Ellteejak

Who uses STREETS & TRIPS software with GSAK? What version of STREETS & TRIPS do you find most useful? I am not sure if the latest S&T is bloated, or worth it. maybe an older verison is just as useful?

This is the Northeast states version of the national Geographic Software. It is up on ebay for sale. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2060226580&ssPageName=ADME:B:LC:US:1 Let me know if you do not see it there. Or do a search on ebay for it. This is the 10 CD set that covers all the the northeast states USGS topo maps.

new versus knew. What college did I graduate from?????????

Okay as a NEWBEE my original expections was. 1. Once I new what a DATUM was 2. Once I new the difference between magnetic north and real north 3. Once I new what the rating system was about on GEOCACHING 4. Once I new about how to translate the clues. 5. Once I knew what a cache would look like, and the typical hiding spots. That I would be able to walk right up to a class 1 cache using my GPS and see it by turning a 360 degree circle (or see the obvious hidding spot). ****** 90% of the time I can not. Remember that class 1 should be for BEGINNERS!! ******

I found two Microcaches with help. (Thanks Suzzana and boyfriend!!) ******** These are being hidden way way way way way too too too hard. Everyone who I talk to, who is a beginner says the same thing. The clues given in general are very very useless at least 50% of the time. If you post a spoiler, please post a real spoiler, not just another clue. Tell the exact location, but put it in code. The rating system must be for all GEOCACHERS as experts. A 1 means an expert should be able to find it in 15 minites. A 5 means an expert will be challenged to find it in a few days. Is this what Geocaching is all about? (now putting on asbestos suit for the flame war!!)

The Etrex Legend is on sale. I think you can get one for $180 on amazon.com and then send in a coupon for $50 back. Grand total $130. It has Maps, and the usual other stuff.

I like the frown face record I have. i have struck out on every cache i have tried 9four so far). As the band GARBAGE says "I'm only happy when it rains" And it is raining today.

Make sure your DATUM is correct. You need to know what this means. It is nice to make sure that your Garmin is set for true north, not magnetic north. But you need to check.

Make sure your DATUM is correct. You need to know what this means. It is nice to make sure that your Garmin is set for true north, not magnetic north. But you need to check.

I have an Etrex Legend and I seriously think the Etrex could be off by 60 feet south of the actual waypoint. I have emailed Garmin (who looks like they actually read email, and actually respond intelligently to them) and I am awaiting a response. I had not heard about the Battery saver function and I will be turning that off tonight. Also consider a FIRMWARE upgrade to your Etrex. garmin has this software upgarde on their web site. Basically you download the software to your PC. Connect your Etrex to your PC, and then upload the new software to your Etrex. Try www.garmin.com The best way to use the GPS seems to be to get a bearing when close to the waypoint (degrees direction). Then get another different bearing by walking 90 degrees away from your current location. Then use your compass to triangulate the point. Use this if you have no success at a direct walk to the waypoint.

I have an Etrex Legend and I seriously think the Etrex could be off by 60 feet south of the actual waypoint. I have emailed Garmin (who looks like they actually read email, and actually respond intelligently to them) and I am awaiting a response. I had not heard about the Battery saver function and I will be turning that off tonight. Also consider a FIRMWARE upgrade to your Etrex. garmin has this software upgarde on their web site. Basically you download the software to your PC. Connect your Etrex to your PC, and then upload the new software to your Etrex. Try www.garmin.com The best way to use the GPS seems to be to get a bearing when close to the waypoint (degrees direction). Then get another different bearing by walking 90 degrees away from your current location. Then use your compass to triangulate the point. Use this if you have no success at a direct walk to the waypoint.

Okay. First go to www.campmor.com and look at what they have. The prices are always the best. 1. Get one with an adjustable magnetic declination. Then understand what this means. Many (not all) of the compasses with adjustable declination have a little key that is used to make this adjectment. the key stays on the lanyard. 2. Consider one with a sighting mirror, and a sighting window. These come in handy when trying to line up the compass with a tree, rock, mountain top, etc. Many of these also fold over to cover the compass and protect it when it is stuffed into a pack. 3. Consider getting a compass with 1 degree divisions on the compass scale. I did, and it works fine. I like to extra accuracy. Most compasses have a 2 degree accuracy. Brand names. Brunton, Silva. I have a Brunton which seems to be more technical, and smarter made.

Sorry folks this is my New York - New England flippant attitude thing showing up here in my posted messages. If you lived in this area you would know why many of us have this little dark cloud floating over our head. Way too many people, and cost of living (cost of recreation too) that stresses you out. We have to pay $12 on a weekend to go to our own state parks (unless you get the season pass).

Yeah!!!! I am not insane. It is hard to make finds. And those who do not, very often do not post they make no find. So I bet that many caches are hidden way too well.

Or you can change your DATUM on the GEOCACHE web site to NAD27. You may wish to get both to make sure that the person doing the cache did not post it with the wrong coordinates.

Or you can change your DATUM on the GEOCACHE web site to NAD27. You may wish to get both to make sure that the person doing the cache did not post it with the wrong coordinates.

Okay. I would like to know the following. Has everyone who has failed to find a GEOCACHE actually posted the failure to find? maybe this is more common than thought. Just a small survey. I have posted two failures and not posted the other two failures. Based on that all failure to finds need to be doubled, to get a clear picture of how many are not found. It depends on the averages. Also I think that many failure to finds are not posted because someone goes back multiple times and eventually finds the spot, then only posts it as a find. Based on the responses I can guess how many times people fail to find geocaches. Maybe its a lot more often then is being recognized? Maybe it is a lot less.

Are these HCP (Horizontal Control Points) listed as such on the benchmark survey marker list here ?? http://www.geocaching.com/mark/ This really takes the cake. Another way to be completely off when you check on GPS accuracy. I am getting some serious education here. What about the poor beginning GEOCACACHER who has no idea about all this?

After lots of trouble that still exists for me. Do the following: 1. Use a compas set for Actual North (via a declination setting adjustment against the magnetic north). Know what this is, and be prepared to cahnge to magnetic north if you can not find the cache. 2. Always ALWAYS ALWAYS!!! Check your GPS against a benchmark know location for a survey marker. You may find your GPS is off by 100 feet (I did). 3. Use mapping software (like WWW.TOPOZONE.COM on the internet or buy National Geographic TOPO! stateseries for your state) to map out the location of the CACHE. Then you can use the map (maybe) and landmarks and the compass to find things (maybe). Good luck.

I just tried to find a Geodetic Survey Marker last night, and I found the exact spot. BUT!! my Garmin Etrex Legend GPS (set at the correct DATUM) said the marker was 100 feet south of the spot I was standing on!! So the GPS is off location!! I will be trying to get Garmin to do a calibration fix on this. No wonder I can not find anything!!! ******** Did anyone mention checking the GPS with a fixed known survey marker? If you did thanks, but I can not remember reading abut it. ********* Also I had another GEOCACHER email me and show a picture of a cache that they could never find. It was under an inch of leaves. No one could have found it without an accurate GPS, and a ton of searching.

I have the legend. It is pretty nice, but I think the calibrartion is off by 100 feet on mine. I tried it near some Geodetic Survey Markers last night and found it was off by that much. The mapping is outstanding. You can get the Mapsource Metroguide USA old edition by asking for a used copy (actual not illegal). Many are trying to upgrade to the Metroguide USA II version so the older version should be availible.

I have the legend. It is pretty nice, but I think the calibrartion is off by 100 feet on mine. I tried it near some Geodetic Survey Markers last night and found it was off by that much. The mapping is outstanding. You can get the Mapsource Metroguide USA old edition by asking for a used copy (actual not illegal). Many are trying to upgrade to the Metroguide USA II version so the older version should be availible.

Who would have known there were so many interesting games to be played. I would like to see a Geocache in every incorporated twon in my state. That way everyone might be encouraged to do some local touring. Maybe even other themes, like a wine tasting cache near wineries. You have to have a gaming mentality though. Many people do not want to play these games. I forgot the big one ORIENTEERING is a big game that many people do in many countries.

Who would have known there were so many interesting games to be played. I would like to see a Geocache in every incorporated twon in my state. That way everyone might be encouraged to do some local touring. Maybe even other themes, like a wine tasting cache near wineries. You have to have a gaming mentality though. Many people do not want to play these games. I forgot the big one ORIENTEERING is a big game that many people do in many countries.

Okay I seem to have hit the jackpot when it comes to active Geography games by finding GEOCACHING. Here are the others I know of: 1. www.highpointers.org to find the highest point in each state. 2. County Highpointers. Duplicate for all counties highpoints in all states. 3. American Volkssport Association - long walks with a map for certain towns or areas of the country. 4. Geocache and its varients. 5. Letterboxing at http://www.letterboxing.org/ 6. ADK 46ers, 100 highest, 4000 footers clubs - all clubs associated with persons who complete the hike up to the top of the highest mountains in the northeast. 7. Tristate markers club. I forget were the reference web site is. Please let me know of any others??