Best Geocaching Setting Oregon 400t

[+Whimppeys]

I have an Oregon 400t and have been using it for about six months. I've had quit a bit of success until lately.

 

I set the compass off and set the map up with distance to target and pointer. I have been having problems with the distance and arrow bounce.

 

I was wondering what set up some of you are using for geocaching. Should I use WASS? Set the pointer to true North? What bearing should I set? Etc.

 

Or is this just a problem all oregons are experiencing lately?

 

Thanks

Whimppeys

[photomankc]

 

Or is this just a problem all oregons are experiencing lately?

 

 

This. Seems to be related to the receiver, a weaker signal, and slow speeds. We're all waiting for a fix. Until then I plan to use a real compass bearing when I'm a decent distance from the point and follow that on in. Bearing should be fairly stable even if the directional pointer is bouncing.

[+Zelanzy]

Same, getting lots of arrow bounce, and the digital compass is very poor. I now show "Bearing" on the compass/map screen and use a 2nd compass (a small keychain one from REI ~5 bux).

 

Zel

[+AZWheeler]

My compass is sometimes very erratic on my 400t. I've been about 1/2 mile from a cache and seen the needle flop 180 deg back and forth every few seconds. Gets annoying at times.

[+Team Veverca]

My compass is sometimes very erratic on my 400t. I've been about 1/2 mile from a cache and seen the needle flop 180 deg back and forth every few seconds. Gets annoying at times.

I had this problem and I contacted the Garmin support which couldn't help me and said that I should send it in for a replacement. So I decided to experiment.

 

The solution that worked for me was:

- Updating to 3.01B firmware (not necessary but I formated the card so it didn't hurt)

- Removed the flash card

- Hard reset

- Left GPS outside under clear sky for 20 minutes

- Calibrated the compass

- Formated the SD card to FAT32 (it was fat before and I had some problems with it)

- Reinstalled all the maps

 

The compass can show hold steady message but it still moves and it only points a little of if it displays the message else it's spot on. The compass never freezes or jumps as it did before.

[+Entropy512]

No problems with the compass in my 300, other than the fact that if you leave it on and go driving, you WILL have to recalibrate.

 

So I copied the Geocaching profile to Geocaching NoComp which I switch to when I move into a car or clip the unit to my belt.