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ejmct

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Everything posted by ejmct

  1. This topic was enlightening because I always thought that WAAS was that radio station in Cincinatti where Venus Flytrap & Dr. Johnny Fever worked Seriously, when I see those little "D's" on the satellite page of my Vista that means I'm getting WAAS-ed? I see that fairly frequently when I'm in the car.
  2. Thanks Anders - Whats the cost differential between the Vista & 76S?
  3. Thanks everybody for the responses. I think the Vista is good little unit with some nice touches. The only downsides I can find are the weak antenna and the cost of the Mapsource CD's.
  4. Thanks for the responses. Follow up questions: What does the "battery save" mode actually do? So if I don't change the type of batteries I don't have to recalibrate the compass? If I had Duracells in there and I replace them with more Duracells I'm ok not recalibrating? Here's what I decided to do about altimeter calibration. I just went to the beach (I live pretty close) and calibrated it about 6' as I was standing right at the water. Then I drove home quick like a bunny (before the weather changed ) and looked at the altitude at my house. Now I'm pretty sure that my home is at 485 feet. So each day before I leave my house I can calibrate to 485 feet and I should be ok regardless of changes in weather. With my II+ I used to check my altitude whenever I was at a place where I knew actually the altitude (like at a highway sign that said "Elevation 4000 ft.") and I would notice that altitude using satellites would be off sometimes by several hundred feet (and it could be off in either direction). So part of the reason I wanted the Vista was for the barometric altimeter. Is this *really* more accurate than using the satellites? Just curious. Thanks for the help!
  5. Thanks for the responses. Follow up questions: What does the "battery save" mode actually do? So if I don't change the type of batteries I don't have to recalibrate the compass? If I had Duracells in there and I replace them with more Duracells I'm ok not recalibrating? Here's what I decided to do about altimeter calibration. I just went to the beach (I live pretty close) and calibrated it about 6' as I was standing right at the water. Then I drove home quick like a bunny (before the weather changed ) and looked at the altitude at my house. Now I'm pretty sure that my home is at 485 feet. So each day before I leave my house I can calibrate to 485 feet and I should be ok regardless of changes in weather. With my II+ I used to check my altitude whenever I was at a place where I knew actually the altitude (like at a highway sign that said "Elevation 4000 ft.") and I would notice that altitude using satellites would be off sometimes by several hundred feet (and it could be off in either direction). So part of the reason I wanted the Vista was for the barometric altimeter. Is this *really* more accurate than using the satellites? Just curious. Thanks for the help!
  6. Thanks to the new $50 rebate, I recently upgraded my Garmin GPS II+ to a Vista. I am generally happy but I have some questions & observations. 1) The reception is not good at all compared to my II+. Even in moderate tree cover it may lose the signal. Is there anything that can be done to improve reception? Also, I have the Garmin case and it covers most of the unit. I'm not sure where the antenna is located inside the machine but I wonder if the case is negatively effecting my reception. Any thoughts? 2) I read on here that the electronic compass needs to be recalibrated whenever the batteries are replaced. In order to avoid looking like a complete fool in doing so, I put it on a flat table and turn it around twice. I figure that will also increase the accuracy since its not relying on me holding the unit perfectly flat. That said, do I also need to calibrate the altimeter when I replace the batteries? I know my altimeter is off right now (never calibrated since I have not yet been in a place where I knew either my exact altitude or pressure) but I was wondering about the battery/altimeter relationship. 3) The electronic compass confuses me a little. By default I believe that the electronic compass takes over from the satellites when your speed drops below 10 MPH. I understand that, but does this also happen on the map page? For example, I'm looking for a geocache. I'm running at 12 MPH and according to the map page of my Vista the cache is up ahead on my right. As long as I'm moving I always know where the cache is relative to my position. Now lets say I stop moving completely and I just stand still. I'm still looking at the map page... 1) It still shows the cache up ahead on my right because that's where it was relative to my position the last time I was moving, or 2) Does the electronic compass takes over? The Vista knows where the cache is and my exact last position. So if I stay in place but begin to turn left or right, will the map show the cache move relative to the new direction in which I'm pointed? Without an electronic compass the GPS has no idea which direction I'm facing unless I'm actually moving. This makes it hard to find something when you're really close and not moving very much. But does the e-compass work on only the "compass" page or also on the map page? I'm not sure if I'm explaining this clearly but hopefully someone will understand what I'm saying. I appreciate any help on these questions. Thanks!
  7. My cigarette lighter turns on and off with the ignition so I can't leave my GPS on if I wanted to. Does anyone know if there is a documented or undocumented feature In the eTrex Vista that enables the unit to automatically turn on when it senses current through the power cord and off when it doesn't sense power? Thanks!
  8. This weekend, thanks to the $50 rebate, I upgraded my Garmin II+ to a Vista. So far I like it a lot. But I would like the Mapsource software, at least I think I do. I assume that Mapsource is my only option for uploadable maps. Is there any place to get this software for less that $90-$100? That's more money than I can afford right now. Thanks!
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