CondorTrax

I was using a very old IBM WorkPad (Palm OS) with 2MB RAM. Stored about 500 records. Worked very well. I then decided to upgrade to a Palm Zire 31. Has much more RAM, SD card expandability, color, faster, etc etc. You can probably get one for about $125. The newest Palm Zire is about $100 (www.palm.com). eBay will also get you something good and less expensive. GSAK and cachmate are indispensable. HTH

This "tutorial" helped me get started. http://home.comcast.net/~teamcoychev/paperless.htm

and a tutorial to get you going: http://home.comcast.net/~teamcoychev/paperless.htm

You might also want to get GSAK. It's the app/utility that manages your cache database. With GSAK you can create your geocache lists and have them "exported" to your PDA in cachemate format. Take a look at the following tutorial that give a great explanation of what you may need and what paperless can do for you: Credit to Team CoyChev. //home.comcast.net/~teamcoychev/paperless.htm

Gotta ask....... what's the device attached to your Thinkpad and how's it configured to your Jeep?

Try disabling any anti-virus programs you may be running.

Embra.. thanks for chiming in and clarifying. CacheCreatures, Just a bit of additional detail on the 200/500 POI.... - You can have as many geocache files as you want with a max number of 200 records per file. Only one "active" geocache file can be loaded in active set-up at any one time. Depending on the size of the SD card, you can then have, as many of these geocache files that will fit on the SD card. Simply select the geocache file that best satisfies that day's journey as the active file. - You can also have up to 500 regular POIs in any one file. And again, you can have as many of these that will fit onto the SD card. This can either be your default POI or one you name specific to you geocache activity. It's easier if it has its own name so you can load it as required. If you store these 500 as part of your default POI file, your display may very clutered. - The difference in the geocache files and POI is the amount of data required by the geocache files and magellan's current firmware; hints, description, etc. This is essentially what limits the qty to 200. - What some of us do is create multiple "200" entry files. This may depend on your own particular preference. 200 per city, 200 per area code, 200 per radius from a center point, etc. You then load the particular file that best fits. These are stored on the SD card for easy reference. Having GSAK is the perfect tool for managing the files and loads.

I have an eX 600 and been using it since June. You'll need more than the GPSr to truely go paperless. The eX600 will store up to 200 geocaches. These are limited to the total number of characters displayed in the hints. On mine, almost all the hints are cropped leaving a great deal of detail out. This is a known limitation of the eX600 firmware. basically, you can load up to 200 geocaches with limited hints in one Geocache file. The more efficient way to go about paperless involves a few steps and som pre-requisites: 1. You'll need to have the right hardware. You have the GPSr, the other piece will be a PDA (Palm or Pocket PC). You can get away with an inexpensive older Palm pilot which will allow something like 500 geocaches. Palm just released a sub $100 PDA which will allow for more. The Zire 31 has an SD card for almost unlimited files. 2. You'll also need to be a Premium Member of Geocachng.com. This gives you the ability to create Pocket Queries which will be emailed to you. 3. GSAK and cachemate are a must. GSAK is an outstanding utility to aid you in manageing all your caches. It's worlds apart from Geocache manager that comes with the Explorist. I stronly suggest you download it, play with it for a bit and then register it for $20. Best $20 investment I've made. 4. You'll also need cachemate ($8) which allows you to view your files on the PDA. If you go to http://home.comcast.net/~teamcoychev/paperless.htm there's an excellent tutorial on paperless with far greater detail than I can list here. 5. So, having the eX600, a decent palm device and the necessary software tools you can be paperless caching very quickly. Hope this helps

What I typically do before going out: Using GSAK (http://gsak.net/) and the Cache raid macro (http://gsak.net/Macros.php) 1. Make sure I have an updated load of my cache database. I use the Pocket Query feature and then update the database at least 1-2 times weekly. 2. With an updated database I select one cache in a series and run the cache raid macro. This is a nice little script that will create a list of caches based on their proximity to one another. I simply let the macro promt know how many caches I'd like listed and the script will ultimately display all the caches near to the one I initially highlighted. You can get the macro from the GSAK home page and select the macro section to view and copy. 3. Once I have the cache raid list displayed, I can then use GSAK to print the details. This will result in a single page with all the necessary details including some previous logs. 4. Assuming I successfully complete the caches I then put the pages in a binder. 5. I also update cachemate on my PDA and MobiPockets as well. Seems like overkill but works for me. Having the electronic variants is ideal; but also having the single pages is also useful if you go with family or friends. They can refer to the page, make notes, etc. What I especially like is a tough cache in the mud, challenging, etc where at the end of the day, the cache sheet "reflects" the day (crinkled, muddy, torn, folded many times and in many ways, etc.) When this one goes in the binder it becomes memorabilia.

Lil Devil..... Thanks... you nailed it.

Is it just me or have the cache pages gone thru a face-lift? I now see them with larger type-faces, bolder attribute, etc. Please confirm. Thx

I found this a while back and it's one of the best mini-tutorials on paperless with a palm that I've read. Credit and thanks to Team CoyChev for putting it together. http://home.comcast.net/~teamcoychev/paperless.htm

Ditto: When I first got my eX600 back in June I was using Geocache Manager and realizd some limitations. Reading thru this forum I was impressd with all the chat about GSAK and its abilities so I downloaded it, played with it and soon found out how truly powerful it is. Paid my fee gladly and have never since opended GM. The more I've used GSAK the more impressive it becomes. Clyde and Roperlipe have done an outstanding job collaborating and making it indispensable. Download GSAK and you'll quickly appreciate the differences.

I was using a very old IBM WorkPad with 2MB RAM and Cachemate. Worked great but I needed more RAM so I recently purchased a Zire 31. Great device, I can load more than 500 caches, color, expandable SD capability, etc. I've been using GSAK and Cachemate. For some of the more complex puzzle type caches, though, you may still want to bring along the cache pages as printed off of geocaching.com.

BiciMapas, The Boxwave adapter has a cable/dongle which allows any standard USB connector to plug into it. Think of your PC data/charger cable having a female USB end; the Boxwave has the corresponding male end.... put the two together and you have connectivity. Other cool thing on the Boxwave is an on/off switch. This way you conserve your batteries when not on. In addition, there's an LED indicator letting you know it's on. Unit allows for 4 x AA batteries. I just got it and works great on my Explorist 600 as well as on my Zire 31 Palm. Hope this helps.

The newer version of GPS babel does have an option for Explorist. The earlier post I submitted was based on my experience with an older version of GPSBabel. In any event, Meridfian and Explorist options will essentially do the correct conversion.

Chuy... ya killed me . Mine are these collapsable/telescoping Leki Trekking poles. Haven't tried it but I guess they can be attached to the side of a backpack; ready to use when needed. I'm actually using a "messenger" bag hanging off a shoulder. Easier to get to stuff than possibly having to take off a back-pack. All the stuff I mentioned fits in the messenger with room to spare. At end of day whatever works best.... and you'll figure out what you'll need to what needs to be left behind. One guy I know who's allergic to bees tings takes along benadryl.

You may also want to add: - First Aid kit (contents may dictate where you go) but have basics like bandages, tape, aspirin, After Bite, etc -Tweezers for the extra hard to extract logs (also works great for extracting splinters, thorns, stings, etc) - Compass (just in case) - Flashlite (comes in handy when in dark places) - Walking Sticks - Water bottle - Utility knife (aka Swiss Army knife) - Extra Ziploc baggies, tissues, cloth rag/hand towel - Poison Ivy/Oak ointment (Tecnu works great) - Pair of plastic pants that can easily be rolled up (useful when in ivy invested areas) - CITO trash bags - Paper to replace potentially destroyed or damp geo logs - Cell phone - Bug repellant - Extra socks - Snicker bars Those are my 2 cents worth.... Others will also have their favorites....... Camera

Hi. Short answer is yes: Long answer is below. You'll need a software program on your PC to display your tracks. I use Google Earth. You'll also need a program to "convert" the explorist file into a Google Earth accepted file format, one of the programs for this is GPSBabel. (link below) The steps are detailed below. This is how I do it: 1. Assuming you've saved the track on your explorist and that you have it on and in File Transfer USB mode. 2. Open GPSbabel and select the specific track log from your explorist. You may have to select "All Files" to show the tracks 3. Select the track from your explorist 4. Under the first format entry select "Magellan SD files (as for Meridians)". Don't worry that it doesn't say Explorist. 5. The second format entry should be GPX XML 6. Output file should be wherever you'd like to save it to 7. Press Process and file is saved. 8. In Google Earth, select File - Open and select the file you saved, press the necesasary OKs and Enters, etc It should now be displayed on your google earth desktop. It's also indicated in the left pane under GPS Device/Track/Path. Hope this helps. If you don't have GPS Babel you can download it http://sourceforge.net/projects/gpsbabel

Not sure if this helps but...... make sure when you installed the Mapsend software that you also installed the Serial/USB driver. This allows the GPS to "speak" to the Explorist in NMEA mode assuming that's what you want to do.

Boxwave also makes a device that allows you to power the eX600 via batteries. Fits 4 AA and has a USB connector which connects to the Explorists USB/Power cable.

One option is to verify your track detail settings if you haven't already. With the map displayed, go into the menu and Map Setup undr the Format Tab. You can change the Track Mode to plot at more specific intervals.

OT... Vagabond...... would that be a P-61?

Press GOTO, scroll using the joystick to find the waypoint/POI you want, it should be highlighted. Now press down on the joystick button to select it. Pressing the joystick is the same as pressing Enter. This is now your active waypoint/POI. HTH

Palm for paperless, water bottle, pen/pencil, extra ziploc baggies