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DebEriBilBry

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Posts posted by DebEriBilBry

    Which GPS is best?

    in GPS technology and devices

    Posted

    Now that's another wide open question....I'll give my likes...

     

    First, regarding one with a compass.....nearly all new GPSr's include some form of compass (ex. GPS based or electronic). I much prefer the electronic type but sometimes does have it's drawbacks. I've noticed my eXplorist x710 unit sway a bit if it gets close to my iPhone for some reason. The GPS compass based units will spin in circles whenever you stop moving since it's using the satellite signals to determine your direction of movement and will correct themselves whenever you start moving again.

     

    Second, MAPS, maps, and more maps. I absolutely LOVE being able to make custom maps for my magellan unit. You can also make custom maps for the garmin units as well too. I use a program called MOBAC and have made FREE satellite imagery, Topographic and Terrain based maps for my area. I've been able to pretty much cover a 100 mile radius around my home after installing a 32GB microSD card into the unit to be able to handle all that data and it's great! Only thing I'd like to have is the ability to compile maps based upon OpenStreetMap data (which garmins can do relatively easily but magellans cannot) since a group of us have gotten all the DNR trail data input into OSM and it's FANTASTIC to let people know exactly where the trails go and where the caches are with regards to the trail.

     

    Third, I LOVE the ability to do turn-by-turn routing on mine....the magellan x710 units come with everything you need out of the box to do this. It's great being able to select a cache and tell it to "go to" and give you verbal as well as on screen directions to the cache. It's not perfect by any means but it has done a GREAT job in helping me a LOT in cities that I'm not familiar with. The eXplorist x610 can do it as well but it's similar to the Garmin units where you have to purchase the routing maps separately and load them into the unit. Not really all that difficult but if price is a major factor then you can save a few dollars upfront and add this feature later. I personally was turned off by how nice the garmin units that are the high end expensive ones don't include them by default...I think they should for $500 range units but that's just my opinion. The explorist 710 can usually be found for that amount.

     

    EDIT: Ok...so before I get a mild flame my way I guess I should say that I forgot about the "free routable OSM based" streetmaps that are available online. I know of one in particular at http://garmin.openstreetmap.nl/ that LOOKS really nice. I've not been able to use it since I don't have a garmin unit but it looks really nice. There is also another place where you can download daily extracts from the OSM planet db at http://download.geofabrik.de/openstreetmap/ ...... Both have REALLY nice packs but you have to know what you're doing to be able to utilize them. There is a place for us Magellan users that provides a great service of some free maps at http://maps4me.net/ and only has a minimal yearly charge for downloads. The owner, Sockey as he's known, has compiled maps for use on Magellan units that look absolutely awesome! Cost is about $12/year so really can't gripe about that. Hope this helps clarify things a bit. Garmin has the most widely available set of "stuff" for it (maps, hardware add-ons etc) at local retail stores around me but that's changing slowly. You can get some REALLY nice windshield mounts for just about anything at http://www.rammount.com/ . I have one for my Magellan unit and I take it with me offroad and the thing holds to the glass like it's been glued (suction only). END OF EDIT

     

    Fourth, the addon software available....Garmins use something called Basecamp and Mapsend (I think...probably am wrong on that though). It's free but I've tried it and some stuff is pretty handy in it but I didn't really like the way it looks or the way it just generally works. Magellan has something called Vantagepoint. Works great with tracks, maps, and route making but as far as sending data to/from unit itself it stinks. MUCH better off using something called GSAK for sending PQ's to the units.

     

    Fifth, I kinda wish I had wireless transfer ability like the garmin units have so I could transfer some stuff to fellow Magellan owners. Not a big deal but would be nice (Wish SOME unit had WIFI ability but that's for another discussion).

     

    Sixth, and finally all I can think of at the time is I'd LOVE to have the CHIRP receive ability. I'd probably place some (eventhough they are kinda high priced for the little boogers) cause I just think all kinds of cool stuff could be done with them. It's just not taken off at all in my area though so I'm not crying over not having that.

     

    Anyone else? I leave anything out? LOL Hope this helps get you thinking about possibilities.....there are MANY!!!

     

    Wow! You just sent my mind swirling. I hadn't even contemplated maps.... :blink:

    Which GPS is best?

    in GPS technology and devices

    Posted

    So it sounds like it may be better to use one that is hand held as opposed to the one I have that is the garmin nuvi that I use in the car. I think having one that can hook somewhere would be good.

     

    I also think I would like one with a compass.

     

    I guess instead of what gps is best is what are the features you find most helpful with your GPS?

    Which GPS is best?

    in GPS technology and devices

    Posted

    Hi!

    My birthday is coming up and I would love a new GPS. I am using a Garmin nuvi right now and it is ok but hard to pin point GZ sometimes. I am wondering what ya'll use and what do you recommend?

    I will subtly hint to my husband which name brand to look for for me. :rolleyes:

     

    Deb

    from DebEriBilBry

    pocket query not downloading the newest caches in my area

    in How do I...?

    Posted

     

    Caches total:

    I have tried 100, 500 and 1000

     

    Radius: I have tried 50, 75, 100 200 and 400miles none seem to make a difference.

     

    When you select 1000 caches with a 50 mile radius how many caches are returned in the query?

     

    @Geotrekker

     

    I don’t think I tried doing 1000 at 50 mile radius. I was trying to do a smaller area hoping to get the more local ones. I did the 1000 caches at 200 and 300 maybe 400 once I can’t remember. I am getting ready to try again today. Wish me luck.

     

    Deb

     

    My goodness but we have a lot of caches around here!

     

    I ran 1000 at 10 mile radius and got back 860 caches!

     

    I forgot to exclude the ones I have found so when I edited the PQ it dropped to 775 but still that is a lot of caches in such a small area.

     

    So then I dropped it to 1000 in 5 miles and got back 239 caches. Crazy!

     

    These are 2 of the new ones that show in my preview.

    NRGP005

    by NClingen | GC3XKY9 | Florida placed 09/27/2012

    NRGP004

    by NClingen | GC3XG8Q | Florida placed 09/25/2012

     

    There are some on here that I have never seen before so I wonder if I need to do several PQs at smaller radius to get them to all load?

     

    So ….. I just tried to download these 239 and it worked!!!!!

     

    Now I just have to figure out how large of a radius I can do and I know I saw a link that told me how to do this. If you all have advise on that I will take it.

     

    Thank you all for your help

    pocket query not downloading the newest caches in my area

    in How do I...?

    Posted

     

    Caches total:

    I have tried 100, 500 and 1000

     

    Radius: I have tried 50, 75, 100 200 and 400miles none seem to make a difference.

     

    When you select 1000 caches with a 50 mile radius how many caches are returned in the query?

     

    @Geotrekker

     

    I don’t think I tried doing 1000 at 50 mile radius. I was trying to do a smaller area hoping to get the more local ones. I did the 1000 caches at 200 and 300 maybe 400 once I can’t remember. I am getting ready to try again today. Wish me luck.

     

    Deb

    pocket query not downloading the newest caches in my area

    in How do I...?

    Posted

    Deb, the same thing happened to me a few days ago and I missed out on some hides that were replaced and enabled. After discovering the problem, I went to my PQs Ready For Download Page and deleted that PQ. The following morning I requested the PQ again and the new caches showed up fine.

     

    I don't know why, but my guess is if that PQ is already on the ready list with a few more days left, it doesn't update. Now I just go to the PQs Ready For Download Page and delete ones I am going to request prior to checking the day to run. It is not ideal to have to remember the extra step, but it did work for me.

    Hi Momster,

    Unfortunately this is not a new problem for me. It has been happening for awhile

     

    Deb

    pocket query not downloading the newest caches in my area

    in How do I...?

    Posted

    Although I do not know for sure (positively), I have seen references that sometimes the newest caches do not appear in a PQ.

    @DebEriBilBry: Can you go through your PQ settings and tell us what each one is set to, as well as some examples of caches that don't get captured by the PQ? We might be able to spot a pattern.

     

    Okay lets see..............

     

    Days to Generate:

    Sometimes I set it to generate on Sundays

    Then I tried setting it to uncheck after query runs.

     

    Caches total:

    I have tried 100, 500 and 1000

     

    Any Type:

    I left this open

    Any Container:

    I left this open

     

    That (and)

    "I haven't found" is ticked

     

    Difficulty and Terrain are set at "greater than or equal to 1"

     

    Within: none selected

     

    From origin is coordinates near my home

     

    Radius: I have tried 50, 75, 100 200 and 400miles none seem to make a difference.

     

    Placed during: none selected

     

    Although I did try doing a one week search that showed up with a line through it?? I am sorry I did not really ever download it to my computer and I can't try to now. The preview shows up with everything new.

     

    I never pick any attributes.

     

    Some of the new caches that did not come across

     

    Traditional Cache Oh no! Not another bush hunt!

    by pascopete | GC3XGY0 | Florida

    Premium Member Only Cache 09/25/2012 New! 2 days ago*

    Send to GPS

    [Really Far..] 0

    Traditional Cache Whack! Back to you D8

    by pascopete | GC3XPYA | Florida

    Premium Member Only Cache 9/29/2012 New! Today*

    Send to GPS

    [Really Far..] 0

    Traditional Cache Full Schmull

    by pascopete | GC3XKVT | Florida

    pocket query not downloading the newest caches in my area

    in How do I...?

    Posted

    If the caches show up in the preview they'll be in the query if it's run right away. It sounds like a problem downloading the query to gsak. How are you downloading them into gsak?

    @JPatton I do not think it is a problem with the download to GSAK. I tried opening my opening the GPX files in a plain text editor I then did a search of a cache I know is local to me and new. It is not located in the GPX file.

    pocket query not downloading the newest caches in my area

    in How do I...?

    Posted

    I am trying to figure out why when I try to create a new PQ it will not download the newest caches in my area. I have tried searching in smaller areas and for a lesser number of caches but I just can't get the newest ones to show up.

     

    I tried opening my opening the GPX files in a plain text editor and searching for the GC codes of some of the newest caches that I know are there because I see them when I look online. They simply are not there.

     

    I use GSAK to open my PQ.

     

    Please help!

     

    Deb

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