Dale_Lynn

Edit it nothing.

Edit to nothing.

Not knowing much about pricing or writing grants I can not really help you there.... BUT I can suggest you avoid GPSr that can NOT be connected to a computer for information up/downloads.... You probably want all the same brand name and model number units as it will be easier to connect units to any PC and use software like EasyGPS or GASK to manipulate data in GPSr... When its a situation where you may want all students/units on "same page" connectivity to a PC is something to really consider.... Manually entering multiple coordinate lists and multiple units will be a real time consumer and a possible source of errors.... You may also what to query on line sellers or manufacturers to see if they will honor a "educational discount" if you buy a specific number of units.... Dale

COM1 ???? Sometimes that is main problem...... If you have any PDA sync software installed and running it takes over COM 1 and will not let any other device use COM 1.... Check "Control Panel" and see if PROLIFIC adapter actually comes up on COM 1. Many times Serial/USB adapters come up on COM 5 or 6... Go >>> Control Panel >> Hardware >> Device Manager >> PORTS... When you plug adapter in it will come up as something like "Prolific USB to Serial Adapter COMM6".... IF it is installed properly ( drivers you know). Other possible solutions may be found here... http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...t&p=2554711 Dale

It will probably not show up as a drive.......... Here is some information and methods you may not have seem or tried... This also give you a method of testing USB/Serial adapter ( through HYPERTERM communications program) for correct operation.... Finding Com Port It's quite possible your lap top or desk top machine can not "find" correct COM port!... Or your computer does not have traditional serial port. (they are slowly going away in favor of USB). A USB/Serial adapter may be the answer for you. FIRST and foremost, LOAD the USB drivers that came on CD included with USB/SERIAL adapter. Unless you do this everything else you try is a waste of time. IF this has been done them lets move on. If you have Serial/USB adapter and are not getting it to work, suggest you delve into what COM ports or USB/adapter ports your "systems" have available or how they are configured .... The major problem is usually identifying what COM port number the USB/RS-232 Serial Adapter was assigned by WINDOWS system. This is also valid for locating available hard wired serial ports. Port numbers can be verified in the "Control Panel" under "System" under "Hardware" under "Device Manager". Scroll down to “Ports” and it will tell you the “port number” and at what speed (baud) port is configured at. You can actually plug in and unplug adapter and see the "port" appear and disappear on ports field. Right clicking on "port" and selecting "properties" will tell you everything you need to know about port. This info is necessary to get EasyGPS and GSAK and “other” programs to communicate with GPS unit. Yes you do need to set baud rate on GPS to match computer COM port which may be set with whatever software computer is running. See instructions for GPS unit on setting Baud rate and other Serial Port parameters. Most software applications and hardware (modems) like to work with COM 1 ... Also if you have any "synchronize” software running for a Palm or other hand held PDA, it grabs COM 1 and will not let any other applications use it. You may need to disable any synchronization software it you have it as a running application to release COM 1 if you have to use that specific COM port. Also just plugging in a USB/Serial adapter to USB port may not trigger system to assign COM port number. In some cases you must have a valid device (GPS) on end of data cable from USB/Serial adapter and the device must be turned on for system to respond and assign a COM port number. Also having a loop back plug in USB/Serial adapter will trigger adapter/system to assign com port number if serial adapter requires a "valid" device on end of cable. Also be aware you will most likely need to load USB/Serial Port adapter drives from included CD to get adapter to work properly. This should be done before plugging in adapter for first time. Hyper Link Test Here is procedure to test COM/SERIAL/USB port. It will work with both hard wired serial port (COM) on older computers or with USB/SERIAL adapters if proper drivers are loaded. This test will require a “loop back” plug for serial connector that has pins 2 and 3 connected (shorted) back to each other. 1. Determine COM port number using the process above to find the port number (Finding Com Port). 2. Open HYPER-TERM the communications terminal program that is standard part of Windows supplied utilities. If installed it may be found under “Communications” on main menus. (or any other terminal program you are familiar with). 3. Establish a “new connection” file name something like “serialist” or “loopbacktest”. Specifying the specific COM port number (found in above procedure). Set ASCII options to NOT echo characters locally (Uncheck - Echo Characters Locally). 4. Plug in USB/SERIAL adapter and install “loop back” plug on serial connector plug ( if using hard wired port on computer that is where loop back plug goes also) . IF you can now type characters on key board and see them appear on screen the com port and path (and USB adapter) are good. If you unplug loop back plug and then type and characters do not appear on screen this further verifies port is working properly and adapter is working. If you type and get double characters (aa-bb-cc) for each key stroke with loop back plug in place it means “local echo” is turned on. If you only get single characters when loop back plug is removed then it still proves serial path is good. Hyper Terminal setup. Start Hyper Terminal and when “New Connection” window box is presented enter your file name (“looptest” or whatever) Click ok. Next box should say “Connect To:” In this box, at bottom it should say “Connect Using“ and there should be a com port number ( mine comes up COM 4 - Yours may be different). Click OK. Note: Hyper Terminal should only show you any valid COM ports available by system. IF you don't see and COM ports your adapter is not configured (drivers?). Your computers MODEM should also be listed if computer is so equipped and modem is “active”. With loop back plug in place try typing. Do you get characters? Answer should be yes. Remove loop back plug, do you get characters? Answer should be no. If you need to change “echo” settings. Go to File drop down menu and click on Properties. In properties box, click on Settings Tab. In setting box select ASCII Setup. Either check or uncheck “ Echo typed characters locally” (what ever you prefer). USB-PARAMETERS I think if you will fine that if you set up port parameters in GPS and Software (GSAK-EasyGPS) to same as "default" parameters found in "properties" for USB/Serial adapter you will not have any connection problems. Did you even know that there is a properties setting for COM port on control panel?. Try right clicking “Port" once you have hot swapped - plugged in USB/Serial adapter. By default mine are: Baud =9600 DataBits = 8 Parity = None Stop Bits = 1 Flow Control = None The driver "defaults" set in port parameters (Properties) in "hardware" can be adjusted and saved so every time you plug in adapter it will default to desired setting... You have to have software and GPS unit set to match. I still believe most of the "problems" is not having "port defaults" at (initialization- plug-in time), software, GPS all set to same parameters.... And boot up has nothing or very little to do with it. Though RS-232 Serial Ports are on way out, it would probably be a little beneficial for one to look up how they function and what parameters do.. <http://www.arcelect.com/rs232.htm> FINDING - PORT Here is how I find my USB/SERIAL adapter... Easiest solution to find COM port is to go into "Control Panel" >> Select "System " icon >> Select "Hardware" >> Select "Device Manager" >> Scroll down to "PORTS" (COM & LPT) and see what new "port" pops up when you plug in USB/SERIAL adapter cable Mine comes up as "Prolific USB to Serial Com Port (COM5) " What ever Com port number USB port is assigned by "system" (COM5 in my case) is Com port number you need to use when setting up parameters/properties in your software used to communicate with GPS unit through USB/SERIAL adapter cable. Be sure USB drivers for adapter cable are loaded from CD FIRST (or off I-net) before trying to plug in USB/Serial adapter cable. Pretty much like other user described in previous responses.. In this cases you probably need to clean out drivers and reinstall them BEFORE you attempt to plug in adapter cable.... Even though BELKIN is brand name, Prolific makes about 90% of USB/serial adapters on market today... Revised 8-20-2006

One that knows 24 hours before I want to go caching and will access geocache.com and access all the cache information I want (it will know in advance the ones I am interested in) and update what ever information that may already in memory... All I have to do is follow the direction given by GPS... No more preloading information by me.... Dale

I believe you can import .LOC of other GPS format files into excel IF you use the import wizard in excel and probably use "comma" separated data format.... I have had success at looking at loc files downloaded from Geocache.com with excel, the problem is you have to decipher many of the fields as they will not have any header titles.... Also you probably can not save files from excel program in format GPS can use.... Dale

It will also depend on accuracy of cache hiders GPS unit also..... I get mixed results. I have had everything from 20 feet to 0 feet and yes cache was right at spot where GPS said 0 feet.... Best accuracy checks would be survey monument markers (USGS). Then average distance from several monuments finds to get general accuracy numbers...

Though not directly related to this site.... The new MOZILLA FIREFOX browser version 2.0 is now available.... A really neat feature added to this version is built in "as you type" spell checker.... http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/ Dale

EasyGPS should also be able query GPS to see if its connected properly.... Use "GPS" drop down menu , click "Display GPS Information". This should return some information about GPS unit and what firmware load it has in it, if connection is good... Dale

EasyGPS is also for USB units.... You either have cable plugged in GPS unit wrong.... Cable needs to be pointed down along back of units body, or you do not have proper parameters (GPS unit ) set up in EasyGPS. Check EDIT dropdown and set "Preferences". Dale

Yes you can only download one page at a time. I don't use MapSource enough to know if you can combine multiple files together. Thanks for that. I tried combining the files from within Mapsource and also in Windows Explorer but no go. I'll just have to give each file and unique name so I can easily recognize what they're for. Not a big problem. I use EasyGPS with the .loc files... I have found that I can upload multiple .loc files ( different pages) to GPS and it appends (combines) all the locations to existing files in GPS.... I can then download the "appended" (combined) files from GPS to EasyGPS for any editing purposes.... I use a Magellan GPS, what every unit you use may or may not be able to do this... Its a bit awkward but it works.... Dale

What "The Leprechauns" said.... EasyGPS has everything a beginner needs and if you take simple approach to geocaching, it may be all you ever need.... And its truly free... Dale

You might research... State Plane Coordinate System Public Land Survey System Dale

Only 50 feet...... That's not bad (not really good either) ... Actually the cache hider's GPS is off 25 feet and your's is off 25 feet.... I dont think 50 feet is much of a problem..... I usually go in manual search mode when GPS says I am 25 to 50 feet from cache...Its NOT going to put you dead on at 0 feet, and you look down at you feet and its there in front of you... Dale

Typically you can only get up to 20 caches per page and can only download the 20 in a single .loc file... I found using EasyGPS that I could take several .loc files and load them into EasyGPS individually (all 20 caches) and then upload them to my MERIDIAN GPS... In essence it appended each set of 20 (caches) to the already existing caches in GPSr... By downloading all the appended caches from GPS, I could view or edit ALL the caches stored in GPSr... To download more than single page of caches you need Premium Membership and then you can download "pocket queries" with up to 500 caches listed in them (I think)... Dale

EasyGPS will also move data files from your computer to GPS unit... Dale

Compact Flash card is just data storage... Has no bearing in accuracy of GPS unit... Yes its important to have quality storage card so data is not lost, but accuracy of GPS unit depends on engineering design of antenna system and internal electronics of GPS and not the storage media... Dale

Do not be hesitant to change baud rates.... Many different devices use different speeds. You have access to these parameter just so you CAN change them... The baud rate of GPS has to match PORT speed... CHANGE whatever is necessary... Also when you find COM port number (such as COM 5) put that number into the "setup" for GPS unit in EasyGPS. Dale

You might find your answers somewhere in all this..... Finding Com Port It's quite possible your lap top or desk top machine can not "find" correct COM port!... Or your computer does not have traditional serial port. (they are slowly going away in favor of USB). A USB/Serial adapter may be the answer for you. FIRST and foremost, LOAD the USB drivers that came on CD included with USB/SERIAL adapter. Unless you do this everything else you try is a waste of time. IF this has been done them lets move on. If you have Serial/USB adapter and are not getting it to work, suggest you delve into what COM ports or USB/adapter ports your "systems" have available or how they are configured .... The major problem is usually identifying what COM port number the USB/RS-232 Serial Adapter was assigned by WINDOWS system. This is also valid for locating available hard wired serial ports. Port numbers can be verified in the "Control Panel" under "System" under "Hardware" under "Device Manager". Scroll down to “Ports” and it will tell you the “port number” and at what speed (baud) port is configured at. You can actually plug in and unplug adapter and see the "port" appear and disappear on ports field. Right clicking on "port" and selecting "properties" will tell you everything you need to know about port. This info is necessary to get EasyGPS and GSAK and “other” programs to communicate with GPS unit. Yes you do need to set baud rate on GPS to match computer COM port which may be set with whatever software computer is running. See instructions for GPS unit on setting Baud rate and other Serial Port parameters. Most software applications and hardware (modems) like to work with COM 1 ... Also if you have any "synchronize” software running for a Palm or other hand held PDA, it grabs COM 1 and will not let any other applications use it. You may need to disable any synchronization software it you have it as a running application to release COM 1 if you have to use that specific COM port. Also just plugging in a USB/Serial adapter to USB port may not trigger system to assign COM port number. In some cases you must have a valid device (GPS) on end of data cable from USB/Serial adapter and the device must be turned on for system to respond and assign a COM port number. Also having a loop back plug in USB/Serial adapter will trigger adapter/system to assign com port number if serial adapter requires a "valid" device on end of cable. Also be aware you will most likely need to load USB/Serial Port adapter drives from included CD to get adapter to work properly. This should be done before plugging in adapter for first time. Hyper Link Test Here is procedure to test COM/SERIAL/USB port. It will work with both hard wired serial port (COM) on older computers or with USB/SERIAL adapters if proper drivers are loaded. This test will require a “loop back” plug for serial connector that has pins 2 and 3 connected (shorted) back to each other. 1. Determine COM port number using the process above to find the port number (Finding Com Port). 2. Open HYPER-TERM the communications terminal program that is standard part of Windows supplied utilities. If installed it may be found under “Communications” on main menus. (or any other terminal program you are familiar with). 3. Establish a “new connection” file name something like “serialist” or “loopbacktest”. Specifying the specific COM port number (found in above procedure). Set ASCII options to NOT echo characters locally (Uncheck - Echo Characters Locally). 4. Plug in USB/SERIAL adapter and install “loop back” plug on serial connector plug ( if using hard wired port on computer that is where loop back plug goes also) . IF you can now type characters on key board and see them appear on screen the com port and path (and USB adapter) are good. If you unplug loop back plug and then type and characters do not appear on screen this further verifies port is working properly and adapter is working. If you type and get double characters (aa-bb-cc) for each key stroke with loop back plug in place it means “local echo” is turned on. If you only get single characters when loop back plug is removed then it still proves serial path is good. Hyper Terminal setup. Start Hyper Terminal and when “New Connection” window box is presented enter your file name (“looptest” or whatever) Click ok. Next box should say “Connect To:” In this box, at bottom it should say “Connect Using“ and there should be a com port number ( mine comes up COM 4 - Yours may be different). Click OK. Note: Hyper Terminal should only show you any valid COM ports available by system. IF you don't see and COM ports your adapter is not configured (drivers?). Your computers MODEM should also be listed if computer is so equipped and modem is “active”. With loop back plug in place try typing. Do you get characters? Answer should be yes. Remove loop back plug, do you get characters? Answer should be no. If you need to change “echo” settings. Go to File drop down menu and click on Properties. In properties box, click on Settings Tab. In setting box select ASCII Setup. Either check or uncheck “ Echo typed characters locally” (what ever you prefer). USB-PARAMETERS I think if you will fine that if you set up port parameters in GPS and Software (GSAK-EasyGPS) to same as "default" parameters found in "properties" for USB/Serial adapter you will not have any connection problems. Did you even know that there is a properties setting for COM port on control panel?. Try right clicking “Port" once you have hot swapped - plugged in USB/Serial adapter. By default mine are: Baud =9600 DataBits = 8 Parity = None Stop Bits = 1 Flow Control = None The driver "defaults" set in port parameters (Properties) in "hardware" can be adjusted and saved so every time you plug in adapter it will default to desired setting... You have to have software and GPS unit set to match. I still believe most of the "problems" is not having "port defaults" at (initialization- plug-in time), software, GPS all set to same parameters.... And boot up has nothing or very little to do with it. Though RS-232 Serial Ports are on way out, it would probably be a little beneficial for one to look up how they function and what parameters do.. http://www.arcelect.com/rs232.htm FINDING - PORT Here is how I find my USB/SERIAL adapter... Easiest solution to find COM port is to go into "Control Panel" >> Select "System " icon >> Select "Hardware" >> Select "Device Manager" >> Scroll down to "PORTS" (COM & LPT) and see what new "port" pops up when you plug in USB/SERIAL adapter cable Mine comes up as "Prolific USB to Serial Com Port (COM5) " What ever Com port number USB port is assigned by "system" (COM5 in my case) is Com port number you need to use when setting up parameters/properties in your software used to communicate with GPS unit through USB/SERIAL adapter cable. Be sure USB drivers for adapter cable are loaded from CD FIRST (or off I-net) before trying to plug in USB/Serial adapter cable. Pretty much like other user described in previous responses.. In this cases you probably need to clean out drivers and reinstall them BEFORE you attempt to plug in adapter cable.... Even though BELKIN is brand name, Prolific makes about 90% of USB/serial adapters on market today... Revised 8-20-2006 Dale

Its actually a browser issue.... My FIREFOX (Netscape) uses to do that ... There is a option in browser to fix this situation, BUT I forget how to take care of it.... Try a search here on maybe GOOGLE for solution... You may have to develop your own search string criteria, but I'm sure you can find answer or maybe somebody here as the answer... Would also help to know what browser you are using. Dale

You can directly select which caches you want to try from screen that lists them by putting a checkmark in box (on right hand side of page) to "select" them and then going to lower portion of screen and select "download" to download them... You do not "need" pocket queries as it is a premium services ($$$)... EasyGPS will load down loaded files and transfer them to GPS unit ... Dale

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ANY Serial/USB adapter SHOULD come with support disk that loads drives and what nots for USB/serial port operation... Always loads drivers first from disk before plugging in adapter. IF you need to know specific com port number (virtual port) to "plug into" your software you need to work down through the SYSTEM tab in Control Panel till you get to "ports" When you plug in USB/SERIAL adapter a new port should appear and by looking at that data it should give you the number of the com port it created. Dale

I use EasyGPS... I like to keep things very simple.... EasyGPS allows me to upload/download data from/to GPSr and also manipulate data files (spreadsheet format) downloaded from geocache sites.... I believe in KISS principle (Keep It Simple Stupid) and do not go real deep in all the technical processes software is capable of, I just want data from geocache site into GPS and EasyGPS allows me to do that... And its free... I really do not devote enough time to geocacheing and all software capabilities so I rely on processes that are visual and if you can't "hack it" to get it to work, its to complicated... IF software learning curve is to great, I dont want to relearn it every time I use it... Dale