SparkyInCali

I have a Vista HCx...Can I load the caches as POIs from GSAK? Or must I use the Garmin software? Gsak will only load the caches as waypoimts directly into the gps.If you want to load them as pois you must export a gpx from GSAK of the caches you want then use garmins POI loader to load them onto your GPS

That was one of the questions I had when they first started doing the micro sd preloaded cards was how they were going to prevent people from copying them seems like an easy way for the software to be hacked and distributed

I had the same problem on my 60csx when mounted to motorcycle I ended up just opening the case and bending the tabs back a little more so they would apply more pressure and have had no problmes for 6-8 months now

The only thing that I know of that would do this is a pda phone with either a built in gps or using a bluetooth gps.The only downside to thhis is you need to be in an area ith cell coverage.I was looking for an option a while back for when I went hiking in case something happened while i was out.

I am assuming you checked gsaks site and looked in the macro section there are a coupel different ones there http://gsak.net/board/index.php?showforum=23 I use the Garmin gpx export by chron and it does what you are asking and I am sure a few of the others do as well

Just make sure whatever one you buy has the SirfIII chip or the new mdk that way you can get the best reception possible.Also what are you looking for in the mapping software? Many of the receiver come as just the gps unless you buy a bundle package.Are you looking for something for just geocaching? Do you want autorouting? Those both make a diffrence in what software and package you might want.

I really like the fact the google maps has the application for pdas.If I am in an area with cell reception I can pull up google sattelite imaging up quite fast on my treo You can search for a location on the maps by coordinates or if you have a gps linked to your pda it can center on your gps location.There is also Virtual earth mobile but I didnt like it as much when I tried it.It might be better now but I very happy with the google app

Following the directions in the windows mobile team blog here worked perfect for mine http://blogs.msdn.com/windowsmobile/archiv.../07/620387.aspx

If you already are using cachmate why not use the cachnav part of it?It gives you a compass screen and it worked very well for me.The first few hundred caches I found were using cachemate with cachenav to locate the cache and you dont need any extra programs or imports.If you have a pocket pc you can easily get by with only a few programs.Cachemate with the cchenave plugin for paperless and final cache navigation and something like mapopolis or tom tom for road navigation.Also anyone with a treo or other pda phone make sure you get the google mobile maps application(might want unlimited data plan as well)It is free and can be used with the bluetooth gps and will show you high res color aerials just like google maps on your computer.I love te google maps program it will even show real time traffic data for when you are traveling as well

The other Major difference which is one that has caused a lot of people to upgrade besides the expandable memory is the 60csx has the mush more sensitive sirf3 chip which can gain a good position lock where the 60cs might be lucky to pick up even one or two satellites.

Give cachemate a try.It ha the cachnav plugin for the goto and you get paperless all for $8 or free to try

Ok lets start with a few simple things then go from there.Start out by making sure the drop down menu on the upper left is selected to all.If it is go to the bottom right and click on list and selet record count and see how many it shows you have and whether this matches how many are in the pocket query you have loaded from.

Just thought I would add some insights to using a pocket pc and Bluetooth receiver for geocaching.I started with the same kind of setup using an Ipaq 2750 mated to an oncourse bluetooth receiver.The nice thing is there are a ton of free or cheap options programs to use on the devices.Also most of the bluetooth recivers are now using the sirfIII chips which are much more senitive than older chips and the same that is used n garmins x series.As far as accuracy you should be just as accurate as a comparable handheld unit.Mine has been tested agaist a known calibrated benchmark and showed 4 feet away and after letting it settle and average for a while that reduced to under one foot.I have tried quite a few of the caching programs out there and have stuck with Cachemate it is cheap it works rock solid for me and combines paperless caching with the goto navigation screens.Cchemate can also interface well with gsak and other programs.The only thing cachemate doesnt have is mapping but there are plenty o other programs that have that.For any of you guys with a smartphone that has high speed internet make sure you get the google maps app so you can download but street mapping and high quality color aerial photos. Also to address the issue of multiple applications sharing the gps if you have windows mobile 5 it is already built in you just have to set it up.If you have 2003 or below look into gpsgate it creates a virtual gps port that multiple applications can access. If you have any ?s feel free to post up or email me directly at crazyon2wheels@bayareageocaching.com

I just realized that on the map setup page map points refers to your custom pois.I was trying to set the distance for user points and it wasnt changing.This is a great change now we can use the custom pois for much more useful things and see them at all zoom levels which is the one area they were lacking in.I like the custom pois becuase you can get more data into them.Now maybe they will get the transoparency fixed but for me right now I am very happy and the magenta squares are only a minor annoyance

Yes the conversion takes place on the pda on the windows mobile version of cachemate which can make the process slow.There has been several requests for a pc version of the converter to help speed up the process.The only thing I have done to make the speed much more toleable is storig the database in the pda memory.If you store the database on the card cachemate has to read the data from the card do the conversion then rewrite it to the card which makes the process very slow.When I write it to the main memory it load everal caches per second.I have also noticed that no matter where it is written that the updates do take less time than the original import.I hope that they do release a desktop program to do the conversion but I also like the ability to do the conversion on the pda itself since I sometimes download a gpx file directly from my treo for a new cache or caches in an area I am in.

You can also get it for the treo700wx or any windows mobile based smatphone by going to www.google.com/gmm on your mobile browser.I love the application and you can even get sattelite views with it if you have cell coverage and want o get a closer aerial look of the cache area.It also does traffic overlays as well.If you do menu find location and type in coords it cn also look things up that way as well.I love having the program on my treo and works fat on sprints evdo network and since I have unlimited data I can play all I want.Now if only they would make a treo with a built in Sirf3 chip I would be very very happy

Sounds like the receiver has static navigation enabled.If this is the case it will not transmit data until you have reached a speed of about 5mph.This was done to help with car navigation where you don't need input below 5mph so this helped with making the position stable and not jump around when stopped at a red light or such.Unfortunately it makes geocaching with the unit almost imppossible.You may be able to turn it off.Info on that can be found by googleing "disable static navigation" if you can easily do it you might be better off returning it and getting a brand that does not have static navigation enabled by default

If you have the a newer version of mapsource it should be no problem just make sue you unzip it before you open it if you are trying to open a zip file it might give you a problem. You can also load gpx files at http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/ and get several kinds of maps including google satellite with the caches shown on them as well for a different perspective.I know there are some other sites as well but cant think of them off the top of my head

I know it is a little less convenient but just create a couple of notifications one at your home coordinates and one 50 miles away from home towards the cache areas would cover quite a bit of area

I would love to know the way around the limit but you didn't link to anything

I have never actually used mapopolis fo the finl finding of the cache I use it to get me very close and then use Cachemate to zero in on it.Like said above I am sure you could just use the compass page in mapopolis to do it and only need the one program but since cachemate is already running for the paperless info it is not an issue to use it for the goto screen.If you want paperless I would probably pay the $8 for cachemate definitly worth the money. Also Drake check your pm

http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/convert?form=address Might help in converting to gpx then you should be able to use your favorite program to load as waypoints

I would say the 60csx would be a better choice.You already have two ways yes it would be nice to combine into one nit but the 60 has some advantages at least to me The 60csx has the more sensitive sirf chip that holds a lock extremely well.THe removable microsd card gives almost unlimited storage and it uses AA batteries so if you forget to charge it before heading out you are not completely without options for power.The ability to transmit waypoints is nice but only if they have a gamin rhino also otherweise its useless and for me its easy enough to give the coords over the 2 way anyways.

With the things you seem to be wanting it is going to be very hard to stay within a $250 budget.Most mapping programs cost around $100 just for the mapping the reciver another 70 or so and even used gps with bluetooth are around $100.You are probably at the minimum need at least two programs.One for the mapping and one for the paperless caching portion. For paperless look into -gpxsonar (free) -cashemate ($8) but more features and support For mapping look at -Mapopoilis $100 -Tom Tom $100 -Ms streets and trips around $50 but last I knew didnt support autorouting All of these are also from a windows mobile perspective though most except s&t can be found for palm as well

Are you saying that the NT version does NOT take any of your quota of 2025 map segments? No the Nt version still takes away from your limit of maps but I thing the map tiles may be slightly larger than the non NT version but not 100%sure since I havent used it and dont remeber anyone posting how many maps segments there were.NT does use less space but not much of an issue with a 2gig card.I dont think ther ewould be enough of difference in the # of map tiles to make a difference in the number of topos you can load.On regular navigtor 8 with all of north america sleected(alaska,us,canada) there are only 308 map segments.Topo is the one that uses up a lot of the mp segment limit so you have to be a little more selective for where you load topo.I have been recomnding that people just get the non nt if they have a large card for the fact that if you ever get an older garmin that is not nt compatible for a second unit or replacement you can use your second unlock code on this unit and not have to buy new mapping as well.I would load all of us and topo for where you are pretty likely to use it.If yu ever go to a new area where you need the topo and its not on the card you can reload with that section or just load those areas on the 64mb that comes with the csx for the areas in that trip. Just my .02