mapper66

I got one recently. I was distinctly underwhelmed. Any kind of canopy completely prevented the unit from making contact with the com sats. Not a single "I'm OK" message got through on 3 different hikes. And this is leaf off season. Not what I would consider thick canopy at all. It's good to see that it may be a "messaging operating specifications" problem, and the service doesn't suck this bad in reality.

Thanks BlueDeuce, I will give it a try. I think if I can get the back logging done, and just log the patch when I log my visits, it may just be manageable!

Just started caching a little over a month ago and just picked up one of the trackable Geopatches. I'm really just looking to use the patch number as another way to track my finds, keep up with mileage, view my travels on the map, etc. I'd like to log it into the caches I have found already (25 or so) and had a couple of questions. I think I understand that this process is called 'dipping'. What is the best way to do this without cluttering up peoples logs, especially since I need to backlog some? Do I log a visit as a 'Write Note' and select my patch at the bottom of the page? Do I then have to retrieve it somehow? How about deleting the log, is that the correct way to handle it? Sorry for the newb questions, just trying to figure out the correct etiquette for getting this done!

I found a pair of the hand warmers in a recent cache, and it was somewhere around 20 degrees F out that day. I really thought about using them, but had some good gloves so left them for the next person. Thought it was a great idea and will drop those in mine when I start placing caches.

Still waiting patiently for the southeast.... At least we know they are still working on them.

I've just started playing with some apps on my iPAQ. I've downloaded CacheMate, BeeLineGPS, and BackCountry Navigator. BCN has the capability to download online topos and aerial photos. All of them can pull in .gpx files. I'm looking at them mostly for cache descriptions as my Garmin 60CSx doesn't have that capability.

Check out this link, at bottom for setting up instant notifications. basically you just choose 'Publish Listing' after you choose the type of cache to watch. http://www.geocaching.com/about/premium.aspx#anchorNotify

Just an FYI, the box mine came in no longer says anything about 'Sirf Technology' (oops, it does talk about Sirf on the bottom of the box!), and as a matter of fact the one REI had on display had the MediaTek chip, and I assumed that is what I would be getting. I ended up with a SirfIII, but really don't know about the performance of one vs the other. Best way to know is to check startup screen and/or the firmware version. Here is a thread, and there is a link in that thread to another: http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=235090

I'm new to geocaching and this forum but not to GPS technology. I just purchased my first recreational grade receiver and didn't get the 60CSx, even though a very experienced geocaching friend said he wouldn't have anything else. Short answer is the more expensive product I first bought was disappointing.. reboots, failure to acquire satellite fixes in good conditions, very poor WAAS reception. Ran as fast as I could to REI and bought the 60CSx and lo and behold, I am a happy cacher. In side by side tests it would regularly track and lock double the sats (at least according to the displays on the respective units), and is rarely without WAAS reception. Large screen, easy to read, excellent performance under canopy. The 60 has an older-looking user interface as compared to the newer Garmins (if that is important to you), doesn't have the bells and whistles of say the Oregon 550 (paperless caching), but for me accuracy and performance under less than optimal conditions (canopy, poor sat geometry) are the most important, and for that I am sticking with the 60CSx. I did score one with the Sirf III chipset @ REI, so they are still out there. I have no experience with the Mediatek chip. So, 60CSx and the topos from gpsfiledepot and I am good to go.

On the PN-40 you can go to Device Setup - Units and scroll down to Bearing to change between magnetic and true north.