Butano

Someone around here used to make custom sticks I always get him and someone else mixed up, so I won't mention names). I think he got overwhelmed and no longer does it to my knowledge. I hadn't seen one myself, but heard that they were very nicely done. Personally, I got mine from Hike America. They also have the medallions for the sticks that you may have seen around. I have dealt with them a few times (had a sig item from them for a while ) and always felt pleased with the quality and quick service.

One thing you might try is looking at Expert GPS. There is an option to add a scanned map (or the the map that you have retrieved) and then calibrate it with known points. After that, you can us it to mark waypoints, display tracks, etc. Kind of a neat feature. But Expert GPS isn't free (but worth the cost in my mind).

Hi cexshun, Maybe I can shed a little light on this for you. 1) The gray ars that you see on the satellite screen are satellites that it it receiving data for, but does not have a lock on yet. They black ones are the ones that have a lock. You will notice that the bars are initially gray then turn black. The height of the bars is an indication of the signal strength. This doesn't have to do with whether the satellite is WAAS or not. It works the same. 2) The WAAS almanac takes quite a while to download. I think that I have heard 20 minutes. I haven't timed it myself, but it is several minutes. As the almanac is filled, you will begin to see a 'D' on or above the bars. This indicates that differential data (WAAS) has been received and is being used to correct the satellite position. 3) The WAAS data is updated at regular intervals. In order to maintain the increased accuracy, you need to leave WASS enabled. This is because the corrections themselves are periodically corrected. If you disable WAAS, any corrections that were valid will no longer be used at all. They also become invalid, or at least no longer used, in a manner of minutes, based on the observation of the disappearance of the 'D' on the bars when the WAAS satellites are blocked from view. In my own experience, around this area both satellites are pretty low on the horizon and are difficult to get a consistent lock on, especially if I am moving around at all. I usually just leave it turned off so that I do have the two extra channels available. I don't miss the extra accuracy since that 30' radius of error usually isn't my problem when I am looking for a cache and can't find it. When I place a cache, I will turn it on and let it set. Hope that helps. Butano

I have the same problem on my Legend. I was thinking that it was going to be something like this. Nice to know how to do it. Thanks for the link to the excellent page!

All that way for a SMALL cache? Not even a regular size? At least it isn't a micro!

I went out jogging one day and checked on my GPS when I was done. I then noticed my max speed (3923 MPH). I wondered what that booming noise was behind me This is an actual untouched photo, but I think something like what 4x4van described must have happened. Guess the Garmin's go faster though

I have a minor request for a change to the View a Cache Log page. While I was trying to gather some information about caches that I had done, I needed the ID for the cache. In order to get that, I had to go to each actual cache page for the log. It would have been useful to have the ID show up next to the name (as well as taking a load off the apparently very busy server today). A similar change could also be made the My Geocaching Logs page, though that would not have been useful for what I was doing today. - Butano

Here's my benchmark. For some reason part of the image is out of focus though

Hey Marky, Thanks for offering the service to track sig items. I would be interested in that for my benchmarks (I think that you have one already ). What do you need in order to get started? I am thinking the URL of Butano.sigitems.com. Now I have to go out and find one of those WoW items.

While I don't process nearly as many e-mails as you do, I have automated a little bit. Here is my two cents worth. I too manually extract the pocket queries to a single folder. Once that is done, I have a command script that will convert the file to a PDB format using CMConvert from Smittyware using the command line version of that. The script then moves the file into my PDA installation directory for the next hot synch. The script code is quite simple once you get the CMConvert arguments figured out. Here is a copy of my script that runs under Windows XP. "D:\Program Files\Geocaching\cmconvertCmdLine\cmconvert.exe" -o "D:\My Documents\Geocaching\Pocket Queries\Local.pdb" -B -C -d -D -N 5 -O -s -S -t -a "14194.gpx" "C:\Program Files\Sony Handheld\Instapp.exe" "D:\My Documents\Geocaching\Pocket Queries\Local.pdb" Your drives and app locations may/will be different. This script converts my local pocket query (14194.gps) into the Palm file Local.pdb, then sets it up for the next hotsynch. A couple of things that I would like the Instapp function to do is to install it directly to the card instead of setting it to the main memory, and to also not display the installation window. Anyone know the commands for that? This is a little differnt approach to what you are doing and may not fit in with what you are doing. Maybe someone will find it helpful though.

In an attempt to maybe rerail this topic, I just checked out the new look of the website. It seems very clean and sleek. Looks pretty nice. I also noticed the bookmark link. That is a great idea, to be able to create multiple groups of bookmarks that could be shared as well. The ignore feature will probably come in handy occasionally, but I guess that I don't see me using it much (maybe I am lucky with the general quality of caches in my area ) Nice job on the upgrade (and I am happy to pay my membership fees ).

If you want to make your own (I did ), check out Berntsen. They make the real thing. Of course what it sounds like you want is one that has some history behind it and such. This wouldn't be the case with one that you ordered. But given the options, I think it is the next best thing.

WHY NOT?!?! you're always camo pants when I see you. WE WANT TO SEE THOSE LEGS! Old Hippy was wearing a camo kilt. I need to get one of those... --Marky I saw Old Hippy, and a few others, wearing their kilts at the Lights Fantastic event before Christmas. It was pretty cold that night. Not sure how they did it. Don't think that I would have worn one myself that night. It would get a little cool I imagine.

There is one "legal" cache in the area. You first have to enter the park and then head to Yosemite West, which is not park property. There is a good cache with a good lookout over the valley there. It is Lizard's Delight. But the last person to try to find it said there was too much snow to do the .25 mile hike in (given the picture they included, I would have to agree). And given that there is probably at least as much snow up there now, I would have to add 1 - 2 stars each for difficulty and terrain. The box is likely to be buried. Should be some awsome views if you can get there. The other virtuals in the park are also quite interesting as well. Though some people think virts are lame, many of these are quite good, and would be worth their while even if physical caches were allowed. If you want to try your hand at benchmark hunting, there are also several in the park. I only found a couple of them. I think the road has been changed quite a bit and destroyed a few markers. The one at Glacier Point is easily found (when you can drive up there) and the coordinates are right on Details for Benchmark: HR2877

The cache pages do feel more polished to me than the benchmark pages. I have always attributed that to the fact that there are more cachers than benchmark hunters, and therefore should be worked and refined more. But it has always seemed strange to me to put the description under the logs for instance. The map is smaller on the benchmark page as well, adding to the different feel of the page. BTW, I just noticed that the cache pages have a link to the nearest trail. That is a cool feature that I hadn't thought of.

The link is already there . If you go to the benchmark page, then look to the left side of the page, across from the map (above the logs and below the initial description). There is a link for Nearest benchmarks and geocaches. Good luck finding them!

How can I get my own benchmark? I really think it would be neat to have one on my own property! There was a thread a while back about custom benchmarks or something (too lazy to look it up right now). But it mentioned the company Berntsen. I have ordered a couple of them, one for myself, and one for Jug & Roon. They turned out really neat. I then set it in a rock. Turned out really good. I don't know about registering it anywhere though. My placement isn't stable enough to submit it to the NGS or anything, but this is the company that I think is used to make most benchmarks. I was very happy with their service.

Merry Christmas to everyone!

This is a pretty slick idea. I think that there area acouple of things that could be done to improve its usefulness, but given this is the first version out of the door, it is great. A couple of things that came to mind are a way to specify a new cache without having to restart the program, and an install program. Also allow sorting for nearest logs and showing the distance to the log. Something worth looking at. I think that it could be used for other things as well, scrapig off coordinates from a web page. Good work!

Thanks Muzikman for the file! Just what I wanted. And evenfall for curing my temporary lapse of common sense (why didn't I think of that). Closing up this topic since it has been answered.

I know of one that Marky & Joani found around here that had been labeled as not found/destroyed. There had been some extensive realignment of the roads, and the bridge that the benchmarks were on was no longer used (but still there, when they found it). A new bridge, as well as an extension of the road was part of the realignment, a couple of hundred feet south. The description indicated the benchmark was on the Hillsdale Rd bridge near Almaden Road. The original road became Old Hillsdale (I believe) and Almaden became Old Almaden. A new road Almaden Expressway was also added. The bridge was eventually torn down, so it is now actually missing. But the ones that are marked as not found, I don't spend a lot of time searching for, and then only if it is fairly obvious where it should be do I look much. I'll take a stab at some of your other questions. Someone else may know better answers. #1 I believe that the benchmarks are still in use in general. That does not mean that everyone has been used in recent history. #2 There was a thread discussing benchmarks on topo maps recently. Check out Mbs Listed On Topo Maps (I got to Markwell ) #3 There are several that are along a road, but in many cases that is not why they are monumented. I have found a couple of schools (go during non class time) and other structures. #4 I believe that these are survey points used by other groups. But one of the surveyors in the group should be able to discuss these more. #5 Probably the same thing as #4.

I had noticed that you have posted a few finds up that way, even near where I am going (Ione even ) I am about the only one who hunts the benchmarks out of the five of us geocachers who will be up there. Wonder if that would count as a mini event.

As everyone has probably noticed, the NGS benchmark sight is still down. I am visiting family this weekend and would like to hit a couple of benchmarks while I am there. But I can't get the datasheets. Does anyone have the archive file, or even better a GPX file for Amador county in California? Thanks for the help!

I have experienced the same problem at my company as well. I wasn't sure what the reason behind it was, but I guess that DustyJacket got it. I was wondering if someone had added the site to a list somewhere. I can still access the forums though. But I will probably be unable to access the web for a couple of months at work anyway.