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ganlet

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Posts posted by ganlet

  1. i own a 210 and a etrex vista (use to own a legend) and my 210 is still my main GPSr. there are situations where the serial interface definately is handy but over all the 210 is just an amazing unit (least for me).

     

    in the end this winds up being a personal choice and everyone will have a different opinion. Either way they are both very capable and well made GPSr. You'll be happy with either the 210 or legend.

  2. I am new to the sport of geocaching and just started last weekend using a Forerunner 201. I found 4 caches and had a blast. I have decided to look into a slightly higher end unit and I have came up with two that I like.

     

    Right now the big differnce that I see is the rechargable LION battery in the Magellan as compared to the AA batteries in the Garmin. I like the LION battery feature. Both will let me load top maps and I like the color. Those are my basics that I am looking for. Both have geocaching modes according to the websites.

     

    Any other opinions would be helpful.

     

    Sean

     

    this comes up on a regular basis. the simple answer is they are both good GPSr and you'll most likely be happy either way. having said that, given enough time this will boil down to the two companies that make them, garmin and magellan. each companies products have their ups and downs. each one also having its loyal followers.

     

    having said that most people will side with the 60cs (its a very popular GPSr)

     

    one of the upsides of the 60cs is the antenna type used.

     

    i would suggest reading more threads

     

    http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=129731

  3. Hi, I can't figure out how to load up more than one location file at a time. Everytime I load a new one, the old one goes away!

     

    I even downloaded easygps and it does the same thing, just opens up a new file evertime, and doesnt overlay the .loc's on the same page?

     

    Help please?

     

    easy gps automatically opens individual loc files, it does not merge them or least by default(i dont know how to force it to merge loc files). i would suggest you looking into gsak. it may appear overwhelming and complicated at first but it is able to maintain a database of caches and each loc or gpx file you open in it is added to the database.

     

    i would give gsak a try

  4. where i live we are on the borderline of los padres national forest. and there are TONS of caches on national forest land. it always seemed weird to me since there is that guideline. to be honest the area isnt patrolled often. ive wanted to create one up on an 4wd road but figured but decided not to.

     

    National Forests and National Parks have different rules. The National Park Service has a blanket ban on physical caches - although there are a few where the log is keep in a visitors center and thus allowed. The National Forest Service generally allows caches. The rules vary in different National Forest. Generally caches are not allowed in wilderness or ecologically sensitive areas. National Monuments may be administered by the National Park Service - in which case no caches, or by the National Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management - which may allow caches. Its best to check with the ranger.

     

    thank you, that explains alot. i dont know why i always grouped national forests and national parks. (might rethink that cache i was going to place)

  5. where i live we are on the borderline of los padres national forest. and there are TONS of caches on national forest land. it always seemed weird to me since there is that guideline. to be honest the area isnt patrolled often. ive wanted to create one up on an 4wd road but figured but decided not to.

  6. I'm getting a GPS for graduation in about a month, and I'm getting the same kind as my father. This being said, I don't need any of the software, since he has it. Any idea where I might be able to find just the case/reciever/etc? (retailers would be nice too, if there are any)

     

    for cases i would try ebay

  7. Hello all,

     

    I'm new to geocaching, and would like to get a cheaper, entry-level GPS unit.

     

    Anyone have one for sale or any suggestions?

     

    Thanks,

    Chris

     

    from someone who is just giving advice, i would suggest teh yellow etrex for a entry level unit. if there are no deals currently on this board (im sry to those who are selling them, i havent really checked) you can always try ebay. they tend to go for 50-70 dollars. sometimes u luck out and get them for less than that but its rare.

  8. Thanks for the info. Im going to pick up Streets and trips thursday and i will see how it works. Also if you get the pacage with the gps locater it is a usb not serial. Thanks

     

    yes the gps locator that comes with the more expensive package is usb. but i was under the impression you were gettin the normal version without the gps locator. you dont need both the gps locator and a standalone gps unit (explorist 210). its kinda redundant cause they do the same thing. fyi explorist 210 is usb also.

  9. I have this unit and never put it into use for this sport. I was thinking about searching for caches with it when I'm on vacation, since i never bring along any other of my gps units with me, but i always bring this one. So whats one take on this unit for caching? Does it get you close to a waypoint??Or does one have to search outwards of a 100ft to find ones cache container? Or result into reading and having the clues on hand to make the search painless???What's one take on this???

     

    as i posted in the other thread this forerunner 201 is capable of geocaching because of a navigation mode that you can go into. it does not have waas so theoretical accuracy is 49ft which should be enough to start using your eyes instead of your unit to located the cache.

  10. Actually, the more you use your GPS, the more you appreciate the high performance features.

     

    I use my autorouting GPS EVERY day.

     

    If you are brand new to geocaching and are the type who sometimes picks up and drops new hobbies quickly (and that is ok, many of us do that), you might consider getting a rather basic unit first. If you are thrilled with the game, then you can get another with all the maps and expandable storage and autorouting features and keep your older unit as a perfectly good GPSr to serve as a backup or to put in a friend's hand when you take them out with you.

     

    YuccaPatrol has pretty much covered most of the key points when getting into GPSrs but i would like to reinforce the idea of gettin a basic unit at first. its possible to buy used etrex legends on ebay for under 100 dollars. they are capable of maps, but unfortunately not autorouting or expandable memory. however you will be able to learn how important the maps are to you without shelling out the big bucks. also like YuccaPatrol mentioned the maps are expensive. i have an explorist 210 and an etrex vista both capable of an aditional 24 mbs of maps but i havent loaded either wiht any because maps are soo expensive it hasnt been worth it for me.

     

    all im suggesting is a cheaper GPSr (maybe a used unit so you dont mind beating up a little) as your first device.

     

    however if money isnt an object by all means the 60csx is an amazing unit.

  11. after readin the manual. it does appear possible to geocache with this unit. there is navigation mode although it appears limited based on screen shots, but it seems functional. the literature also says that it can track previously marked waypoints and the waypoints are capable of being uploaded from a computer; which is pretty much geocaching in a nut shell.

     

    as for waas it doesnt appear to support it. making your theoretical accuracy 49ft. as was already noted this is close enough to start searching with one's eyes instead of their GPSr.

     

    if you only plan on geocaching here and there it should work fine, if your more addicted to the game however i would suggest a GPSr more solely geared towards navigation, not fitness, such as an etrex (i suggest the legend) but thats a personal choice.

  12. is there a way to download gpx files in bulk and parse them yourself with perl scripts? I'm tired of downloading 20 .loc files at a time and only having partial info. Am i missing something?

     

    I think what your after is pocket queries. http://www.geocaching.com/pocket/ you can set up a search that will get emailed to u in one gpx file with up to 500 caches. its only available for preimium members but you are one so your set.

  13. I was thinking about buying a explorist 210 as a first gps unit and was wondering if i could use it with my laptop and use it with microsoft streets and trips 06. if i connected it to the pc would it work like a laptop reciver? i was wondering as i would like to get streets and trips this week as it is on sale at best buy for $9.99.

     

    no need to call anyone and check. ive done it many many times. you wont need anything extra either it should pick it up automatically. (once the explorist drivers are installed, they come with the unit)

     

    if you have any issue settin it up feel free to email me

     

    ganlet20@gmail.com

  14. I am a newby and am confused on which GPS as an entry level unit. I am considering the Magellan 210 or the Garmin Legend. Any suggestions out there? Also, what do you do if you go to Hawaii or a Caribbean Island? Do you get good enough points to really find the caches? I am hoping to take this new hobby with me on vacations.

     

    Ive owned both units and they are both wonderful. the true cheap entry unit, is a yellow etrex but u'll definately get some useful bells and wistles with a legend or explorist 210.

     

    havin said that you'll never have a real answer on which is better. it becomes a debate on which company is better magellan or garmin (and that debate will be settled the day after we decide whether pc or macs are better)

     

    personally i use the explorist 210 as my primary GPSr

     

    i believe in USED GPSrs, especially for entry level situations because your still testing the water so why not get a deal. also GPSr tend to be incredibly durable so a used one should be in excllent shape. i therefore would suggest a legend because they have been around a little longer and will be cheaper. i got mine for 92 (after shipping) on ebay.

     

    you should get good signal in vacation areas, i alway have but others with more travel experience will do a better job of answerin that one than me.

  15. It's still 64 caches to maintain regardless of how many cache listings. Plus the multi cache will get less visitors than 64 standard caches.

     

    Not necessarily. I've recently done a 4 stage which only had a box at the last stage. I suppose it's more a mystery/multi, as you derived the coordinates from things already at each location. So, 4 stages, only 1 actual container planted. Since the OP stated the purpose was to lead people over a certain route, he could, in theory, have a 64 stage multi :lol: Each point giving a clue to the next point. So...one cache in total. :D

     

    I'm not sure the purpose is number of visitors, but the route but that would be for the OP to say.

     

    if it is for a project to follow a route i think a 64 stage multi would be an interesting twist on it. I might be weird but i think i would do the 64 multi if it was in my area, if no other reason for its uniqueness.

  16. I was wondering who else would like to see the search feature that allows you to list site by "last found". I like going after those caches that havn't been found in a long while and this would make searching easier.

     

    Last found by state would be detailed enough ?

     

    Cheers

    Steve

     

    you can do very simular through pocket queries but you have to be a premium member. ive often thought why pocket querie search criteria isnt used for normal searchs criteria. sometimes i want to search for something that i can only search by pocket queries but im not nessarily interested in the file it spits out, just the preview.

     

    my thoughts aside I'm absolutely sure there is a very good reason for things to be set up the way they are, so i just use the preview

  17. Just wondering how I could find out about caches along the way as we travel on vacation...or even just to grandmother's house? I know the route we would take by looking on a map and would want to know if there are any caches near the route so we could take a detour here and there to find one. I can't search the web site by coordinates, or zip, etc. because I don't know that info. Is there such a thing as a map of all the caches....sortof pinpointed, where you could click on the dot that happens to be near our route, then it would tell us the coordinates or name and we could look it up from there? Am I explaining myself clearly?

     

    Thanks! <><

     

    you've asked one of those rather complicated questions. its complicated becasue there are many ways of going about this.

     

    i think u'll find google earth the simplist to work with. it will only show you what caches are in what areas.

     

    download google earth http://earth.google.com/

    then download the KML file (within your member area on geocaching.com it is on the right hand toolbar roughly 3/4s the way down. )

    open the kml file within google earth and try it out

     

    if you want to really get a list of caches along a given route it is typically a process involving microsoft streets and trips, gsak and a program called st2gpx. you can read more at

     

    http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=80274

     

    unless ur goin to do alot of caching i suggest just going to the area on google earth and picking some caches you want to go after.

  18. When logging a found cache, what is the purpose of adding a waypoint to the log?

     

    for different reasons, ive used this feature in two situations

     

    1. when the coordinates presented by on the cache page are least 50 ft off and i have an acurracy of 13 or better.

    2. one time there was a thing about the parking lots used to get to a cache so i posted the coordinates to the parking lot i used.

     

    i'm sure a more experienced user will be able to give you quite a few more examples.

  19. Hello again. Well we tried our second attempt at this cache and another one just a few miles away. Still without success. That gives us 1 found and 2 not. Is it ok to send an email to the creator of the cache and perhaps the last person who found it asking for a few more clues until I get the hang of this?

     

    I dont see why not. Ive done it. my first few caches were ironically some of the hardest ones thus far for me.

     

    im a newbie myself but ive found 99.9% of the owners really enjoy the game and they are willing to help you enjoy it. if the help you need is another hint then so be it.

     

    I'm sure there are cache owners out there that would take offense to this but i mean after all ur just tryin to get some experience

  20. its really funny to me that we can't have a discussion about computers without doin the whole apple vs pc thing. it feels like a garmin vs magellan thing to me actually. its funny i own and use all 4

     

    so back on topic a little

     

    what would people think about a thumbdrive TB i mentioned it earlier but now im curious. who would use it? durability aside.

     

    could have txt files of fav geocaching jokes/quotes, pictures of people who have found it. or somethign like that

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