G & E

I tried it without using the intermediary program which is Easy GPS in this case. I agree it shouldn't be necessary but it is. I don't know why but without it I get the same problem even after using that macro. I would sure prefer using just GSAK so maybe I'm still doing something wrong. I don't know what it could be. Also, the macro only fixes one "geocache" at a time. I can use it going forward and if it worked I could use it and go through the database one by one to fix all known duplications but at this time I don't know of the problem caches until I try to look for them. It's a dynamic database so I'm constantly taking a few out and adding a few. On the GPS I find the waypoints under geocaches. Do you think it makes a difference if I use the export vs the send to GPS actions? Also the send to GPS uses the GGZ folder while the Export uses the GPX file type. I don't know why one is different than the other.

So I may have found a work around but it's awkward to say the least. Here are the steps I've followed. Delete files in GPS Folder GPS “Send to GPS” Folder GPX "Current" Folder GGZ "Geocaches.ggz" If this file exists In GSAK File\Export\ export to c:Documents\GPS\geocaches Open Easy GPS Open file created by GSAK as shown above from C: drive Send to GPS Somehow the use of Easy GPS for the actual export seems to eliminate whatever safeguards were there to prevent duplication with actual Groundspeak geocaches. This process is anything but elegant but it works. On the GPS I no longer have the created geocache code such as GCglenA05 but if I go to the comments I can find it there. Also where the code or symbol should be on the GPS I now get a question mark. If you can find any shortcuts or redundant steps in the above process please let me know. I'm just glad that it is functional again.

I went to the GSAK website and was told to use the macro "Edit Cache Id" I did that because the cache id, which is a hidden number, for certain caches must have somehow been duplicated. However that macro didn't fix anything. I allowed it to change the cache id and then tried to do the export. Same issue as before. There's got to be another solution.

I've always used the GSAK "GPS" "Send" command. I tried "Export" to send a GPX file but there was no difference. From your comment I should use "Export" "Garmin GGZ". Which folder on the GPS should I put it into? There is a GPZ, GPX and GPS folder.

I've used GSAK for just about as long as I've been geocaching. In fact I use it for more than just geocaching. I create waypoints for locations to photograph and set them up similar to geocaches. They are set up with the syntax of GC"myname"number". This allows me to have my notes handy such as what is at the location and anything else that may be helpful. The method had worked well with my old 60 series GPS. I then bought a Etrex Touch which only lasted about 3 years. Now I have a Montana 800 and I have a unique problem. My export of Geocache like waypoints goes well, In fact I can import it to Basecamp to verify that it's complete. However when I'm out in the field many of these photo subject locations simply don't appear. It's as if they were never exported. I've tried different settings in GSAK but nothing changes. If none of these created caches appeared I would understand but when only certain ones don't appear I'm at a loss to understand why. I use a webcam symbol to identify them from actual geocaches. I'd prefer to get GSAK working right but if not, I may have to change to some other database software to export them. What do others use? Any thoughts on GSAK that could cause this?

It looks like I should have posted the question here a few days ago. The site says I have to wait 3.5 days. I only have 1 left before take off. Thanks for the ideas though.

I own a Garmin 62s loaded with Garmin's Topo Canada. It does everything I need it to do, as long as I'm in Canada. I going on a business trip to Nebraska and hope to be able to stop to pick up a few geocaches on the weekend. It would also be nice to have something a little better than the base map for Omaha. Garmin gives me a choice of City Navigator North America 2011 which is a very nice product. I can also buy for slightly less money a group of US states. However I really don't think I'll be going to the midwest very frequently. I'm almost ready to buy City Navigator. It seems extravagant for the few evenings and one weekend that I'll be in that USA city. However either this year or next I might make it to a border state so it would also be useful there. Before I do the deal would anybody have any other suggestions? I've heard of Microsoft Street and Trips but it looks like a similar price for much the same thing. The single city maps that Garmin sells would be perfect but I'm afraid that Omaha doesn't rate for one yet as it is not on their list. Suggestions?

I don't keep that file after uploading it. The field notes function works very well. My post was about the calendar function as it stopped recording entries this weekend. I found 16 on Saturday and the calendar showed 2. The field notes were correct. Why would I want to look at the calendar? Occasionally it is handy to be able to see the list of finds while out in the field. Usually it is because somebody else wants to confirm something on their GPS but the reasons vary. There are other ways to check finds but the calendar was always a good method to do so. Regardless of the reasons for accessing it, the finds should show up on the calendar but they stopped after two. I don't know the significance of the two but that is all it showed. When a function is not working correctly it gives one reason to be concerned about corrupted software or firmware. On the following Sunday I reloaded the GPS and deleted the field notes file. I then entered three test finds and they did show up on the calendar. I'll keep checking it for consistency as I still don't know why it failed to show the full 16 that I found on Saturday. If the calendar uses the same data file as the field notes, but produces different results, there must be something wrong.

Strangely I've just noticed the same problem. I use the field notes so it is not a big deal but I like the idea of the Calendar for the occasional reference out in the field. Yesterday the first two caches I found went into the calendar and the rest did not. I have no idea what makes those two caches different than the rest. If anyone has found a good solution to this I wold like to hear it. Oh and I've not delete the geocaches history file but havn't used this GPS that long so the file had a history but not a long one built up. There were maybe 50 caches or so in it.

I've used the 60CSx for years and this past Christmas my wife bought me a 62s. There was a bit of a learning curve because, while the machine looks like a 60 series, its software is more like an Oregon. However now that I have the basics figured out I can share an opinion. First, it certainly is an upgrade to the 60 series, which is saying a lot since the 60 series is a great GPS and probably still the best value in a GPS period! Having said that, if you have the dollars to spend, or are lucky enough to receive one as a gift, the 62 is a pretty sweet machine. It is more sensitive. I've turned it on in my basement (with very small windows) and in a few moments it had an accurate fix on my location. It is built for geocaching. You get all the information you want from the published geocache and you can still use GSAK to customize it or improve it. I used to search for the data on my Ipod Touch but that isn't necessary anymore. It allows you to enter field notes. The method of entry isn't great but you can at least put a couple of words down to help you remember the cache when you log it if you found a number of them that day. When you upload the field notes, even if you didn't enter an actual note, it puts a link on the geocaching site so you just click and log your find. That sure beats entering the GC number for each cache. If you did make a note or two, that note will be there too. I find that a couple of words such as "big ammo can" or "hanging off tree", will bring back my memory of the cache so I can write a proper log on the find. I don't believe it's enough to say "TNLN" except for the occasional micro. With the profiles you can make it work like a standard automobile GPS or customize the view for other purposes such as boating or whatever. I haven't tried the map function but it looks like you can take a trail guide from a web site (or scan a paper one) and use Garmin's web site to turn it into an actual map to load up. You can use aerial images of a big university or trail maps of a large park and the 62 will show where you are on that map. That is a unique new feature that I'll explore more in the summer. There are other features that don't mean too much to me at this time but perhaps they will later. Features like the ability to read data from Garmin's chirp or the ability to share data wireless with another Garmin unit with the wireless function. There were times in the past that such an ability would have been handy. They packed a lot into the 62 but the 60CSx is still a great value and a fine GPS. Is it worth the upgrade? Only you can decide that.

It seems to come down to the Oregon and 62s. I've owned a 60CSx for years so I naturally chose the upgrade to the 62s. I like the buttons rather than touch screen and the slightly clearer screen. Both are good units so I doubt you will be disappointed with either a 62 or an Oregon. I did notice your comment about not needing the camera. I have to think that the camera costs at least $75 extra to put in so that money is going to waste if you don't need it. Have you checked battery life? I don't know which is better but that would be an important consideration. Another poster said that the 62s will give you a better antenna but the difference will be slight. I suppose the reviews should show if there is a difference but the 62s seems to have a very robust antenna. I've found it very accurate even compared to the reliable 60 series Garmins. Both good units. Use the same logic that camera stores often use when comparing similar DSLRs, "buy the one that feels best in your hand".

I have that GPS although I recently upgraded to a 62s. There are times when I wish I was still using the 60CSx and it is a fine unit. You've already received an answer about the chip so just buy one and put it in under the batteries. When I bought mine there was a small chip there already so you might have to take out the old too small chip and put in something better. The one disadvantage of the 60CSx is that it didn't display much information. You will find the program GSAK to be very helpful to you. I tried to make maximum use of mine by displaying the type of cache, the size, an asterisk to indicate if there is a travel bug in the cache, and a short name that GSAK creates. The formula is "%typ=1%con1%bug=*%smart=6 %dif1%ter1". This allows you to see at a glance what type of cache is is such as Traditional Regular (TR)* a shorted name, and two numbers for difficulty and terrain so you know if it is a 5/5 or something like that. If you are not a premium member of Groundspeak, you won't get a lot of information so then probably the way to download will be to find a page of caches and click all of them and request a download. I'm not certain about that last part though as I haven't downloaded caches without the premium membership for a long time.

There must be something that the programers at Garmin had in mind with the double compasses but I just don't see it.

I think I see my mistake. When I hit Menu View Geocache, one of the options is "found". That gives a list of found caches, it doesn't mark them as found. So I will try to follow what you are suggesting and do the log attempt and found as that seems to work. As for the screen time out, I'll have to have another look. I thought that there was just the battery save option on or off and the rest was for the light. This is so different from my 60CSx.

I really like the new stats page. It looks like there are all kinds of improvements. Very well done and much appreciated. One change or correction I would make is to be able to display the distances in km rather than miles. I know this is an American site and most users are probably American but you already allow that change when I look at how far a cache is from home on the cache page so it should be possible on the stats page too. Perhaps it already is but I haven't found the set up option yet?

Okay I took the Garmin 62s out for some caching today and brought my trusty 60CSx along just to make sure there were no problems. When I eventually found the cache I tried to indicate it was found but it would not accept the found button on when I go to view geocache and then "found". I remember reading here that somebody else when to "log attempt" and then found. That seems to work. I should have the latest firmware so is this a problem yet to be fixed by Garmin or is this unique to my machine? By the way, is there anyway to keep the screen on a little longer when in battery save mode? It seems to go off after about five seconds or so. I would like 30 seconds. I know the light gives you options for time out but how about the battery save? Your help is much appreciated.

News like this really grounds a person. We have so much fun with our sport of geocaching or just getting lost in the woods and using the GSP to get us out that it is easy to forget all of the complexity that goes into making it all possible. It is also somewhat ironic that we are guided by satellites to and from our destination and yet one of those satellites is getting lost. I'm glad there are people whose job it is to keep those satellites in place.

never first i thought the dashboard is really cool because it's got the shortcut button to the geocache menu, but then i got as confused about its behavior as you are/were. i wouldn't mind having a second compass that points elsewhere when i'm navigating to a waypoint, but the distance shown will also not be correct and that makes this dashboard utterly useless to me. i use the "small data fields" dashboard instead. That's Garmin for you. They get so close to excellence and then blow it. Oh well. Maybe someday there will be a firmware update that will really make the feature meaningful.

For what it is worth, I have been using an Ipod Touch for paperless caching for a couple of years. First I bought that app "Files". At the time I bought it there were no others but now I think that Files is just one of many options. The app tells you what address to use for loading anything while connected to your PC or Mac. So, I would use the same GSAK data but instead of send to GPS, I would use Export to Html. This creates a file somewhere on your computer. You then find that file and likely change the name to something more meaningful than cache. Keep my documents open while you go to the Start Menu (Windows XP) and select my network places. If this is your first time loading the Ipod, you will need to map it by typing in the address that Files will give you if you press help. Once the connection is made (the Files program must be open), you just drag and drop the file from my documents to my network places. You can create several so that you have one for local caches, solved mystery caches, and caches for an out of town destination. You will have all the information you would normally have with an internet connection. I would think that you can do this without GSAK but I haven't need to figure that out so I don't know how. By the way, Files is also a great place to put the PDF version of the manual for your GPS, your camera, your Ipod or whatever else you occasionally need to refer to.

So is this a form of poximity pointer? If I am navigating to a geocache, they will both point to the geocache, but if I am not, the small one will point to the nearest geocache while the big one does nothing. I'm trying to see the practical side of this. Lets say I'm not navigating to a geocache but using it to navigate to a location in the city. If, while on-route, I pass near a geocache, it sounds like the small compass will tell me that. Have you an example of when you've used this feature or found it helpful. I'm sure it must be useful but perhaps I just need time to see for myself.

So I now have a Garmin 62 and I noticed on the compass page that there are two compasses. I realize that I can remove the small one and customize the screen, but there must be a reason for two compasses, especially to make it the default setting. Can anybody tell me why there are two compasses on the compass screen? Does the little one do something different than the big one?

I sure appreciate this forum. I moved from a 60CSx to the 62s and I can't believe how weak the manual is. It doesn't explain "spanner mode" vs "normal" although I did see the option in the setup menue. The manual is a PDF file so how hard can it be to list these things? I'm still trying to understand why my 62s moves the geocache to the calendar when I hit found via the view geocache menu but not when I hit found via (I think) the find menue. That must be a bug. It took me a while to make my first found cache, actually a found cache as I like to use the calendar when updating the logs. I know I'm going to miss the ability to edit caches on the GPS. Simple things like when you accidentally press found when you didn't so you want to change the open box to a closed box icon were easy with the 60 but not possible with the 62. Also, when I tried to upload tracks and waypoints to Mapsource, the Mapsource screen would only show my tracks, no waypoints. That used to be a good way to remember details about a cache after a weekend away from home.

This may seem obvious, but what do you do with the field note once Groundspeak recognizes them? Are they automatically posted to the respective geocache? Do they replace a normal log that you type in or can do you still log the caches manually but have the option to paste the field notes. I'm using a borrowed computer today so I can't test it out myself until the end of the week.

Problem solved. I forgot that I had loaded some non-Garmin topo maps that I rarely if ever used. I then deleted them from my hard drive but still no luck. I used the control panel and uninstall removed it that way. Finally the Mapsource program started. I've had all sorts of problems trying to upgrade Mapsource in the past. You would think that Garmin would have fixed some of these bugs. If Windows can upgrade itself without my help, and other programs can do it without incident, Garmin should be able to do the same. Now how many hours did I waste today?

I have TOPO Canada. I did find those strange file names as I reinstalled the whole four disk set. Still no success though.