diverhank

Windows XP has a built-in unzipping tool that works just fine for unzipping pocket queries. Why need anything else?

The 90deg connector is supposed to be harder to remove due to its small size. The 180 deg connector is supposedly easier to do so. Some people remove the external antennas every day (to hide them)

For a unit that you can wear on your wrist, why do you need to mount it on the handle bar? I just rotate mine on my wrist so it faces me when I'm riding. I can read the info just fine without having to lift my arm.

I cache alone. A couple of times my kids tagged along but they were more of a distraction than help. I find the caches better by myself and I've discovered I like the solitude. Like you, I don't find very many per day. I like to take my time and enjoy the act of looking and finding. Numbers are of secondary importance since I don't compete against anyone. By doing it slow, I find I can remember my experience better.

On my Garmin Forerunner 201, to turn power on and off, you need to press and hold the power button for more than a second. This I think is ample protection against accidental on/off.

Don't knock the Forerunner 201 for geocaching . I love using it because it leaves both your hands free to search and it is discrete (most people don't even know you have a GPS). If only it can take more than 97 waypoints! If you haven't, check out my website on the Forerunner: http://home.socal.rr.com/diverhank/ForeRunner201.htm

I'm not familiar with the IBM workpad, but based on it being a Palm OS unit, it sounds like you need to first load the PC companion software to establish communication between the workpad and your PC. This is a prerequisite for Cachmate (and most if not all other Palm applications) to work (transfer data from PC to PDA). When you load the PC Companion sw, it will ask you to give the unit a user name. This is done so the PC can communicate with multiple Palm-based devices (each with a unique name). This name is what Cachemate is looking for. For my Handspring Visor, I can find this software on the Palm website for free. I would think you can do the same for yours at the ibm website. I'm not sure if the standard Palm software would work with this unit (my Handspring Visor uses the standard Palm sw). I don't see why not. Your workpad is Palm OS 4, I believe. You might try it at the last resort. Regarding loading Cachemate in two PC...I do not see anything wrong with it as long as you are using it only on one PDA. Good luck.

From your description, I'm not really clear on what format CachNav expects your coordinates to be. To match the format (I assume we are talking about DD MM.MMM, that is listed on the geocaching page), you should go to CacheNav , under Preferences and change the Coordinates format to dd mm.mmm'. I don't manually enter in the coords (I download the gpx file via pocket queries and send it to Cachemate using cmconvert), but I don't have the problem of Cachenav guiding me to the wrong place.

Because Orangutans can be hired for only 65 cents an hour. Well it was 30 years ago when gasoline was like 30 cents a gallon...I'm starting to feel ancient

I was from Minnesota and my first job ever was detassling corn also. Not sure why they turned Carleenp down. I was only 5ft tall when I did that I did have to jump up some to reach some of the taller plants... I think I did that for 65 cents an hour! I don't see how you can detassle and geocache at the same time. We were moving through corn rows so fast I could barely see anything...

You don't need mapsource to transfer the waypoints. EasyGPS will interface directly with your Vista and transfer the waypoints directly from loc files. If you want to use Mapsource, you can always get premium membership and download gpx files (any caches sorted per your liking, not just for one page) . Mapsource is very happy with gpx files from pocket queries (that you get being premium).

Ideally I want my GPS to do everything including all of the PDA functions, but you get what you pay for and what are available. Our only weapon is not to buy the units if don't like them. Since I bought the crutches, I'll have to hobble along

My Garmin 2610 can't do categories either. I group different category by naming them starting with a unique number- Problem solved . I don't even need to do that for geocaches, they all start out with a G! I don't see a reason to get all worked up for

As far as I know, the Legend does not have an antenna connection. You can get a re-radiating antenna for this purpose. This kind of antenna is not cheap though. Here's one: http://pc-mobile.net/gpsant.htm

I have a Handspring Visor with the magellan GPS companion. With Cachemate, you can have a truly paperless solution to geocaching. Using Cachemate with the proper plugins, you can search for caches based on where you are. Then while viewing the details of a certain cache, you can press the NAV button and you get guidance to the cache (arrow on a compass). After you find it, you can log the find, completely with the time. Functionally it is superior than any handheld GPS out there. If you need mapping guidance, you can use Mapopolis or Rand mcNally (I have both). I gave that up too. Now I use a Garmin 2610. BUT (there's always a but in there somewhere)...there are problems with PDA in general. My Visor completely washes out in daylight, rendering it useless -- it's great for twilight and night caching though. The battery only lasts a couple of hours, never long enough for meaningful cacheing. It's not rugged and especially not waterproof. In short I don't use my PDA much for finding the caches -- I did find about a dozen caches with it but it's just not good enough in the field. I now keep it in the back pack and read the cache description when I need additional info.

There are several ways of entering waypoints into the C320...Garmin calls them LOCATION, not waypoint. Basically you have to click a location on the map then change the lat/long. Another way is to mark a location as home then change it to something else. I read about it but can't find it when I need it (I do not own a C320). By far the easiest way is to use the Gps utility program that comes with it -- you can download Mapsource from garmin and use it also. This is highly recommended because it is much superior than the utility program provided. Use mapsource to open the coord files such as gpx then transfer them to the C320. BTW, the C320 will not accept routes, just waypoints.

Due to my fear of snakes, I no longer like bushwhacking where larger caches can be found. That leaves me urban areas where micros dominate. I grow to like them a lot, even the "uncreative ones". Oh, I'm not really into numbers, mind you. The most I ever find in one day was 5 or 6 because I like to take it slow and savor the hunt. So please don't ban them. In my relatively short time geocaching, I find on average (there are always exception) the larger caches are mostly uncreative while the micros are highly creative so I can't buy the argument micros are lame.

I have heard of caches with the (not ready) box checked get approved. I was a "victim" of such a cache. I spent two days (an hour each day) searching for a listed cache that was not yet placed by the hider. He claimed he checked the box...things I do to be FTF I think it's a good idea to hide everything first then ask for approval. If for some reason the cache is not, you can always remove it later.

Team_cotati...thanks for the sarcasm, it really helps . The reason I mentioned about a USB hub was that it happened to me when I installed my Garmin 2610. The computer simply would not recognize my 2610 no matter what I did. Finally after I plug the 2610 directly to the computer USB port, no problem. So the in my case the USB hub had everything to do with it. All of us use USB hubs, but not all hub will work with the Garmin units. Since I didn't know what Balboagirl's problem is, I thought I'd mention it just in case.

If the 60 is USB based, the problem could be as simple as your connecting the GPS via a USB hub. After you load the USB driver, try connecting it directly to the computer USB port then turn the unit on. Mapsource recognizes gpx files. Not sure about loc files (I haven't tried). EasyGPS, under preferences, you can choose your GPS. If the USB connection exists, it will communicate.

I think in a way he helps clarifying to readers that while he logs first, he's STF. I don't see anything wrong with it. Ideally you should have logged first but it's unfair to make him wait for you so he's FTL, STF

One thing for sure is that you can customize the lat/long to your liking (e.g. to show in DD MM.MMM or whatever. GPS altitude is unreliable in any unit, Garmin, Magellan...it doesn't matter. Since you are a runner, you might want to get another GPS (in addition to) - the Garmin Forerunner 201. I have one and it's great for runners. It keeps track of your distance, pace, calories burn, etc. It also gives you interval training and a virtual partner. You can specify a running speed/pace for your virtual partner and it will tell you how well you are compared to your partner.

Are you sure your explorist 600 won't do waypoint projection? If my lowly, outdated Magellan Map330 can do it, yours should too. To get to the waypoint projection with mine, you start out with the Position page, press MENU and there's should be an option called PROJECTION. Please try and let me know. I'm sure it can.

You should be able to. You can start out with the free EasyGPS or the premium GSAK. I have a 2610 and I can use just about anything to download waypoints to mine. I have tried GSAK, EasyGPS, G7toWin and Mapsource. Unfortunately your 2620 does not come with Mapsource!

It's First to Log