just bought a new 60Cs,...however...

[+oprystar]

First the "deal" then on to my question:

 

The "Deal" - I stopped by a Bass Pro Shop. They had the 60Cs for 349.00. By filling out a store credit card application, they dropped the price 10%, to $314.10. Then after the $50 Garmin rebate, the price will come down to $264.10. Not a bad price at all. They made it back up when I also got the City Navigator cd for another $119.00 though.

 

The question: Learning the basics on the 60 Cs was pretty easy. I came from an Emap. I went caching over the Labor day weekend, and decided to go paperless, and just download the waypoints into my new 60Cs. Well that went ok, I was able to get them all downloaded. While I was out caching I realized how much I depended on the DESCRIPTIONS and in knowing what size CONTAINER from the site pages. I had none of this, all I had was a fancy box icon, and a set of waypoint cords. Is there a way to download the actuall description from the web page, so I can read the hide's info while out in the field?

 

Thanks so much,...

-OpryStar

[+S&G.Davison]

Fraid not .. Description field is limited to 30 characters

 

Good page is here http://home.houston.rr.com/gpsr/

Edited September 6, 2006 by S&G.Davison

[Suscrofa]

320 bucks would have bought you a 60CX a far better equipment, no compass (useless anyway) but so much better !

Get a refund

[+own6volvos]

320 bucks would have bought you a 60CX a far better equipment, no compass (useless anyway) but so much better !

Get a refund

 

I think he did get the "x" model, since he mentioned the rebate which only covers those models right now.

[+oprystar]

Yes, It is the 60 CX. The 60 CSX was the only thing in the Garmin line that was "better". I didn't need the other two bells and whistles it had, so I got the 60 CX.

 

I am way confused now. The point was to combine ultimate satellite reception, with paperless caching. The unit so far had done a GREAT job on staying locked on sats, even in heavy cover. But I keep finding my self going back to my Jeep, getting out my laptop, and pulling up the particular cache to read the description so I will have some idea as to what I am looking for.

 

We were out of town caching in a new area. We had the 60 CX in hand, with cache waypoints downloaded into it. But on each cache we still didn't know what we were looking for, and when its the difference between an ammo box or a tiny Altoids tin, it does make a difference.

 

Also when we first started, we were randomly looking for some type of a container, when we went back to look up the description, we found out it was a VIRTUAL, all we needed was a camera shot.

 

Is there a unit out there, that lets me download the waypoints AND the page desccription? I thought I had seen a screen shot of this somewhere.

 

Thanks, oprystar

[+Prime Suspect]

I incorporate the cache type, difficulty and terrain ratings into the cache name.

 

 

After the cache name is the cache type, cache size, difficulty rating and terrain rating. I upload the hints in a POI file. Most hints are shorter than the 72 character limit.

 

Unless I'm going after puzzles or multis, this is all I usually need.

[+oprystar]

Thanks Prime Suspect. That might work. But do you have the time to explain how to do this? I have been toying with it for a while and have not been able to get much accomplished. I have not even seen a POI screen, and how does it coordinate with the cache waypoint screen? can i just "page" to it? Also do you hand enter the POI info? Or copy and paste before the transfer to the GPS? Or is this an auto feature? Thanks, OpryStar

[HokieBird]

You can start with this (huge) thread: http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...2497&hl=POI

 

I haven't done this yet, but would like to in the future. If you are able to make this work, suggest to give us all a short summary of how you did it.

[+Cardinal Red]

Does your solution have to be loaded onto the GPS?

 

What about an inexpensive PDA with all the Cache Page info (only last 5 logs) on it instead. Only need the PDA and $8 to activate CacheMate after a free download. You can even test Cachemate free (will only load 10 caches without $8 activation).

[+Prime Suspect]

Thanks Prime Suspect. That might work. But do you have the time to explain how to do this? I have been toying with it for a while and have not been able to get much accomplished. I have not even seen a POI screen, and how does it coordinate with the cache waypoint screen? can i just "page" to it? Also do you hand enter the POI info? Or copy and paste before the transfer to the GPS? Or is this an auto feature? Thanks, OpryStar

I use software of my own creation to do this. I used to make it freely available to others, but stopped when several of its design elements were ripped off by someone else and used in a similar (but for-profit) application. You might be able to guess which one.

 

Basically, it's just a GPX file, with the hint replacing the description (the data within the <desc> tags). It's best if the hint data can be scrubbed to remove line breaks, since that limits how much can be displayed. Then just use the POI Loader to send it to your GPS.

[+MN-CACHE-TRACKER]

http://www.geocacher-u.com/resources/paperless.html

Check out the above site it gives detailed instructions on how to set up a pda for paperless caching and it works. I was able to figure it out in less than 2 hours and total cost was under $30.00 including the HANDSPRING VISOR DELUXE pda I got off ebay. I have the complete cache page almost the same as it looks on the web site including logs on my pda. I have a 400 caches loaded into it and still room left to add more. The process takes less than 10 min after you lear how to do it that include updating waypoints in the gps. If you have any questions contact my by email my address is posted in my profile.