redslm Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 Please please please help me! I found my first cache yesterday without a GPS, but today I spent ages trying to find another one and failed - my 3 year old was most disappointed not to find the treasure haha! So I must get a GPS. I was about to buy a Garmin eTrex H BUT then found out that if I upgrade slightly then I might be able to somehow download co-ords directly from gc.com to my GPS? Also am I right in thinking it's important to get a GPS with an H in the name (I will be using it in deep forests)? My budget is up to about £85 max. I need something quite basic (I am not particularly technical) that I will simply be using for geocaching. PLEASE someone just tell me what to get, I am SO confused! Quote Link to comment
+maxkim Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 Hi there, we use an Etrex Summit which works fine, I believe all the Etrex's are ok. Suggest for now just print out the cache page before you set off and use that together with an OS map. Chgeers MaxKim Quote Link to comment
+Haggis Hunter Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 I've used a Garmin Geko 201 for well over 4 years. You can connect it to the computer and it is fairly small. I have no plans on upgrading until my Geko stops performing! Quote Link to comment
+Haggis Hunter Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 (edited) Double post, happening a lot lately isn't it? Also if you go for a Geko don't buy the basic 101, it doesn't connect to the computer. Edited March 27, 2008 by Haggis Hunter Quote Link to comment
+fatblokecaver Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 Hi redslm I managed to pick up an Etrex H from the flea bay site for £50. It is great and works well under trees. Not sure if the person is still selling them but they came from USA. Have a good look they are out there somewhere. Not sure if there are any cheapies for sale on the car boot sale on this site? FBC Quote Link to comment
redslm Posted March 27, 2008 Author Share Posted March 27, 2008 Thanks everyone! fatblokecaver, I also have been looking at all the fleabay ones, that US seller still has them for about £50 but £15 postage.. Amazon are selling for just over £60 so may as well get one from there methinks. Cheers for all your suggestions guys. (PS No idea why my posts keep duplicating!) Quote Link to comment
+FollowMeChaps Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 .......I was about to buy a Garmin eTrex H BUT then found out that if I upgrade slightly then I might be able to somehow download co-ords directly from gc.com to my GPS? Also am I right in thinking it's important to get a GPS with an H in the name (I will be using it in deep forests)? My budget is up to about £85 max. I need something quite basic (I am not particularly technical) that I will simply be using for geocaching. PLEASE someone just tell me what to get, I am SO confused! Welcome to the mad world of Geocaching! The Etrex H is perfectly good and spot on for your budget - it also is able to download waypoints direct from GC.com. I use the older older pre-H version (the H is better for under trees) and it's all you need for geocaching - it does what it says on the tin. You will need an Etrex H LINK, and a data cable LINK - get the cheaper cables available on ebay - the Garmin one is expensive. Quote Link to comment
redslm Posted March 27, 2008 Author Share Posted March 27, 2008 .......I was about to buy a Garmin eTrex H BUT then found out that if I upgrade slightly then I might be able to somehow download co-ords directly from gc.com to my GPS? Also am I right in thinking it's important to get a GPS with an H in the name (I will be using it in deep forests)? My budget is up to about £85 max. I need something quite basic (I am not particularly technical) that I will simply be using for geocaching. PLEASE someone just tell me what to get, I am SO confused! Welcome to the mad world of Geocaching! The Etrex H is perfectly good and spot on for your budget - it also is able to download waypoints direct from GC.com. I use the older older pre-H version (the H is better for under trees) and it's all you need for geocaching - it does what it says on the tin. You will need an Etrex H LINK, and a data cable LINK - get the cheaper cables available on ebay - the Garmin one is expensive. AHA perfect answer - thank you - that is what I shall do then! Yipppeeeeee I can't wait to get hunting Thank you FollowMeChaps - and thank you for the welcome. My children are SO excited about it all (as am I!)!! Quote Link to comment
+FollowMeChaps Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 redslm While you are awaiting your new toys you can always use Google Earth to find some more. 1. If you have not already done so download GE from here. 2. Then go your Geocaching account page LINK and click the “Download Geocache browser in Google Earth” link towards the bottom of the right hand column. This will download a gizmo that shows icons for all the caches in Google Earth. 3. Click on the icons for caches where you are going to open and read their details. Please note however that the icons for the caches are deliberately offset. IMPORTANT - To see where the cache is you need to copy the cache coordinates from the top of their listing page (eg N 52° 03.352 W 000° 47.640) THEN paste the coord’s in the white search bar at the top left of the Google Earth screen. This will show you EXACTLY where the cache is. This method won’t help on a lot of caches such as those in wooded areas, etc. but you’ll find many in a more open area by a tree or similar landmark where it will give you all the info you need. I just tried it on the cache you have already found and am sure that I could have found that one using this method. It's much more fun with you GPS when you get it but this might keep the kids happy whilst you are waiting. Have fun. Quote Link to comment
redslm Posted March 27, 2008 Author Share Posted March 27, 2008 OOoooooh thanks for that info, I will follow that method while I'm waiting for my new toy to arrive! I did use some sort of google earth type thing for the one I found (no idea how though!!!) - I did find it quite easily and you are quite right, it would be fine for the more open-area cache locations.. but definitely not the wooded locations (tried and tested - and failed!!!!). Thanks for the easy to follow guide, brilliant - and very much appreciated. Quote Link to comment
redslm Posted March 27, 2008 Author Share Posted March 27, 2008 wooohooo that's great - just tried it out! thanks again! Quote Link to comment
Archangel_UK Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 Glad to see you found your way to the UK section have fun Quote Link to comment
redslm Posted March 30, 2008 Author Share Posted March 30, 2008 Glad to see you found your way to the UK section have fun Yay! Thanks for telling me about it! Quote Link to comment
redslm Posted March 30, 2008 Author Share Posted March 30, 2008 Oh, and I meant to say that I have bought a Garmin eTrex H off ebay for £50 (new boxed) which I was pleased about. Thanks everyone for your help x Quote Link to comment
+currykev Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 Just make sure that your cache finds are greater than your forum posts. Quote Link to comment
redslm Posted March 31, 2008 Author Share Posted March 31, 2008 Just make sure that your cache finds are greater than your forum posts. eh??? Quote Link to comment
Archangel_UK Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 you`ve made more posts than cache finds get out there and find more caches Quote Link to comment
redslm Posted April 1, 2008 Author Share Posted April 1, 2008 you`ve made more posts than cache finds get out there and find more caches oh.. sorry !!!!! Quote Link to comment
+FollowMeChaps Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 you`ve made more posts than cache finds get out there and find more caches Gosh. I wasn't aware of the posts to caches ratio rule. It seems that I'm also guilty as charged! But then I was naively led to believe that geocaching was not about the numbers! Quote Link to comment
Archangel_UK Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 you`ve made more posts than cache finds get out there and find more caches oh.. sorry !!!!! just joking its having fun that counts and keep posting ....... its good to have someone new on the forum Quote Link to comment
Yam69 Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 If you haven`t got a cable yet don`t buy the Garmin one as its £25 I got mine from here top service & the cable works a treat Quote Link to comment
+[MF]taz Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 If you haven`t got a cable yet don`t buy the Garmin one as its £25 I got mine from here top service & the cable works a treat Thanks, just what I was looking for. My thumbs was starting to hurt Quote Link to comment
redslm Posted April 3, 2008 Author Share Posted April 3, 2008 If you haven`t got a cable yet don`t buy the Garmin one as its £25 I got mine from here top service & the cable works a treat Thanks for that, my thumbs are also hurting will definitely be ordering one of these, cheers. Quote Link to comment
The Birches Head Hunters Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 If you haven`t got a cable yet don`t buy the Garmin one as its £25 I got mine from here Our Garmin etrex (Legend) came with a cable included ..... Happy caching! Quote Link to comment
Archangel_UK Posted April 4, 2008 Share Posted April 4, 2008 Thats because the Legend C onwards are usb connectors ,handy for those with digital cameras and for me to connect my TomTom 1 , same usb cable Etrex H and Gekos are serial cables Its too bad that Garmin don`t supply the cable as well ,all those potential upgrade customers ! Quote Link to comment
+FollowMeChaps Posted April 4, 2008 Share Posted April 4, 2008 You can now get a USB cable for the eTrex - example here. It's probably the better choice as the serial one (that I use) is ever so slow and newer PCs don't always have a serial port. Quote Link to comment
Archangel_UK Posted April 5, 2008 Share Posted April 5, 2008 (edited) I`ve heard the phrase " big is beautiful" but a 4 foot plus cable(56 inches) is a little large to connect to a PC/Laptop don`t you think? Edited April 5, 2008 by Archangel_UK Quote Link to comment
+SidAndBob Posted April 5, 2008 Share Posted April 5, 2008 You can now get a USB cable for the eTrex - example here. It's probably the better choice as the serial one (that I use) is ever so slow and newer PCs don't always have a serial port. Although USB is much more convenient it won't speed up the data transfer as you still have a serial device. Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.