computers and me

[+Finty]

I am very old and semi computer literate - my husband refuses to help me in this project. All I want is to down load caches from my computer (Windows Vista) to our Garmin GPSmap 60CSx. He who must be obeyed has tried it but not got very far - I would dearly like to surpise him with a long list of caches. We have always entered the information by hand until now. Please help.

Edited June 26, 2010 by Finty

[+narcissa]

I'd start by getting a new husband.

[BCProspectors]

First you'll need to run a Pocket Query of your area. After that you'll need to transfer the GPX file you receive to your GPS. Your Owner's Manual may be able to help you with that.

[jholly]

First you'll need to run a Pocket Query of your area. After that you'll need to transfer the GPX file you receive to your GPS. Your Owner's Manual may be able to help you with that.

 

After the first step of getting the pocket query you do need to transfer the caches to the 60CSx, but it is not quite as simple as copying the file over. I would suggest starting with a program like EasyGPS to load the .gpx file you get from the PQ. You then use this program to download the waypoints to your GPS. This is because the 60csx does not have the means to interpret the .gpx files. By the way for PQ's of 500 or less you get an email with an attached .zip file. It is the .zip file that is loaded into EasyGPS. You can also go to your PQ page and you will notice a second tab above the list. You can open this tab and download directly to your computer. For PQ's of more than 500 they are only available on this tab. Since you have not mentioned anything about paperless caching, downloading 20 at a time from a preview page and then loading this file into EasyGPS will also work fine.

[+Chrysalides]

Here's a summary of what you need to do in point form. I don't know what you've done already, so just ignore any step you've already done.

 

1. Download and install the drivers for the 60csx

 

2. Optional : install Garmin Communicator. This allows you to use the "Send to GPS" button to send individual cache coordinates to the 60csx.

 

3. Learn how to use pocket queries. Create a couple. Download the result to your computer (save it in your Downloads folder). A GPX is merely a tagged text file - you can open it in Notepad to look at it if you want, it's not formatted to be easily read by humans, but for easier processing by computers.

 

4. Transfer the GPX coordinates to the 60csx. You need an application to do this. You can use MapSource, EasyGPS (apparently easy to use, but I've never used it myself), GSAK (powerful, but not the easiest thing to use in the world), and probably many more.

 

Note that the 60csx can store 1000 waypoints. You may need to delete old waypoints if you're running out of memory. Found waypoints are NOT automatically deleted and counts towards the total. You should be able to delete just the found waypoints from the unit (check your manual).

 

Each waypoint is stored with a short name (15 characters) so depending on how you set up EasyGPS, you may see either a truncated name, or the GC# (not terribly friendly). Also note that the unit will show only a limited number of waypoints when searching by distance (the default). If you only see a few geocaches, don't worry - use "search by name" to see all the geocaches in the unit.

 

If you have any questions regarding any of the above, please ask.

[+RatRunCrew]

Pocket Queries will only work when you are a premium member, which I see you are, but if the premium membership is because of the 30 day free trial (new registered Garmin freebie) then there is another way, and the way I used to begin with.

Plug your new Garmin into the USB port with the lead

Then go here

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/default.aspx

Then type in your cordinates of where you will be caching, OR type in your post code and give yourself a radius of, say 5 miles.

I Chose Milton Keynes post code MK44 2** and a radius of 5 miles

which brings up this list

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/nearest.asp...6337&dist=5

 

Tick the ones you want, alternatively tick the select all box at the bottom, and download the waypoints file Use easyGPS to transfer them as Chrysalides has said

 

Or you can find one from the list double click it and view the Geocaching Maps, zoom out a bit and you might find a nice route to walk or a circular path to cycle, like here near my home

http://www.geocaching.com/map/default.aspx...mp;lng=-0.29585

 

Single click the first cache, and a popup will ask you to send to GPS. After the first get the next one, and the next... make a nice route and enjoy your day

Edited June 26, 2010 by Kazim1959

[+The VanDucks]

Good luck, Finty! I'm kind of old (62) and not computer literate either; luckily my husband does like geocaching and does the technical stuff for our team. (I know I should learn it myself some day!)

 

There are some good posts above which I'm sure you'll use. If there is a local geocaching organization near where you geocache, perhaps someone would be willing to help you out? I would take a look to see if certain cachers find a lot of the local finds, and then email one or two to ask for help. We've found our local cachers are very willing to help each other.

 

It's great that you are trying to keep up with the hobby - I wish much good luck for you! - Anne

[+Finty]

Good luck, Finty! I'm kind of old (62) and not computer literate either; luckily my husband does like geocaching and does the technical stuff for our team. (I know I should learn it myself some day!)

 

There are some good posts above which I'm sure you'll use. If there is a local geocaching organization near where you geocache, perhaps someone would be willing to help you out? I would take a look to see if certain cachers find a lot of the local finds, and then email one or two to ask for help. We've found our local cachers are very willing to help each other.

 

It's great that you are trying to keep up with the hobby - I wish much good luck for you! - Anne

[+Finty]

Hi Anne

this is the other old Finty

 

Sheila is the best hunter you could find

 

I tend to give up if not found within 5/10 mins

 

we have had some real nice days out looking for cachs

 

Soon to go again to Florida ..roll on

 

we will take lots of trackables and some only to return

 

Thanks for your input

 

Finty

[+bflentje]

I'd start by getting a new husband.

 

I am amazed by the fact that in some posts, you come off as a pretty good geocaching authority, and in others, just completely inappropriate.

 

-- so it wasn't timely. It still applied.

Edited February 9, 2011 by bflentje

[+GeoGeeBee]

I'd start by getting a new husband.

 

I am amazed by the fact that in some posts, you come off as a pretty good geocaching authority, and in others, just completely inappropriate.

 

 

It's called a "joke." Look it up.

[jholly]

I'd start by getting a new husband.

 

I am amazed by the fact that in some posts, you come off as a pretty good geocaching authority, and in others, just completely inappropriate.

 

 

It's called a "joke." Look it up.

oh, I was thinking it had something to do with the calendar.

[+the4dirtydogs]

I'd start by getting a new husband.

 

I am amazed by the fact that in some posts, you come off as a pretty good geocaching authority, and in others, just completely inappropriate.

 

 

It's called a "joke." Look it up.

oh, I was thinking it had something to do with the calendar.

Thanks I had a good laugh.