Desert_Warrior

I looked at it. My son is going back to Ft. Carson when he is done in Iraq. But I think he is going to get the software for free by joining Localhikes.com. Good deal since he likes to hike. I will ask him if he wants to buy it instead.

Dunno - I tried clicking on your number, still can't see what you did. The link must be broke.

Hmmmm... are you sure it is a limit in ExpertGPS? Or is it rather a limit in Microsloth? What is the limit for items in a folder? 256. 512, 1024? I am not sure, but something to consider.

Not to put you off, but for brevity... Check THIS THREAD E-mail NG topo and ask about a USB configuration. They are not the sharpest knives in the drawer, but if enough customers ask for something, maybe it will happen. Let me know what kind of answer you get.

I also strongly disagree. Having owned several from the yellow to the Vista, I see little if any difference. Some work one day, the other the next day. No clear winner from my point of view. One thing I DID notice is that the E-Trex series will alert you immediately that satellite reception is poor. Other units will keep quite about it, hoping to re-gain satellite lock and continue. For the period if time you have no lock but don't know it, who knows where you might end up. Many of the magellan units are good at that. So, another "TIP" If you have one of the units that don't tell you right away that you have poor reception, don't hike in the woods - in the fog - near a cliff - ..... you get the idea. BTW, the E-trex series are battle-proven. My son has destroyed 3 of them now. Fell on the first in a raid one night. Second one the display shattered when a 120mm mortar hit near his position. Not clear on what got the 3rd yet. Geocaching is much easier on GPSRs.

RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES! MAHA-Power-x 2200 mah are about the best thing going right now. Enjoy!

While you are at it, E-mail National Geographic TOPO and express your disappointment that their highly touted program does not support the 60C or 60CS. Go HERE to E-mail them! Let them know we need 60C/CS support. ExpertGPS is working on USB support, may already have it. I haven't heard from them lately.

First, no. No hard feelings. If you think it over, you might even begin to see our side. Yep... like on your doorstep. People need to understand that this war was not of our choosing. They came looking for us! And it wasn't the first time either. In 20+ years of service, I have seen the dark belly of terrorism. I was 2 blocks away from USAFE HQ when they blew it up. I spent 7 yerars in Europe, not just vacations. I insoected my car with a flashlight and mirror every time I approached it. The problem is most Americans have been brought up in such a protected and sheltered life they don't know what is outside our borders. You see, if we are fighting the war in their backyard, we don't have to fight it in our backyard. But fight it we must. They don't want to hold our hands and sing kumbya... they want to destroy us. Spend 7 years in that part of the world and form an opinion. Shortly after France withdrew from NATO, the french border became a secondary zone on our radar scopes. Many of the common folks there are nice, that is true. But many are not. And I don't need to comment on the policy of their government and our position with them. However, Thales pays a considerable amount to the french govt in taxes and fees. Not one penny of mine though! Yep... less than honorable. Let's see now. Oct 1983 - Beirut, Lebanon Marine Barracks - 243 killed. Dec 1988 - Lockerbee Scotland Pan-Am flt 103 - 244 killed. Feb 1993 - NYC, NY. World Trade Center - I - 6 killed (we were lucky) Jun 1996 - Khobar Towers, Saudi Arabia - 19 killed. (I lived there in 91) Aug 1998 - US Embasies Kenya/Tanzania - 224 killed. Oct 2000 - USS Cole, Aden, Yemen - 17 killed. Sept 11th 2000 - NYC, NY. World Trade Center -II. Plus Pentagon, Washington DC. Plus United Airlines flt 93, Central PA - 3000+ How many more attacks will it take before striking back will be honorable? Sears Tower in Chicago? All of LA? Your family? My opinion, it is a dishonor to ALLOW it to happen. And it you are not ready to pick up a rifle and fight it in your backyard, at least appreciate the government and soldiers that are willing to keep it out of your backyard. And DO NOT support the nations who make that job more difficult than it needs to be. Never said it any other way. In fact, I specifically stated that you had that right. It was paid for by the blood of those who DO think it is important. Again, in simple terms, my enemy's friends are also my enemy. The french are making the job more difficult, and making it take longer too I might add. If this makes trouble for the french people, sorry... but they CAN fix it. All it takes is a more cooperative government that isn't in the pocket of the terrorists. In the long run, it is in their best interest to be rid of terrorists too. No hard feelings at all. I hope some day you get a professor who will teach both sides of the story, not just the socialist liberal side. Have a great weekend caching.... I will be teaching electronics to kids tonight, hiking Sat, and working on my H-1/2 Sun. Maybe ride my dog (see avatar) in the desert!

For really tough jobs you might consider THIS. We use it around the plant all the time. I liked it so much I bought a kit for the home. It will even remove the yellow from antique radio dials. Hope it helps.

RANT TRUNUCATED Sheesh, I ain't touching this.... Yes, although he seems hopeless, I will touch it. But don't expect much... Just so long as you know that the very fact you can have this attitued is because "there seem to always be enough people" who did the tough jobs for you, and paid in their blood, then I am fine with it. Those who can - DO. For those who can't, there is Kalifornia. Don't worry, those who can will continue to carry you, and protect you, and your family, dispite your attitude. This is just the way they are. And thank God there ARE enough of them. I was proud to have been one once, as were/are many in here. I bet you complain about all the jobs lost in the country. Shop at wal-mart do you? Next time the french are in trouble they can ask the Germans for help. The Germans know the way to Paris! BTW.... JEEP. 1976 AM-General JEEP. The fore-runner of the AM-General H-1 hummer. I call it a H-1/2.

Most of the countries you listed DID lend support in one way or another. My son has served with Azerjibani and Polish troops, and has recently had some contact with Japanese troops. He says the Azerjibani troops are real fighters, good to be with. The polish are poorly equipped, but superbly trained and led.

OH - really??? Here is the proof! Thales plays a bigger role in your everyday life than you may ever have imagined… Established in France more than a century ago, Thales is a global electronics company serving Aerospace, Defence, and Information Technology markets worldwide. With operations in more than 30 countries and 65,000 employees, the Thales Group generated 11.1 billion euros in revenues in 2002. And HERE is the reference. Is the company profile on the internet proof enough? Well, maybe not, I guess I could have just written a multi-page web site as a hoax. Whew, that was a long night. Dig enough, you will find the link to Magellan. EDIT: I decided to do it for you. HERE I rest my case.

For me it is still simple. I have used nothing but Garmin. Having never had an SD card, I guess I don't miss it. I have always seemed to be able to use whatever Garmin GPSr I had to my satisfaction. Yes, I am looking at my 4th upgrade in 3 years. Who has not looked at a new one? OTOH, Magellan is owned by Thales. Thales is French. I am a retired army veteran who knows and remembers history. Currently my son is also serving. Of the many countries serving with him, France is conspicuously absent. I will not give a penny - SD card or not - to a country with a stripe up their back the color of a basic E-trex. Until Iraq, the only thing we ever asked of them was a place to bury our dead. And why did they die in France? Nuf said. My opinion, but I put my money (and my life) where my mouth is! Garmin RULES!

Thanks guys for all the great reports. I took my lunch break at the Ft. Bliss PX yesterday. I met with the electronics and outdoors department managers and gave them a print-out of the Garmin 60CS. They will try to get some as quickly as possible. And with the usual PX prices, it will be worth the wait. I think..... If this is sucessful, I will post it here so other vetrans and active duty folks can do the same. Y-all have a great weekend.

Yes... thank you very much. Usually, I like to verify information independantly, but in this case I think I will accept your report as fact! Thanks again.

With the way your son or should I say the Iraqies are smashing those GPS's over there I bet your son will get a new vista . I say you will get that 60CS and your son will get a care package from old dad. . That way you don't feel guilty buying yourself that new 60CS Actually, NOT. For a couple of reasons. #1. While my son likes the Vista, it does not have the battery life that the Venture has. This is why he wanted another Venture, or rather even a Yellow, than the Vista. This I can understand. #2. We are holding our breaths here, there is an unconfirmed rumor that my son will be released from combat duties to return to Ft. Carson in early March. Of course, nothing official, and it can change in a moment. Still, it would be about 6 weeks early. Soooo... #3. There isn't time enough for mail to catch up to him at this point. If he breaks one now, he will be without. However, if he gets home and does want the Vista, we can do that. Thanks for thinking of him.

Looking at the age of some of the marks found in a previous thread, I got to wondering about the age and history of some of these marks. I researched my few finds to determine the oldest one I found. And it has an interesting history. Information and history is below. This one - CE0665 - is the oldest one I have found. HERE is a photo of it. Marked on 10 Jan 1855, monument set on 31 Jan 1855. HISTORY. The United States-Mexico border totals 1,951.36 official miles from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean. The Rio Grande portion covers 1,253.69 miles. The Land Border from the Rio Grande to the Pacific Ocean is 697.67 miles, including 23.72 miles along the Colorado River. The official survey of the United States-Mexico border began on 6 July 1849 from the Pacific Ocean side. The initial point of reference was selected by agreement at one league (then accepted to be 5,564.6 meters) south of San Diego Harbor. It was marked as Boundry Marker #1. The final land border point was selected as N 31* 47’ on 9 Jan 1855. Three weeks later, on 31 Jan 1855, the pyramid shaped marker was erected. On 5 July, 1883, the border was ”inspected” by another survey crew. This crew departed from El Paso, and ended the inspection in San Diego. During this inspection, the border markers were re-numbered with Monument #1 in El Paso. This information is from the Leon Metz book, BORDER, in which Mr Metz devotes several chapters to the surveying and marking of the United States-Mexico Border. Have you found one as old, or older, or as interesting? Tell us about it.

GARMIN GPS-MAP 60C owners... you have had your units for a few weeks now. So lets hear it.... Are you glad you got it, or are you disappointed? Lets hear your thoughts. I am still using my 3 month old Vista, and wishing I had waited two weeks before buying it so I could have waited for the 60CS. Not to worry, someone will get a good deal on an almost new Vista!

Nice dogs..... nice pups too. But something that small would get lost in our house.

We find them HERE. Love that area!

Hmmmm.... would a few of you take a photo of how you hold it for one hand use and post it here? May help others develope a technique. If nothing else, it could be amusing, sorta like trying to get a line of people to relay the same message.

Quick calculations say that in this mode, you could expect 9 hours out of the 1800 mah batteries. And only 11 hours out of the 2200 mah MAHA-Powerx. This is not good. That backlight MUST be a battery eater! Thanks. Keep at it.

So far so good - thanks. Color does not matter much.... BUT..... I spent 20+ years wearing OD-green in the army. I REALLY LIKED THE ORANGE!

Along with the hike, I also did some recon work. I have found a path that will allow us to approach #2 without much danger. I am still working with some local Border Patrol guys (NRA high-power rifle match shooters too) about the best way to do #3. Perhaps we can work together?

Maybe when my son returns from Iraq we will mount an expedition to BM #2 and BM #3. (With back-up and overwatch using comms for situational awareness/avoidance). As you know, they are there, but this area is not to be traveled lightly. There have been several heated debates about being armed while participating. I am licensed, and ALWAYS armed when hiking that area. Just did a hike on the peak with the cross on it this last Sunday. You can see it HERE. Had I known you were going to do those, we could have done 2 and 3 together. Take care buddy....