Team Cottengim
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Posts posted by Team Cottengim
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So I'm about a month behindon this thread.
I propose a Friday evening pizza party. Nothing like pizza and beer when you meet people and put a face to a name.
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Was in Costco this weekend and saw this package again, thus I am resurecting this thread.
Best of all, the package is now $350. Also, there might be a $50 rebate.
Team Cottengim
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Considering the cost of data and card space used, the Topo maps are great.
Using a Meridian Gold and a 128M card, I was able to load the following regions:
Washington, Oregon, No. California and Nevada (North of SF Bayarea), So. California and Nevada (South of SF Bayarea). There is about 50 miles of overlap in each of the regions.
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I know you asked about the swivel mount but I am offering my experience with the suction cup mount anyway. Who knows, you might change your mind.
GPS: Meridian Gold
Vehicles:
1999 Mountaineer (same front cab area as a Ranger)
1997 Checvy K1500
1979 IH Scout II
I mount it to the left of the steering wheel and it hangs in front of the air vent. Tried it in the center under the mirror, but it blocked too much of my view. As mounted it blends in the with "A" pillar and the dash. Reception is the same as outside the vehicle.
Power/Data cable has no problem reaching the auxillary 12v outlet in the passenger leg area.
BTW: I also use the suction cup so I can use it in the other vehicles without having to mount/remount a base somewhere.
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Wadcutter. You are correct for and office/agent who is in active (not retired or former as this one was) duty carrying his/her weapon in a holster. This pistol was in his backpack. No need for a chambered round there (as observed by McKenzie Clan). Also, not to bright to drop a backpack with a loaded weapon.
Guns are such a hot button topic in this country, we (gun owners) don't need seemily careless individuals such as this user making matters worse for us.
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One log involved a over-anxious cacher who got arrested after scaling a fence and accidentally setting his gun off.
I call B.S. A former FBI agent should know better than to carry a weapon with a cartridge in the chamber.
Another reason why geocachers shouldn’t carry guns.Rather, a reason for proper firearms training!
Team Cottengim.
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I use a Mag-Gold and a Jornada 547 when I cache. Using the "Pocket Query Generator", I can receive GPX files from geocaching.com. Use gpx2html to convert the GPX to HTML documents (one for each cache inthe GPX + 5 indices). Load the HTML documents to your Jornada and use IE to view them.
To make it easy, always load your pages to the same directory and bookmark index.html.
Team Cottengim
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Direct Route was in the package. Same with Topo.
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Package deal I saw a Costco today...
Meridian Gold GPS
Vehicle Mount bracket (suction cups on windshield)
Data / Cigarette lighter power (12VDC) cable
2 - 32Meg SD cards
MapSend Topo
MaspSend Direct Route
All for only $400 (ok its actually 399.99).
Doing a quick comparison, I was able to put he same setup together for $525 to $580 using online stores like ShopHarmony, Offroute, and GpsCity.
BTW: The only location I could find DirectRoute is gpscity.com and they are only taking preorders.
I see many new Meri-Gold users in the near future.
Team Cottengim
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Just to give a frame of reference ...
I have a Meri-Gold with 128M card. I am able to load all of California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington on the card with a little room left over.
For those whoe really care
there are four files, No. CA and NV, So. CA and NV, OR, and WA.TC
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I posted this in "The Hunt / The Unusual" but thought it might be better here.
GPS Info - Magellan Gold w/ software ver. 4.02
While driving between Westwood, CA (N40.31 / W121.00) and Burney, CA (N40.88 / W121.67) this past Saturday (7-19), I lost ALL satellite signal. I was looking at the satellite/signal strength screen and it went completly blank except for the two concentric rings and the cardinal point letters (N-S-E-W). One moment I have 8+ satellites at full signal strength and the next everything satellite was gone.
As I neared Burney, satellite started popping back in and as I arrived home, I once again had 8+ satellites at full signal strength.
Has anyone else experience this phenomenon?
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GPS Info - Magellan Gold w/ software ver. 4.02
While driving between Westwood, CA (N40.31 / W121.00) and Burney, CA (N40.88 / W121.67) this past Saturday (7-19), I lost ALL satellite signal. I was looking at the satellite/signal strength screen and it went completly blank except for the two concentric rings and the cardinal point letters (N-S-E-W)One moment I have 8+ satellites at full signal strength and the next everything satellite was gone.
As I neared Burney, satellite started popping back in and as I arrived home, I once again had 8+ satellites at full signal strength.
Has anyone else experience this phenomenon?
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Like the idea - now I need to get the supplies and find the location.
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Add me to the "Me too" list.
Northern California (Redding) wants to know!
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After seeing the gyrations required to "align" the Meri-Plat's internal compass, I purchased a Meri-Gold (Replacement for a Tracker) and will stick to my Silva Ranger.
Team Cottengim
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From what I have seen in the eTrex and Meridian Platinum, I will continue t carry my Silva Ranger compass with me all the time. I can stand in one spot and take a bearing to the cache anytime I want. I don't have to be moving nor do I have to calibrate the GPS unit's compass. Sometimes you just can't improve on something.
Team Cottengim
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This will apply to almost any device that uses serial communication.
There are several manufacturers of adapters that allow you to plug a DB9 serial cable into a USB port. My personal preference is Belkin. Unfortunatly, these adapters run $30 or better.
Locally, check your local computer store, Office Depot, or Office Max. Online, Check CDW or some other major computer supply site.
Team Cottengim
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I am curently using a borrowed GPS and need to purchase my own and have a couple of questions.
1. While looking at Magellan units, I noticed that the Meridian series allow the user to DL map data to the GPS. Better yet, Magellan puts out a CD with topo data for these units. I have seen other units that can DL street and POI data but topos woul dserve me beter. Are there other units with this capability?
2. The Magellan Tracker that I use sometimes has a very difficult time determining my direction of travel. Some of the newer units have built in electronic compasses. Is this a worthwile feature or should I stick with my Silva Ranger compass. Even if the new unit has a compass, I will still carry the Silva Ranger.
Thank you.
Todd Cottengim
[This message was edited by Team Cottengim on September 06, 2002 at 02:29 PM.]
Oregan 450
in GPS technology and devices
Posted
Purchased a Oregon 450 this past week and love it so far. save your money though and do not buy the 450T. All you do is spend $50 extra and get topo maps already installed. Buy the 450 (about $285 at Amazon) and then download topo and other maps, for free, from GPSFileDepot.com