Us 5 Camp

Thanks for the replies... We ordered the Auto Kit for the GPSMAP196 from TVNAV. It was a good value and given all the searching I've done and the comments here I decided to try the City Select. The 196 was made to use the City Select data, City Select was written with routing in mind vs. an after thought for metroguide, for the areas we're interested in the data seemed to be presented better. I do, however, feel metroguide has some data that City Select doesn't. As an added bonus, I learned that my 76s will accept City Select as the software will allow up to two GPS serial numbers per unlock. So I'll get to use the maps on my 76s as well. Of course I'll need to turn off the routing data to keep my downloads smaller. Thanks all.... "Never have a philosophy which supports a lack of courage..."

My father has just invested in a GPSMAP196 for flying and RV'ing (rural & snowbird travel). The unit will accept City Select as well as Metroguide. Which would you recommend. I've looked at the map viewers and they look very similar, though different in detail for certain areas I've explored. (metroguide had more lakes, etc) City select appeared to have some of the smallest roads named where metroguide appeared to just have a road like my Topo does. In practice from those with a little more than "mapsource viewer" time behind them, what are your opions? PS... I'd like to order one or the other with a data card ASAP so I can have it here this weekend when they visit. He's not the most computer savy, so I'll be helping him get things setup while he's here. "Never have a philosophy which supports a lack of courage..."

One of my caches is very well hidden from public view in the summer months, but not so in the late fall / winter months. While driving by the site the other day on a very busy street I looked across the pond to the cache site an could see that a cacher would be in plain site from this street. Also, (as my 1st winter since geocaching) I am somewhat concerned about snow tracks. Should I remove/disable these more public caches during the winter months to prevent pillaging? It's a same, because I think winter caching would be fun and challenging. It's the public nature of two of my cache sites that concerns me. Thanks, "Never have a philosophy which supports a lack of courage..."

What are Garmin Data Cards.... are they truly proprietary or are they compatible with an aftermarket card (i.e. lower cost) Also, are the USB card writers required? I assume the GPS's standard serial port would work, albiet at a much slower download speed... Thanks again... "Never have a philosophy which supports a lack of courage..."

I am looking to get Mapsource Metroguide & a data card for my father's GSPMAP196. I would appreciate recommendations for the best online prices of Garmin data cards as well as Mapsource products. Thank you in advance... "Never have a philosophy which supports a lack of courage..."

Here's what I did: Copied each cd's contents to: C:GarminMapsourceUSATopo (the name doesn't matter, it's just where i chose to put the cd's) This created the sub-directories.... C:GarminMapsourceUSATopoEast C:GarminMapsourceUSATopoWest C:GarminMapsourceUSATopoHawaii C:GarminMapsourceUSATopoAL It also dumped a several files (such as setup.exe) into the directory: C:GarminMapsourceUSATopo Then I ran the setup.exe program from the folder named "USATopo" and allow it to do a "full" install. It worked perfectly, loads increadibly fast, no more waiting for map data or switching cd's. Do this for each different MapSource product. Apply the latest MapSource updates from Garmin. Good Luck to all.... "Never have a philosophy which supports a lack of courage..."

FWIW, here's the response I received from Garmin: ------------------------------------------------- Thank you for contacting GARMIN. As you know, TOPO does not support full install directly...but I have had some success following these steps as a work-around: 1. Uninstall MapSource from the Add/Remove in the Control Panel. 2. Shutdown the computer for 30 seconds or longer. 3. Copy entire contents of CD-ROM(s) to the hard drive. 4. Take out CD-ROM from computer. 5. Run the Setup.exe from the new folder. 7. Run MapSource. Thank you again for your interest in GARMIN GPS. ------------------------------------------------- "Never have a philosophy which supports a lack of courage..."

Shown here is a picture of the V vs. the 76s (courtesy of Markwell) In the end, I strongly recommend looking at both the V and the 76(s) 1st hand. The size is deceptive and neither is better, they are both built for a slightly different user and both have their strengths and weekness'. Do some searching and you'll find many threads about the V and/or 76s. The only time i would prefer the V over my 76 would be while driving for the routing. In the end, it wasn't enough to pull me away from the 76s. It suited ME better. "Never have a philosophy which supports a lack of courage..."

I am getting ready to install Topo on the HD. The question I have is do I dump the contents of the three cd's into one directory or three or two if I do not want the Alaska/ Hawaii cd? I've also seen the following method described here: MapSource on HD Link From Tres Okies: "Create a folder on a hard drive with lots of space. Call it MapSource or Garmin or whatever. For each different MapSource product, create another folder and perhaps give it the name of the product (such as European RandR or MetroGuide USA). Copy each CD, in it's entirety, into separate directories named "Disk1", "Disk2", etc. Example: C:Garmin C:GarminMetroguideDisk1 C:GarminMetroguideDisk2 C:GarminUSATopoDisk1 C:GarminUSATopoDisk2 C:GarminUSATopoDisk3 C:GarminCanadaRRDisk1 C:GarminEuropeRRDisk1 Run the setup.exe program from the folder named "Disk1" and allow it to do a "full" install. Do this for each different MapSource product. Apply the latest MapSource updates from Garmin." If I do it this way (above) will Mapsource automatically find the content from each of the "disk1, disk2, etc" directories or will I still have to tell it to switch from East to West, etc? Anyway, the more I type the more confusing I think I am making this. Perhaps I should just follow TresOkies instructions and see what happens? "Never have a philosophy which supports a lack of courage..."

Here's my $.02 worth and I'll charge even less.... In your shoes I would physically look at the following in no particular order: SportTrak series, 76S, Platinum and the V. IMO, the only advantage of the E-Trex series is size. The etrex patch antenna and lack of external antenna port kils it for me. And as the owner of a 76S (and quite happy) I have NOT found the size to be an issue. I think the size, for me, is preferencial to the etrex line. I have used mine hiking, canoeing in the BWCA, flying privat & commercial, driving, caching, hunting and biking.... For this compilation of activities, the 76S is perfect for me. The only time I wish I had something different is when driving, then I wish I had autorouting. BTW, the only software I have is Topo and it serves me very well Urban and Rural. The top accessories (which can be aquired over time) have been: 1) Topo (or whatever OEM map software you choose) 2) RAM mount (awesome addition for canoeing and biking, also plan to take it snowmobiling this winter. Very good deal for the $) 3) GPSGEEK antenna. My 76s has excellent reception in the woods w/o antenna, but this external antenna increases accuracy when placing a cache in the woods and when searching in the most dense of woods. I do NOT use the antenna while driving, the 76S does just fine in my cars. This antenna can be found on ebay. For more info on how this antenna compares to the Mighty Mouse or Garmin's antenna, do a search under my user name and you'll find some interesting antenna posts. Mine cost ~$30, much less than MMII or Garmin and just as effective. Whatever you choose, enjoy. Again I STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU GET TO A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN PHYSICALLY SEE AT LEAST A SPORT TRAK COMPARED TO A 76 OR V & PLATINUM. Garmin & Magellen do things a little different and the screen resolutions are dramatically different. You'll have to choose which combination you like best. All of this is just MY Opinion.... I think this grew to more like $0.05 worth... "Never have a philosophy which supports a lack of courage..."

Hello, I suspect this crowd may also be a good resource for BINOCULARS. I am looking for a good (not $$$ top shelf) pair of binoculars (~ $100 to $300). I am looking for an online source where I could better the most for my $. I looked locally and they don't have the quality/$ that I am looking for. I am thinking a 10x binocular with good light gathering, stable in a small, but not necessary extremly compact size. Name brand like Nikon, Minolta, etc.... Thanks for any insight on suppliers and/or the optic choice itself. "Never have a philosophy which supports a lack of courage..."

quote:Originally posted by worldtraveler: quote:Originally posted by Us 5 Camp:...I have access to more, so it's not even the value so much as the lack of courtesy... We have an open "office supplies" locker where I work, too! Worldtraveler I don't need to raid any locker, we make the stuff..... "Never have a philosophy which supports a lack of courage..."

quote:Originally posted by LongDogs:I know McToys seem to be the bane of most geocachers, but to my youngest son and his friends, they are the greatest treasure they could find. They get real bummed if the cache has "only grown-up stuff" in it. .... In my opinion, we are adults and we are in it for the hunt. It is the kiddies that get the thrill out of the "treasure", and they LIKE McToys. That said, my favorites are coins and signature items. I agree on kids being in it for the treasure, because mine are. However, the McToys should be New, Mint, or at least not broken, chewed, damaged, etc. Some people just leave SCAT. "Never have a philosophy which supports a lack of courage..."

If it's all crap, I'll still leave something, but take nothing. Perhaps the next log should read: "Left $2 bill, removed crap." "Never have a philosophy which supports a lack of courage..."

quote:"Yeah postit pads and electrical tape...that's what I look for in a well stocked cache. J/K" Maybe the electric tape should be used to secure the good stuff to the cache! Charlie X-queeze me but.... The electrical tape (various colors in cases) and Post-It's have been the most pilferred items in my caches. I have access to more, so it's not even the value so much as the lack of courtesy in trading "like" valued items. Perhaps the answer is to stock a cache with "true crap", that way nobody would be trading up and any item placed might likely be an improvement? "Never have a philosophy which supports a lack of courage..." [This message was edited by Us 5 Camp on October 17, 2002 at 05:18 PM.]

I know this is NOT a new topic, but I am amazed at how a well stocked cache can be run down to almost nothing. Do people believe this to be "free" shopping? I stocked three caches with a good quality and quantity of adult and child items. On my latest maintenance check, I found one of my caches nearly empty and what was left behind was mostly junk, broken, severly used, etc...... I know there's no real way to avoid this, but it amazes me how people's consciences work. "Let's see, I'll take two rolls of electrical tape, a couple of Post-It pads, a toy for my kid and I'll leave this matchbook with two matches left. Yep, that seems about right." Thanks for letting me vent.... "Never have a philosophy which supports a lack of courage..."

The notification beeps on my Garmin GPSMAP76S have gone very quiet. (The beeps you receive such as "Arriving at Destination", etc). I've tried the unit on new batteries, and on the DC car cord. Still the same quiet beeps. Anybody have clue as to why they've quieted down or how to get them back to their normal volume level? I have tried to change the beeps setting from key & message to message only and both setting now have very quiet beeps.... "Never have a philosophy which supports a lack of courage..."

quote:Originally posted by RobG:My eTrex Vista's screen has a bunch of small scratches on it, from being wiped off repeatedly due to gathering dust while ATV riding. It's very hard to read as a result. I use (read cut down to size) PDA screen protectors that adhere with removable adhesive to the GPS. The sheets are disposable and inexpensive. They take the abuse and are discarded once they wear. Works Great! "Never have a philosophy which supports a lack of courage..."

quote:Originally posted by RobG:My eTrex Vista's screen has a bunch of small scratches on it, from being wiped off repeatedly due to gathering dust while ATV riding. It's very hard to read as a result. I use (read cut down to size) PDA screen protectors that adhere with removable adhesive to the GPS. The sheets are disposable and inexpensive. They take the abuse and are discarded once they wear. Works Great! "Never have a philosophy which supports a lack of courage..."

quote:Originally posted by Veritech:Nickn7, Just where can I get more info on the Mighty Mouse II external antenna? I have a map 76S and am looking for a good external antenna. Thanks, Veritech I compared the specs of the MMII & the antenna GPSGEEK sells on ebay and they are virtually identical. My comparison and threads on GPSGEEK & MMII antennas can be found here. I would highly recommend you look Here on Ebay for GPSGEEK's Auctions. For even more Geocaching.com discussions on GPSGEEK antennas click HERE. Good Luck!!! BTW, I concur w/ the statement of using the 76S w/ the external antenna. I have been in heavy tree cover where accuracy w/o antenna was 40+ft and with the antenna accuracy was <11ft. It also allows you to use the compass w/o worry of orientation of antenna. "Never have a philosophy which supports a lack of courage..."

Here's what I use when hiking (especially in new areas with dense cover): Garmin GPSMAP 76s, w/Mapsource Topo, paper map & compass. As others have said, once you have a GPS w/Mapping you'll never go back. Additionally, I like the extra memory & features of the 76S, V, Platinum, Sport Trak Pro, etc. YMMV "Never have a philosophy which supports a lack of courage..."

quote:Originally posted by Raouljan:I have received my new 76s and .... 1. Gosh .. this thing is BIG. I have a 12, a yellow eTrex and now the 76s. I knew this was going to be bigger than the other two .. but gosh...this thing is big. 3. The unit "feels" good in the hand. The form factor is totally different than the eTrex or the 12. It is more like using a handheld radio. 8. The old "jam the GPS between the dash and the window" trick does not work with my car (a Subi)and this GPSr. It is just too big. Probably a plot to sell more clamps. In short... I find the 76s to be one heck of a unit! I just wanted to comment on the above points. The 76 series is larger than the e-trex series. Actually, I prefer the size of the 76's. The buttons are more intuitive than the e-trex line and it does fit quite well in shirt, short & fanny pack pockets I've used. I just finished using it with a RAM mount on a 3day canoe trip and it was an awesome addition to that trip. I used to "jam" the 76s between the dash and steering wheel of our Grand Caravan, we just traded to an Astro and that no longer works. I've come up with another solution. No regrets for me on the 76S... its been great for Geocaching, biking, canoeing, flying commercially & privately, driving..... (only wish it did routing....) "Never have a philosophy which supports a lack of courage..."

quote:Originally posted by Raouljan:I have received my new 76s and .... 1. Gosh .. this thing is BIG. I have a 12, a yellow eTrex and now the 76s. I knew this was going to be bigger than the other two .. but gosh...this thing is big. 3. The unit "feels" good in the hand. The form factor is totally different than the eTrex or the 12. It is more like using a handheld radio. 8. The old "jam the GPS between the dash and the window" trick does not work with my car (a Subi)and this GPSr. It is just too big. Probably a plot to sell more clamps. In short... I find the 76s to be one heck of a unit! I just wanted to comment on the above points. The 76 series is larger than the e-trex series. Actually, I prefer the size of the 76's. The buttons are more intuitive than the e-trex line and it does fit quite well in shirt, short & fanny pack pockets I've used. I just finished using it with a RAM mount on a 3day canoe trip and it was an awesome addition to that trip. I used to "jam" the 76s between the dash and steering wheel of our Grand Caravan, we just traded to an Astro and that no longer works. I've come up with another solution. No regrets for me on the 76S... its been great for Geocaching, biking, canoeing, flying commercially & privately, driving..... (only wish it did routing....) "Never have a philosophy which supports a lack of courage..."

quote:Originally posted by ejmct:Does anyone know if the barometric altimeter can be shut off and just use the satellites to determine altitude? I assume the pressurized cabin will preclude the barometric altimeter from working properly. Or perhaps I can recalibrate it when the pilot announces what altitude we're currently flying at. Any thoughts? I've recently flown w/my 76S on Northworst without any problems from the flight staff. I used my external antenna (see ebay... gpsgeeks) because it was easier than holding the unit close to the window. On the 76S (not sure of Vista) you can see both GPS and barametric altitude. The GPS altitude was obviously correct at 30K+ ft. The barametric altitude was at times 5k ft. and other times as high as 7k ft. The older woman sitting next to me was very interested and amazed at being able to see exactly where we were and how fast we were going (599mph), how soon we'd be there etc. She said her son would love one and thought a gps might be under the tree for him for Christmas...!!! "Never have a philosophy which supports a lack of courage..."

quote:Originally posted by Team Geddings:What Garmin product is best at it (aside from the $999 Streetpilot III)? Do any of them do routing? Please let me know. Thanks! MAP76(S) will do address search w/Metroguide loaded. V will do it with autorouting as well. Many other Garmins will do it, but I don't have the list. "Never have a philosophy which supports a lack of courage..."