timk54

The first cache my wife and I found with my Vista Cx was a bulls eye. We folllowed the arrow and slowly approached the cache as the unit finally came to rest on zero. There under some bushes right at our feet was the ammo can. We found 25 more caches in the following weeks but not one was near the GPSr zero. Most were within a 20' to 30' foot radius. We found a micro a few days ago that the GPSr took us to within 5 feet from and 6 feet up. (magnetic on a signal light pole). It appears to me that some people who have recently hiddin caches are using better technology (Newer GPSr's) The coordinates they post should be better. I am a slow learner so I had to ask a lot of forum questions which were answered quickly and accurately by the smart guys and ladies who are active here. Keep trying and your results will improve Timk54

www.garmin.com/support/collection.jsp?product=010-00439-00 Update to ver. 2.3 and your problems should go away.

I can understand that when a newbie like me asks a question that has been asked a hundred times befor it's easy to coax a short answer that may be misinterpreted as a rude response from one of you long time forum supporters. I can also understand the reason for the short hand type of answer to a repeated question. I personally have have been helped greatly by you folks and can't thank you enough. This is a community populated by all walks of life from gun toters to gun control nuts, From anti abortion to freedom of choise advocates. Pro war, anti-war, pro environment, land use groups. Christain, Muslim, Jewish, and others. Most of you are above average thinkers and then there are a few like me who aaren't the sharpest tool in the shed. The common thread we have is our love of electronic gadgets and the thrill of discovery. Isn't it amazing how Geocaching can bring so many togeather in spite of such dissimilar beliefs. Don't go away. If you are having a bad day and slip a rude comment into a reply I forgive you. Thanks again for your support, patience, and knowledge. Timk54

As usual there was something small that I didn't know about. I checked the USB box on the GPsr setup page in GSAK and what do yu know it works like a charm. Thanks to everyone who sent help and didn't make fun of my ignorance. I have learned so much in the last two months since I bought my Vista CX. I know I need to learn more and I will. thanks again. Timk54

Ok, with lots of help from you wonderful people I have downloaded Pocket Querys and saved them to GSAK I have also sent the waypoints from GSAK to my Palm Zire 21. Now for another challange. Can you explain why i can't get the waypoints to go to my Vista Cx? I'm using version 6.6 build 50 GSAK . When I try to download to the GPSr I get an error message. Additionally I have used Comm 1 and 3 in the seup but neither works. Can you help me out with this one? Thanks Timk54

It works ! Thanks for the help I even down loaded the cache waypoints to my Palm Zire 21.

I own a Vista CX. Last Saturday I left it on with WAAS and Compass enabled and the rechargable batteries lasted for over ten hours. I think that is pretty good. Timk54

OK, I made a new Pocker Q. I used my home coordinates and asked for all that I have not found within 20 miles. When I loaded it into GSAK The nearest cache is 65 miles away. What the heck. timk54

I will put the coordinates in the PQ form for my home address. When I search for caches on the home page of Geocaching .com it works fine with the zip code. I do have alot to learn about PQs and GSAK. Why did they have to make it so hard? these systems have to be designed for idiots like me. Thanks for your help Timk54

I have submitted a pocket query that I set to be within 20 miles of my zip code. When I load the zipped file to gsak it shows caches from 65 to 75 miles from my zip code. Whats happening. thanks for your help timk54

I want to enter the coordinates I took off of a gold claim corner posts and enter them into a 1 24:000 topo map mark each corner and connect the corners with a line to define the claim on the topo. Is there a site that I can do this with good accuracy? If I have to pay a few dollars it's ok. I've looked at Topo Zone and Maptech but it doesn't appear I will be able to mark four or more points to a topo to form the boundries I need. Any experience with something like this? thanks timk54

Hiker GPS I noticed in your avatar that you are holding your treking pole incorrectly. You will greatly improve your Level ground hiking efficency if you hold the pole to a 30 degree angle and place the tip even with your foot pushing back as you walk foreward. Of course ascending or decending is another thing altogeather.

contraction for you are.

I bought my Vista Cx toward the end of March. It came with a 32 MB card. Yesterday I took it to the desert and used it all day following the route to the gold claim (146 miles) and then manually inputting all the corner posts and locator posts positions to the unit. I used the compass a lot to visually sight the way to the next corner of the claim. Now I'm going to transfer the positions to a topo map to define the boundries of the claim. The Vista Cx worked perfect all day long on everready rechargable NIMH batteries. The batteries held charge for over 10 hours with the compass turned on much of the time. timk54

If the original cache was placed in a long lasting ammo box instead of a tupperware or plastic coffee can It would eventually become a living time capsule and not trash at all. Some of the gold claims I work have old cans, old tools, and in some cases old buildings on them. they are all considered historical and connect us to the past. It's really nice to think about the life and times old timers who originally worked these areas long before there were cars and trucks, trailers and mobile homes and even penicillan and radio. Will future generations see caches that are 100 years old and ponder the same thoughts about those who were here befor them? timk54

My first interest , family activity, is Prospecting. We camp in the desert , forest , and near rivers depending on the season. We use no mechanized equipment only a pick and shovel. Some environmentalists hate us. We dig holes , estract the gold and return the area to the condition we found it. We have seen Desert Tortise dens in the old timer tailing piles. It's easier for the totise to dig in the processed soil. I see new trees sprouting in the holes we filled the year before. We leave no trash behind and often carry out trash left by the Friday night party crowd. To tell the truth we don't see much of that kind of thing in the remote areas we use. We have been Geocaching for a few months now and really enjoy it. I really can't say I LNT but I can say I respect the land and want my children and theirs to see it, camp on it,dig in it, and enjoy the peace of mind I get by spending a few days away from the stress of the city life. I hope you don't see this post as a negative toward anyone or any group. That would never be ny intention. timk54

Thanks everybody for the great info. timk54

You bet that will work. I don't think color is at all needed for caching. many color units can be more difficult to see outside without the backlight turned on (which drains the batteries pretty fast) my suggestion of software is: GSAK and CacheMate We are doing a paperless training event this weekend, if I get handouts for stuff done I will try and remember to send you the files. If you could post the training material I would to read it or fax it to me ? thanks for your help Timk54

I would really encourage you to step up to a Vista C the color screen is very easy to see in all light. Of course price is one of the factors that I always consider first. It has to fit my budget. Form is the next factor I consider and the Vista C has a lot of features in a small package. Function is the other important feature. The Garmins are all great GPSrs I am sold on color but that depends on the Price factor. Good luck timk54

Pass the Asprin please.

I owned the Vista C for a while then took it back for a Vista Cx. I did want the expandable memory. the Vista C is a very accurate model. I have used my Vista cx in tree cover with very good results. I liek the small form factor of the Vista. I can prop it up on my dash and see the screen just fine. I also like the left handed operation now that I am used to it. It seems either would work really well . It's up to you weather you like the smaller Vista or the larger 60CS. Be sure to purchase it from a place where you can return it with no trouble. Thats what I did when I bought the Vista C. Tried it out and then took it back and traded up for the CX.

There are so many to choose. Thanks for the help.

Does anyone have a suggestion on which dash mount or windshield mount will work best for use in my 2003 Silverado pickup. I need one that fits my Vista Cx. While traveling my wife likes to operate the GPSr So it should work on the passenger side as well. Thanks for your comments TimK

Thank You Sputnik 57. I was just going to ask about a link to a map and compass instruction site and you put it up there. Thanks timk54

I have no Idea how I recorded the dnf to the wrong cache but there is no way I was in Tennesee yesterday. How do I get it removed from my account list and from the posts on that account. Timk 54