blairt
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Posts posted by blairt
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I'd be interested if there is any advantage between 2.57 and this 2.71 as well ...... Anyone?
I have an older eXplorist 500 that sometime ago I registered as a European unit so I could get the 2.57 update. I ran the 2.57 update and I got the cool new screens and WAAS. Yesterday I downloaded and installed the 2.71 update for my newer eXplorist 500 with the 0133* serial number and blue logic board.
Today I have been checking out both units and I do not see a difference in either unit. They both track the same satellites and get the exact same accuracy. My guess the is the 2.71 update is for the newer eXplorist 500/600 series that should have been released in the US. That is just my humble opinion
Thanks so much for posting the 2.71 update, It has made me love my eXplorist 500 all over again. Now I can send my Triton 500 to the bottom of my pack as the backup unit.
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I have a Palm Vx with 8MB memory that can be used for paperless caching. I don't need this PDA anymore as I have another unit. This unit is very clean and the batteries on a Vx last a long time.
Comes with the Vx PDA, cradle, stylus, and a hard shell case. The OS on the PDA has been upgraded to PalmOS 4.1. You will need to download the Palm Desktop software from palm.com.
$10 + shipping. Shipping will be $5-10, depending on your location. You can check it out using the USPS online calculator from 84041.
Best method is PayPal verified address, but a money order will be fine.
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I need the power supply for a Palm Vx.
I had a Palm Vx power supply go bad and I was able to get a new one on eBay for real cheap. The part number for the Palm Vx power supply is 163-0022. Just do an eBay search on the part number and you should get several hits.
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I'm ready to take the step into paperless caching for Macs. I've read as much as I can on here and I'd appreciate hearing from people on a few unanswered questions.
1. Palm or PockerPC - which is easiest for Macs?
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In past life pursuits I developed applications for the Palm platform and this left me with a few Palm III, Palm V, and Palm Vx units. I have used all of the above Palm devices successfully with CacheMate. I prefer the Palm Vx because it has 8MB of memory and a titanium case, but the Palm III and Palm V will do nicely. The Palm Desktop application still runs great on Mac OS 9.x - 10.4.x (I haven't upgraded to 10.5 yet
), so syncing up to the older Palm units is not a problem. You can get the older Palm units on eBay for less than $20.00. If you go this route you may need a serial to USB connector. The Palm Vx models shipped with one, but the Palm V and Palm III did not.I use CacheMate and MacCmConvert for my paperless caching software.
The steps I use to get caches onto my Palm are...
1. Download a GPX file.
2. Convert the GPX file using MacCmConvert (Freeware).
3. Sync up the palm.
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I was given a older Palm V so I put it to use using CacheMate. Although the Palm V only has 2MB of RAM it still holds over 500 cache pages. This is way more caches than I could get in a year. Hey the Palm V was given to me so the way I look at it I got into "Paperless Caching for $8.00 (cost of CacheMate). I have a Palm Vx for backup if the Palm V ever gives out. Yeah I know the Palm Vx has more RAM and is a bit faster, but I am all set up with the Palm V so why change a good thing.
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So I just got a new GPS and I am loving it! However, I have noticed that when I look at the cache information page that there is a screen to view the cache hint. My question is this, do I have to manually input the hint or is there a way to download it when I download the waypoints. I have not figured out how to get the terrain, altitude, or difficulty level as well. I would love to be able to download the info as I usually do not like to look at the hint until after I've looked at least once for the cache. Any help would be appreciated.
I have an Explorist 400 and I use GPS Babel (http://www.gpsbabel.org/) to convert the .gpx file I get from Geocaching.com into a .gs file needed for the Explorist.
When you attach your Explorist to the computer and then turn on the Explorist, it should show up as 'Removable Storage'. When you open the mounted Explorist storage you should see a Geocaches folder.
Copy the .gs file to the Geocaches folder on the Explorist. The .gs file will have all the cache information you are looking for, even the hint (if there is one).
Blairt- can I get the info using the Magellan Geocache Manager Program? It will already give me the following info: cache name, cache ID, owner, waypoints, and type of cache. Then there is room for the following: date placed, date last found, difficulty, terrain, and hint. It would be great if I could use this program since funds are a little short.
GPSBabel is free (as geognerd states) and is by far the easist was I have found to quickly get GPX files converted to Magellan's GS format. Download it and give it a try! If you like it send the developers of GPSBabel a little $$$.
Blair
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So I just got a new GPS and I am loving it! However, I have noticed that when I look at the cache information page that there is a screen to view the cache hint. My question is this, do I have to manually input the hint or is there a way to download it when I download the waypoints. I have not figured out how to get the terrain, altitude, or difficulty level as well. I would love to be able to download the info as I usually do not like to look at the hint until after I've looked at least once for the cache. Any help would be appreciated.
I have an Explorist 400 and I use GPS Babel (http://www.gpsbabel.org/) to convert the .gpx file I get from Geocaching.com into a .gs file needed for the Explorist.
When you attach your Explorist to the computer and then turn on the Explorist, it should show up as 'Removable Storage'. When you open the mounted Explorist storage you should see a Geocaches folder.
Copy the .gs file to the Geocaches folder on the Explorist. The .gs file will have all the cache information you are looking for, even the hint (if there is one).
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I carry a fanny pack that contains swag, a cell phone, batteries, digital camera, cache repair items (ziplock bag, spare notebook, and pens), inexpensive work gloves, hand sanitizer, bug repellant, small first aid kit, and two 1 liter bottles of warter.
I take along some FRS two-way radios when going for the caches that require a hike. I don't give up easy on the tough climbs and they are great to keep in contact with others on the trail.
Of course I take my wife, she is my "Common Sense Monitor"
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Looking for a Magellan explorist 300,used or a website with the best deal,pefer a good used one.
Thanks David
PM Sent
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Today I got my first gps a magellan explorist 210 and my first cache was a multi, so I d/l the cache and uploaded it with the cache manager, so when I found the first one it gave me coords for the second part, how would I have put the coords for the second part into the gps? What I ended up doing was going by my current coords and walked around until I found the second set but that took so long and I walked all around when I could have walked in almost a strait line and had I been able to enter in those second coords I would have known where to go, any help would be appreciated!
Follow these steps...
1. Press MARK.
2. Use the Arrow joystick to highlight the Location field.
3. Press ENTER.
4. Use the Arrow joystick in an up/down motion to increase or decrease the value at the cursor point. To move the cursor point left or right, use the Arrow joystick in a left/right
motion. Input the data on the first line of the Location field. When done, press ENTER and the cursor will drop to the second line. Continue to input the data for the second line of the Location field.
5. Press ENTER.
6. Use the Arrow joystick to highlight Save.
7. Press ENTER to save the new POI.
8. Select the file to save the POI in and press ENTER.
Hope this helps!
Blair
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Funny that we never got a bugreport on that until just Friday. GPSBabel itself does write .gs files just fine; we just hosed up the menu thingy. You can do it with "raw" GPSBabel just fine. Something approximately like:
gpsbabel -i gpx -f yourpq.gpx -o maggeo -F /Volumes/Explorist/My Geocaches/blah.wpt
will do the trick.
Thanks, this works great! Saves me a bit of "TextWrangling".
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I am trying desperately to sync my Mac with the 500. I cannot find any software to work and I do not have Virtual PC or an Intel mac. I am running Tiger so I am current. Its so frustrating. Some please help.
Thanks
I have been using my Mac and GPSBabel+ 1.3.0 with my Explorist 210 for awhile and have had no problems. The only drawback to GPSBabel+ is that it does on convert the .loc or .gpx file to the "Geocaching" file format like the Magellan Geocaching Manager does.
I get around this by editing the .upt file created by GPSBabel+ into the "Geocaching" file format and saving the file as a .gs file and then coping this to my GPS unit that is mounted on the desktop.
I know this is an extra step but I don't mind the technical stuff.
Let me know if you would like to try this, I will be happy to help you. I myself love Macs and have since the "Fat Mac" was released.
Blair
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I have an eXplorist 210 and am new to geocaching. I've searched for a few already and am realizing that without the info on the website-- it's a bit harder!
I'm looking for recommendations for programs you might use to make geocaching paperless but I use a Macintosh. Any suggestions would be greatly, greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Kristin
Good to see that someone else is using a Mac with an Explorist 210!
I use a older Mac G4 running Tiger (10.4) and I have no problems having my Explorist mount onto the desktop as an available storage device.
I use GPSBabel+ (you can get it here ---> GPSBabel+ ). Scroll the page a bit until you see the GPSBabel+-1.3.0.dmg download.
GPSBabel+ 1.3.0 will convert the .loc and .gpx files from GeoCaching.com into "Points of Interest" files that can be copied to your Explorist 210. GPSBabel+ 1.3.0 is great update, it has a much better interface that previous releases. You can use GPSBabel+ to convert the file and sent to your GPS unit, or choose to save it as a file on your Mac. Most of the time I choose to save it as a file and copy to my GPS unit myself, that way I can place it where I want it.
Once the .loc or .gpx file is converted into an .upt file it can be copied to the "My POIs" folder on your GPS unit that has been mounted on your desktop.
The one drawback I have found is that GPSbabel+ only creates "Points of Interest" files. The Explorist 210 has the ability to have "Geocaching" files, and GPSBabel+ does not convert the .loc or .gpx into the "Geocaching" file format yet. I suppose this will come in a later update. I get around this little problem by editing the converted file by hand, then coping the file to the “Geocaching” folder on the GPS uint. If you are interested in doing this I can help you.
If you need any help or have any other questions please let me know. I have no problem using my Explorist 210 with my Macintosh.
Blair
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Our first attempt at geocaching was during a weekend at Big Basin State Park in California's Coasta Range. Our Megellan Explorist 300 was unable to get a fix on satellites and failed to until we were back in the valley.
What was the problem?
1. We just don't know what we are doing?
2. We chose the wrong starter GPS unit?
3. It is a commom problem?
Please help!
The GPS unit you selected is just fine. I have an Explorist 210, and my son uses an Explorist 300 and both of them work perfectly. I had to allow both GPS units establish a satellite almanac. I did this as described from Dale_Lynn. After this I get the satellites in about 1.5 minutes.
While you were out looking for caches, was there a lot of "Overhead Canopy" (tree coverage), and/or were you in a canyon? Both of these will cause problems in getting a good satellite fix. In either case try and find a clearing and let the GPS unit settle down and go for the cache again.
Hope this helps.
100$ Palm?
in GPS technology and devices
Posted
I have been using a Plam Vx for two years and I love it. I only paid $50.00 for 2 Palm Vx units with hard shell cases on eBay. This was perfect for me I always seem to drop these things on the trail. The Plam Vx has 8<B of RAM, has a slim profile, and has a titanium case. I use the second one as a backup unit.
I use CacheMate on the palm to hold the caches I want to find. I have had 1200 caches loaded with room to spare (no I didin't really need all 1200 cache entries, but I thought it was cool).
I have had to by a serial to USB converter but that was it. I was into paperless caching under $100.00. You can still get Palm Vx on eBay for around $15.00 plus shipping.
The Palm V is also a good choice, but the Palm V is similar to the Palm Vx (titanium case and slim profile), but it only has 2 MB of RAM, but even at 2MB of RAM you will get over 500 caches loaded.