delphi Roady satellite radio receivers.

Wow, that's a wonderful program. Thank you. I recently got the iQue and then immediately downloaded Cetus. This makes things so incredibly easy for Geocaching.

I have had one for my GPSMAP 76 and my GPS 5 and they work very well and have not had any problems at all with them. Well, actually, it took me a couple hours to figure out how to put the GPS V into the mount but after that it's been great.

I tried opening CitySelect images with MapDekode and got the message, "Mapdekode can't read encrypted IMG's!" I tried it on Metroguide, Roads and Rec, and Waterways and Lights and didn't have any problem opening those. It looks like we're locked out of CitySelect.

I don't think so. If that were the case, most of the roads in the western states wouldn't be on the map because there aren't any people on them.

I'm definitely in agreement with the statement that he needs to read the manual.

Just going by what they had on their website. It said only those three models. So, there's another option for use on a lesser Garmin but unfortunately it isn't available for sale. quote:Originally posted by Centaur: quote:Originally posted by avaloncourt: I took a look at my Mapsource CitySelect and all of the roads you named above were on that disc. The catch... it can only be used on a GPS V (for autorouting functions), NavTalk® GSM phone and the GPSMAP 196. Otherwise you can't use it on any of the other receivers. Odd, I Just loaded Mapsource City Select 4.01 (came with my V) into my wifes new GPSMAP 76S and it works fine (Without the auto routing of course). It even shows the next street ahead and will do address lookups. http://img.Groundspeak.com/user/66427_2800.gif

I posted about this today in another thread. Three years ago PA changed the way all the exits were numbered. We went from sequentially numbered exits to exits matching mile markers. Most of Garmin's products have the old exit numbering scheme including the basemap for the GPS. The exit services information isn't nearly as useful for an unknown exit if you don't know the real exit info. CitySelect has corrected this but, as far as what I've seen, everything else has the wrong exit numbers. That's not too good for someone who doesn't know anything about the area they're driving in. Since Garmin hasn't updated any of the mapsource discs for regular street changes I doubt they'll get to this anytime soon. One big problem is the exit services info is in the ROM and will always read the wrong exit number until they eventually make a model with correct ROM info. I have a brand new GPS V with the wrong exits in the ROM and the correct numbers in the CitySelect. If exit info is displayed it shows the old sequential numbers and ignores the CitySelect numbers.

quote:Originally posted by RAD Dad:Just to list a few streets missing streets for you Jvavrus, look in the Salem area for Hawthorne Ave. Between Mission (Hwy 22) and State Street. This part of Hawthorne is new, it was built around 10 years ago, but compared to the rest, it is new. Look for Kenard Ct. N.W. or Jev Ct. N.W. these streets are both around 7 years old, but not shown. Linwood St. NW between Ammon and Redwood is missing. Also, Orchard View off of Linwood is not there. All these streets are at least four years old. I could go on. I took a look at my Mapsource CitySelect and all of the roads you named above were on that disc. The catch... it can only be used on a GPS V (for autorouting functions), NavTalk® GSM phone and the GPSMAP 196. Otherwise you can't use it on any of the other receivers. Sorry. It looks like it would be the most accurate mapset for your needs. If you want a problem just a bit more significant than a missing subdivision, try the whole state of Pennsylvania. Three years ago PA changed the way the exits were numbered. We went from sequentially numbered exits to exits matching mile markers. Most of Garmin's products have the old exit numbering scheme including the basemap for the GPS. The exit services information isn't nearly as useful for an unknown exit if you don't know the real exit info. CitySelect has corrected this but, as far as what I've seen, everything else has the wrong exit numbers. That's not too good for someone who doesn't know anything about the area they're driving in. [This message was edited by avaloncourt on January 02, 2003 at 04:50 PM.]

quote:Originally posted by Desert_Warrior:In fact, storing batteries at reduced temps will slow the self-discharge rate. In a review a few years ago, Consumer Reports stated there was no validity to the cold storage theory. The tried a month, six months, one two and three years storage and there were no differences whatsoever in the batteries from fresh based on standard discharge rates.

That's like marketing genius! Where'd you do your searches? Entering Garmin in Google lists their website as the first return.

I had the falling off problem as well until one day I decided to give it a lick and pop it on the windshield. That did the trick. It's never fallen off again. I love their mounts. They are really good. By the way, are you indicating that you drive erratically? and why is that?

I also have an aquapac and it works very well.

I've noticed some Pennsylvania activity going on here but haven't seen anything for Northwestern PA. It seems like the closest postings here are for the Pittsburgh area. I would like to organize a club or have some Geocaching related events for those from Erie to Mercer Counties and as far east as Warren. If you have some interest drop a reply here. We have a good amount of cache activity here but it would be nice to extend that a bit farther.

The comment about battery life is a very good point. If your Ipaq fails and you're in the "middle of nowhere" you can't change the batteries. You can get some extra life by using an exernal battery pack plugged into the charging connector but that's just something else you'd have to drag along. Having an extra two batteries for a regular GPS would be a lot smaller and more convenient.

I have the RAM model RAM-148-GA6 mount. It has a massive suction cup and two lockable articulated joints.

I also use the RayOVac NiMH batteries and the 1 hour charger. If you buy the 1 hour charger from WalMart right now it comes bundled with a cigarette lighter cord as a bonus. Can't beat that. Good batteries and the ability to charge 1 hour in the car.