jakiesfolks

Okay, so we started out looking at the DeLorme PN-40 and the Oregon 400t to replace our ETrex. After wading through information here and elsewhere we are leaning towards the Oregon 550t. It sounds like Garmin fixed a few of the issues that are present in the 400; brighter screen & compass specifically and added a little camera. About that camera, when you take a photo is there a way to link it to the cache or do you have to remember what it goes to? We're old and forgetful I guess. Most reviews on the 550 were positive but this group has the real experts, does anyone have any red flags to wave?

Thank you to everyone for the great info...I can't say I have a clearcut answer for us just yet AND just to make it even worse I looked at the Oregon 550 today! Whoa...some $$ needed there but it makes one think, if you're going to go the Oregon route wouldn't it make sense to spend the extra for the latest and greatest? My head spins!

Just kidding...this is great input for me/us. We just have to figure out what's best for us now. Thanks so much from you all!

Thanks for those suggestions...Butch and Sundance and Writing on the Wall look great...sounds like a couple of others near the B & S one too. Thanks for those suggestions!!! Really appreciate it! Any other suggestions would be appreciated for me list too. Will have to research Earthcaches...sound interesting. Thanks again.

eeeeeeeek!

Thanks Norm...so when you say "the 40's progress, and the next evolution too" what do you mean? Sorry, just want to make sure that there isn't something later and greater right around the bend. My usual luck, spend the money and next week it's outdated! DANG

The steep learning curve argument is bunk, I owned a PN-40 and now own an Oregon 300 (not for much longer thankfully) and I can tell you the Oregon was more difficult for me to figure out. Read my thread here, in particular, the last post which will give my honest impressions of the Oregon vs the PN-40! It would be just as seep of a learning curve for us Oregon users to have to pick up a PN-40 and try to figure it out on the fly while caching. We would ALWAYS like to stay with something familiar. Anything else is a pain. However, I believe if you started out on an Oregon and switched to a PN-40, you'd throw rocks at the PN and go back to an Oregon. I too, have tried a PN-40 and hated it. The smaller screen, short battery life, not touch screen, routing was strange, and the learning curve all left me wanting to drop-kick it into another time zone. The Oregon is the best GPSr out there IMHO. Nothing else even comes close. But opinions are like noses, everybody has one! [] Oh great...just when I thought I was becoming less confused!

My inferrence here has been that these characteriztions were more related to the Topo USA 7.0/8.0 mapping software that was bundled with the PN-40s as opposed to the handheld PN-40, itself. While somewhat understandable in the past, due to recent operational enhancements from DeLorme, one does not even need to install the Topo USA 8.0 software on their PCs for paperless geocaching. Even when installed, that software can be bypassed when paperlessly transferring geocache descriptions and uploading field notes. Thanks so much for that clarification that it's the maps not the unit...makes sense! Also, Roddy, I enjoyed reading through your thread on the PN-40 v Oregon the other day and had looked forward to hearing how you liked the Oregon on your return. BTW - so sorry you lost your beloved orange but we benefited from the great evaluation that you did of both units and I am leaning toward the PN-40 based on it! What is SE?

We want to go paperless! We have used a Garmin ETrex Vista HCx and have really not been caching much, partly because we've been busy but also because it's a hassle to print everything to go out. Have been researching and have it down to the Garmin Oregon 400t (or the 300, if I can figure out the additional programming and maps needed to equal the 400) or the DeLorme PN-40. I have read the downfalls of each unit but would like clarification of the "steep learning curve" or the PN-40. My computer skills are pretty strong but don't want too much work setting up the unit. I just want to start using it with as little work as possible. We are planning a trip to the southwest in the fall and will be using the new gps to have some caching fun there...will need some good maps for backroading too. I know there are lots of strong opinions on Groundspeak...that's good1 All advice and input will be appreciated but we are strong on being paperless. Thanks, W & R

Would love some cache suggestions for a trip to the southwest this fall. We'll be taking the old route 66 (as much as possible) from Oklahoma City to Flagstaff and then just do some bumming around the Grand Canyon (especially the north rim) and southern Utah. Caches that have a historical theme or location or off the beaten track, old towns, cemetaries, are what we are most interested in and figure the place to find the best ones is right here from the locals. Can't wait to explore the area. Thanks for your help in advance! W & R

I wanted to use Cachmate and had nothing but problems trying to figure out how to ge the software to work the software and then received a bunch of attitude from the "support" person! I refuse to use it after what I went through. Has anyone else had a bad experience with that Smittyware site? If someone can tell me a similar program that I can purchase or use, I would really appreciate it. Thanks

I'll check on that. Thanks

I got it to send to my gps using Easy Gps but not sure if that's the best or not. Kind of tedious! I'll give the Cachemate a try and see if it will work with my Axium. Any and all suggestions are appreciated. Thank you

Thanks

No, don't tell me that! I am beginning to detest this Vista! I was afraid that might be the problem. If you find out how he did the work around, please let me know, I would really appreciate it! Thanks

HELP please! I have anew Garmin Etrex Vista Hcx and am trying to upload (or download, whichever it is) caches to it. I get a message that Garmin Communicator is not detected. I've downloaded and installed that thing multiple times, however. I would love to get this going for our trip to Portland OR next week but it's frustrating. What am I doing wrong? Also, I have a Dell Axium pocket pc...can I use this for paperless caching? What would I need to do, any software needed. Any help is really appreciated. By the way, could the problem be related to Microsoft Vista on my computer by any chance? Thanks, Rita

Thanks, I was just checking those out.

We're new to geocaching but love it so far. We're traveling to Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, eastern Idaho and southern Montana in a couple of weeks and plan to do some caching on the trip. Would really love to have some suggestions of awesome caches that we could do. Would like to see some ruins or ghost towns or, just interesting things. Thanks for any ideas. JF's

Oh, sorry...the U.S. Thanks for the help

Thanks, I'll check it out.

TF...too funny!!

My husband recently got this unit for his work (they picked and paid for it). It has City Nav already on it. Does anyone know if this is a good product to use for geocaching and backroading? We're new at this and have a lot to learn. With budget in mind what map products would you add to make this more usable for geocaching and backroading? Thanks for letting us pick your, more experienced, brains.

Did I post this to the wrong area or are the questions just that lame? Any help will be most appreciated, really!

Hi, We've got our Garmin IQue M4 and really want to try Geochaching. We live in MN but are planning a trip to Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Eastern ID and the Black Hills in September. Plan to drive the Bear Tooth pass and the Western pass from Jackson Wy to Yellowston that goes into eastern ID. Will be doing a few caches at home before we leave for practice and then do some to add to the fun on vacation. Would love to have some suggestions from experienced cachers for some fun, easy to moderate caches that we can do in the areas I mentioned or for some cool, out of the way places to visit out there as well. We love ghost towning as well. Have been reading the logs and threads to learn but have some questions too; what are muggles? DNF (I'm guessing "do not find"?), and there are other abbreviations and nicknames we can't figure out. Please help with the lingo! Look forward to getting to know you all here on the forum and perhaps meeting in person someday on the trail as well. jf