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letmein

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Posts posted by letmein

    What do you do?

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    It looks like you are talking about "young and old". If I were the cache owner, I'd delete the unsigned visit, especially a first-to-find.

     

    I don't see any logs for them, other than in Wisconsin. Am I missing the PA ones you've seen?

     

    "Young and old" logged seven caches dated before they joined Geocaching.com. That is a bit strange. Maybe they got the cache coordinates from a friend before joining themselves, then went back from memory and logged their finds. In doing this, maybe they recorded on the wrong cache. That is a scenario that might not have deceitful intentions.

     

    Send "young and old" an email if the cache owner doesn't take action. Or email WGA3 (your local cache reviewer) and have him contact the cache owner and "young and old".

    Attention: Magellan 300-500 Series Users - Help Needed!

    in GPS technology and devices

    Posted

    I use an eXplorist 600. It is basically the same unit as the rest. It has been a great little unit. I really like the rechargeable batteries that can be installed in this line. Magellan left us hanging for at least a couple of years on the firmware, but finally made it better. The firmware issue was that the WAAS satellites changed, and there was no firmware updates to correct this. This is not a problem anymore.

     

    I found some eXplorist 500s for very cheap and bought 3--one for each of my kids.

     

    The problem that most people initially have with the eXplorist is the stupidly designed cable that connects your unit to a computer. The cable runs down the unit, not up. Also after a few years of use, the screw that holds my cable in wore out and no longer works. I now use a cradle that the unit and cable clip into.

     

    I don't know if it would be worth it to buy this unit if you also want detailed maps. If you are going to spend that money, you might consider a more up to date model. If you aren't going to have detailed maps, then the models that accept an SD card aren't as important.

     

    It is interesting to read the recent stories about the Triton. I seriously considered upgrading from my eXplorist 600 when they first came out. I'm glad I didn't--it would have been a disaster. It sounds like the firmware might be fixed enough to make the unit useful. But if I can't use it with GSAK, then I don't want it.

     

    Would I buy an eXplorist unit? Yes, if I could get it very cheap. Maybe around $100. Otherwise, I think I'd go for a more up to date model. I'd probably buy a top of the line Garmin if I were to buy a unit today, but a very cheap eXporist would be a good choice if you are just starting out and need to save a lot of money.

    explorist XL reading SD card from Explorist 500

    in GPS technology and devices

    Posted

    Connect the 500 to your computer. Use the Windows explorer to find the caches file. Copy the file to a temporary folder on your PC. Disconnect 500. Connect XL. Use Windows explorer to find the folder for caches. Copy the files from your temporary folder to the XL.

     

    A side question: Why do you want to copy the caches? It seems to me it would be easier to run a pocket query and get new, updated cache info to your XL.

    Using a Megellan Explorer 210

    in GPS technology and devices

    Posted

    linkguider,

     

    The easiest way to get caches downloaded is to pay $30 yearly fee to geocaching.com and become a premium member. As a premium member you can submit a "pocket query" and get 200 caches at a time (the limit of the eXplorist per file). You can then use a complicated (but easy once you get the hang of it) program called GSAK (another $30 one-time fee, or nag ware that gets progressively more annoying) to convert the "pocket query" .gpx file to the eXplorist .gs file.

     

    Koolaid105 mentions he does this with Mapsend Lite, a free download from magellangps.com I don't know anything about using that, or the new Vantage Point from Magellan that replaces the older Geocache Manager.

    Using a Megellan Explorer 210

    in GPS technology and devices

    Posted · Edited by letmein

    Yes, you can download caches one at a time. The 210 comes with a geocache manager, or you can download an updated one from the Magellan web site.

     

    How much are you going to spend on the 210? I just bought my kids eXplorist 500s, for $119. Color, SD card, etc.

    Explorist 600 Connecting Via Usb, Please Help

    in GPS technology and devices

    Posted

    My unit is charging while connected. This leads me to believe my cable is working on some level.

     

    Odd, my unit says "External power" when I have the cable attached "correctly" (with the cord running down). with the cable "upside down" my unit says "Charging". The cable is designed this way: If you connect it with the cable running out the top you get a rapid charge through the USB port but cannot communicate with your computer. I hook my cable up this way on purpose all the time to charge my unit.

     

    I still use the cable without a cradle. I make sure I never fully tighten the screw because I don't want to strip out the threads or damage the unit.

     

    I think you might have a bad cable. Before replacing the cable I'd take a small alcohol swab to the contact pads on the GPSr and to the cable pins to make sure there is no insulating coating on them.

    Zero Satellites on Cruise Ship?

    in GPS technology and devices

    Posted

    Just to throw out something to consider (I have no idea really), perhaps it was reflections from the ship that caused the trouble.

     

    Radio waves are not necessarily absorbed by metal. They could be reflected. Sand on a metal deck, and the reflections up from the deck might interfere with reception from above. Try holding the GPSR closer or farther away from the deck and see if that makes any difference.

    Question to Explorist owner (Topo 3D)

    in GPS technology and devices

    Posted

    I can't tell when my unit is using the base map and when it is using the detail map. I think they exactly line up, so one is exactly on top of the other. (I don't ever see two lines for a single road).

     

    I couldn't say if the detail map will be better at railroads and lakes. I wouldn't think it would make any difference, unless the basemap people were sloppy when they drew in these things.

     

    I doubt that using detail maps will change your precision showing on roads.

     

    What accuracy does the unit show? Does it ever show WAAS in the accuracy box? (The eXplorist 500 Europe firmware allows use of WAAS, but I don't know if it would destroy a 400 to install it.)

     

    How accurate has the unit been with the geocaches you've found?

    Question to Explorist owner (Topo 3D)

    in GPS technology and devices

    Posted

    I see on the magellangps.com site a software download for "MapSend Lite".

    https://www.magellangps.com/products/map.as...amp;PRODID=1717

    It looks like it is specifically targeting the eXplorist line.

     

    It looks like it is free (you have to register as a user on Magellangps.com). I've never used it, so I can't say what it does.

     

    It does not look like it will put maps onto the GPSr. It looks like it will show my track logs without messing with a conversion, though. I'll try it out this weekend if I get time.

    Question to Explorist owner (Topo 3D)

    in GPS technology and devices

    Posted

    I have Topo 3D USA, version 1.0. I think there might be newer versions, so your experiences might be different.

     

    1. I do many things outdoors and off-highway--snowmobiling, 4 wheeling, etc.--so the Topo is much better for me than the streets and maps.

    2. Detail road maps ARE included, including points of interest such as gas stations, restaurants, banks, scenic points, etc. (See notes below).

    3. The basemap will still be present on your GPSr, but the TOPO maps make it so you won't even care.

    4. No "layers", but you can select how fine of detail you want turned on. The higher the detail, the slower your GPSr unit will be. (But high detail is not too slow for me).

    5. You can easily fit all the U.S. on a 2GB SD card. You will want to transfer regions that are smaller, however. I never cut a region that is more than 50 Meg. larger files slow down your GPSr. For a basis of how much goes into 50 meg, all of Utah is just under 50 meg. (Utah is a pretty big state geographically). My guess is you could get all the U.S. in about 20 or 30 (maybe fewer) region cuts of 50 meg each.

    6. Topo will NOT give you driving instructions at all. That is what the street by street version (or whatever they call it) is for.

     

    Notes: (At least for the version I have)

    1. Mapsend is a pain to use with an eXplorist. Mapsend was written for units before the eXplorist line, and the maps that come straight out of Mapsend are not directly compatible with eXplorist. You have to save the cut region to your hard disk, then run the "Magellan Conversion Manager" that came with your eXplorist to get the map transfered to your unit.

    2. The software has copy protection. You can use the software for up to three units. You have to enter the unit's serial number (from the "About" page) to generate usable maps.

    3. The copy protection requires you place CD #3 into your computer every time you want to use mapsend. (There are "Patches" available that disable this requirement).

    4. The points of interest for restaurants and gas stations, etc. are very out of date. I don't know how to get updated info (I've not looked because I don't use these).

    5. I think the street maps and points of interest are from about 2001. New streets don't appear. If there is a way to update this, I'd like to hear about it.

    6. You can turn off displaying of various points of interest, such as "don't show restaurants". But if you then switch to a different region and back again (Active Map or Active Setup, then choose a different detail map) everything you've turned off comes back on. Stupid.

    7. It is really cool to take a track log from your GSPr, run conversion manager to transfer to mapsend, then see your track log in mapsend. I take track logs from snowmobiling trips in the Uinta Mountains and view the track logs in 3D mode. You can rotate the view and see all the steep hills and cliffs. Some my track logs in the mountains frighten me to see where I've been. Way cool!

    8. Cutting a region then converting to eXplorist is slow. On a 2.3 Ghz core 2 duo (2 year old PC) it takes about 30 minutes to do a 50 Meg cut.

     

    I wouldn't be without my Topo map on my eXplorist because of the way I use it. I wouldn't be without some form of detail maps on any unit, because it is so helpful to have all the little streets shown (even if the maps are a little old).

    Magellan eXplorist 400 .gpx issues

    in GPS technology and devices

    Posted

    Vorsicht,

     

    I received the .gpx file you sent. I used both Magellan Geocache Manager and GSAK to convert it to a .gs file.

    I went into my Menu->Active Map setup on my eXplorist 500, and selected the file. I then hit escape. I did a Menu->Pts of Interest->Geocache Pts (find by nearest)->Nearest to position. A cache called "The Friendly Giant" was the only cache in the list. (It is 2905 miles from my home). I selected the cache by pressing enter.

    The GPS has the details I've seen before. I selected "View". The map screen appears, and there is the cache somewhere out on the edge of no where Canada. Nova Scotia! I wish I could go there.

     

    Your file worked for me using both M. Geocache Manager and with GSAK.

     

    Try a goto with your file active. Does it show up in the list, then give you the red/yellow line to the cache from your present location?

     

    If so, then you have your map setup switched to not display geocaches. To turn back on:

    1. Menu

    2. Scroll down and select "Map Setup"

    3. Press the joystick to the right and select the "Display" tab.

    4. Scroll down and select "Geocache Icons"

    5. The "Geocache Names" also turns on automatically.

    6. Hit escape.

    You should now be able to see the geocache way over there on the east side of the North American continent, even if you zoom way out.

     

    Let us know how it works out!

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