mookie

I bought this adapter for around $25. Works great with my meri-gold and Toshiba 1005-S157 laptop running XP. Plugged it in, installed the drivers, and it works!

I see nothing wrong with requesting no "Kids Meal" toys. Will people comply? Probably not. I've read too many logs that read something like "took mini mag lite, left pack of matches and spare change". I try to bring a varied assortment of things to trade including cheap toys. Often times I leave without trading because I only trade if it's something I think is unique. I don't trade for the sake of trading. I think MattandLaura are correct in suggesting making the cache a little more difficult. The only two "hard" caches that I have found, both contained a pretty decent selection of treasure. In contrast, the easier "drive to the city park, walk a tenth of a mile" caches tended to contain a lot of crap. Even the one's that started with some nice stuff. mookie

I stick with “didn’t sign the logbook = Not Found”. For instance, I spent 45 minutes looking up and down a small creek yesterday looking for a cache in a small park. This should have been more than enough time considering the size of the area but I had read online logs giving conflicting stories of the cache location. I gave up and was crossing the creek in a different spot (100 feet of so from cache cords.) to reach my car when I found the bottom of a Tupperware container, baggie and pen. Very suspicious but hardly an entire cache. I placed these back at the cache cords, logged a “Not Found” with comments that I think the cache has been plundered. I email the owner with details and they later confirm the cache was indeed plundered. So, even though I found the cords and possibly the cache container, it still counts as a “Not Found” in my book. I’ll go back when/if the cache is replaced. Two other local examples. A newly placed cache had the cache cords. and the parking cords. swapped by mistake. I didn’t seek this cache until the owner made corrections, but finding only a parking lot would have definitely been a “Not Found”. I can almost envision the online log: “Gee, I went to where the cords were, I’m counting it as a find.” Lastly, there is another local cache that I searched for in an area of fairly heavy brush, mud, and dozens of great hiding spots for over an hour. I was ready to give up but gave one more look around and saw a suspicious area close to the trail. Sure enough that’s it. But my meri-gold is showing that the cache was 60 feet away. As I read the logbook I see entries like “coordinates were way off” and “cords. were off by 50 feet”, etc…. My point I’m trying to make, just because you think you’re at the right location and don’t find the cache, in MY opinion, it’s a “Not Found”. Cache placers make mistakes. Trees and other natural objects can give faulty gpsr readings. It’s all part of the game and that helps to add challenge and fun. But it’s also a personal game and it’s up to you to be fair and honest with what you log. It seems like a lot of people refuse to log a “Not Found” because they're going to come back another day or they don’t want to break their streak of “Founds”. I bet a lot of these cachers are great golfers as well. IdahoMan, don’t think for a second I’m criticizing you. You knew exactly where the cache had been, because you have been there before. So logging a note is proper. I applaud your initiative to replace it! mookie

I stick with “didn’t sign the logbook = Not Found”. For instance, I spent 45 minutes looking up and down a small creek yesterday looking for a cache in a small park. This should have been more than enough time considering the size of the area but I had read online logs giving conflicting stories of the cache location. I gave up and was crossing the creek in a different spot (100 feet of so from cache cords.) to reach my car when I found the bottom of a Tupperware container, baggie and pen. Very suspicious but hardly an entire cache. I placed these back at the cache cords, logged a “Not Found” with comments that I think the cache has been plundered. I email the owner with details and they later confirm the cache was indeed plundered. So, even though I found the cords and possibly the cache container, it still counts as a “Not Found” in my book. I’ll go back when/if the cache is replaced. Two other local examples. A newly placed cache had the cache cords. and the parking cords. swapped by mistake. I didn’t seek this cache until the owner made corrections, but finding only a parking lot would have definitely been a “Not Found”. I can almost envision the online log: “Gee, I went to where the cords were, I’m counting it as a find.” Lastly, there is another local cache that I searched for in an area of fairly heavy brush, mud, and dozens of great hiding spots for over an hour. I was ready to give up but gave one more look around and saw a suspicious area close to the trail. Sure enough that’s it. But my meri-gold is showing that the cache was 60 feet away. As I read the logbook I see entries like “coordinates were way off” and “cords. were off by 50 feet”, etc…. My point I’m trying to make, just because you think you’re at the right location and don’t find the cache, in MY opinion, it’s a “Not Found”. Cache placers make mistakes. Trees and other natural objects can give faulty gpsr readings. It’s all part of the game and that helps to add challenge and fun. But it’s also a personal game and it’s up to you to be fair and honest with what you log. It seems like a lot of people refuse to log a “Not Found” because they're going to come back another day or they don’t want to break their streak of “Founds”. I bet a lot of these cachers are great golfers as well. IdahoMan, don’t think for a second I’m criticizing you. You knew exactly where the cache had been, because you have been there before. So logging a note is proper. I applaud your initiative to replace it! mookie

A lot of good suggestions so far, but I’ll add my thoughts. Buying a digital camera will not cure the problem just because it’s digital. It can help though if it has a preview/review screen. I’m a long time user of 35mm equipment but I recently bought a digital camera just so I could skip the scanning process to get photos onto my computer. But I have found that preview/review screen to be a nice bonus. The review screen on the camera is great because you know instantly whether the photo is ok or not. I do the same thing as EliJoMikMiNi, I take a photo of my gpsr in my hand above the cache just to see how close it read for every cache. With my point and shoot digital camera the only thing I do is “force” the flash to fire even if the camera “thinks” there is enough light. This helps to capture a readable gpsr reading in my slightly moving hand. The only potential problem with this is the flash can cause glare on the gpsr screen, making it unreadable. This is where the review screen comes in handy on the digital camera. If I see the screen is not readable, I simply twist the gpsr slightly and try again. The available light in the woods is often not nearly enough to take close up photos without flash. So if you are sticking with 35mm either use fast film (as others suggested, 400-800 speed) or use a flash. Many point-and-shoot cameras (this goes for either 35mm or digital) allow the user to “force” the flash to fire, read your camera manual if you’re not sure. Someone else suggested a tripod. That also would work if you don’t mind carrying it with you. Try these suggestions out and if you’re sticking with 35mm, shoot a couple of frames to make sure you have at least one that is usable. Film is relatively cheap.

I agree with the others who said "if you didn't sign the logbook, you didn't find the cache". (Provided there is a logbook and somebody didn't steal it. If so, that's another thread ) I think there has been threads on missing/stolen caches that the cache owner was not aware of, and somebody looked for it and couldn't find it. There is a local cache like this and the log read something like "didn't know the cache was gone, but we went to the coordinates so we would have found it if it hadn't been stolen, so we are logging it as a found". I guess this is a personal choice but one I wouldn't have made. I think some folks get so caught up in the numbers and feel that "couldn't find" is something to be ashamed of. You're the only one that knows the truth, do what you think is right.

I agree with the others who said "if you didn't sign the logbook, you didn't find the cache". (Provided there is a logbook and somebody didn't steal it. If so, that's another thread ) I think there has been threads on missing/stolen caches that the cache owner was not aware of, and somebody looked for it and couldn't find it. There is a local cache like this and the log read something like "didn't know the cache was gone, but we went to the coordinates so we would have found it if it hadn't been stolen, so we are logging it as a found". I guess this is a personal choice but one I wouldn't have made. I think some folks get so caught up in the numbers and feel that "couldn't find" is something to be ashamed of. You're the only one that knows the truth, do what you think is right.

quote:Originally posted by geebeebop:Thanks for info Mookie. I was just wondering if the drivers for the serial/USB converter will work with Windows XP. Actually I'm using this on my Toshiba laptop running XP. There were no XP drivers on the CD that came with the cable so I used the ones listed for Win2000. XP gave me a warning that these were not XP drivers. I felt adventurious and loaded them anyway. They have worked without problem for three days now. I haven't gone to Hawking's site to see if they have XP drivers yet, maybe they are out there. If you rather not use non-XP drivers you may want to check the manufacturer web site before you buy a cable. I know Belkin makes a cable as well as a couple of other companies. I just bought the Hawking because it was the cheapest

quote:Originally posted by geebeebop:Thanks for info Mookie. I was just wondering if the drivers for the serial/USB converter will work with Windows XP. Actually I'm using this on my Toshiba laptop running XP. There were no XP drivers on the CD that came with the cable so I used the ones listed for Win2000. XP gave me a warning that these were not XP drivers. I felt adventurious and loaded them anyway. They have worked without problem for three days now. I haven't gone to Hawking's site to see if they have XP drivers yet, maybe they are out there. If you rather not use non-XP drivers you may want to check the manufacturer web site before you buy a cable. I know Belkin makes a cable as well as a couple of other companies. I just bought the Hawking because it was the cheapest

I ended up buying the Hawking Technologies Inc.USB-Serial Converter Model RS232C. Plugged it in, installed the drivers and my system showed it as COM port 4. ExpertGPS reconizes my meri-gold with no problem. So if anybody else has this same dilemma, this cable or a similar one seems to fit the bill. Thanks to all those who replied.

I ended up buying the Hawking Technologies Inc.USB-Serial Converter Model RS232C. Plugged it in, installed the drivers and my system showed it as COM port 4. ExpertGPS reconizes my meri-gold with no problem. So if anybody else has this same dilemma, this cable or a similar one seems to fit the bill. Thanks to all those who replied.

Thanks for the info infosponge. Now I see where you got the nickname. I looked locally at Best Buy and CompUSA and neither had the cable adapter. They both had a device that you could plug into the usb port of your computer and it would give you 2-3 serial ports. Too big and Too much $$$, about $75 I think. Saturday, I ordered a cable type converter online for $23 from buy.com, I just checked and they haven't shipped yet This is a case where I would gladly pay a few bucks more and get it locally. I didn't even think to check Staples or Office Depot/Max, maybe I'll try there at lunch today.

Thanks for the info infosponge. Now I see where you got the nickname. I looked locally at Best Buy and CompUSA and neither had the cable adapter. They both had a device that you could plug into the usb port of your computer and it would give you 2-3 serial ports. Too big and Too much $$$, about $75 I think. Saturday, I ordered a cable type converter online for $23 from buy.com, I just checked and they haven't shipped yet This is a case where I would gladly pay a few bucks more and get it locally. I didn't even think to check Staples or Office Depot/Max, maybe I'll try there at lunch today.

Here's the response I got from TopoGrafix support... >>>I've heard from many users who are doing this successfully. ExpertGPS now supports COM1-COM9, and your USB-Serial adapter should show up as a virtual COM port.<<< I'd still like to hear from somebody who doing this successfully but I'll probably spring for the adapter and try it with the ExpertGPS demo. mookie

Here's the response I got from TopoGrafix support... >>>I've heard from many users who are doing this successfully. ExpertGPS now supports COM1-COM9, and your USB-Serial adapter should show up as a virtual COM port.<<< I'd still like to hear from somebody who doing this successfully but I'll probably spring for the adapter and try it with the ExpertGPS demo. mookie

OK any of you hardware tech-types out there, here’s a question for you. I’ve got a Magellan Meridian Gold with data cable that has a serial connector. I would like to connect the meri-gold to my laptop. The laptop does not have a serial port but does have a usb port. I know they make a serial to usb converter/connector so I will be able to physically connect my gpsr to my laptop. My question is…. will the gpsr be recognized by map software like ExpertGPS if it’s not connected via a true serial/COM port? I don’t have ExpertGPS yet or the connector but after reading the ExpertGPS website, I think its looking for a serial/COM connection. I am sending an email to ExpertGPS support with this question, but I wanted to give you guys a chance to show off your technical side:) Anybody else run into this before? or able to shed some technical light on my dilemma? All theories and suggestions welcome. Thanks, mookie

OK any of you hardware tech-types out there, here’s a question for you. I’ve got a Magellan Meridian Gold with data cable that has a serial connector. I would like to connect the meri-gold to my laptop. The laptop does not have a serial port but does have a usb port. I know they make a serial to usb converter/connector so I will be able to physically connect my gpsr to my laptop. My question is…. will the gpsr be recognized by map software like ExpertGPS if it’s not connected via a true serial/COM port? I don’t have ExpertGPS yet or the connector but after reading the ExpertGPS website, I think its looking for a serial/COM connection. I am sending an email to ExpertGPS support with this question, but I wanted to give you guys a chance to show off your technical side Anybody else run into this before? or able to shed some technical light on my dilemma? All theories and suggestions welcome. Thanks, mookie

I use the Meridian Gold almost all the time, but I still get the old Blazer 12 out just for fun. Amazing how accurate the old one still is. mookie

I agree with Peter’s post above. I’m tired of every individual electronic device having their own proprietary battery and charger. I’ve got two Samsung cell phones and each one has a different charger and the batteries are not interchangeable. Then I have my Ipaq PDA, Bearcat scanner, and Canon digital camera each with their own unique chargers and batteries. It gets to be a mess keeping all the different chargers and batteries organized. I would much rather have them all run on the same AA battery. Although I do have a backup battery for the digital camera, I can only imagine trying to find one outside of a fairly large metro area. You can find AA’s at almost every backwoods gas station, convenience store or hardware store. So I’m glad that my Magellan Gold uses AA’s so I’ve got one less set of batteries and charger to keep track of.