Desert_Warrior

Much of the BRE only goes to 1:100k maps. The box even states that you need to add TOPO for many of the 1:24k maps. The presentation program is the same. (See the upgrades on the TOPO site). BRE does have 1:24k for some areas. Tucson AZ for one. I didn't CALL TOPO, I E-mailed them. Michael Wildshutt is (I think) the name of the tech support guy. As frustrating as it was to deal with him on E-mail, I am glad I didn't call. I am sure he brings some sort of value to NG TOPO, or they would fire him. Tech Support is not his forte. You can read his comments in another thread here. If anybody sees a menu selection to configure TOPO on a USB connection, or has any info on the USB cable drivers that TOPO tech support insists I need, let me know.

Hmmmm.... you mean that ARMED people standing around other ARMED people are actually polite to each other? What a concept! Actually, Robert Heinlein had it right all along. An armed society is a polite society.

THANKS!!!

Wallll.... now I don't know about the 60CS, have not ordered one yet.... still waitin on the Ft. Bliss PX to call me back. BUT...... On the VISTA, that function IS available. You find it under MAIN MENU - SYSTEM. It is called MEMORY USED. Perhaps you can now spot it on the 60CS. I don't want to believe that the VISTA can do it, and the 60 can't... so let us know. HTH...

I have both, and also TOPO. Note... the BRE ant TOPO programs are the same, only the map data detail is different. The only complaints I have are: A. BRE and TOPO do not support a USB connection. This is the wave of the future, they should get on it. B. N.G. support is less than poor. I just cannot get over the fact that the support dude thinks TOPO works with USB, but you need to have a driver supplied with your USB cable. I gave up on him after about 3 TRIES! I like ExpertGPS too. USB support coming soon I understand.

I need to learn how to do the reports. I know of two benchmarks missing (the mounts are there, the disks have been stolen) and one that is .18 miles from there the DB says it is. There are a few others, but I have been waiting. Anyone got a FAQ or a guide on how this is done. Got to start somewhere. Thanks in advance.

I agree - only problems are in the forums. Fortunately, the few that seem to have an alternate agenda to push on us also seem to have gone away. Boo hoo..... I have never met one of them on the trail. Perhaps they avoid me because of some of the "equipment" I carry while caching that worries them. Since most of the cachers in the area are also "legally licensed", there does not seem to be a problem among us. Except for the FTFs, but nobody ever drew "fire" for that! Often enough when cachers meet out here, it can just as well be at the pistol or rifle range or on the ham radio as geocaching. Great caching community here, no worries.

Hmmm.... I cannot comment on your problem, still waiting to see if the Ft. Bliss PX can get the 60cs at a discount. HOWEVER.... I like your user name. Could it be??? One way to find out. I use a RRA AR, 77gr on 24.5gr of IMR 4895. I am 2 points from MASTER. If you understood this, then it is.

Actually, I married a German - from Schweinfurt. You should have seen her face the day I came home and told her that due to the French/German boycotts I was going to have to send her back to Germany. Dinner was something else that day!

Another note: Do NOT expect your GPSR to read the exact same as the TV station does. Your elevation may be different.

I just got to share the news. My son ARMY_SCOUT is safely returned to the USA. He is now at Ft. Carson, after over a year as a Cavalry Scout in Iraq. Unless something goes terribly wrong, he should have a year before he is moved again. I expect his Geocache stats will climb a bit now that he is back. Thanks to all of you who have expressed your thoughts, prayers, and some even sent boxes of goodies. (The "Gentleman's Magazines" were quite popular!) Remember, he is home safe, but many others are not. Do not forget them. Days like this, life just don't get much better....

Also, if you try to upload a track log with more legs than your GPSr can accept, you will get the trunucated message. Each GPSr has a limit when uploading a track log. The E-Trex yellow is 125, the Venture 250, and the Vista 750. I do not know what the max number for the 60 is yet. Perhaps it is in your book? Use the simplify command to get the track log down to the number your GPSr can handle. Let us know how many the 60 can handle if you can.

This is correct. Here is the deal as I know it. The Garmin TOPO maps that you can load into your GPSr are not as detailed as the N.G. TOPO maps. But - they do load into your GPSr. Back Roads Explorer says right on the box that to get map resolution at 24k, you need to switch to the state version. Having said that, I have found some states (AZ) that Back Roads Explorer does at 24k. Most of the others go to 100k and stop. The interface program for Back Roads Explorer and TOPO is the SAME. This is FACT... and neither support the 60 series, nor USB connections. And the TOPO support is less than stellar. Try them yourself. Ask them about TOPO and USB! Having said all this, I still like TOPO very much. And you might be able to get TOPO for free. Go to localhikes.com and volunteer to become a hike reporter. Hope this helps.

If you use National Geographic TOPO, or if you are considering getting National Geographic TOPO, and it you use a Garmin GPS 60 series, be advised that TOPO DOES NOT (for the moment) support the 60 series AT ALL, nor will TOPO support your USB cable. On that note - the tech support guy at TOPO is a real work of art himself. He says TOPO will work with USB, but you must have the driver supplied with your USB cable to make it work. Yeah, I know, I tried to tell him. Like I said, a real work of art. Having said this - I like TOPO. Just don't count on finding real intelligent life there if you need help with the program. And if you fit the above catagory, drop them an E-mail asking for GPS 60 and USB support. If enough people ask, they might just figure it out.

Let the testing begin !!! I posted this to another thread before I saw this one. Surely there is some other 60CS owner out there with a multi-meter that can read ma, and the knowledge to use it. Lets hear some numbers. Ma drain for the following conditions: Unit on. With compass on. With backlight on. with compass and backlight on. All the above with serial port set to none. Also, when you say "it ran this and this long, it is a good idea to state the type and capacity of the battery you are testing with. I am just waiting to see if the Ft. Bliss PX can get the 60CS, and how much cheaper than the normal sources. Looking forward to the data. Thanks.

Let the testing begin !!! Surely there is some other 60CS owner out there with a multi-meter that can read ma, and the knowledge to use it. Lets hear some numbers. Ma drain for the following conditions: Unit on. With compass on. With backlight on. with compass and backlight on. All the above with serial port set to none. Also, when you say "it ran this and this long, it is a good idea to state the type and capacity of the battery you are testing with. I am just waiting to see if the Ft. Bliss PX can get the 60CS, and how much cheaper than the normal sources. Looking forward to the data. Thanks.

OK - so I did it !!! HERE.

So why didn't you post the link ???

As soon as I get a good read on the 60CS, I will be selling my 3 month old Vista. Somebody is going to get a good deal on it.

Well, you could try E-mailing N-G TOPO support with your problem. They have one guy there, and he is a real work of art. However, even a broke clock is right twice a day, and he may have information related to your problem. Just don't ask him about USB support for the 60 series, he will tell you TOPO works with USB, but you need the right drivers, which are supplied with your USB cable. Real work of art.... Good luck. When I get a 60 CS (soon I hope) perhaps I will be in a position to offer more constructive comments.

Well, if you read back in THIS THREAD about the 15th message down, I provided the links to Thales in France, and Magellan. Let the links speak for themselves. AND NOTE: I didn't, and never have said that the Magellans are terrible units. I have simply stated why I will never own one. Well, never is a long time. You can't tell the future. But I bet I could get odds on that one! BTW, Thales got its beginning in the late 1800s from an American company, Thompson something-or-other.

2. Really? Did you expect a medal instead? 1. It isn't just the Government. Do you vote? The voters put them in office, and keep them there too. 2. No, got enough already, from countries still grateful for the help. BTW, been to France a few times. Friendly isn't a word I would use in most of the country. This excludes the Normandy area. Guess they remember. If I didn't have family in Europe, don't believe I would go at all anymore. My experience alone, but valid for me.

NOTE: National Geographic TOPO does NOT currently support the 60 series, nor does it work on the USB connection. I passed several E-mails back and forth with TOPO support, and the dude was convinced that I needed a DRIVER for my USB cable. I could not believe it! It wasn't worth replying to any more, I couldn't get him to understand that the TOPO PROGRAM was what didn't recognize a USB connection. Still, if enough people complain, maybe they will wake up. It is really a great program. Especially if you do not need to use their support. E-mail them about GARMIN 60 C/CS support HERE.

AHAHAHAHAHA!!! Finally... After getting into a "dont hate Magellan war because the French are people too" I have some satisfaction against Garmin. Not that it matters, but nothing seems to be 100% American anymore. Dessert Warrior, we meet again. If he proves that Garmin is in the Cayman Islands, are you going to buy a Magellan? Haha... Actually, I carefully read that article. Nowhere did it say HEADQUARTERS in Caymen Islands. However, read THIS . Guess this is proof enough for me that Garmin had its beginnings, and still maintains its headquaters in OLATHE, KANSAS. As far as buying Magellan, NEVER! I will not send one penny to a country that would sit still and allow American soldiers and civilians be killed after the number of Americans who died saving France. TWICE! I respect your views on a number of other things, including CCW. Really I do! But you are wrong on this one. The kindest think I can say about France is UNGRATEFUL. Until Afghanishan and Iraq, all we ever asked of them was a place to bury our dead. Even after 9-11, we didn't ask them to join the fight, but just to stay out of the way. They instead opposed us. When the true reason was discovered, it was for greed. Lots of big $$$ deals with the enemy. Yep - UNGRATEFUL. For me... if Garmin didn't exist, and all I could own was a Magellan, I would go back to MAP and COMPASS. Maybe I spent too many years wearing the uniform of this country, but I have little stomach for people who would put profit over lives. I do not mean to start another flame war here. This is my opinion, but echoed by many here. And you will not change it. I am right on this, and I know it. However, I say again... I do truly respect your opinion on most matters. Can we co-exist on that note? I think so!

Yes. Garmin's HQ is in the Cayman Islands. Really? Do you have the reference for that? I thought the HQ was somewhere in the plains states, like NB or something. I proved Magellan was French, so would you please show the link to Cayman Islands? I am not calling you out, just want to see it. Thanks.