EraSeek

Heads up. You have to activate "search for chip" on each profile.

This only happens with the Alkaline setting (I've never understood why). You'll be much better off using NiMH batteries with a good charger anyway! GO$Rs My understanding is that Alkalines do not give a steady flow like Lithium or NiMH. That is what my camera manual states anyway, so you are better off with Lithium or NiMH for full function of your unit, although Lithiums always seem glitchy in my GPS, they work great in my camera.

One more question I haven't figured out yet. Is there anyway to hide the caches on the map when you aren't caching? The screen gets pretty cluttered with icons. Yes, but I will have to play with mine to find the right setting. As I recall it is setup>map>zoom level> user mappoints> and then either turn off or set to a low level such as .02miles. Something like that.

If Alnilam builds it, we will come

Well, here's the source: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap101024.html And lots of fun toys here: http://www.tk-mining.com/hme.html

OK, I figured it out, Joe and family.

No, it's real. It digs open pit mines. And yes, those are must do caches!!

We discussed this locally on our first chirp cache. Here was my response: Difficulty ratings have to do with physical or mental challenge -what you have to go through to complete the cache. As far as specialized equipment, that only refers to the physical portion. Something that must be used to obtain the cache physically. Specialized knowledge statement is not equipment and applies to the mental difficulty. Chip enabled would fall into the cataloger of "having a GPS" "compasses" "Where I Go" enabled" "Mapping GPS's", general technology, which is just part of the game and really does not complete the 'required physical aid' portion of the rating as I see it.

On my Oregon400t I found it is very simple to improve. Just turn off the terrain shading. Instead of a green screen you now have a white screen. Much more visible. Turn the shading on just when you want it.

You've heard of Alilam's "Air of your ways" and his "Outlet Mall"... well I've heard a rumor he's working on a new and even cooler "Contraption Cache:

Saw a blue pick-up truck, oval GEO sticker, travel bug sticker, on Maplewood drive, upper Edmonds, noonish, 10/25.

As far as I can tell that site with the specs and images is it. What would you like to know? Anything specific?

You need to have a newer Garmin like an Oregon. You need to have the latest update. You need to go to Setting>Geocaching> and turn on the chirp search option, and from there it stays on unless you ever decide to turn it off. From there you do nothing. It will automatically pick up a nearby Chirp, and display the info.

I have a Honda 2003 CRV (cache recovery vehicle). Lots of window area in the back. I have it mounted right next to the window (back, drivers side). I have no problem picking it up as I approach the car. GPS Fix mounted one inside an ammo can and got a signal as I recall. Yes waterproof. They have a seal on the battery compartment lid. I'm also mounting a bug sticker on my car for those who are not compatable. Photos later. The chirp gives the bug number (its name) and says Eraseek's Vehicle Travel Bug (chirp enabled).

My vehicle is now a "Chirp" enabled travel bug. If you are within 30' of my car with Chirp capable and enabled GPS for around half a minute, you will see the necessary TB info pop up on your screen to discover it. Towtrkdug has also listed the area's first Chirp waypoint cache near Lake Ballinger. Something new and fun to try out.

I just got home. I don't know how much of this has been covered since I was on last night, but I found I was wrong about some things and discovered some new things. After you discovered a chrip you do not lose any data if you walk away whether there are coordinates or just info and you've done a goto or not. You lose all data if you turn it off or find another Chirp. You can only do a GOTO on coordinates THE FIRST TIME you gather the data and only if you are still in range of the Chirp. When you do a goto on the Chrip data you cannot do a goto again on that find HOWEVER the unit has automatically created a waypoint for the coordinate ( you will find it under find>waypoint in your unit as you normally would.) That waypoint however does not have the added on info, just the elevation, coordindates, and distance from you. The unit does "count" every time you redownload (rediscover) the chrip. Hope that makes sense. EDIT I am not longer sure about losing data to another Chirp find as I had turned my unit off the other day.

Yes, every time I return to my chirp in my car it counts me again. Right now I just have a message in it that says "EraSeek's future Travel Bug" . I think I have a count up to 4.

Yes, correct. Having found one today that provided a waypoint (coordinates) it seems to me, if I recall correctly, you can "GOTO" to that waypoint and it basically functioned as such. As long as you did not turn it off it retained all the info as well, and would continue to unless you picked up another Chirp. If you turn it off I guess you lose the info but keep the coordinates until you hit another Chirp. If the chirp does not provide coordinates then there is no "GOTO" and anytime you get out of range of the chirp, the info goes away until you approach the Chirp again when it grabs it again. I think this is all correct, but I'll have to play with it some more. I also don't think there is the ability to "Save a waypoint" from the Chirp's waypoint.

Correction on that (and I think I updated the post). What I found later is that you won't lose the "chirp message" when you walk away from the chirp but you will if you walk away and for some reason the unit powers off. The only thing you are left with at that point is the waypoint created for the chirp which only has the name and coordinates. It would seem to be an easy fix for Garmin to add the message as the waypoint "note". The other related issue is if you find a second chirp. All information about the first chirp is erased I believe, including the waypoint. I haven't had a chance to verify this but if someone has two chirps it would be nice to confirm! Garmin should provide a way to save the special "chirp waypoint" (saved in E:\Garmin\GPX\Nav\Chirp.gpx) as a regular waypoint so the information is not overwritten upon discovery of the next chirp. Thanks g-o-cachers, Yes, that is correct, you lose all data on the first if you come across another. I bought a chirp and now it see that one only; so if you are using one as a vehicle travel bug in your car, and get back into your car, will yours override the one you just found? What if you have a goto on the first active?

My log for my first chirp find: 4th to find. I believe that's correct. Chirp showed 4 logs (mine included) and I wish I had looked at the logsheet better. I think there were 3 names before me (could have been 2) they were so small, I'm not sure. Anyway... what fun! My unit did not receive the signal right away. I took a little walking about and maybe 20 or 30 seconds before it kicked in. Of course you need to tell the unit "yes" on search for chirps, but once you do that the setting seems to stick even though you turn it off. So if you have trouble make sure you've done the update and turned it on. GPX fix said that the info other than the coords disappear once you walk away for the chirp; I did not find this to be the case. The info is still there. As to the difficulty rating, I don't care what it is set at but here is what I think. Difficulty ratings have to do with physical or mental challenge -what you have to go through to complete the cache. As far as specialized equipment, that only refers to the physical portion. Something that must be used to obtain the cache physically. Specialized knowledge statement is not equipment and applies to the mental difficulty. Chip enabled would fall into the cataloger of "having a GPS" "compasses" "Where I Go" enabled" "Mapping GPS's", general technology, which is just part of the game and really does not complete the 'required physical aid' portion of the rating as I see it. Personally, I think I'm going to buy a chirp and a vehicle travel bug, put the chirp and the bug in the window, and folks can grab the info from my chirp as we drive down the road. Thanks Towtrkdug for a fun one!

http://www.gpsfix.com/garmin-chirp-review/ I've been reading your stuff, thanks for the great info I'll be after my first chirp find this morning.

Updated no problems here.

I've had loads of experience with Mountain Goats in the exact same area. I've walked slowly right through the middle of a large herd of them taking photos, some of their kids. No problem. I had also challenged a goat on a narrow part of this trail heading out, and he moved. Coming back he was still there and I did the same. He lowered his horns and lunged at me. I jumped out of the way and headed up hill. That was the end of it, but I can see this happening as it occurred to me, if he did the same. They have very sharp horns. Generally not at all a problem unless you did what I did.

Updated to 4.0 on my 400t last night. Twice today I noticed the track jump back and forth 4,5,6 times in a big zigzag while sitting at a light. This is new. Climbed Mt Pilchuck today. Trail sign says 3 miles. Roundtrip on trip odometer on my 60cx was 6.34 and 6 miles on the track. Or 400t was 4.80 on odometer and 5.5 miles on the actual track.

Updated OR 400t from 3.9 to 4.0 tonight. All went well, no apparent bugs. As always, removed card first.