somainer

My rationale for sending the units back to Garmin rather then repairing them myself was two-fold: a) Because I also use it while kayaking, I figured if the unit suffered water damage due to my actions (i.e., inadequate repair job), Garmin would be less likely to replace the unit (due to water damage) then if they had repaired it. I kept on hoping that they would have fixed the problem...

Sadly I have experienced the rubber band issue four times! But Garmin has resolved it promptly, replacing the offending item 3 times. After the last episode, they indicated that they no longer replace entire units and instead sent me a do-it-yourself band replacement. Although the exact cause is unclear, in at least one instance the separation began shortly after several days of use of the unit in relatively high temps (> 95 Fahrenheit). In two instances, I had used the unit for several weeks in moderate temps (80-90 Fahrenheit), and then immediately in much colder temps (< 30 Fahrenheit), after which the band began to separate (i.e., once back in colder climate). Because I do not store the GPSr in my vehicle, but cannot be 100% sure it has never spent an errant few hours (or night) in the car I have answered your questions 3 as "never". original eTrex VistaC 1. 10 months 2. 10 months (before being replaced by Garmin) 3. "never" 1st replacement unit 1. 7 months 2. 7 months (before being replaced by Garmin) 3. "never" 2nd replacement unit 1. 10 months 2. 10 months (before being replaced by Garmin) 3. "never" 3rd replacement unit (which I currently still have) 1. 29 months 2. 16 months (before receiving do-it-yourself band repair ki) 3. "never" Why do I continue to use an eTrex? For my purposes (mostly use it in the field or water, and sometimes for on-road navigation), the size and weight is nice (pocketable), and the screen brightness is much better than in the similarly-sized new touch-screen models (although I have been thinking of "upgrading" to an Oregon lately).

I am considering replacing my old eTrex VistaC with an Oregon. I use a GPSr not only for geocaching, but also for: driving directions, kayaking, hinking, and a little for work (simple marking of waypoints). The Oregon is on big-time sale at REI, and of interest to me because: it might improve the geocaching experience (i.e., due to paperless caching), and it has higher quality of maps (i.e., due to larger screen and higher resolution) would be useful for general purposes. But my questions for you experienced Oregon users are: 1) how well does the touch screen work in rain and snow? 2) how easy is touch screen to use when wearing gloves (e.g., lightweight and heaveyweight gloves - needed here in new England and elsewhere during winter) 3) how useful is it for in-car use? e.g., legibility in sunlight, availability of a windshield mount? Thanks in advance for any help folks cna provide

if you like and are familiar with cachemate, there are now versions for both Windows pocket PC and smartphone. as an alternative, see my post here.

They can be zoomed in and out the same as the map page (500m->20ft) but you can't pan on this page like you can on the map page. so, given this limitation, and that you cannot enter new geocaches when in gecoaching mode, if you are in standard mode (i.e. the basic map and compass views): 1) are geocaches still visible on the map, thus allowing the pan feature to work? 2) can you use the equivalent of menu/find on my vistaC (and presumably most other garmin units as well) to select a geocache and get a bearing to it if the gecoache was loaded into the unit via a gpx file (i.e., not as a standard waypoint or a custom POI)? 3) most importantly - is there a way to view the cache info when NOT in gecoache mode - e.g.,after following the steps in my question #2? I guess I'm getting at can you use the standard mode and still enjoy the benefits of the having the cache info on board, but avoid some of the apparent limitations of geocache mode?

thanks for the fast reply - and the screen shots! can the maps in the first 3 screen shots be zoomed in and out; if so how?

It includes 5 different types of navigation screens. sorry, I should have specified that I am curious about the "nice geocaching mode screens" that g-o-cashers referred to are, and Red90 called "5 different types of navigation screens." Can anyone shed some light into how they differ from, and are better/worse than the standard compass or map page views? Sadly the manual avail on the garmin website is quite limited... cheers, Greg

Can you please clairfy what the pros/cons of geocache mode are versus standard mode? Also, what exactly makes it more difficult to move through geocaches? I have an eTrex vistaC and am considering an upgrade to the Colorado.

as others have indicated, certain flavors of "smart" phones can run special geocaching software (e.g., cachemate for the palm OS, pocket PC or windows smartphone; geocache navigator for blackberry phones with a GPS receiver; geoniche for the palm, etc.). But if your phone has a web browser and you can transfer files to it, you may wish to consider the solution I use - create cache listings in html format using GSAK and view the results in your phones browser. some discussion of this can be found here. One benefit of this approach is that you can use any phone (that has a browser) and thus make your phone choice based on the other purposes it would serve (beyond being a vessel for cache info). A caveat is that it requires using GSAK, but that wasn't an issue for me as I have been a long-time user of the program - it has a bit of learning curve associated with it, but is highly customizable and the developer (and many users) provide(s) outstanding technical support. With one press of a button, I can now launch a macro that loads my pocket queries, updates my GSAK database, sets a filter on the core caches in my area, and uploads cache info to my GPS receiver and my phone. Cheers, Greg

I recently ran into the same kind of parsing error as the OP. The culprit turned out to be commas and quotation marks, in addition to the apostrophe - all as a result of copying and pasting text from another program (presumably MS Word, although I cannot remember). So it is likely best to type text directly into the text boxes, rather than using copy and paste.

so maybe the move feature has some utility, and thanks for the tip for using the quit button ... but per the request by the original poster, has anyone figured a way to permanently (or selectively) disable the move feature? it's a total hassle if you want to view the waypoint info for a cache near a cache you just located on the map - e.g., If I perform the following steps (I'm using a vistaC, but it appears to function similar to what others have described for the Cx): a) main menu/find/geocache - then select a cache not on the last map page you were viewing when the waypoint info screen shows up, click on Map c) zoom in until you can view a neaby cache (i.e., not the one originally selected) and click on it BUT when you click on this nearby cache, all you get is the "MOVE IT" feature - if you hit the quit button (repeatedly), sure you avoid moving it, but the map reverts to the last one you were viewing (prior to doing steps a-c) above, so you cannot get the info on the cache on the newer map (unless you write down the waypoint name and go back to the find feature). ugh! any suggestions?

I echo the request for adding a link back to the PQ page... and I too really appreciate the addition of the "copy" feature (as well as the cosmetic changes). Thanks! I have one additional request - Would it be possible to configure the page so that I could sort my PQ's either by "Last Generated (PST)" (i.e., the current default mode) OR by "Name" by simply clicking on the columen header, and possibly even reverst the order by clicking on the same column again? Not sure if this is a nightmare from a database and/or web mamangement perspective, but would really appreciate it... I tend to have several PQs that I lonly run occasionally (i.e., have them configured as "Uncheck the day of the week after the query runs") and selecting them would be much easier with the addition of this feature.

This is an awesome feature! Thanks for clarifying its usage. While playing around with it I did run into a problem... not sure if you would consider it a bug, but might be something to consider nonetheless in a future release. One time I accidentally omitted the full path name for a macro (e.g., inserting %macro=temp.txt rather than %macro="C:\Program Files\GSAK\Macros\temp.txt"): this caused GSAK to shut-down, and it would subsequently shut-down upon each restart (sorry but I did not record the error message). I got around this endlessly repeating cycle by editing the edtHtml.Text line of the ini file - I know, BAD USER - to include the full path. Not sure how tricky it would be to implement, but it would be nice to have an option after several unsuccessful restarts of the program to revert to a simplified gsak.ini file as a "safe" start. Cheers, Greg

man, you are fast! Not sure which "line" you are referring to... Do you mean to say that I can use a macro to extract info from the "User data 2" field and incroporate it into either the "User data" or "Notes" field (the former being shown by default in condensed HTML output, and the latter can be selected) OR is there a way to use a macro to desigante specific fields to show up in cedrtain "lines" of the split screen view and the condensed HTML - and if so, can you give suggestions as to how to accomplish this? Cooooooll.... I will give this a try.

a couple of questions from a newbie - sorry if this has been answered elsewhere but I couldn't find answers via a search... 1) is there a "special tag" for the new "User data 2" field (e.g., "%user2") so that you can use it in names or comments as you do for the standard User data field? (I realize I can achieve this with the %macro tag, but wondered if there was a more direct way) 2) is it possible to see the info in the "User data 2" field in the split screen view AND the condensed HTML print feature? (I realize that I could put this additional info into "the "Notes" field or incorporate it into the regular "User data" field and then it would show up in the split screen and HTML print output, but am hoping there is a way to have the data from 2 seperate fields both appear at the top of the printout) 3) ALTERNATELY, if I wanted to put 2 kinds of info into the regular "User data" field, is there some way to do it in batches? I figured out how to accompish a global replace, but is there any kind of global edit feature that allows you to add some info to the beginning or end of a field - e.g., if I want to add the term "SF" (for snowflake icon; i.e., accessible in winter) at the start of the "User data" field for 50 or more caches, without replacing the info info that is already their (i.e., location info such as "Home" for caches near my house that I have indentifeid as potentially intersting to visit; "In-laws" for caches of potential interest near my in-laws place; etc) Cheers, Greg (of the somainers) - by the way , this program is absolutely awesome! I downloaded it a couple of months ago and fiddled with it a little, but in the past few weeks have realy come to discover it's power AND relative ease of use (after a somewhat steep learning curve). Clyde, if you are out there listening, this baby rocks! And sorry for being so lazy to register...

until such time as the vendors make the change (and even when they do finally expand the field length to something more useful), wouldn't it make sense to add an additional "Short hint" to the Geocaching.com listings, which would be restricted to <30 characters, or say <100? it seems to me that the essence of many hints could be communicated more succintly then they are now - e.g., "Under downed tree near foxhole" is only 30 characters long but is pretty darn informative. I'm not sure how tricky it would be to implement in light of the large numbers of caches already on the website, or even if cahce owners would want to go back and add shortened hints, but if possible it seems like it could help. please excuse the suggestion if it has been made before, or is hopelessly naive - I am relatively new to both geocaching and these forums. but as an opportunistic cacher (i.e. one dragging small kids in tow, who doesn't always remember to bring the relevant print-outs along), boy would I love to have the hints right on my GPSr.

my top 10 reqests from Garmin that I would like to see in future software/firmware upgrades and/or models of GPSr (excluding the obvious increase in memory and infrared or bluetooth support) 1) larger note/comment field (so I can load more cache details into my GPSr) - I would ideally love support for all GPX file info, but could settle for larger length (e.g., > 200 characters) for note/comment field, EVEN if it means fewer total numbe of waypoints 2) user-selectable downloads from mapsource (e.g., for a big road trip let me skip a bunch (or all) of the POIs so that I can load more road coverage) 3) option to view more than 1 map data-set at a time - or failing that, configure some kind of prompt to make map switching (e.g., between Topo and CitySelect) easier - see this post for more info on what I mean http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...dpost&p=1712513 4) allow me to search the note/comment field. I want to use the GCXXXX format for the name field, and put a short-hand name and info like difficulty (via GSAK) in the note/comment field, but I cannot find a way to search the note/comment field (e.g., in the way you can search all points of interest using "Nearest containing"). 5) icon-specific map view and zoom settings - so I can turn geocache icons "off", or slect the map scale at which they appear. currently I can set up such features for ALL waypoint icons, but not select ones like the treasure boxes. 6) an interface between GPSr and computer that allows me to directly change info on my GPSr from my computer (e.g., editing waypoint details), rather than having to make changes via a program on my computer and transferring it to my GPSr 7) When viewing the geocache list, have the note field show up at bottom (along with distance) so that I can see it as I scroll through the list (and not have to select and view each one individually) 8) user-selectable control of volume of “Tones” used during navigations 9) transparent text/data blocks on maps so I can see at least some info beneath the text telling me the next turn ahead. 10) some kind of basic text help file for most major “screens” – and the ability to turn them off over time as I learn all of the intricacies of the unit, and thereby recover that memory.

Is there anyway to edit routes directly via the map screen in a VistaC? In MapSource (v 6.8), using City Select North America maps (v6), after I have created a route via auto-routing I can simply click on any portion of the route with the selection tool (not just true waypoints, but any part of the pathway) and re-driect the route by clicking on an intersection or city or highway I want to include, thereby causing the route to be recalculated (e.g., to aovid construction or to take a more scenic route). Is it possible to accomplish the same thing via the map interface on the VistaC? I have not been able to figure out how to do it and wonder if I am just another newbie struggling to find the correct key sequence, or if it is simply is not possible... any advice would be greatly appreciated.

FYI, I just found the auto navigation kit for the Vista C/Legend C(which includes CitySelect v6, cigarette lighter power adapter and a mounting system for your dashboard) at my local BestButy for only $105. I had the clerk check the price twice because the retail list at garmin.com is $216 (http://shop.garmin.com/accessory.jsp?sku=010%2D10564%2D00) - not sure if every local BestButy would have it similarly priced but it's worth checking out because it's such a good deal - and considerably lower than the list price of the items individually: i.e., on garmin.com the list price for CitySelect V6 alone is $139 (http://shop.garmin.com/accessory.jsp?sku=010%2D10473%2D00) and the charger is $40 (http://shop.garmin.com/accessory.jsp?sku=010%2D10563%2D00) I cannot comment on v6 versus v7, as I have just started using v6 with my new VistaC (but have no experience with v7). as indicated in other posts, the CitySelect software (any version) isn't perfect, but in my limited usage the past few days the map database is prettty decent for my region (ME, NH, and VT) and teh auto-routing feature has obvious utility for getting you to and from a cache, or for road-trips. Also note that the v6 versus v7 debate may be a moot one for you - if you buy v6 now from a retailer, you can get a free upgrade to v7 from Garmin (becuase the newer version has recently been released - see details at http://www.garmin.com/unlock/update.jsp). In theory then, you could use v6 on your older computer but later use v7 if you wish to upgrade your PC. I have not ordered the upgrade yet, but this is how I anticipate it will work for me.

Sputnik, your previous comments on the usability issue of map switching hit the nail on the head! It really doesn't make much sense for a unit like the Vista C, or any others which have obvious utility in both the trail and car, to be so user-unfriendly from the stanpdoint of map management. When I use the auto-routing feature, I don't want to have to first check which maps are currenlty loaded or unloaded (e.g., if I forget to turn the City Select maps back "on", after having turned them off in order to see the contour lines from the Topo US dataset, it sounds like by deafult the auto-routing will use the lower quality basemap). ugh! but I guess i will have to learn to deal with it - as I really llike the suite of other features for the unit and thus just went ahead and ordered a Vista C. But a logical feature to add in a firmware/software update would be another option in the "Routing Setup Page" called something like "Map query," with options of either "No" or "Prompted," that would function like the current "Guidance method" field. If you were to leave the hypothetical "Map query" field on the default "No," then the unit could operate as it currently does - i.e., your auto-routing would be based on whatever maps you had loaded and previously turned on or off. But if you select "Prompted" then you would get a prompt whenever you choose to auto-route which would ask you which map to use.... As an aside, have you found any formal doucmentation from Garmin which explicitly outlines the mapping hierarchy? A number of folks in various threads have commented on the apparent hierarchies they have observed on their units, but I have yet to see a documented source.

Thanks to all for your prompt and helpful replies. I pulled out the Vista (black and white) and peter’s suggestion does indeed work. I just never new it existed, as this capability is not mentioned in the Vista manual at all - or even that this menu sequence exists. For comparison, I downloaded a copy of the Vista C manual, and the feature is listed there (page 60). Interestingly, the manual for the Vista C, but not for the Vista, also states the following (page 86): "You cannot view multiple types of MapSource data in the same location at the same time (one displays over the other)... Maps that are at the top of the hierarchy and [sic] displays over any other information. Because new maps are constantly being released, consult your Garmin dealer or the Garmin website to determine the order of hierarchy." I briefly searched www.garmin.com but found no reference to map hierarchies. But based upon my own observations of the performance of the Vista (black and white), and those by Renegade Knight of the GPS V, it appears that the “Topo US” is not “on top” by default. All this info leads to two additional follow-up questions: 1) Pretend I hop in the car to hit a cache, with both the “Topo US” and “City Select North America” map data-sets for a given area loaded in to the Vista C. If I want help figuring out a driving route and try to use the auto-routing feature, will the Vista C by default use the “City Select North America” data-set or will I have to temporarily “disable” the “Topo US” data via the steps others described in order for the auto-routing to work? 2) After I am at the trailhead, obviously I will notice if there are no contour lines visible on-screen (if “Topo US” is not loaded “on top”), and could relatively easily re-“enable” the “Topo US” data and “disable” the City Select north America” data using the step folks have outlined. But after I have returned to my car and want to use auto-routing to find a possible driving route to the next cache, will the Vista C utilize the “City Select North America” data, even though I had previously “disabled” it? If not, will I get some notification screen or prompt so that I will remember to re-“enable” that data-set, or will the Vista C utilize some lower-detail basemap? Thanks in advance for any additional feedback Vista C users might have based on their experience with the model. I am still leaning towards purchasing a Vista C, but am curious about these usability issues - particulalry before I invest in the pricey maps.

I am a relative newcomer to geocaching and have been using a friend’s Garmin Vista. I love the small size, my wife likes the electronic compass, and we both like the geek factor of the mapping capability. As we are now considering purchasing a Vista C - because of the color screen (for better map reading), USB connectivity (for faster data transfer), auto-routing (for well, auto-routing, which we would occasionally like to use and think is a good addition given the limited utility of the unit for on-the-fly, large-scale route planning, in light of the smallish screen), and reportedly better battery life span and performance under tree cover (than the black-and-white Vista) - I have two questions related to the mapping capabilities of the Vista C that have arisen from my limited experience with the Vista: 1) Can I use more than one Mapsource map simultaneously on the Vista C? With my friend's Vista (black and white), it appears that although I can transfer more than one map data-set (e.g., “Topo US” and “Roads and Recreation”) to the GPSr, only one of the maps is used on-screen at a time (e.g., topo lines for a given area are not visible if I have also loaded the Road and Recreation data for that same area). 2) If I cannot use more than one map simultaneously, what is the hierarchy for map usage, how does the presence of topo data effect auto-routing, and has the interface for de-selecting maps improved (as compared to the Vista)? In particular I am troubled by the thought of paying big bucks for “Topo US” AND auto-routing enabled software (e.g., “City Select North America”), loading both into the Vista C, and not being able to use one or the other due to their “incompatibility.” And at least on the Vista that I have been playing with, de-selecting a specific map (so that another is operational) is not very user-friendly – i.,e., I have to go into the Map/Options/Setup Map/MapSource Info menu and uncheck any offending maps, based solely on their names. Any input you Vista C veterans can provide would be greatly appreciated.