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Called Magellan today after e-mailing, you were right geognerd, explained my problem and was told that they would repair it but it would not be covered under warranty as it happened through because of use. What? So I questioned this eight, ten, twelve times.... ("You are telling me that you have a warranty that does not cover damage to a unit that occured due to normal, normal, usage? You can't use it if you don't turn it off and on, or am I missing something?") After asking this those 8, 10, 12... times the young lady asked me to give her a moment and came back no line hours (well not hours) later to tell me that they would repair it under warranty. I have an RMA number, the address for Magellan in Fort Worth and will be sending it off tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestions. I'll let you know what happens.

I purchased an Explorist 210 from TigerGPS. The first one I received had the screen go out within two days of receipt. The second one just went out his weekend with a broken on/off switch. Am curious if anyone else has experienced these sorts of problems with Magellans or am I the one unlucky soul. Additionally, has anyone ever dealt with Magellan Customer Support, specifically warranty issues? Would appreciate any advise that might be offered. Thanks...

Okay, I don't know about Magellan customer support, but I'm about to find out. I'll explain. I purchased my 210 from TigerGPS. It took longer to get it then they advertised. After receiving the gps I had it a grand total of two days and the screen went out. I returned it to TigerGPS and I got new unit. It is six months later, or so, and two days ago the on/off switch broke in the housing. I've contacted Magellan and am looking for a response, hopefully in the next couple of days. I have not dealt with Garmins and can not speak for them. I've let you know about my experience with Magellans, of course this may not be indicative of the company or units as a whole. If it were a decision of easy of use or the special features of the 210 I can say that it is very easy to use and has very good functions for geocaching. Now if I can only get mine fixed, or preferably a replacement. Final note, most companies like TigerGPS offer an extended warranty, stretching it out to three years instead of the companies one year. I would suggest purchasing it, I didn't and regret it now. Hope this helps some...

I have to second that eBay for a cheap Palm idea. I've picked up a number of 100's 105's and 125 for next to nothing (a couple of them I got two of them for a penny each, a couple with the cradles for 5.00, no more than 15.00 for any of them including shipping). They work fine, the 100's and 105's have less memory space, but I've got cachemate on one of them with a good number of caches loaded. Right now there is a 100 on ebay with the sync cable, etc. running for about 11.00 (as the bid stands) with a day left. You can find these all the time. Well worth looking into. In any case it is only a loss of 10 or 12 bucks.....

I have to agree with the idea of downloading plucker. I am putting together some palms for a number of reasons (refurbishing old m100 series palms I'm getting off of e-bay cheap) and will be putting cachemate on those that I plan to use for geocaching. However, plucker is an indispensible tool for everything from reading your favorite blog, news articles, etc. off-line. It can also grab the data from the cache pages. The only issue with plucker when it comes to caching is that you can't (or at least I havn't found a way yet) use it with pocket queries. Additionally, cachemate allows for better searching, etc. I would have to assume that cachemate files take up less memory than plucker, although I have not checked for this. In any event, along with cachemate (at least the demo version) I would definantly download plucker. www.plkr.org You'll need the viewer and the distiller. I would also look at brighthand.com and create an account there. There is a world of information concerning palms and forums for discussion. My experience has been nothing but positive with that forum so far. I decided to edit this as I've just been to the fax page. Take a look there, if you haven't, there are two really good faq pages listed concerning all of the software that you could possibly use. If I had checked there a long time ago I would have found how to use plucker with gpx files. It also gives you all the links you will ever need....

Having seen some m105 palms on a website for a Florida event (can't remember which) I started looking at them. Two of the units were being given at door prizes there and a total of ten were going to be onsite, put together by a geocaching family in the state. I havn't had a palm before and thought, since you can store ebooks on them, that my daughters might like to have one too. I purchased three off of ebay for a grand total of $20.00, the shipping brought the whole batch up to $48.00 (watch shipping on e-mail, it can kill you, I got one of the pdas for a penny and then had to pay $12.00 in shipping, but I took that into account and still got a pda for 12 bucks). The software is free for geocaching, although if you want the full version it will cost you the unbelievable expensive amount of $8.00 (if you don't pay it to support the programmer you shouldn't be geocaching, imho). The other software that goes with the palms can be downloaded from the palm website even if the palm that you purchase does not have the software with it. There are a number of palms on ebay that do not have the sync cradle, you have to have one. So unless you want to purchase it seperately or if you purchase two and use the sync cradle from one for the other, I'd look for an auction that includes the cradle. I'm looking forward to getting mine and getting this put together. With the prices on ebay I can't see a reason not to do it.

I can't concentrate regardless.... women, geocaching, the weather, how my big toe feels.... I do often come up with some new ideas for caches, while I'm not concentrating for whatever reason. It helps when what I do has a lot to do with tromping around in the woods...

I let my daughters decide what gets left and what gets kept. They are more into that then I am. I like the hunt, and even more than the hunt I enjoy doing this with my daughters. My eldest, when I can get her away from books and her cellphone leaves a marble. She's losing her marbles, one at a time...

I have the good fortune of having access to a Trimble GeoXT with a BOB and post-processing software. Sub-meter accuracy. If I could get closer I would... I think that pretty much covers my opinion of the issue...

Just noticed this. Are you saying that the palm software is not available, as in the operating system and standard programs? Or are you talking about geocaching programs (like cachemate)?

It gets me out of the house so that I don't bother my wife. I introduces me to places in the community that I may not see otherwise. It has improved my ability to use a gps in a remarkable way. It allows me to meet people with something of the same interests that I have (hiking, nature, botany, etc.). And it lets me respond to forum topics like this one....

Dissent must be silenced! Going back to that "things can be mis understood, taken the wrong way..." I was trying to put that across as a constructive thing, perhaps a bit humorous, perhaps a suggestion, certainly not something that I feel must be done. So silence that dissent concerning my post.... ha... (please that this as humor, humor.... okay.... humor... please...)

Expectations more than angst. If I remember correctly the question of angst was in regards to the forum posts and why there was this angst and what caused it. I could be wrong, would have to go back and check. But yes, I do believe that it is unrealistic expectations, or not so much unrealistic expectations, but expectations period. What I believe a cache should be, in my mind, is unrealistic, it just is, my viewpoint, my opinion, my whatever (and I have a lot of opinions and whatever, that should be obvious from my ridiculous forum posts). I have placed one cache. It is an easy cache. The coordinates put you in the middle of a field. You couldn't miss it, it is right there, but people don't think out of the box... It is not the obvious thing. This is what I'm looking for personally, so it is what I plan to place. Others don't like that... Just like the cache you posted the comments from... I like to think that there is something in this avocation for everyone. You know, we would probably not see the disagreements if we didn't pay attention to the forums so much and watched the Daily Show instead....

I am new as well! I can't wait. My poor husband hears about it every day. After getting backordered at Staples and then ordering from TigerGPS.com, my Magellan eXplorist 210 bundle is finally on it's way and I should be getting it tomorrow! I have a list of caches that I want to find, including some for the Quest III. Let us know when you get it. I'm more than pleased with mine and would be more than happy to help if you need it. I got the bundle as well. It is a fantastic gps for geocaching, pretty much designed just for that purpose. Good hunting....

Personally, I find this statement a fine example of the whole post in general--full of bias and sense of, how did wimseyguy put it, "I know what geocaching is supposed to be better than you do." It almost begs to cause angst. Beyond this post I think I'm going to otherwise refrain from responding because the thread is based on misconceptions on the part of the OP himself. I mean, why else would the hobby even exist if it were to not entertain our fellow enthusiasts? Those who fail to even attempt to do so, or do so at the expense of others are, well, the root of such angst. And now the angst rears its ugly head... Not that you arn't entitled to your opinion, which you certainly are and I credit you for posting it. It is your opinion. And I think that this is where we were headed in the first place with this topic. Where, why, how, who, when??? And I don't think that there is really any answer except for the one already stated. Expectations. You have certain expectations of the hobby, the OP has others, I may have some, or many, that are completely different then both you and the OP. With that in the mix, there is little doubt that disagreements will become open and those disagreements may at some times become heated. A good word to describe this, angst is. "Angst is a Dutch, German, and Scandinavian word for fear or anxiety. It is used in English to describe an intense feeling of emotional strife. A different but related meaning is attributed to Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard (1813–1855). Kierkegaard used the word angst (Danish, meaning "dread") to describe a profound and deep-seated spiritual condition of insecurity and despair in the free human being." Interested, am I, in the choice of words the OP used. Wondering, am I, whether hobbies are intended to entertain others, or to entertain the individual taking part in the hobby? Perhaps this is where the angst comes from. It is apparently so in this case. I'm curious now (and please do not feel that I am unloading on you Coyotered, it is simply that your post was the one that started this train of thought) as to how many cachers do this for any other reason then to amuse and entertain themselves. I have only one hide, but I did it for myself, not necessarily for others. It is the reaction that I get from others that interests me, not the sense of entertaining others. Their reaction is my entertainment. And I hunt caches for the same reason. Again, just a thought.... on a boring night.... when I should be getting to bed...

Yes. I think a misconception can happen when people read a complaint and assume that the person is full of rage and anguish. I think many people can type a rant while actually feeling perfectly calm. The internet makes calm ranting rather easy. That also means that all angst should be taken with the knowledge that it might not be as angst ridden as it seems. BTW, anguish is a nice word...... I'm not sure that this was responsive to the OP though. Sorry if it wasn't. I had to reply to this, if for no other reason then because of the pretty woman... I have to agree completely (mostly again because of the pretty woman, I've learned from my wife never to disagree with a women). Misconceptions of this sort can happen in person, and many times do. How often has something you said been misunderstood and caused problems down the line. (Once someone thought that when I said, "The stupid old bat" I was speaking about my mother-in-law and we all know I'm not insane enough to bring down that sort of wrath, she isn't stupid, she's just an old bat....) Anyway, it is doubly difficult when you do not have the persons facial expressions, mannerisms, good looks, etc. to effect your interpretation of their words. There is a lot to be said for that...

Yes, excellent, unique, fabulous view, etc. And if you can't find anything good to say, don't say anything at all. I think I would agree with the idea that geocachers fall into groups that can be defined in rather specific terms. Not everyone is out for the same reason. Once we agree to this, and agree to disagree, we are better of. I believe... So yea, say something good or.... And if you don't like a cache at all, and feel obligated to say something bad, don't log the cache. I would say that many of the cachers (and this is, I will admit, a broad generalization) that are looking for more than (and I have heard this statement so many times) the lamp post micro, aren't in it for numbers. So I think, if you aren't, don't log it and feel good that you have the better ones to find and comment on. Of course with the discussions that go on, this is will probably not happen and those who post to the forums will continue to post these sorts of issues. And I'm new to this and have already seen far more of this than I would expect...

Been done. Usually ends up being less than a discussion. Some do, some don't... What can you say?

Speaking recently with an ecologist at a University in Kentucky, he expressed that he didn't understand why more of the Nature Preserves in the state were not open to the public. It would incourage support for their programs/agenda/mission. It isn't happening, probably not soon, and they have their reasons. The main issue is the issues of protecting areas with endangered species and terrain. Still? In any case, the real reason I started this reply was to give everyone this link: http://www.kyrec.org/documents/KRPS-2006KRPS.pdf The site is a page from the Kentucky Recreation and Park Society. If you take a look at Page 5 you will see that there was a presentation on geocaching as a means to draw interest in a site/park/preserve, etc. I found out about the presentation while speaking with one of the individuals in charge of the BG greenways commission. I am getting permission to place a series along the greenway, approved by the city. She looked up geocaching and ran across it, it was being presented as we spoke on the telephone. Lisa Deavers presented the session. She has been a fairly active individual within the Ky State Parks who has been supporting (if that is the word to use here) geocaching events. You can see information on one of these events at: http://techlines.ky.gov/2006/apr/geocaching_weekend.htm I hope that at least one of these links will give people a bit more documentation to use when presenting their case to both local officials and at the national level. Trying to figure out how to work this out and put geocaching on the radar with officials, in a good light.

Not that it is exactly the same, but check out this event. GCZ33A Granted it starts in the evening instead of the morning, but it includes night caching... Night caching events are unheard of apparently.

I have to go with a couple of the others. I met sun-moon-starz. Her stats are amazing, however... I met here at a recent event and although I did not have much time to talk to her I couldn't help feeling that everyone who knows her sees her as a friend. I hope to have time to sit and talk with her at some point, she seems like a wonderful person... There is more to geocaching then hiding and finding caches...

I'm not sure about what the website that you are talking about, but there is another method to see the same thing. Google Earth has a feature that allows you to place geocache points on the map. It will search for all of the points for the area that is showing. You can zoom out to whatever altitude you want.... This might be somewhat the same...

So I've looked through all the topic discussions that I've been able to using ths search engine, and although I have found more than enough "what was your best find", etc. I've not found a "what was your best dnf". With that in mind, I'm curious what everyones best dnf has been. The reason I ask is that for me it is the trip not the destination that I do this all for. The latest dnf that I had has to be the best. It was out at an old bridge, an historic site in the area that I didn't know exhisted. It wasn't a hike, right be the road. It was the view, the bridge, the incredible house on the hill, it was simply beautiful... King Iron (GCQXNY), I've posted images... So let me know, more so that I can hunt for those if I'm in your area then for anything else (most of what I do is self serving...)

So I had to post this, not because I want it to win, or think that it will, but because I want to let everyone know about my favorite fellow cacher, my daughter Sara, all of 10 this week. I can't drive, so I bicycle everywhere. On the days that I decide to go somewhere I take her with, she bicycles with me. We have done 20 miles in a day, at the age of nine, without a whimper. And she does this because she likes being with her father and she likes to geocache. I'm glad I had the chance to tell everyone, I'm very proud of her....

I'm looking forward to the answer as well. I've got two I've been holding onto for a couple of months. Never thought that they would not be able to be activated after a given time period....