HartClimbs

quote:Originally posted by SpongeRob:>snip< All comments/welcome. >snip< This looks terrific!

...for the encouragement and kind words. Thanks also to the cache hiders for putting those tupperware/ammo/vial/film containers out there - it's funny how it takes both good hiders and seekers to make this game work! I'm on a week's hiatus from caching however as my GPS is on it's way to Garmin in Kansas to get an oil change and tire rotation. Maybe a week off will help me rebalance my time (and catch up on sleep - getting up before sunrise to grab caches before work/hockey/etc.. is a bit over the top!)

I didn't get a data cable but regardless - mine's on it's way to Kansas now for a tuneup. Guess I'm out of geocaching for a week or so! Thanks again for the heads up.

quote:Originally posted by fizzymagic:How dependent I have become on the Pocket Queries in the last couple of months! You'd think a minor glitch like this would be, well, minor, but it's not to me any more! The importance of pocket queries is a testimate to the ingenuity of folks like ClayJar, yourself, and others who've built all these neat utilities to make managing cache lists easier! On a constructive note (rather than just whining about pocketquery constipation), a suggestion (which I think has been made before): Jeremy, would it be possible to add a field to the pocketquery display screen along the lines of "last time/date run"? This way, if you saw the query was run but you didn't receive any output, you know there may be a problem with your predicates. On the other hand, if you see the query didn't run - you know it's not an email or other problem, but just pocketquery constipation? As Fizzy noted - these queries are a huge value to your subscribers, hope you don't mind the suggestion. Does this sound easily doable?

Nice to see folks out enjoying the great outdoors!

Great heads-up. I called Garmin and mine's also included in the bulletin. They gave me an RMA but I'm not sure I need a week off from caching quite yet. They weren't very clear on the details of whether you get back 1) your Rino, 2) a new Rino, or 3) someone else's reconditioned Rino. Either way - they should do a better job of letting folks know since this was the only place I'd seen the info (even their website has no mention of it anywhere). Thanks again!

...Cauldron's was my favorite cache to date - great hide and exceptionally well thought out. Looking forward to trying some of the longer caches when the snow cover recedes! This is a fun game! p.s. While I first logged onto GC.COM on Dec 31st, my first find was Jan 1, 2003 so I've only been at this for 2 1/2 months! I've realized that I'm way too driven to find these little tupperware containers! At least if I have an competitive streak - I'm finding harmless outlets for the energy!

quote:Originally posted by Montana Latitude:Can anyone else get their fingers into the battery compartment latch and remove the cover with the belt clip(the piece that comes unscrewed) installed,I have to remove the post to get the batteries changed. And I had the post fall out also, before I even left the house, so I never intended to use the belt clip, and I did think of loctight, But every time I change the batteries,,,I dont think so. I must be all thumbs, since I need to remove the post as well to change the batteries. I *do* use the belt clip (it's a good way to carry the Rino) but I just put a small rubber 'washer' on the post and viola - stays put but can still be easily unscrewed. Good luck!

Thanks for the info! The site's terrific and it sounds like it's continuing to improve.... p.s. I just submitted a new query just now and I received the email results in under 5 minutes (so it's *very* quick sometimes!).

Mine's in that serial number range so please post if you get any additional information. Thanks!

quote:Originally posted by BrianSnat:This one has been on the top of my list since it was posted. Can it be reasonably found with snow on the ground? Brian - give me a shout if you want company on this one. I was saving it for my 100th, but would be happy to do it earlier.

I have a Rino 120 and have loaded both Mapsource Topo and Metroguide. Neither requires an "unlock" so I wouldn't hesitate to buy them second-hand. Both are good (for different purposes). Metroguide uses much more memory - but it's pretty useful when planning outings on the PC. Topo's what I normally leave loaded on the GPS and provides a decent level of road detail as well as the (always useful) contour lines. Good luck!

quote:Originally posted by Olar:>snip< Based on that I would say the system is working pretty darn good. >snip< As long as your queries are running fine - then I'm happy. I probably should have just dropped an email to Jeremy directly - I'll do so since things still seem to be slow (and as I said, maybe I'm doing something wrong).

quote:Originally posted by BassoonPilot:>snip< As you know, I believe in "expiration dates" for caches; I won't leave a cache active if it doesn't draw visitors. >snip< I'd agree with Floopy - people are finding some caches, but I'd expect things to slow down owing to the snow cover. Doesn't make finding caches impossible, but certainly harder. Now don't go archiving these caches yet - I'm working my way around but I can't get to all of 'em as quickly owing to a full time job! Dundee Lake is on my list of to-do's so please leave it around for a bit at least! There's a couple caches I've got on my list that haven't been found since LAST SUMMER....(I sure hope they're still there since the locations seem terrific). BTW - "Duck Season - Wabbit Season" is still waiting under the snow still waiting for a first visit from BP or Floopy! (BP managed to quickly snag Alamuchy Climber's cache!). I'd put Duck Season as my favorite placement so far (in my very limited stint at hiding caches). I'm especially psyched as I'm seeing this list develop of favorite placements as I've got many of these on my to-do list. [This message was edited by HartClimbs on March 07, 2003 at 07:16 PM.]

I've only been using GC.COM for a few months but the last few days the PocketQueries seem to be delivered very late. Any word as to what's up? I normally have two "regular" pocketqueries that run each day (and I'd been getting the results first thing in the morning - now I don't get the email until the evening). As an example, I haven't gotten my FRIDAY queries yet. Also, the "adhoc" queries I'd run used to come back within a few minutes - now they also seem to take all day to run. Is there something I'm doing differently that's causing the queries to be delivered so late?

Do we get bowling shirts or team jackets? Is there hazing involved or learning a secret handshake? The 23rd is my birthday but I'd be interested in attending (at least for a few hours). Would be better if it were further north - like Bridgewater or thereabouts... (for me - of course that wouldn't apply for folks further south!). Regardless, I'd like to go (to meet folks) if things work out for the 23rd.... but would probably pass on joining any "formal" organization. [This message was edited by HartClimbs on March 07, 2003 at 07:15 PM.]

I love using it with Plucker and now with the new enhancements (the new loc file), it makes it unbelievably easy to manage the waypoints. One (incredibly minor) request: Can you include tags in the .LOC file for the waypoint symbols? I use the "Geocache" and "Geocache Found" symbols to easily distinguish caches and found that when I pull the .LOC file created by GPX2HTML into EasyGPS - all the waypoints are designated with dots (default). Including the tags for the symbol definition would make this perfect! p.s. I *really* like the handling of the cache names you included in this release (much improved over the EasyGPS algorithm). Thanks for sharing this incredibly useful program with us!!!

...but you can find some good info here (which points to a post referencing some PETZL marketing site). Or you could check out PETZL's website directly here. Even if you're not into climbing, they have a great website with information on topics including gear, tree climbing, knot tying, and general playing (no mention of geocaching ). It's a great site - packed with information although I've never come across anything on using carabiners as weapons (maybe it's part of the airport screener training!) [This message was edited by HartClimbs on March 06, 2003 at 05:18 PM.]

Others have already posted that the rope you picture (camo job aside) isn't suitable for supporting anything that's safety critical. If you do have such a need (and again, probably much more info than you'd need), there's an detailed analysis of cord strengths that can be found here and provides details on different types of cordage, weakening caused by knots (which Harrald correctly mentioned earlier) and other info that's probably only important if you're actually hanging from the rope in question! Hey - so it's overkill, but I'm just trying to be helpful!

...I already volunteer with a cub scout pack in northern NJ (Fishawack District) - so I'd be happy to help out.

Hmmm, let's see. You could heat 'em up and use them to brand livestock, you could rig the gates open and make a better mousetrap, you could hang 'em on your ears and make jewelry.... Snaplinks in general are pretty handy - the ones that are up to Climb-spec are rated to handle fall loads much higher than your basic home-depot snaplinks. Typical (closed gate) loads around 24KN for climbing carabiners so they're good for alot! I have some I've used to hang a climbing wall in my basement! If you like reusing climbing gear - drop some coin on some cams and you can things off holes in your walls. Seriously - the only advise I'd give is if you *do* use carabiners for something other than climbing - mark them clearly so they never get used for climbing protection in the future!

quote:Originally posted by Mystic911:I went out and bought a Garmin Rino 120 for myself.. and one for my hubby for his birthday.. Is this a good one??? >snip< Mystic911 I have a Rino 120 - I think you'll be really happy with it (I certainly am). I've only been participating for a couple months and find myself heading out looking for caches before work! (it's pretty addictive). Welcome!

But I'd mention that the screw in post on the back can work loose - so be careful. I had mine unscrew and dumped my Rino in the snow for 24 hours until I found it the next day (fortunately!). I had the beltclip still holding the little round post - but without a Rino attached! I now have a lanyard attached to it as well that hangs off a beltloop. The only suggestion (I've already made via email to Garmin) is that they should update the firmware to allow the retention of GPS and radio settings during poweroff/poweron cycles (ie. if you turn it off with the radio off - the radio remains off when you turn it back on). I normally keep the radio off while geocaching (to save batteries) and just have to remember to turn it off manually each time I turn it on. Small problem in an otherwise terrific product!

I was sitting last night planning some upcoming cache days and was looking for caches in nearby state forests when I realized that pretty much every place I looked, I saw a cache from BrianSnat! Now - I keep find caches from him and I do a quick search to discover that I've only found about 1/2 of his hides! (I know from an earlier post that BassonPilot has found them all!). While folks are recognizing people who hit significant find numbers, I figured I'd send a shout out for the volume and quality of caches Brian's hidden (ok, so the "Lame Roadside Cache" was pretty lame, but the others were good!) Having now found a good number of caches (although nothing that compares to BP and co!), I figured it was worth thanking people for putting them out! Some of the best (non-virtuals) I've found were stashed by BrianSnat, Skully&Mulder, Artful Dodger, eToast, Stayfloopy, John Lambert, and others but (and maybe it's my location) but BrianSnat keeps coming up on my "caches to find" list! (if only this snow would melt - I'd knock off the next 18!). Thanks!!!

I just don't see the point of the audit function for finding plunderers. If it's a member - couldn't it just be someone using pocketqueries and Watcher to read the cache pages? Not a big deal to me - but I didn't see why anyone would be interested in seeing who read their cache pages (I'm only interested in who actually goes to find 'em!)