please advise newbie

[+SeaTrout]

Hi;

I am new at owning a gps (eagle explorer).

Several days ago I stored my house as a waypoint.

I was able to follow the waypoint home from work

the next day (10 miles).Today I went looking for

my first 3 caches in areas familiar to me.I could

not find them (I am sure I was close though).When

I returned home I looked and double checked my home waypoint (was also written down).My home

waypoint is 0.5 miles off.I believe that is why

I could not find the caches.Any advice is helpful

Thanks

SeaTrout

East central Fla

[Tahosa and Sons]

Chances are that your GPS is set for a different datum than what is used on GeoCaching.Com.

You will have to understand the differnce between datums and formats.

Here is a link that should get you on your way.

http://www.maptools.com/UsingUTM/mapdatum.html

 

If I get curious about a subject I've found out that ask.com is very helpful. Just ask for information on Land Navigation, Maps, Compasses, GPS or whatever you are interested. Some good stuff for an easy search.

 

Tahosa - Dweller of the Mountain Tops.

[+Bluespreacher]

quote:

---

Originally posted by SeaTrout:

Hi;

I am new at owning a gps (eagle explorer).

Several days ago I stored my house as a waypoint.

I was able to follow the waypoint home from work

the next day (10 miles).Today I went looking for

my first 3 caches in areas familiar to me.I could

not find them (I am sure I was close though).When

I returned home I looked and double checked my home waypoint (was also written down).My home

waypoint is 0.5 miles off.I believe that is why

I could not find the caches.Any advice is helpful

Thanks

SeaTrout

East central Fla

---

 

The GPS may be set to the wrong datum. Geocaching uses WGS 84. It should be in the set up portion on your GPS.

 

Bluespreacher

 

"We've got the hardware and the software, the plans and the maps ..." -- Citizen Wayne Kramer

[+SeaTrout]

Hi;

Thanks for the help. The Datum was set for something else.

Regards

Seatrout

[baseballcacher]

seatrout, your problem could be your units. i have a garmin etrex and when i first got it the measurements were off so i was always off by alot but i figured it out. the units should be: position format hdd mm. mmm if you any more questions email me at mikeyfinley4@aol.com

 

BLAKE BELL

[AshXF]

I just ordered a Garmin eTrex Venture. Does anyone have one of these that needed to be reset to the setting used by Geocache.com? When mine comes in, I want to know how to make sure it'll work how I need it to. Thanks!

 

---Ashley

[+Markwell]

Just make sure the datum is set to WGS84 and the format is DD MM.MMM and you'll be all set. Read the manual, and find the "System" or "Setup" area. Then you'll be perfectly set for caching.

 

Or better yet, use EasyGPS to download the waypoints directly into your unit and you never have to worry about datum or format ever again - until you place a cache.

 

Markwell

Chicago Geocaching

[+RoswellJam]

AshXF, I just bought a Venture and it came set to the correct datum. No need to change anything (unless you want to!!). Found my first cache last weekend

If you need any help just e-mail me...

 

"Life moves pretty fast, if you don't stop and take a look around once in a while....you might miss it"