Lizardo

I think some of my most enjoyable caching experiences have been in the winter! Over the past couple of years doing this, I have tried different winter gear and found that the following items must have (Unless you live in the land of Milk and Honey with QuigleyJones!): a good pair of waterproof winter boots. Easy on/off mittens (or those fingertip exposable mitts) and a spare (dry) pair. Gaiters <- best invention EVER Head cover and neck dickie Small foldable shovel Snowshoes/Skis or for the less energetic - Snow Machine We have no shortage of snow here, but as many caches are hidden in/near large trees, the snow is merely a temporary annoyance in many cases. Our local association is currently hosting a cache finding event modelled after the "Clue" board game, and a "Winter Friendly" Cache hiding event. And last year we had a GeoPic game running that worked well for those who wanted to have some GPS fun, but were adverse to booters .

At this point your descriptivity starts to fade, . . . could you fill in the blanks? are there screen prompts? if so, . . . on the pc, or the GPSr, or both? Did you start the whole procedure over again in '95' mode? I'm thinking a simple delete of the EU basemap, and a drag'n drop of the NA basemap? I found your delivery entertaining, a job well done,THANK-YOU! Norm Sorry, Norm, I totally missed this post. Here are the answers to your questions: Screen prompts in service mode. Basically it gives you a 2 digit field to enter a service code. there was no input after that. I did not need to re-run the upgrade after the Service menu dealie. The basemap was just a file transfer. I was able to do this on the GPS as the NA basemap was on the SD card. I still actually have the EU basemap on the unit itself. Lazy? Why yes I am! Good luck. Hope it works. Scott

Yeah, you are running 2.17. I have communicated with another fellow who was trying to upgrade from that version and he had difficulty. He assumed it was because the European 2.57 release is actually dated after the 2.17 and appears newer. Could be. When I say difficulty, I mean that the unit simply didn't perform the upgrade. It stayed at 2.17. I suppose you could do a "95" in the service menu and then run the upgrade, but you need jumbo cajones for that!

I also purchased a 500. It came with 2(!) Li-ion batteries and I have been happy with their performance. I purchased the AAA clip a few months ago to use for emergency backup on longer trips. It seems no matter what batteries I use in that thing, I am only getting 2-3 hours maximum. Another note. I am not sure where Strongsville is, but here in Winnipeg I have noticed that the Li-ions don't like -30 degree weather.

I like it. I'll go with that. Thanks for giving me a use for my scanner!

I assume you are suggesting I use a digital camera. I did a search for Digicam, Digicam eXplorist, Digicam Magellan, Digicam GPS. Just in case you were offering me a useful solution. Nothing helpful. I was hoping for a 'sexier' solution. The clarity of a digital photograph at that range is not quite as nice as a true screen capture. And the glare off of the GPS screen is difficult to overcome if you use the flash.

Anybody have a method to do screen captures from an eXplorist to a PC? I have seen the Garmin tool, but nothing for Magellan. Thanks.

If you read nothing else in my post, and are considering upgrading to 2.57, read the following few lines: ---------Back up your Basemap!!--------- ----If you have trouble - Don't Panic---- --Educate yourself re: Service Menus--- I just upgraded my 500 to 2.57. I followed all of the instructions, backed up all internal data I could, and tested out a few non-destructive service menu options for fun. I am a rather technical person. I deal with electronics for a living and was not intimidated by the potential (if not likely) death of my unit. You see, the Tritons are coming...and so is Christmas...you get my drift. Here's how it went. I was only able to find the firmware by going directly to Magellan. I had to re-register it as a European unit. No problems here. I had the firmware in 10 mins. I removed my SD card. Its contents are backed up, but why take a chance? Note-I never connect my unit to my computer. I can't remember the last time I did this. I simply remove the SD to upload the maps or Geocaches. So the longest step in all of this was finding my USB cable! I charge the unit exclusively in the car, so I kinda buried the USB/power cable that came with my unit in the bottom of a drawer. Actually 2 drawers...but I digress. I connected the cable to the unit...turned it on...plugged 'er in...*beeboop*. The file window pops up, and I change the explorer settings to view system files. Browse to background maps folder - yup, there is one there. So I back up to the root of the GPS and select all the folders and copied them to a folder on my PC. Now I'm feeling cocky. So I decide to jump right in and double click on the firmware executable. Can't find GPS. HUH? It just transferred files...and, what's this? Where's my GPS drive letter go? HMMM. Thinking I'll go whole hog without messing about, I reboot all of the players at the table, GPS, PC, even replug the USB and power cable. At this point I am still calm. I pour myself a drink. Rerun the executable. Found the GPS. Good stuff. I click the button to start the upgrade. 5.7% ... 12.6% ... 26%... Feeling good. All the way to 96.4%. At this point you have one of those "I am almost not positively uncertain that this will definitely probably not stop working" moments. Then woohoo! 100%. But wait.... *Can't upload basemap* Oh God. I'm a statistic. Ok, don't panic. Disconnect the unit as it has stopped responding and will not do anything except beep when any buttons are pressed. I stare forlornly at the GPS. My calm is starting to crack. My sheen (or estevez, if you prefer) of confidence is showing signs of wear. When the unit is turned on, I get: No Basemap Loaded : Initializing Data Transfer. Don't believe it. It's not. I go through the above process 3-4 times. Each time my confidence a little less strong. Still nothing. The unit just shuts itself off after smugly declaring that it has no basemap. I revisit the forums. Every time I read this thread there are posts that I haven't seen before. I decide to try something I saw embra write. By the way, embra, thanks for all of the information you have provided to this forum even after you completed the upgrade. Service menu 95. Saved my bacon. After entering the service menu from the power off (nav+pwr) I keyed in the magic 95. I can't remember what it said on the screen, but the writing was pink. No matter. It worked. There was some rejoicing. After that, the upgrade went smoothly. Connected, updated. All good. One caveat. The basemap is European. I had to upload the NA basemap to get that back to normal, but all is well. And I also have all of those extra nag screens at startup. But I have all of those screens that I sacrificed when I upgraded from my Meridian. Woohoo! Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences in this forum. Good luck to all those who attempt this upgrade.

Funny, I didn't even notice! Yup, old, and repetitive - probably gets asked every 3 months or so, but still current and interesting to newcomers. I'd rather see an old thread revived than 20 new ones posted. Same here,but then everyone gets their panties in a twist about resurecting old dead threads. No not everyone just certain ones This is an interesting topic for anyone that hasn't seen it before. I respectfully disagree with those who find it necessary to shut down discussion without offering redirection to the initial pertinent discussion. I'm not speaking of this thread in specific. Just some of the old guard tends to find it more important to point out their silver fur than provide help or information. But back to the topic at hand... I was fortunate enough to FTF a cache in my area while looking for a hiding spot for a cache of my own. I considered this to be just desserts for another puzzle cache I was second to find on despite being there about 25 mins after it was posted....with the puzzle solved. The FTFer had been looking for a spot of his own as well. There has been a couple of times I have run into a cacher who is looking for a stage of a multi, and I am looking for a spot to place a traditional of my own! Saved me an e-mail to the reviewer, I guess.

I agree. This site is great. I have used it to compare cache finds with another cacher so we could go caching together for all new finds for both of us. Saved all of that "have you done..." rhetoric. More time for caching! And it gives you pretty nice stats and graphs for your profile page as well.

Also, there is an event cache coming up not too terribly far from the Pas. It's at Simonhouse Lake. The cache number is GC128A3. That would be a good place to meet up with some Nor-man cachers and get some pointers.

OK! Winnipeg is up and running and...APPROVED! Had a proximity issue with one of the stages. Had to fix it up this morning.

It would be best if you could provide a sort of introduction text for all of us to include on our pages. That way it is in a consistent voice. Is that possible? Being that this is the "rulebook" of this series so to speak, it would be best if it was presented in a similar manner. OK?

Winnipeg (GCY71E) is just waiting for the reviewer to okay it. First cache was muggled. I swiped some code from New Brunswick's page. Lizardo

I'm here! I am finally healthy (physically, not mentally). I will be placing my cache tomorrow afternoon. I have the sites scoped out and hope to have the cache page written up in the evening or on Sunday. I have only received e-mail in the past couple of days from Timrs2001, but nothing from eelow&beelow. do you have my address right? lizardo(at)shaw.ca. Sorry for making you panic. The listing will be GCY71E once it is published. Stay tuned.

I have recieved your e-mail and will get out there to place my cache as soon as I can. I have recently sprained my ankle and will be laid up for a couple of days more. But that has given me time to plan! I will contact you as soon as I am done. Lizardo

Thanks for the E-mail. Sure! I'd love to take care of Winnipeg for you. Great idea! Lizardo Manitoba Geocaching Association http://www.mbgeocaching.ca

Let me put on my flame retardant suit first...OK there. 1) Geocaching is a game. 2) Children placed this travel bug as a fun project. 3) Adults have turned this into an issue that has completely ruined it for the kids. 4) The BSA position on homosexuals or Christianity is wrong if you see it that way. 5) The BSA position on homosexuals or Christianity is right if you see it that way. 6) Fred Phelps is an extremist idiot. 7) Items 4-6 have no business being debated on a Travel Bug log on the Geocaching website (See #1). Personally, I would release the copy tag. Let this be a lesson of tolerance (from both perspectives) for the children involved. And I would not be blackmailed to allow the 2 week inclusion of a partisan comment on the existing log. Lizardo

I have noticed that Garmin users seem to be very vocal about their choice. Similar to Mac users, Volkswagen drivers, vegetarians and single malt scotch drinkers. What's up with that? I have had experience with both and I use the Magellan more because...well the screen is a bit bigger. Which helps when I have had too much scotch. And too much steak.