Packet Rat

Me and my partner always hide the cache better than it was hidden when we found it. Makes it more fun for the next geocacher. We've even been known to hide tracks in the area of the cache.

Me and my partner always hide the cache better than it was hidden when we found it. Makes it more fun for the next geocacher. We've even been known to hide tracks in the area of the cache.

I've had an Garmin eTrex Vista for about a year and love it. THEN, I started Geocaching. Here in the Pacific Northwet we have lots of heavy tree cover in our forests. While hiking on trails it is not a big deal to loose satellite reception for a couple of minutes. You can still navigate to where you are going, and more inportantly, you can navigate your way back to your vehicle. While Geocaching, it is not acceptable to loose satellite reception. The GPS V does a great job under heavy tree cover because of the antenna type vice the patch antenna on the Vista. AND it is great for turn-by-turn directions in the vehicle to get you to the cache site. My wife was always getting us going in the wrong direction, or lost, using a map and telling me where to turn. The GPS V is a much better navigator than my wife. Also cuts down on the yelling and screaming inside the vehicle.

I've had an Garmin eTrex Vista for about a year and love it. THEN, I started Geocaching. Here in the Pacific Northwet we have lots of heavy tree cover in our forests. While hiking on trails it is not a big deal to loose satellite reception for a couple of minutes. You can still navigate to where you are going, and more inportantly, you can navigate your way back to your vehicle. While Geocaching, it is not acceptable to loose satellite reception. The GPS V does a great job under heavy tree cover because of the antenna type vice the patch antenna on the Vista. AND it is great for turn-by-turn directions in the vehicle to get you to the cache site. My wife was always getting us going in the wrong direction, or lost, using a map and telling me where to turn. The GPS V is a much better navigator than my wife. Also cuts down on the yelling and screaming inside the vehicle.

Thank you all for the help. You have answered my questions. (Still waiting to hear from Garmin, but not holding my breath...)

Thank you all for the help. You have answered my questions. (Still waiting to hear from Garmin, but not holding my breath...)

I emailed Garmin support these questions over a week ago and haven't gotten a response yet. I'm sure my luck will be better here! 1.) How/where do you connect the wrist strap to the GPS V. The only place I can see would be the D-ring locking mechanism for the battery compartment, but that would be LAME because the battery compartment could come open in the field. The manual mentions nothing about the wrist strap except that you get one... 2.) How do you remove the antenna. The manual says to turn it to a 45 degree angle to the GPS V and gently pull. There are 4 different positions the antenna can be in and be considered to be at a 45 degree angle to the GPS V. None work here. Need a better explanation. Thanks...

I have a Garmin eTrex Vista and use it with the altimeter and electronic cumpass both turned on. I hunted 2 caches yesterday, and 1 today. Total on time was about 7 hours, and there is still a little time left in them according to the meter. You must have had bad batteries. I'm a hooked newbie too! Found both caches yesterday, but got skunked today. That's allright though, I'm going back! Packet Rat

I have the eTrex Vista and like it very much except under tree cover . Under cover, it will completely loose satellite reception or partially loose it which greatly decreases accuracy. When you are trying to locate an exact lat/lon position, "accurate to within 200 feet" isn't a whole lot of help. With no cover it usually get "accurate within 10 feet". The Vista has lots of features and bells & whistles. I think I would by the GPS76 Map over the Vista just because of the antenna, better under cover. I am keeping my Vista, but am also planning on purchasing a GPS V because of it's features and the external detachable antenna. It will see under the cover of the trees much better than the Vista.

I have the eTrex Vista and like it very much except under tree cover . Under cover, it will completely loose satellite reception or partially loose it which greatly decreases accuracy. When you are trying to locate an exact lat/lon position, "accurate to within 200 feet" isn't a whole lot of help. With no cover it usually get "accurate within 10 feet". The Vista has lots of features and bells & whistles. I think I would by the GPS76 Map over the Vista just because of the antenna, better under cover. I am keeping my Vista, but am also planning on purchasing a GPS V because of it's features and the external detachable antenna. It will see under the cover of the trees much better than the Vista.