New Jersey TJ
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Posts posted by New Jersey TJ
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I use a GSAK macro called "Review for Archive Gmod" that makes this simple. You enter the date of your last GPX file, then review the results, entering "Y" or "N" when prompted...
GSAK won't help you if you're on a Mac.
Really? I'm on a Mac and I'm running GSAK...been doing it for about a year now.
I guess you've never heard of virtualization? VMware was the best investment I made when I purchased my Mac...now I have the best of both worlds.
Yes, I've heard of virtualization. I use VMWare, and BootCamp, and Parallels . . .
But that's really not the point, is it? I'm thinking that if the OP could run Windows on his Mac, he wouldn't specifically posted that he was on a Mac.
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I use a GSAK macro called "Review for Archive Gmod" that makes this simple. You enter the date of your last GPX file, then review the results, entering "Y" or "N" when prompted...
GSAK won't help you if you're on a Mac.
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Extract the .gpx file(s) from the .zip and copy it/them to the \Garmin\gpx folder on the Oregon. It's the same process for a PC or a Mac.
@Lifeguardally: The Garmin will only show you caches with about 50 miles (I think) of your current location. I mention this because you talked about a city you wanted to visit, suggesting that you may have loaded a caches that were a distance from you. It's possible the caches were loaded and you just didn't realize it. To get around this issue, switch to searching alphabetically and search for a cache you know is supposedly loaded.
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I've got an Oregon 400, but I'm sure that regarding your question about using the map to locate caches, the capabilities are the same in the newer units.
I ALWAYS use the map page to navigate to a cache. I have several profiles set up on the unit, with a couple for geocaching. The geocaching profiles select the map set I want to use and set the routing to direct (so the routing doesn't lock to nearby roads). You can display a number of fields at the top of the Oregon's map, such as distance to the cache and a small pointer arrow. There is also a geocaching-specific dashboard which can be displayed at the top of the map page as well.
Navigating using the map is simple . . . as I get closer to the cache, I zoom in and watch my track to get a sense of any corrections in direction I need to make.
When you mark the cache as found, the icon changes.
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There are numerous ways to go about managing your pocket queries to assemble the caches you want. Since you're interested in a pretty wide area, I think I'd start with defining PQs around the areas you will most likely be in. The easiest way to do this is to select caches with a radius of a cache or a postal code.
I've also selected caches in an area by defining a route and adjusting the radius to fill in the areas around the route. This takes a bit of tweaking to make sure you cover the area you want.
You'll probably want to schedule these to run at a regular interval, weekly, for example. When you're going to a particular area, select the appropriate .gpx and load it. Running the PQs on a regular basis insures that 1) It has the latest caches, 2) Disabled caches are excluded and 3) Your found caches are not included.
You'll want to tweak the "THAT" section of the PQ generator. I usually check-mark: 1) I haven't found, 2) Are not on my ignore list, and 3) Is Enabled.
As previously mentioned, you can load the PQ GPX's right to your GPS without using GSAK. GSAK has some powerful features so it definitely has benefits. My recommendation, though, is to first get the hang of PQs, and then start using GSAK if you feel the need to trick the PQs out.
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I agree with myotis.
There is no point loading unsolved puzzles onto the GPSr.
For multistage, the "enter next stage" works great.
Maybe I'm missing something . . or maybe there is a firmware difference between the 62 and an Oregon.
I have an Oregon 400T. I can load a mystery cache and use Enter next stage to enter the proper coordinates.
Sorry for the confusion.
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Use GSAK
HUH??? I think the OP wants to do it on the GPS.
@ieatcrayons
Enter next stage is exactly what you want. Maybe if you describe how you're trying to use it we can figure out what's going wrong.
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Take a look at GPSies. This lets you plot a track on a map, and then save in it a number of formats, such as a .gpx, which you can use as a route. I use it to create a track to do a pocket query on, such as finding all caches along a rail bed, but it should work for what you are trying to do as well.
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I know one day I will marvel at my lack of understanding of geocaching. I went to a couple of caches with friends and now I am hooked. GPS unit is on its way. Then how do I find and load caches for my area?
The second is what I suspect most serious cachers do:
1. You run pocket queries on the GC website, which create a file called a GPX file. Pocket queries can take a little learnin' but they're one of the essential benefits of premium membership.
2. By email or from the website, you load those GPX files into a program called GSAK.
FYI, what Sky King 36 is recommending regarding how serious cachers load queries will require a Premium Membership. It's money well spent, as a Pocket Query is really the best way to load geocaches en masse.
I'd start off more simply by getting a Premium Membership and generating Pocket Queries, but skip the use of GSAK. You didn't say what GPS you ordered, but most will allow you to simply copy the .GPX file directly your GPS to load the caches.
When you have this under your belt, you can experiment tweaking your pocket queries with GSAK if you want. You can do some neat things with GSAK, but keep it simple and start without it.
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Pull the batteries, remove the SD card. Let it sit for a few minutes then put in JUST the batteries. Start'er up. Is it working fine now?
Thank you it worked. I used the sd card to load a gsk file into my notebook. I will remove those files from the sd card and re install card in my garmin .
Make sure that the card is seated well. Sometimes a slightly mis-seated card will cause freezing issues.
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http://www.sourcinggate.com/bluetooth-gps-receiver-c-241.html
There are some close to $40 here, as well as some under $40, but out of stock.
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I think that what the OP might be talking about is that instead of seeing your track plotting along where you have been, a road or trail, for example, the GPS shows a STAIGHT line from where you presently are back to a prior waypoint. It's sort of like a rubberband that stays attached to you and the prior waypoint, keeping the straight line as you move around.
I see this regularly on my Oregon 400. I don't have a solution, and take it to be a bug. I usually just clear the track log to get rid of it (which the OP can't do because he want to save the track log), and the track trail goes back to normal.
OP, you might find that the track is still intact even though the display is wonky. Have you tried download a track anyway in one of those situations?
I understand what AO318 is saying, but I've had the "straight line track" NOT happen most of the time between when I've powered the unit off and on. For example, I just powered my Oregon 450 up, and I just see a short track from the last few minutes, NOT the straight line back to where I was when I last turned it off. Tracking is always turned on.
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A paperless caching capable GPS allows you to copy the cache description and hints to the GPS so that you don't have to carry printouts of the cache pages with you. It also allows you to write a log on the GPS, which can then be uploaded and entered on the geocaching.com web site.
IMO, a Garmin Oregon 450 comes very close to what you are looking for. I've used one in the car and for Geocaching for quite some time. It has a slightly larger screen that some lower-end units, which is important in the car. It also has a touch screen, which is easier in the car than the 62 series, which requires the use of a rocker button to select menus.
You'll need the Oregon 450, a set of street maps which provide routing capability and don't come with the GPS (about $100), and a car mount. I use a RAM window suction cup mount ( http://www.mountguys.com/product_p/rap-105-6224-ga31u.htm ), but there are others. This should total around $500.
The Oregon won't "speak" your turns like some dedicated car GPS units do, but other than that, it works well for car routing.
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Can't say enough about the ability of the GPS to do paperless caching. While the 60CSX is a good unit, it preceeds the paperless caching "revolution" and can't do paperless caching, at least in the fashion that newer units can. If your budget can afford it, look at the Oregon series, or the 62 series. They both do paperless caching easily. One of the major differences between the two series is that the Oregon is a touchscreen model, whereas the 62 mimics the 60 by using a rocker button to access menus.
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If so, into what file should I put it?
Copy the unzipped PQ (it's a .gpx) into \Garmin\GPX
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The reason that you have to search by name, as the other posters suggest, is that the default closest caches display is limited, I think, to caches within 50 miles. Farther caches may be there, but you won't see them unless you search by name for them.
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Let me give you a reply that's useful . .
Amazon has them for $389 with free shipping. Not much off your $399, but the free shipping helps.
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You don't really need a program to load caches. You didn't say what GPS you are using, but if it accepts Pocket Queries, just generate a PQ and copy it to the GPS.
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Here is what I did....
Created a Pocket Query
Dragged and copied the files to the Current Fold under GPX
They go in \Garmin\GPX (or any folder YOU create under it)
They can't go in \Garmin\GPX\Current
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It happens any time the query results go over 500 (I think) caches. If you want the queries to always be e-mailed, then you'll have to adjust your parameters to reduce the number of responsive caches.
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Click on Start, Run and enter "diskmgmt.msc" (without the quotes) and run that program. (win 7 - Click on the start button and enter the same thing in Search Files.) This will start a disk management program. From the Action menu at the top, select "Rescan Disks". Take a look in the list down below and see if the Garmin is recognized. If so, you'll see the drive letter it is assigned. Close out Disk Management and go back to what you were doing.
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I know you've found something that's working, but FWIW, I use GPSies - http://www.gpsies.com/createTrack.do . It allows you to draw a track on a Google map and then save it as a track. I use it to draw tracks of bike trails to upload to gc.com so that I can do a PQ along a route of the trail.
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Are the caches in the loaded PQ's close to you, or far away? You won't see caches that are farther than some distance (50 mi?). Try clicking on the Alpha button at the bottom of the empty cache list display and search by name for a cache.
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I think that a lot of the premium in price is because the unit includes charts, and because it floats. If you're looking for a handheld to be used primarily for geocaching, I'd use something other than a marine unit if cost is a concern.
The 60CSx unit you mentioned is an incredible unit. There are newer units that have paperless geocaching capabilities you should consider, though. Take a look at the 62 series (similar to the 60 series) and the Oregon series (touch screen capabilities). You're not going to find them for $200, but they'll be cheaper than the 78SC.
how to generate a route ( oregon450) that matches your PQ route
in GPS technology and devices
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You can create a route with BaseCamp. Load the .gpx from your caches along a route into Basecamp so you can see them on the map. Then create the route in BaseCamp picking various points based upon where your caches are.