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paulmc

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Everything posted by paulmc

  1. That MediaTek chipset is capable of up to a 5MHz rate. Wonder why Garmin wouldn't take advantage of that? You know, give it a third operating mode: Battery Saving, Regular and Battery Sucking
  2. Funny true story from Point of Beginning magazine (from memory): Lady calls land surveyor for a survey, saying "you surveyed here a few years ago". Surveyor can't remember her so he goes to preview her lot. He admits to her "I have no memory or records of surveying this land for you". Oh, she says, it was my neighbor who called for the survey. I wanted my line surveyed so I had some men drill post holes just inside his property and lay posts beside them. He wasted no time in having our line surveyed and it didn't cost me a cent.
  3. Same goes for 12V power cord. I use a Blackberry cord from Walmart: $11.
  4. Isn't Garmin already using another type of high-sensitivity chipset in their newer gps models?
  5. It's disappointing to hear that the 400t has such inaccurate streets, even though that's secondary to terrain for a topo map. I use Topo Canada in my eTrex and the street data is several years old, but I've never seen anywhere near 500 feet inaccuracy for a street - and local streets are displayed better than highways I've travelled throughout Atlantic Canada. - Paul
  6. Re: On another note, I can't find any differences between the 300 or the 400 series besides the pre-loaded texture maps on the i,c, and t versions. Can anyone confirm that that is indeed the case, and as a Canadian, do I REALLY need US Topo on my unit? Did Garmin release a CDN version 400t with Canadian Topo installed (I can't find any source to that effect, for Oregon or the Colorado)? The Oregon is only available with topo for the US (the 400t). The 300 has the same hardware, so when topo is available for it in Canada you can buy it (the topo mapping) then. It's different than the existing Topo Canada, which doesn't have a DEM - Digital Elevation Model - which allows the 3D oblique views of the landscape. If you aren't using it in the US then the 400t is a waste of money. Do people really care about resale value for a gps? If you're that concerned about value get an eTrex. - Paul
  7. The main reason is the new firmware which includes "TracBack" As a full time guide it is essential for me for safety reasons. I would like a much better screen, ie to dim to see in daylight without holding the unit at just the right angle to the sun! I don't think this will be fixed until a new model comes out. The 60 series was much better in this respect. If I purchase another Colorado then I will make sure the software is on CD and not SD card since I like to plan routes on the PC Perhaps you should check out the new Garmin Oregon.
  8. Do you still have your Sony GPS for sale? If so, email me instructions for purchase at xpaulmx@yahoo.ca.
  9. Note that the new Legends use the same usb cable as the 60Cs, but the old Legends use a different serial cable than the 60Cs serial cable. paulmc
  10. Did you check to see if you're in battery save mode? My Venture Cx generally knows within 100 metres if I've gone off course then recalculates. Surely its processor is slower then the 60 series. paulmc
  11. Yes, you can scroll and zoom all over the world, although overseas base maps leave a lot to be desired if you have a NA model (and vise-versa). You can also select a point anywhere you pan to and route to that location even if no waypoint is presently stored there. When you're panned far away you can hit the page button to bring you back to your present location. paulmc
  12. North up for me except when using the gps for vehicle navigation.
  13. You can now get the eTrex yellow with the new high-sensitivity receiver and all Garmins now have WAAS. It doesn't bump the price up by too much either. I used my eTrex yellow since 2001 and just got a new Venture Cx this year. I still love the simplicity of "old yeller". My yellow only handles 6 character waypoints and the new caches have 7; this may have changed on more recent models.
  14. I too have found that setting the gps down (like on a stump) for a few minutes gives it a better fix. I've used this method several times when I'm having a hard time finding the cache. It's also common practise when doing high precision gps work such as land surveying. paulmc
  15. How's this for a deal. Send me your address and I'll send you one of my 2 spare pfranc plugs for free - with instructions. Like the other replies mentioned, you need to be handy with a soldering iron. You'll also need an old serial cable with one end cut off. Something else to keep in mind - the newest geocaches have 7 character names and the eTrex yellow only accepts 6 character names. I don't know how the software and gps will deal with this because I haven't downloaded waypoints with my old eTrex yellow since I got a new yellow eTrex Venture Cx. I don't check the forums regularly so drop me a line at xpaulmx@yahoo.ca. paulmc
  16. Re: "And unless you have verified the accuracy of your unit, don't trust its accuracy indicator. I started off with an eTrex Vista Cx that regularly showed an accuracy of 6 ft. I tested the unit by plotting waypoints with it at exact positions on landmarks that I knew would show up on Google Earth photos. Measuring with Google Earth, I found a true accuracy of about 15 - 20 ft under good reception conditions." Google Earth isn't accurate to 15-20 feet, or even 15-20 metres in most of the world. Find a survey benchmark, look up its coordinates online (maybe a surveyor would help you with this), and place the gps on the point for a few minutes. See how close it comes, since the benchmark will be with a few millimetres. If you test against another gps you're just comparing your inaccuracy to their inaccuracy.
  17. paulmc

    New Site Bugs

    Not bug: I like how an expandable icon appears for each pic in a log. Easier than visiting the gallery. Bug: most waypoints downloaded to my Venture Cx have at least one incorrect digit in the coordinates at 3 places after the decimal (minutes). I need to check/correct each one after downloading. And the icon isn't the little closed treasure chest. I realize these may be problems with the new Garmin utility utilized for the download. Hey, you guys may already have this stuff fixed, so who am I to complain about a site which brings us all so much enjoyment! Keep up the good work. paulmc
  18. How do you delete these posts when an time-out error causes them to post twice?
  19. This could be a record: No FTF's in the 5 years I've been caching.
  20. I replied earlier to someone with a similar problem and I've also experienced this recently. It may be the sun storms you mentioned - they are supposed to get worse until 2011 and are said to affect gps signals.
  21. The gov't isn't supposed to be using selective availability anymore, but you never know with all the war stuff going on. Could also be the sunspot problem that will only be getting worse until 2011. I've had similar problems recently with my Venture Cx.
  22. I have a Venture Cx as well, and while I do really like it I don't think you're going to get any better signal in tree cover. That being said, I haven't had a problem losing the signal while it's in my pocket unless the woods are dense. Maybe I just live closer to the satellites?
  23. I have the older yellow eTrex and recently upgraded to a Venture Cx (also yellow) and I love them both. If you get the older type with serial PC port you can get a cheap plug at pfranc (Google it) to make your own cable. My boss' Garmin 60CSx has a much better antenna and receiver for a better signal in tree cover, etc. but it costs twice the price of the Venture. If you do get a Venture or any Garmin using the usb cable for power keep in mind that you can use a cell phone usb car power cord for them (Blackberry/some Motorola). Got one at Walmart for cdn$13.
  24. I'm assuming Bill hooked you up with a cord. If not, I have a couple spare pfrance plugs which you can solder onto your own serial cable.
  25. GPComd, I'm from NB and I will definitely look for the cache you mentioned next time I go to Fundy Park. If you're ever in Mt.Carleton Prov. Park I just placed one there that should be a challenge to reach due to its remote locale, and the view is great.
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