medicblue

As for software, I downloaded the free version of EasyGPS and checked it to communicate with a Sportrak Pro. It says one is not connected. I just found more info on Magellan's site more specific to my unit. I now know it won't be compatable with my laptop because its Vista, but my desktop is XP and is compatible. I learned how to test the data cable and its working fine as well as the USB adapter. I think I remember during the test that the BAUD rate is 4800, is that the data rate you mentioned? I found NMEA and its already off.

Anyone?

Ko, I've had a Magellan Sportrak Pro for just a few years. Probably bought it just before they discontinued it, (Welcome to my world!). I use it for several things and am a bit reluctant to upgrade because this little GPS does a great job. I just bought a cable to hook it up to my PC. Really just to be able to download geocaches to it instead of manually entering them. Well, My PC doesn't see it at all. I went and bought a USB to Serial Port Adapter which the PC saw the adapter just fine but not the GPS. I downloaded the free version of EasyGPS, still nothing. I've tried diligently to resolve this without asking for help. HELP!! Is there anyone who can tell me the one little detail that will get things on track?

KO then, I'll send it on its way, thanks for the advice!

I picked up a mico-mini coin from eBay but didn't notice that its trackable only through TraverTags.com. Its about the size of a nickel, its kinda cool but I got to wondering if its bad form to use a coin that isn't tracked through Geocaching.com. Actually if I had noticed that it wasn't tracked through Geocaching.com I probably would have passed on it until learning a little more. So whats the general impression about these? scab? or cool? If nothing else it will look good in my collection.

Thats not such a bad idea at all.

What I'm getting is 5 text messages about a new cache. But there are no co-ord. I still have to go to the website to get those. I think I need to narrow the parameters or something. Its COOL, but its eating alot of text spots.

The Desiderata says to "Listen to everyone......." I've done that since I readit for the first time because it made sense. I've learned to listen to even a "First day person" (to be politicaly correct), because they might make perfect sense in a new spin on a subject. The experienced persons however, rate a specific listen because they have learned quite a bit it simply through trial and error. Anyway, thats jusy my $.02

There is a lot to choose from. I went with Traditional Caches with Publish listing and Enable listing. Does that sound like the right choices? Can I add others, maybe just create more?

Well now that they mention it, I do another "Notification" thing through IPN that comes across my cell phone as a text message when you send it through the cell phone service like what they are talking about. I setting this up right now and it looks to be the same.

I'll add a quick one, I went to a local park where a micro is supposed to be. (So far have gone twice, once with my son and so far nothing). As I'm standing in these bushes near a fence looking hard in the bush branches I spy a fella a few feet away crouching to look into the bushes at me. I realized right away what I must have looked like sneaking into some bushes in a park filled with people and Kids so I stepped out and gave him a quick explanation and a cache note so that he could go home and look it up for himself. He eventually said "Well, good luck with your game" and walked away. Definate Kudos to him for stepping up to make sure I wasn't there for some ugly reason, and from now on I tend to wait for slow park days.

I posted this in the Geocaching.com forum accidently. I recently heard that there is a way to get new cache notifications on my cell phone. does anyone know where I look for more info on that?

I know I'm new , but I didn't have a clue that there was an issue with geocaching in National forests. I do understand the take only photographs, leave only footprints thing. But I'm under the impression that a good body of the geocachers that are placing and/or seeking caches in the forests are very conservation oriented. What better crowd do they want there?

I have recently heard of a way to get notified that a new cache has been placed in my area by getting a text message sent to my cell phone. But I can't find any link or info. Anyone else heard of it?

Geez, that was sooo easy, I'm really sorry for posting the dork questions. Thanks so much for all of everyones patience, with me as well as other dorky newbies.

I have seen several times where a cache has the TB symbol but it has a name next to it like "Yota" etc. I just set out my first TB hitchhiker. Its a stuffed toy deer. How do I change "Travel Bug Dog Tag" to the hitchhikers name?

Ah Ha! I'm on it, ty

I droped both my first Hitchhiker TB and a coin today, both are activated. But I don't see how to log the drops. Do they have to be discovered first?

Yep, I did the scuffing/sanding too for the one that I used the epoxy on. But only because I read it in the directions. I wish I had thought of it for the Gorilla Glue one too. Duh! But this time both worked out really well. The magnets are on pretty tight and should outlast the containers. These are film containers the both have the "Offical Geocache" sticker on them. I know that some are posting that these are not very good containers. I'm not Mr Expert here at all, but in thinking of all the things that these containers have been used for (other than film), they might not be as bad as all that. I've found a few of these used as micro containers and most seem to have worked out ok. One however, I found along a dirt road that had been there for a while and was sun bleached and weather worn to the point that it crumbles when handled. That is what one of my experimental film containers will be replacing today unless the owner has aleady done it. Now that is something that the Match container would probably survive better. And actually does seem to be the better all around idea anyway. Most of the ones of these that I have found so far seem to have been placed so that weather and exposure don't pose much of an issue. So if your going to use one, thats something to keep in mind. Some people put the logs on little plastic bags to protect them but I notice that most of those are pretty trashed relatively fast. I really liked briansnat's and Rex & Butterfly's posts. I was looking for info on the same thing when I found your post and I'm glad some more experienced cachers jumped in with these tips and links. (Saves me alot of experimenting, lol). Thank you all for the posts and ideas.

48, caching about 6 weeks now.

I'm experimenting tonight, I used less Gorilla glue than before, plus I found a 2 part epoxy for plasics at my Kragen Auto parts store. (The Checker, Shucks, Kragen chain). I'll post the results tomorrow.

What do I resize photos to for posting on forums or on geocache TB sites. I saw a reference to 125 kb or 600 megapixels on the TB site but wasn't quite sure what they meant. I've looked for a better definition but can't seem to find one. I can crop and resize to whatever size needed.

I'm interested in the gluing magnets part of this post too. I tried to Gorilla Glue a good magnet to the bottom of a film canister but the magnet peeled right off. (I might have used too much GG). Does 2 part epoxy work better?

An excellent topic, thank you for posting it. I've got some new ideas from it. (I'm pretty new too, only 21 finds at this point). Awsome, I ordered a set as soon as I saw this! I think those brain teasers are a great idea too. My son works at a Dollar Tree, I went in there and found quite a few things that are kinda cool. One of my fav's to leave are little rubber footballs, (tis the season after all). I went to my local camera shop and they gave me some empty 35mm film canisters, I've ordered some of the Geocache stickers that wrap around those and have printed up some of the mini "Stash notes" to put inside them. It didn't cost me much to do that and I plan to leave a few in the large caches so that some other new geocachers can have a pre made mico for their own to hide. I'm also going to keep some extra stash notes for containers that I find that don't have one. I think they are a real good idea to help muggles understand and not steal the caches. I've already found a cache that a muggle logged the find and promised to look into it further. I'm trying to get so if I take something kinda nice, I leave something kinda nice. And if I take something cheap but cool, then I try to leave something equal to that too. Sometimes I just sign the log. My son and I are having lots of fun with this. Post back here if you think up something cool.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! What a response, exactly what I was looking for and more.