-=(GEO)=-

Currently, I have the following items at all times: 1 pair of kevlar gloves 1 pair of neoprene gloves 1 LED flashlight and a LED headlamp 1 pocket knife 1 small 1st aid / survival kit 1 cell phone 1 marker / pen / pencil Water + energy bars All this stuff fits in a small backpack. I also have snowshoes and waders in the trunk of my car just in case... At times, I have also carried a folding shovel with me to extract caches from ice/snow. And a change of clothes is also recommended ;-)

Niagara Buffalo International Travel Bug Hotel

it's got the ability to be loaded with TOPO maps and has a 12 channels receiver. Detailed maps are vital when driving around. The 12 channels help with precision and locking/holding sats. My personal preference is the Magellan Meridian Platinum because it's rugged, upgradable and has a large screen for driving. There are others like it of course, but I've never tried them. The bottom line is that I would not get a GPSr that's too basic because it will get upgraded sooner than later.

So that the compass behaves like a regular compass. Since I don't use any maps, True North does not matter to me.

Have had it for 6 months and I still love it.

I'm running Windows XP Pro. The installation of the driver went w/o any problems. Everything was up and running with my Meridian Platinum in about 3 minutes. For details go to www.startech.com

Allow me to offer my perspective on what happened to me and how I got to be DQ'ed. Btw, this is -not- an appeal for my case. Just finishing the race is winning enough for me. Anyways... It all started when I picked up 'Jelly Belly' from a new cache nearby. It was among other CB racers, but because it had -NO- identifying marker that it was a racer, I picked it up. I only realized my mistake after I logged the bug on the site. At that point, it was too late and I had shot myself in the foot with an honest mistake. When I drove to PA to drop off 'DemonGlider' my own racer, I encountered the 2 other racers in the ALPHA cache... Being DQ'ed already, I had nothing to lose and I picked them up ;-) I would not have interfered if that stupid 'Jelly Belly' had not screwed me in the first place! So, 'The Tick' and 'CB Jack' are still in my possesion and I am planning on letting them go today...they'd better behave or else ;-)

That's about it. Beware of generalizations too...

And they work great (using a SD Cruzer with the SD cards).

And it works like a charm. I'm using a 64 Meg SD flashram with it.

in Iraq, we would not be having another war against the same enemy. Oh, btw, I'm French

> Sir/Madam, > > If your GPS is equipped with WAAS capability and appears to be > cycling or shutting down every few minutes, we have found a logical > explanation for this occurrence. Currently there is intermittent > testing being done on the EGNOS satellite. EGNOS is the European > equivalent of the U.S. WAAS error correction messages and our > receivers are capable of receiving and using this satellite signal > as it would the U.S. WAAS satellites. On the east coast (or even > inland to about the Mississippi river, including in Canada) it is > possible for the unit to "see" the EGNOS satellite. If the EGNOS > satellite is the one being received and used for WAAS calculations, > and this testing is underway, it can cause the units to cycle or > power down every 3 minutes and 40 seconds. If you have multiple > units in operation at the same time in the same area, you would > actually see them all exhibit this behavior at the same time. > > We are currently working on a new version of software that can > detect and ignore the EGNOS satellite signals when the tests are > under way. There is nothing wrong with your unit or the current > software in your unit. Once we have the new software available and > tested we will post it on our website where you may download it and > reprogram your unit. Please check our website often over the next > week for the updated software. The version you will be looking for > will be version higher than the following (the version here will be > the last released version known to exhibit this problem): > > Meridian, Meridian Gold, Meridian Marine, and Meridian Platinum - > version 4.04 > > Meridian Color - version 4.02 > > SporTrak (basic) - version 1.10 > > SporTrak Map and SporTrak Pro - version 4.04 > > Map330 and Map330M - version 4.00 > > FX324 Color - version 1.16 > > If you require any assistance in upgrading the software once > released, please contact our technical support once you have > downloaded the software and are at your computer ready to reprogram > the unit and they will get the upgrade started for you. Please > contact them at telephone number 800-707-9971. > > Best regards. > > Brian Oliver > > Service Support Supervisor

For posting the explanation here Have they mentioned when the patch will be released and to which firmware version it will apply?

And that's what you're experiencing right now. I've upgraded the firmware 3 times now, and of all the versions, 4.02 has demonstrated the most problems: for instance, I always overshoot caches now while I used to be able to be dead on. Also, the accuracy of the compass is lacking and is downright whacky sometimes. I can't wait for the final release of 4.06 as I can't seem to load the unofficial version w/o killing my GPS Hopefully, 4.02 will just be a bad memory soon.

I was in Paris for a few weeks in January (funny thing is that I was born there, now I only go there as a tourist ;-) and was disappointed to see that most caches (in Paris) are virtuals and that there are so very little of them. I did place one while I was there though (maintained by my sister). Considering GPS prices in France (I saw my Meridian Plat for $535 in some outdoor gear store!!!), I can't blame anyone there for being a bit sluggish on the uptake ;-)

As I zero-in on a cache, I often find myself using my analog compass to follow the bearing given by the GPS (even if my MeriPlat has a digital compass. I'm not sure why, but I find the compass of the GPS to be somewhat unreliable even when correctly calibrated. Any ideas why?). I'm considering upgrading my lensatic analog compass with one that won't freeze in cold weather. With low temps, the liquid in the vial of the compass gets slushy and getting a bearing takes forever. I was looking at the 'Brunton Nomad Digital Compass' and the 'High Gear TrailDrop II'. Has anyone tried these units in very cold weather? Also, if you have suggestions for analog compasses that won't freeze, I'd like to hear them. Regards, Fabien.

A few days ago, my Meridian Platinum (firmware v4.02) started acting up. It powers itself off randomly. It has nothing to do with low batteries since it even does it when powered from the cigarette lighter. Has anyone else experienced this problem before and what was the cause? Any insight would be appreciated. Regards, Fabien.

Which has an electronic compass. Bearings do get screwed up when the satellite coverage is messed up.

Out of work at the moment though

This ones is meant to be done with snowshoes: Bear Paws

1. Exploration using topo mapping software (I use Delorme TOPO USA 4.0). 2. Web sites listing state parks. 3. Books about scenic places. 4. Satellite photos (Terra Server). 5. Driving around looking for interesting locations.

Snowshoes Fairy!

I understand the rule if the caches belong to different people but can 2 caches with the same owner be placed within .1 mile of each other (I'm not talking about a multi-cache here)?

Well guys, for the snowshoes fairy to drop by, you have to post your weight, not your foot size

May I suggest snowshoes Caching in the snow can be great fun but it does require picking targets carefully and being prepared for it...as if you were going to ski.