Firefishe

When on the main web site, using Safari or any other browser, when accessing Account Settings from the “three bar,” or “hamburger” menu in the upper right hand corner of the page, I get my basic profile information, which I can edit, but when I press the down arrow for the Account settings sub-menu, it won’t drop down. This results in me not being able to access my premium account information so that I can check billing types and other related matters. I am guessing the embedded menu coding is old enough to not work through the new iPhone browsers. I will probably have to use my computer, instead of the phone, which is more than annoying to say the least. Photo included below. Warm Regards From, Firefishe Caching In On The Journey

I was walking in an historic part of Deadwood, South Dakota, when I happened across this disk. It seems fairly new--and judging by the date on it, it is. I haven't been able to locate it in any of the online benchmark databases, so I thought I'd try here. Thanks for the help! Warm Regards From, Firefishe Caching In On The Journey

--UPDATE 3-- I finally broke down and called Garmin Technical Support. This was nearly a month ago. I was able to get everything working via a complete GPS System Reset, and deleting all Garmin Connect Files on my Moto X Pure Edition phone. I have a problem with systems that rely too much on additional software and hardware. Why not just put a SIM Card slot on the gps and forget it? Why have to "register" a Wi-Fi connection with Garmin's Garmin Express Application so the GPS can be used with Wi-Fi? I've found out the following: Geocaching Lists are intermittent at best on my Oregon 750, unless everything is set up EXACTLY Right, on both the GPS and the phone, with Garmin Connect. This means manually deleting "~\Garmin\GGX\Geocaches.ggx" Starting from the GPS's Internal Root Folder. Live Map seems to work all right. I've decided that using GSAK to download all desired Pocket Queries into one large database on my Windows 7 Laptop, then uploading them via GSAK, exported as"Geocaches.ggx" (which saves it to "~\Garmin\GGX\Geocaches.ggx"), works better for me and saves time. The current Geocaching Lists feature on the Oregon 750 takes way too long. So long as I have my phone and Garmin Connect, Live Map is functional. GSAK allows me to upload a 2800-plus-cache GGX file to the Oregon. If that isn't enough for one area, I can increase it. The GGX file size generated is trivial, unless you have more maps that would interfere with storage space. That's my update. I'll let everyone know if my GSAK-generated *.ggx file can be made to work with the Oregon's "Geocaching List" feature. For now, Happy Caching From, *Firefishe* *Caching In On The Journey*

--UPDATE 2-- I'm running Firmware 3.70 on my Oregon 750 - The Geocaching Live features, the weather widget and radar animation, are all functional for a short time, then the system drops it. I have no idea what is going on. I don't think it's my phone's bluetooth stack.

--UPDATE-- I just updated my phone to the latest update. I will re-do some of the above and see if things work out. My weather widget and radar animation seems to work, so I wonder if it's the Pocket Query portion of the API that's muffed on Geocaching.com's side of things? (Ten to One odds?) Nothing seems to be wrong with my system other than the Lists. Will get back later.

What I Have I have a Garmin Oregon 750. As of Dec. 26, 2017, I am also experiencing sync issues. I've read this post thoroughly, and have done the following to try to resolve my issues. The Issues First, the main issue: Geocache Lists Wont Sync Properly. It seems everything else is syncing, but my Geocache Lists won't function properly. When I first start up the unit, and I have Garmin Connect up and running on my Moto X Pure Edition (Lineage OS 14.1, Build 2017-12-27), I have no issues retrieving the initial list. I can even go back to the Geocaching Live Main Menu, then go back to the Geocaching Lists, and they're still there. However, when I select a list to sync, the progress dial goes on forever, instead of giving the message that basic cache information has been loaded, with details then downloading in the background. I'll navigate back to the Geocaching Live menu, and try to access the list again. It won't allow the list to be loaded. I figure this is because of One, either the list is still loading, along with the details, and the progress spinner code is toasted, or Two, the GPS is not connecting via Bluetooth to Geocaching.com to retrieve the list, and the API is fried--at least with regard to my unit--for the nonce. Things I've Done Reset The Oregon 750 Completely. Deleted all GGZ files from ~/Garmin/GGZ on the GPS Unit. Removed the Oregon 750 Authorization on my account (Premium) on Geocaching.com. Re-Registered the Oregon 750 repeatedly after doing the preceding de-authorization procedure (multiple times.) Restarted the GPS, and having the same problem come up again, and again, and again. Summary and Guesses I know that my phone's Internet connection works, and does so regularly. I'm in a well-covered area, with a large cell tower atop a 7040' Mountain, so I know that my coverage is excellent! I have done everything the online help files would have me do. I have followed their instructions for setup of the various Garmin Connect and On-GPS Registration Procedures. There is one thing that might be an issue, but I am not certain. As stated above, I am using Lineage OS 14.1, which is the User Community continuation of the Cyanogenmod Android Firmware project. I've been using this Android OS version for a long time now. I had to recently downgrade to a previous release, as my phone began experiencing instability. As this occurs somewhat regularly with Lineage OS 14.1 "Nightly Releases*," there is a small probability that my particular phone's "Bluetooth Stack" is doing something weird when connecting to the Oregon 750. (*Really about every Two Weeks for my particular phone, known as "Clark" the "Nightly" designation is a holdover from the original project, and is, essentially, a convention, although it may have literal connotations for the newest phones.) Prior to to last upgrade I performed to my phone, the sync was working perfectly, and I had very little issues that a restart wouldn't correct. However, the recent downgrade (I did a complete system wipe via TWRP Recovery before install from scratch.) may have some type of Bluetooth Stack issues that make syncing to the 'net connection problematic due to interruption of the stream to Bluetooth. Again, I hadn't had any trouble with it. I guess I can always try one of the newer releases, prior to my problematic one, and see if that solves the problem. I'll post back here if I do that, and it solves the problem. That's all I have to share for now. I'm at a loss as to why it's not working, and will contact Garmin in the morning to do some more troubleshooting.

Jeremy, here's an idea for Groundspeak, If your capable team of 'lackeys' (I always chuckle when I read that) is too busy for the Wherigo project, might I suggest the code be open sourced and turned over to the geocaching developer community? I don't know what kind of investment your team and company have in Wherigo, but it seems like this might be a good idea. There are already a lot of Wherigo users--and even a few firmware modders who might even try to get it to work on any number of gps units. (It would be nice if the program could just be placed directly in the Garmin/ folder, and have the 'button' appear on the screen after boot-up.) Myself, I have a Nokia E71 running Symbian S60, and I use a Java (J2ME) application called OpenWIG (Open Wherigo), and it seems to work quite well. I have a fairly complex Cartridge installed, and I'm going to test it soon. It has multiple legs that must be run within a given time frame, or it starts you over. (Jefferson City, Missouri is full of a lot of those 'Evil Puzzle Cachers." ;-) (They know who they are!) Just a suggestion from a fellow cacher and open source advocate. Regardless of your decision on this, I encourage you and your team and company to continue to bring us more interesting gps games for us to enjoy. There are many imitators, there is only one geocaching.com! At least, that's my opinion. Good Fortunes To All Of You! Warm Regards From, Firefishe Caching In On The Journey

Now that's a proper 'accessory' (licensed, of course) for the back country. A pity you had to have your hand on it, at all. Last time I checked, it wasn't illegal to pull over to the side of the road, away from traffic, and check your map, compass, or geocaching print out. Did you find out what the guy wanted?

Any peace officer who even harbors any element of 'hate' for someone who engages in something so small as a scavenger hunt game should not be a peace officer. All it takes is One Overinflated Ego, A Badge, A Gun (this element is the main issue and problem), and Broad Authority, and everything for the unarmed, peaceful, average citizen goes to hell in a handbasket from an overzealous basket case. There are some of these types that you can't talk to, no matter what. I would heartily recommend that if any geocacher gets arrested and taken into custody by one of these nuts, that a lawsuit immediately be filed, and hate crime charges be brought against the officer immediately! Here's hoping that nothing like this ever happens.

This isn't firmware, per se, but if you want to make maps and be able to handle just about everything you want, you can try this site: http://cgpsmapper.com/ It's a bit pricey for the do-everything-you-want version, but it seems quite robust. I haven't heard of custom firmware mods for the Etrex series, but I'll give a look around. As always, anything you do to modify your hardware is at your own risk, both practically and legally. It's important to respect all manufacturer's proprietary rights, while working to get the hardware you own working in the manner in which you desire. Alternatively, you could save up and purchase one of the more commercialized GPS solutions, such as Magellan's (Thales) Mobile Mapper, which is a PocketPC/CE based unit, or one of the Trimble GeoExplorer series, also PocketPC/CE based, and which is considered industry-standard for the commercial GPS/GIS industry. The Magellan solution isn't too expensive as far as these things go, and you can do just about anything you want with it, limited only by available software and your own imagination. Custom layering is child's play with these units, and with that touch screen--it *IS* a PDA, as well, after all!--you can modify images on-the-fly, or at least do so with the computer-side software. I've never used it personally, and am extrapolating from reading available product literature. Custom hiking trail maps come to mind, and a commercial unit wouldn't give you the limitations of the current crop of consumer-grade GPS equipment. I've always thought we needed a $350-or-below, open sourced (at least for the firmware) solution to accomplish just this kind of task, that of the more tech-savvy consumer who wants to make custom personal maps that will work with a high-resolution, consumer-type of GPS unit, without having to spend $10,000.00 dollars plus to achieve it. (Trimble is up in this price range.) I wish you well on your research. Warm Regards from...

Probably NAD 27 based topography. WGS84 should've been adopted already, but sometimes lags occur. But for the Oregon, and such a late product at that? Incidentally, street detail might be better with City Navigator, simply due to the auto-routing aspect of the maps, which I find to be a bit more accurate. US Topo is a very good concept, but the problem, as always, lies with the raw map data, TIGER being no small part of it. Navteq have, for the most part, helped the accuracy, but I think it's time Garmin started looking toward other service providers for their data when their agreement with Navteq expires. National Geographic has a good product, as well, and Garmin could just as easily license it from them. Garmin could take a lesson from DeLorme, too, perhaps even licensing DeLorme's online maps, or provide their own, online downloadable database with up-to-date topo information. It's worth a thought. Firefishe Caching In On The Journey

Probably NAD 27 based topography. Garmin could take a lesson from DeLorme. Hmmm. Maybe Garmin should *LICENSE* DeLorme's maps, or provid their own, online downloadable database. It's worth a thought. Firefishe Caching In On The Journey

I have an older version of Garmin US Topo, Version 3.02 and very new computer running Windows Vista Home Premium 64bit Edition. I just followed the above instructions, with a slight modification relative to the proper registry entries. Vista 64bit stores it's 32-bit Program Registry Values in a different location than XP, so I thought I'd share this with you. The proper registry entries are located in: ------------------------------------------------- +HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE +SOFTWARE +Wow6432Node +Garmin +Mapsource +Products 6 7 8 9 ------------------------------------------------- Just follow the regular instructions but substitute the above information for the registry entries. As always, go through the registry editor first and make certain that the above information is accurate. Don't know why it wouldn't be, but it could be different on your box. I doubt it, but check anyway, as it's just good practice to be certain concerning the Windows Registry. Note: This is specific to Garmin MapSource and US Topo. I'm not sure if this is the same for all other 32bit programs on Vista 64 or not. It is recommended that these instructions be considered ONLY FOR MAPSOURCE AND USTOPO and not used for other information. (Unless, of course, you know what you're doing!) As always, Use At Your Own Risk, I Can and Will Not Be Held Responsible for Broken Operating Systems, Modified Registry Entries That Open Unknown Doorways in the Space-Time Continuum, or Summon Unwanted Discorporate Entities (gnu/linux daemons that want to eat your NTFS partitions, BSDaemons...) etc., etc., etc. (okay, enough of that tripe! Heh :->) I hope this is useful. Warm Regards From,

Staff Sargeant to Kitty Holdup Artiste: "You! Sir! The one with the Beretta! This is MondoRangemaster III! Giiiiit yer finger OUT of that triggerguard, nooooooW! Keeeep yer finger outside that trigger guard--and DON'T PLAY HOLDUP WITH KITTENS EVIRRRRR AGIN'! (Takes kitten off your hands and makes you do 10,000 pushups (hand clapping type) on the spot!) +++Real Geocachers Don't Point Guns At Kittens+++ (Bobcats Possibly, but Never Kittens ;->) Squirrely regards from,

Sounds like a cool cache. I have had to go to the ER twice from caching and both times I have managed to end up right back in the woods after being discharged. I am also overly cautious with my GPS even though it should be waterproof. It took a nasty fall one of those times that resulted in a hospital visit and I had to snap the case back together. I am not sure that the waterproof seal lined up correctly after that so I always carry it above my head in something waterproof when swimming to a cache. It is a 60CSx and I was always a bit surprised that even though they made it waterproof it still sinks. - Rev Mike If you want a '60CSx that floats,' look no further than the Garmin GPSmap 76CSx. Same innards, flatter case, better button positioning that works better with gloved hands in my opinion, and IT FLOATS! :-))) Only about twenty bucks more than the 60CSx at www.gpsnow.com (Great Online Garmin Dealer, I buy all my Garmin stuff from them). Hope this helps. Warm regards from,

I disagree on the principle that I paid for it, therefore I should be able to use it on as many pieces of hardware as I like! I should not have to be forced to purchase multiple pieces of hardware that do the same thing, but have to have different database licenses to use the information. I'm all for DeLorme and the PN-40 at this point. $30 bucks a year and you've got all the map data you need, and more. The reason I bought the Vista HCx is because of the form factor, price, and quality of signal reception. It's a great GPS, hands down! The thing is, I already have a slew of mapping data that will work quite well for my purposes. Any roads I need I can drive on, save the files as tracks, and use it that way, I have no problems with this for my uses. I use the Nuvi 350 in the car, anyway, and it's a better product for that purpose; furthermore, I paid $600 for that thing when it was just out. I should not have to buy any more mapping data for my handheld, if I don't want to, and when I have data already-in-possession that is otherwise completely useful to my purposes! I am not paying to license two, three, and four-year-old mapping data. Period! I should not have to do so, it is criminal and only comes out of greed and the desire to make a profit. Profit is good, it's the lifeblood and end-product of successful business enterprise, but it should not be restrictive to the point where profit is the only motivator. The Amateur Radio (or Ham Radio) Community has it within the Amateur Radio statutes that the service exists for, among other things, the advancement of the radio art. That is, we operate our radios, build them, cannibalize old parts, and re-use them again to understand how things work, how things are made, and what we can do better to improve both Ourselves and our Community. For-profit partnerships like Garmin/Navteq have forgotten this. It's high time they remembered. Warm Regards From,

Today is December 6th, 2008. This is Firefishe, Caching In On The Journey. During the very early morning of Thursday, December 4th, 2008, I went over to the fine Garmin folks at www.gpsnow.com and bought a nice, compact eTrex Vista HCx. Wanting this quickly, I popped down the $16.53 for Priority Overnight Delivery by 10:30am and promptly obtained the package from the equally fine folks from FedEx on Friday, December 5th, 2008, at *exactly* 10:30! (No joke, the driver pulled in without a second to spare! Left me impressed...but I digress.) I have owned previously, a GPSmap 76CSx, which was my last unit, a GPSmap 76CS, an eTrex Vista Cx, Vista C, and Vista. My very first GPS was a thoroughly hacked Magellan Map 330 (see Yahoo Group m330 for what I mean by that) which gave me my first taste of not only Geocaching, but introduced me to the technical aspects of GPS firmware, for which I will be forever grateful. (It's a highly rewarding feeling to know you can hard-code your name, address, and phone number into something that not just anyone can change via a menu on the unit! Made for good theft prevention, that! Other units I've owned have been the Lowrance iFinder H2O--given to my Father-In-Law--and an iFinder Hunt Color, of which I went through two before ending up returning them for a refund due to constant electronic problems. I decided, at that point, to opt out of Lowrance's offerings and go with the 'Ol' Standy' and buy Garmin's Vista Cx, after that model had been out for a while. I didn't regret it. My current units are the aforementioned eTrex Vista HCx and the excellent Nuvi 350, as well as an utterly dependable Foretrex 101 (the 2 AA powered model) I use as a backup, and sometimes as my primary during cache hunts if the tree cover isn't too dense. Okay, so now you know what I've owned. What does that have to do with this thread? Plenty! What I like to term 'The MapSource Licensing Rant' has been cropping up, filling my eyeballs and ear canals ever since Garmin decided to stop producing their own, high quality maps and partnered with Navteq for map data. (Didn't I also see their earlier name as NAVTEC when they first started to appear on Garmin packaging? Thought the 'Q' was a 'C' in the early days, but I could be wrong...) I don't have to look very far in many online GPS forums if I want to read about the MapSource/Navteq licensing problem. And is it a problem? You bet your twenty-thousand-dollar Trimble GeoExplorer XH it is! I have a smattering of old MapSource software lying around, the most recent of which is City Navigator, Version 7! I have some older US Topo CD's, and one old MetroGuide cd from Somewhere In Time, Circa 2004, I think. Guess I used that with the Vista. What is interesting to me is that, although the GPS units I've owned have faded into other's hands, my MapSource software is still lying around! The DVD's and CD's still have otherwise-useable map data--even though it's a bit dated! Wouldn't it be nice if I could use the more recent and reasonably up-to-date maps of my two, three, and four-year-old mapping software with my current, compatible hardware (and my Vista HCx *is* quite compatible!) without having to go all-out and buy, buy, buy even newer mapping data that, although being highly useful--and *will be purchased* soon enough!--is a bit beyond my budget after popping yet another $262.00 bucks for yet another excellent piece of Garmin GPS hardware? I think it's time that we, as Garmin Customers, take some time to start a campaign to present to the fine folks in Olathe, just how Unreasonably Idiotic, Stupid, Asanine, and Greedy have been the restrictive software-to-unit Policies that Garmin has unleashed upon the pubic--both in the name of Profit and with the name of MapSource/Navteq! I liken it unto something like this: "Hey, Mr. SUV dealer, I'd like to buy that nice, mid-sized 4x4 SUV you have for sale in the lot. What's that you say? You say I can buy the SUV, but I have to buy an unlock code to use the 4-wheel-drive system? Doesn't it already come with it installed? I mean, I own the vehicle already, and that system is part of the drivetrain....what's that you say? You say that the 4-wheel-drive part of the drivetrain is controlled by an electronic circuit that has the latest in traction-control and road sensing, even being able to sense through the tires?" (wouldn't that be something, folks!) "Well, Mr. Salesman, I don't get it? Please explain...yes? Go on, I'm listening. You say that because of the possibility of unauthorized mechanics using equipment to break into the on-board CPU and stealing the data that controls the 4-wheel-drive sensors--especially the ThroughTheTire real-time sensing system that the manufacturer of the drivetrain patented--the automaker of said SUV had to agree to a licensing scheme that only allows the original owner and his immediate family members to operate the four-wheel-drive system?" "You also say that, should I sell the SUV to a third party--or even another car dealership--that the license for the 4x4 part of the SUV doesn't go with the SUV, but that the new owner will have to purchase an unlock code to be able to use the 4-wheel-drive part of the SUV? Well, Mr. SUV Salesman, what about the two-wheel....? Oh! The two-wheel-drive part of the SUV doesn't need licensing. I see. Well, thank you for clarifying that much. I'll get back to you. Have a good day, now. Sound familiar? Folks. Fellow GPS enthusiasts. Fellow Geocachers! There is something to the trade laws and warranty acts in the United States pertaining to something that I think we should all speak up about, and LOUDLY! It is called "Suitability of Merchantability for a Particular Purpose." As translated by The Layman (meaning, Yours Truly): Are the MapSource mapping products Garmin produces--the ones that restrict your use of the mapping data--which you purchased--to only a certain number of physical GPS hardware units--which you also purchased--, each costing multiple hundreds of dollars, truly suitable for inclusion upon a market that has grown weary of such restrictions on PURCHASED-AND-PAID-FOR Computer Software? Is the Garmin/Navteq partnership's licensing restrictions any different from the Apple iTunes Music Store policy restricting the number of times you can burn those songs to CDs? The songs you BUY from that store for .99 Cents a track?? I don't throw the words "Class Action" lightly around. When I say them, what I mean to articulate is that I believe that we, the public, are being shafted by Garmin and Navteq, and I think it's time this partnership was dissolved. Permanently! I am going to begin researching what needs to be done to stop Garmin and Navteq from implementing such draconian licensing schemes for their products. Once a mapping product and/or GPS unit is purchased, bought, money is taken out of a wallet or purse, and it changes hands, that software and hardware belong unconditionally to the purchaser of same, and must be able to be used freely, and without impediment, to the original user, and subsequent users, of the hardware and/or software. There must be no restrictions in place upon the consumer as regards the hardware/software usability interfacing! Meaning: "Once You've 'Boughten' It, It's Yours Forever! Period! You Own It!" Enough for now. Point Made. Case...still wide open as Montana! Please reply and tell me what you think! Warm Regards from,

What Garmin needs to do is get out of the 100,000 scale range and get serious with some 1:20,000 detail. At least 1:50,000 would be nice.

The only thing about that is when Emerson was quoting that, there was probably a whole lot more wilderness to explore, and more areas for trails to be made in that would benefit others traveling through the area at a later date. With three hundred million people looming on the horizon of the u.s. population, alone, I think Emerson would do a double-take if he could see what that quote wrought. ;-) I would also add that this might also be an indication that we need to find new areas to explore. Perhaps the Inner Worlds of the Mind? The darkest corners of the underground? The deepest depths of the oceans? The farthest reaches of outer space? Those Clear and Defining moments that overwhelm us when we are the ones actually doing the discovering, whether or not someone else is around to see us or not! Just a thought. Expand. Experience. Explore. Share.

The only thing about that is when Emerson was quoting that, there was probably a whole lot more wilderness to explore, and more areas for trails to be made in that would benefit others traveling through the area at a later date. With three hundred million people looming on the horizon of the u.s. population, alone, I think Emerson would do a double-take if he could see what that quote wrought. ;-)

Either that or Garmin needs to get off their duffs and adopt a better and more accurate algorithm *after* adopting satellite overlay/map updating technology so that their map data isn't so old, so fast. ;-)

Either that or Garmin needs to get off their duffs and adopt a better and more accurate algorithm *after* adopting satellite overlay/map updating technology so that their map data isn't so old, so fast. ;-)

Personally, my primary GPS units are none other than the GPSmap 76CSx and the Vista Cx. Aside from the gps receiver project I'm working on, myself, these receivers from Garmin are, to me, of the most reliable and feature-rich handheld gps units available today. Just too bad their map data isn't as accurate as it could be. Still, it's adequate for most things. I generally prefer DeLorme's products when I need more detailed information (topo plus roads in 3D overlay.) Buy one, update to the latest firmware, buy the latest-available mapsource map data, and you should be set. Also buy a 1GB MiniSD Card, 2GB if you can find one, check for any issues with cards larger than 1GB, then enjoy using the GPS 76 series the way it was meant to be enjoyed, with lots of maps! When you create maps for uploading in MapSource, did you know that--provided you have them installed--you can create mapsets from different mapping groups? A map from Topo, City Navigator, and Recreational Lakes, for example. That's actually how MapSource works. You select the regions, states, boundaries, etc. from each mapping product you purchased in the same MapSource interface window. Each individual map product is selected from a drop-down menu. Create each map you want from each program group, then bring up the send to device dialog, select maps on the appropriate check box, then hit the send button. As a final word, it's a lot faster if you use the full-sized SD Card Adaptor that comes with most MiniSD cards I've seen (SanDisk) in a USB Card Reader, instead of sending the data to the MiniSD card when it is in the GPSmap 76CSx unit, itself. Buy one! You won't regret it. :-)

I'm developing a new handheld gps and mapping system, built with we geocachers in mind. I'd like to get your feedback on some of the features I'm wanting to integrate. 1. Web interface for community updating of roads and land features, POI's, etc. -->. This feature will be the cornerstone of the system, being an Online Geographical Information System which will allow the user to upload the latest information from their gps unit to the GIS. -->. The philosophy of this method is that local users know their communities better than anybody and are, therefore, best suited to keep the "Community Maps" (if you will) updated and complete with more recent data than the current crop of mapping software for handheld devices offers. 2. Open sourced code for firmware (if possible) and software (more likely). -->. The ideal (for me) would be a system in which the computer software and the handheld firmware (software-on-chip) were "community editable," allowing users with the necessary skills to customize their own systems and share the improvements with the community. 3. Conversion software for all platforms (Java?) That would allow, at least in the U.S., the use of publicly available topographical, street and address data in their own respective native formats. -->. This feature will be built with topo maps in mind (DRG format, etc.), but would allow for the use of any other map type, so long as it can be converted. 4. Elevation Modeling -->. This would allow for the use of standard elevation modeling formats to be used, which would then be displayed on the handheld device in 3D view. 5. Three Dimensional Graphical User Interfacing, a first in this type of unit (handheld). -->. Allows for more accurate terrain assessment by adding 360 degree viewing as standard. These are the areas in which I am desiring feedback. Your comments will figure highly in the development of this system. Warm regards from, Firefishe Caching In On The Journey

I'm developing a new handheld gps and mapping system, built with we geocachers in mind. I'd like to get your feedback on some of the features I'm wanting to integrate. 1. Web interface for community updating of roads and land features, POI's, etc. -->. This feature will be the cornerstone of the system, being an Online Geographical Information System which will allow the user to upload the latest information from their gps unit to the GIS. -->. The philosophy of this method is that local users know their communities better than anybody and are, therefore, best suited to keep the "Community Maps" (if you will) updated and complete with more recent data than the current crop of mapping software for handheld devices offers. 2. Open sourced code for firmware (if possible) and software (more likely). -->. The ideal (for me) would be a system in which the computer software and the handheld firmware (software-on-chip) were "community editable," allowing users with the necessary skills to customize their own systems and share the improvements with the community. 3. Conversion software for all platforms (Java?) That would allow, at least in the U.S., the use of publicly available topographical, street and address data in their own respective native formats. -->. This feature will be built with topo maps in mind (DRG format, etc.), but would allow for the use of any other map type, so long as it can be converted. 4. Elevation Modeling -->. This would allow for the use of standard elevation modeling formats to be used, which would then be displayed on the handheld device in 3D view. 5. Three Dimensional Graphical User Interfacing, a first in this type of unit (handheld). -->. Allows for more accurate terrain assessment by adding 360 degree viewing as standard. These are the areas in which I am desiring feedback. Your comments will figure highly in the development of this system. Warm regards from, Firefishe Caching In On The Journey