scubahhh

Thank you too, Splashy! I haven't found Garmin to be especially helpful, so far, but will continue to search. And I'll check out the videos you recommend. I still believe tha thti sis going to be an improvement over my old PN-20, but so far I still miss it!

Thank you very much, Rich! I've visited your site; it's fantastic, and I plan to spend some quality time with it soon!

Just switched from DeLorme to Garmin, and it's tougher than I expected! I can't figure out how to customize the appearance, specifically: Get rid of all the cute little icons that make every hill look like a Swiss Alp (and conceal the actual contours around the summit) Get it to stop trying to navigate me to nearby attractions I didn't select Place a small banner across the top of the map page, showing things like altitude, bearing, and trip odometer I'm sure these are all easy, once you figure out the unit... But I'm an idiot! Thanks in advance for the help, and happy caching!

I'm a little confused, for two reasons. First, i'd actually prefer a few feet of leeway between alleged and actual GZ; otherwise, as has been mentioned, you just walk along following your GPSr until a lock & lock hit syou in the head or you trip over a peanut butter jar full of trinkets. Second, 20' is pretty good. That includes two margins of error- the hider's and the searcher's- so the error is only 10'. Loads of GPSrs claim accuracy within millimeters; but really, do any deliver that kind of accuracy with any consistency? Granted, I dont go much for urban caches or park'n'grabs in congested areas, but for my preference, I'd rather have the technology get me within 50' or so, and then let me develop a little spidey-sense. Just sayin'...

Amazon has a GREAT deal on these, but as usual the customer comments vary widely. I wonder whether anybody has experience using one for 'caching, and what your thoughts are. Specifically, opinions seem to vary widely about how accurate the GPS, altitude measurement, and caolrie counter are. Also battery life and reliability, and of course Garmin's fabled customer service... in short, EVERYTHING!!! Thanks in advance for any help

Topo7 has it built in, but I guess that won't help you if you don't have the good sense to use a Delorme GPSr!

... and I'm wondering about the relative merits of each. Of course I want to support Groundspeak and get Geocaching for $10, but I'm also thinking about the other seven app's on iTunes. They all seem way too "light" to be of much use, with the exception of Geocaching Buddy, also $10. The review indicates that it interfaces well with Geocaching, and implies that it has features Geocaching lacks, or is more user-friendly. Does anybody have any exxperience with these two apps they'd like to share? I'm sure I can't be the only cacher with a new iPhone who's curious! Thanks

WHy don' tyou get one of each; use them side-by-side for a few days; and then return the one that YOU think is inferior? Personally I have two Delorme's and love them... but that's just me. I use them almost exclusivey for caching ond other outdoor things (hiking, montain biking, etc.); if I wanted them to help me navigate ont he road or find the closest pizza place, I might not be so enthusiastic. Have fun...

Livestrong wrist bands, a $1 donation each. www.livestrong.org

Another vote for Delorme. Great FREE maps: check. $30 subscription to unlimited images: check. Paperless: check. Durable: check. Accurate: check. Idiot-proof: check. I have a couple PN-20's; as soon as I lose, break, or give them away, I'll get a 40. The only downside (of the 20) is that you have to go into Topo7 to edit the comments, because the GPS will only save the first 800 or so characters, and you thus lose all the good stuff.

For using my PDA, I don't bother with GSAK (I'm sure it's great, but it's far too involved for me; I'd rather spend my time out wandering around than playing on the computer). I just go to the cache description page, and save the whole thing on my PDA. Then I have the pictures, hints, cache logs, etc. Or, I download the cache info. to Topo7; edit the comments to be short enough so I don't miss the good stuff; and stick it in my PN-20. Works for me, a practically computer-illiterate idiot.

Delorme PN-20 comes bundled with everythign you need right out of the box, including some great map software that would cost you plenty elsewhere. You can find a "reconditioned" unit (seems brand new to me!) cheap on EBay, or wait a week or so (when the PN-40 comes out) and you'll see the prices for used PN-20's drop through the floor as people hurry to upgrade. I won't... I'm perfectly happy with the PN-20!

Delorme. And donate the leftover $$$ to your favorite charity.

This just happened today: When I open the maps page, the little sliding scale on the left is missing, so I can't zoom in or out on the map. Did I accidentally change some setting, or is this a problem with Maps? Anybody else having the same problem? Thanks!

...One really nice advantage of the Garmin that I see is the Send to GPS feature at the geocashing website. Is there a workaround or a software program that gets that to work with the Delorme?... Yes, sort of. You can save the gpv file; open it in Topo (the free mapping software from Delorme that you'll have loaded on your PC); then edit it however you want to (I edit the cache descritions so it'll all fit on my PN20); then send it to your GPS.

What if the stigmatic is there with you, but doesn't show up in the photo?

Take a look at Delorem before you buy. Buy more than one; use them both dide-by-side for a while; keep the one that performs best and return the other.

Forget about GSAK & the PDA- all you need is Delorme PN-20 or 40. Edit the cache description rith in Topo if it's too long or there's a bunch of drivel you don't need.

Consider Delorme PN-20, and definitely DON'T forget about EBay! I lost my first PN-20 a while ago, and found a "reconditioned" unit (sure looks new to me: identical packaging; $100 in free maps, mempory card and reader; connecting cable; maps on DVD; warranty; etc.) from earthmate.com for way below what Delorme sells them for. Strangely enough, it even shipped from the same town in Maine. It's a heck of a GPSr for caching, and works reasonably well for other uses as well. I don't use mine in the car much, and it lacks some of the bells and whistles auto units may have, but it does the job. When they release the PN-40 in a week or so, you're going to see a lot of PN-20's on the market and prices are going to plunge.

Be ver-r-ry careful. Oregon's only a couple thousand miles from the Appalachian Trail, and you know how the Feds are about protecting their turf.

Think about Delorme. You can pick up a PN-20 for around $150 on EBay, and when the PN-40 comes out there'll be a lot more for sale and the prices will probably tumble.

I use and swear by Delorme. Why not buy boht; test them side-by-side for a while, doing whatever you'll be doing with the one you keep; and return whichever unit YOU find inferior?

I have two Delorme PN20's, and love them! You can buy them new from the company for about $250, or cheaper from earthmate.com through eBay. They're compact, tough, waterproof, fairly accurate, fairly easy to use (I'm almost computer-illiterate!), and best of all, come complete with good maps as well as a couple for $100 worth of even better maps. I think they also either have or are about to introduce, a deal wherein you can subscribe to their map service and download all the extras (USGS maps, aerial photos, satellite, imagery, etc.) you want for something like $30/year. The only downside I can see, is that they don't interface with the web site quite as easily as some other units.

What's a path tag?

Try scuba diving.