joe_shmoe

I'm looking for the cheapest places you guys buy GPS stuff. I think I've narrowed it down to buying the Explorist 210 for my father-in-law. I've found it for $125.55 from amazon. Thanks for the help! Feel free to mention similarly equipped GPS units if they have buttons on the front (ease of use)... if there is a better deal out there. Joe

$184.78 with google checkout here: http://www.buy.com/prod/Magellan_Roadmate_.../203394196.html

i like toys too... and i don't have kids... i even like finding fast food toys as long as they are not used... always thought it was strange to put used stuff that nobody will want.

Wow, some of you are more strict in your personal "rules" than I thought anyone would be. I'm impressed that some don't look at the hint (or logs) until the second time they visit the cache site and after logging a dnf! That's kind of cool. Personally I don't have that much patience... maybe 30 minutes or so and depending on the area. As one previous cacher said, if in the woods on a nice day the patience is much longer than in a parking lot. I am currently covered in bug bites due to the last cache find - probably should have resorted to the hint sooner! I usually say that I used the hint, especially if it was a really difficult cache. I liked the suggestions made earlier by RandLD about sentences to use when logging a hint... I can just copy and paste them into my logs I placed my first cache a few days ago and am very interested in how difficult it actually is. I even mentioned in the description that I would like people to let me know when they use the hint - as it goes from being somewhat difficult (IMHO) to easy with the two word hint. Anyways, thanks so much for the response! Joe

Your saying finding something smaller is inherently easier? That seems counter intuitive. Is it easier to find an ammo box or a needle in a haystack? Isn't one point of micros somewhat like virtuals where you find something cool besides a bunch of toys in a box? The micros I have found were in fairly cool places. I know where you're coming from if they are all hidden in magnetic hide-a-key containers on the bottom of benches and picnic tables.

So, how much patience do you have? How often do you use hints? Do you post the fact that you used a hint when you log your visit, or is the ego too big for that? I'm just wondering, because sometimes people will log a "quick find" when the container is hidden unlike any other in the area or seems very difficult (to me) without the hint. Thanks for your responses.

I'm not impressed by how many caches a person has found and I don't play "the game" for the numbers (I say this having found 40 something, maybe I'll feel important after I've found 1000 ). Its hard for me to understand why someone would "fake" a virtual find unless it is just fun for them to think they are deceiving someone. I guess it is true that some people live their lives to do this... have fake exteriors so people won't discover who they truly are.

Could it be that cachers place their loot on or at the end of already-made "social" trails to make it easier for themselves and others? This was the case with a cache I found a couple days ago. That having been said, I think it is best (environmentally) for the cache to be just off a main trail. I used to make an assumption that the cache owner would not place a cache in the middle of the woods far from the trail, but that is obviously not the case with some. I really appreciate the owners who list that each cache is not more than an arms length from the trail and I believe this would be the best practice for all of us. I wonder how many tramplers a month it takes to wear a trail? If one or two people find the "deep woods" caches each month is this pretty low impact? Perhaps certain caches could be limited to two a month if we wanted... if there are two found postings for the cache you have to wait til the next month. I'm really trying to take the fun out of the game, can you tell. I appreciate this conversation - I think I might abandon some finds if I can't reach the cache without hearing all kinds of vegetation snap and crackle under my feet.

I rarely use maps for caching... so you can always wait on the maps if you don't want to spend the $$ right away.

When we get close to a cache with our Merigold, we switch to viewing the coordinates instead - that has been MUCH MORE accurate, most of the time putting us right on top of the cache. The estimated distance will often be off, even when the coordinates are identical to those of the cache location. Another strange thing [iMHO] on my unit, is one nav screen will have a different estimate of the distance to the cache. Does anyone else experience this?

The back cover was not designed properly. Why did they not have the cover seal tight to the unit and perhaps use screws to secure it (something like the PC connection wire)? I agree that this is one of the weaknesses of the unit. It seems you would take greater care to protect the unit (and SD card) from moisture. Wouldn't any Meridian authorized dealer be able to order this? Here is their Dealer Locator Other than this and the serial port connectivity, I think the Gold was a great purchase.

what channels on FRS do cachers use? i remember reading that there is a main and a backup... can't find the post again. Thanks. Joe

do they all use serial connections rather than usb for their PC cords? i just received my meridian gold in the mail, and even though I may have read about this in other posts was a little in shock... it took me back a few years... well more than that to the time when mice were like this. i have never seen a non-usb cord for uploading to a personal device. strange.

you'd probably have to scramble the signal in some way and then each unit would need a certain code or chip... i figure the "user fee" would be a one time built in cost at time of purchase. Something like manufacturers of mp3 players who pay a per unit royalty so their users are immune from prosecution under copyright law in the US. I'm not saying that I think there should be fees. At least our government spent $12 B on something that is useful for everyone. I can't say that about a lot of things that taxpayer money is spent on.

was just reading a geocaching article and it is $12 billion thus far for the american taxpayer.

the meridian seems to have a bigger screen but not as good of resolution. legend is 288 X160, meridian gold is 120 X 160. anybody think this matters? sorry to be a little off topic.

Meridian Gold is $183.95 shipped from compuplus.com Etrex Legend is $131.94 shipped from amazon.com Those seem like the best prices from retailers. I've been trying to decide between them this last week and think I'm leaning toward the gold. For one, I don't want to have to delete maps off of my unit to add another map. The expandable memory makes so much sense. Has anyone else purchased from compuplus and other like unknown retailers? How has the experience been? Are there any reputable retailers that will match prices from these online stores? Thanks!

with memory being so cheap these days (flash, ram, etc) why in the world would a gpsr only have 8mb of it?

the US taxpayer already pays for the service. does anyone have a figure for how much it has cost us thus far to build and maintain satellites? would it make sense to charge a fee to users outside of the US?

Hi, I'm going to be visiting my sister in law this summer in germany. How do I narrow my searches on geocaching.com? I can only figure out how to search for "germany" and that is not a big help. Muchas Gracias.

have you bread them to not need to use the bathroom? Might need some kind of high tech disposal system... but actually you should be alright if you place the cache in a high traffic area - so the finders have to take the geodog for a walk each time. a seriously good idea.

hopefully the geocoin was the april fools joke... : ) i have to shake my head when I see those losers with big trucks and mudflaps with women posed on them (luckily I don't see them in my area). pretty lame. you know what they say about [some] guys with big trucks - at least the bumper stickers say it.

I can't believe how many people purchase on ebay for what they could get it elsewhere new. But, if you sit and wait til the last minute, you can sometimes get stuff for a good deal. Bidding on items early just drives the price up. Its kind of crazy, but good for sellers.

Thanks for the info on maps. I can see how pocket pcs would have cheaper or free maps because there is a somewhat universal OS... or two that companies can write software for. So, it sounds like if I travel the detailed maps will get me by without seeing the "big picture". Thanks, that helps. Joe