Tarot

If the gps is not recognised when you plug it into your computer you could try the following. However if the unit is still under warranty it would be best to return it for repair, because attempts to fix it yourself might void the warranty. 1. Turn unit off (pull battery if on/off won't respond) 2. Plug unit into PC with USB cable 3. Hold the menu key and the joystick in the "up" position and power unit on. Make sure you H O L D all three buttons as described until unit is fully powered on. 4. This should allow the unit to go into maintenance/disk access mode. Go to the Magellan website and download the newest version of the system firmware. 5. Follow the install directions. Tarot (Bob)

Do you have the Magellan Communicator for PC loaded onto your new laptop? You can find the download page HERE Tarot (Bob)

Hi David Firstly if your GC is still under warranty I would not go any further, and seek advice from Magellan. This is getting near the limit of my knowledge and nothing I write here is gauranteed, but might be worth a try to get you going again. When you connect to your PC you say you can see the drive, can you see any files or folders on that drive? If you can see the Geocache and Waypoint folders, try deleting the contents from each folder. This sometimes allows the GC to boot normally when restarted. When you download the latest GC firmware it now includes everything including the World Map. Instead of opening the downloaded file it is possible to unzip it into a folder (make one on your desktop). You might be able to replace any missing files on the GC from the unzipped files in the download. Warning - DO NOT format the GC drive, because this will make any repair virtually impossible. Like I say this info might get you going, but please only use it at your own risk. Hopefully another Magellan owner will be along to offer more help. Regards Tarot (Bob)

As far as I am aware the Garmin Chirp is a proprietary device and only compatible with some Garmin GPS's. The Garmin website lists the following compatible GPS's Astro 320 Dakota 20 eTrex 30 GPSMAP 62s, 62st, 62sc, 62sct GPSMAP 78s, 78sc Montana 600, 650, 650t Oregon 300, 400c, 400i, 400t, 450, 450t, 550, 550t, 600, 600t, 650, 650t Rino 650, 655t Regards Tarot (Bob)

Is the gps recognised if you connect it to your pc, if so you could re-install the firmware manually or via Vantage Point. I have also found the following solution online which might help you. 1. Turn unit off (pull battery if on/off won't respond) 2. Plug unit into PC with USB cable 3. Hold the menu key and the joystick in the "up" position and power unit on. Make sure you H O L D all three buttons as described until unit is fully powered on. 4. This should allow the unit to go into maintenance/disk access mode. Go to the Magellan website and download the newest version of the system firmware. 5. Follow the install directions. Tarot (Bob)

Hi Charlie First make sure that you are viewing all of the geocaches. From the "Map Page" press "Menu" scroll down to "Geocaches" and select "All" Then make sure you are viewing the nearest geocaches. From the "Geocache Page" press "Menu" scroll down to "Sort" and select "Nearest" With these settings, when you arrive at a new location the list will be sorted with the nearest geocaches listed at the top of the list. I hope this helps and answers your question without using folders. On an unrelated note, have you updated your 110 to software version 1.59 (please see my earlier post). I think the above settings are pre selected with the new software. Regards Tarot (Bob)

I recently purchased a new Magellan Explorist 110 in the UK which are selling for £60, and I am very impressed. As a long time Garmin user I bought the 110 as a lending unit for friends and as a backup to my main GPS. One of the main complaints I had read about this model was it's limit to hold only 500 Geocaches, and this was the case when it arrived with software version 1.12 installed. I updated to the latest software version of 1.59 and the little 110 can now hold 10,000 Geocaches (Paperless). I know this has been possible before by editing the atlas.ini file, but it is now standard with the new update. Mine is the EU model and comes with the WWEU_BM.mgi base map which is 1.17GB in size. This gives full street level mapping for the UK and Europe, and also North America. This still leaves 500MB of free storage space for any additional maps if required. There is now very little difference between the Explorist 110, 310 and GC, and I think that the 110 at just £60 is a great little GPS and has just got a lot better. So if you do own the 110 or are thinking of buying one, then be sure to run the update. Regards Tarot (Bob)

Hi grannie545 I have the Explorist 110 but I expect the process is the same or very similar. There are three options: 1. Open the geocache list (Main Menu - Geocaches) on your gps and then press "Menu", scroll down the options to "Delete All" and then confirm when prompted. (Deletes All Caches) 2. Open a single geocache page then press "Menu", scroll down the options to "Delete" and then confirm when prompted. (Deletes Single Cache) 3. Connect the gps to your computer and go to the "Geocache Folder", delete the GPX file(s) Regards Tarot (Bob)

I use the Dakota 20 which is very similar, the only difference being the electronic compass, barometer and memory card slot. It is a great GPS for Geocaching, and I am very happy with mine. The first thing that I would do is hook it up to your computer and make a copy of the files on the Dakota drive. Save these onto your computer or better still burn them to a DVD. It is very easy with these latest GPS's that show up as a mass storage device, to delete important files from the GPS memory by mistake. I would then check to see if there are any available firmware updates for the GPS, either with the Garmin Updater or via Base Camp. The Dakota 10 has around 850 MB of memory space, and this is ample to put some open street mapping onto the unit. I can recommend the free UK maps from "Talky Toaster" especially the 1-50 look and feel ones. They look great on the Dakota and are perfect for Geocaching. Regards Tarot (Bob)

Hi Charlie There are three options: 1. Open the geocache list (Main Menu - Geocaches) on your 110 and then press "Menu", scroll down the options to "Delete All" and then confirm when prompted. (Deletes All Caches) 2. Open a single geocache page then press "Menu", scroll down the options to "Delete" and then confirm when prompted. (Deletes Single Cache) 3. Connect the 110 to your computer and go to the "Geocache Folder", delete the GPX file(s) Regards Tarot (Bob)

Since the announcement of the new etrex range, I have been waiting to get the etrex 30 model. It is difficult to find any stock here in the UK, but I found one available at my local Go Outdoors store. I collected it earlier today and immediately noticed a problem when I turned the unit on. There were 2 stuck pixels on the screen, one orange and one blue. This was most noticeable on the start up and mass storage screens, which have a very dark background. But once you know they are there, you can notice them on most of the other screens. I called Garmin UK tech support and was surprised at their response. They do not consider 2 dead or stuck pixels a fault, and would only deem it a problem for more than 4 faulty pixels. I have had several Garmin gps units including the Oregon 550, and have never noticed this problem before. Fortunately the Go Outdoors store was more than happy to refund my money or offer a replacement. I decided to take a refund, and find out if other users are having similar problems with the screen. Regards Tarot (Bob)

I have just updated to 3.80 from the previous webupdater version of 3.50. It all went smoothly with no freezing or validation problems. Perhaps there is a problem updating from a recent beta version, what versions have other users updated from? Not been out with it yet, but it seems to be quicker and more accurate. Regards Tarot (Bob)

Hi There The older Etrex looks like this: The new Etrex H looks like this: Notice the change in the decal on the top, and the wording around the screen. (12 Channel GPS vs High Sensitivity) Hope this helps Regards Tarot

The Witton Weavers Way (Lancashire) = 157 Caches. I have a bookmark for the series, which can be found here: http://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/view.a...06-053a7cd1df9d And the official site can be found here: http://geolegend.blogspot.com/ Regards Tarot

UPDATE The weekly winner has just been posted. CONGRATULATIONS to Rosie & Co Regards tarot

I had always thought that Garmin updated the site, until I read the post from Colin. I guess that Garmin have already picked the weekly winner, but are waiting for Groundspeak to update the site. Perhaps the winner has already been informed by email, and we are waiting for the picture to be published. Tarot

It certainly looks that way, because the weekly winner is normally announced on a Friday night. Perhaps we will have to wait until Tuesday, which is when the previous two amended winners have been announced. Regards Tarot

Quick Update Our concerns regarding the 9th weekly winner "broadriding" and his picture of Skara Brae, could well have been justified. Garmin have removed the photo, and chosen a new winner "bambography". Garmin have confirmed with me, that the original winner has now been disqualified from the competition. Regards Tarot

Keeping on the dog theme, I have just checked back over last weeks entries. The total entries have gone down from 33 to 32, and the one of the "doggy doo" seems to be missing. Tarot

You can win the weekly contest more than once, just not with the same cache. keehotee has won twice, and I am still entering when I can. If I was to win again, my caching partner (who dressed as the bear) would get the 2nd Oregon. Tarot

I'm sure it is down to the conscience of the individual cacher, but I have tried to play the competition fairly. Some of the weekly entries seem to be a little suspect, but it is down to the individual. I have travelled to selected caches in - Bradford Manchester Skelmersdale Gloucester (En-Route to Bristol) I was lucky enough to be one of the weekly winners, with my picture of a Bear. I had to - Borrow the outfit from work (Lots of questions !!) Travel to Skelmersdale Find the cache (Fortunately an easy find) Convince a friend to dress up And then take the photos (10 feet from the cache). So to me it has been worth my efforts, an Oregon 550 and I am still in with a chance of the holiday. Congratulations to the previous weekly winners, and good luck to the future entrants. Regards Tarot

Thanks for the link, I found a lot of interesting items on that page. Regards Tarot

Well it is almost the end of the first week, and there are still no pictures in the gallery section. The rules say that voting takes place between Saturday and Wednesday, following the posting period. So perhaps we can not view them until then, or there are no submissions yet !! I have viewed a lot of the selected caches throughout the country, and not many have been visited since the competition started. And as for "inspirational" pictures that will be quite a challenge, after looking at the selection made by Garmin. So who has already submitted a photo? , I think I shall give it a go. Regards Tarot

Hi Koi Kapers Take a look at this web page, which contains guidelines and contact email address. Cachingrecords Regards Tarot

Poached and served on Hot Buttered Toast. Thanks for he cointest Regards Tarot