+EFLFT Posted December 7, 2010 Share Posted December 7, 2010 My Oregon 450 is on it's way, and I'm wondering what I need to know when I open the box .. what I should do first .. what I should learn most importantly before going out in the field and trying it out. The only GPS I've used before is my nuvi for the car and apps on my blackberry. Are there any good tutorials out there for setting up your Oregon 450 for the first time, and/or using it from a geocacher's perspective? Thanks in advance! Quote Link to comment
+fegan Posted December 7, 2010 Share Posted December 7, 2010 Best source of info out there: http://garminoregon.wikispaces.com/ Quote Link to comment
+dfx Posted December 7, 2010 Share Posted December 7, 2010 step 1: put the batteries in. things you may want to check or do: turn WAAS on check datum and coord format (WGS84 and hddd mm.mmm) switch to off-road navigation configure to map screens and compass screens to show you the data fields and/or the dashboard you want load a good map load some caches calibrate the compass Quote Link to comment
+kunarion Posted December 7, 2010 Share Posted December 7, 2010 (edited) step 1: put the batteries in. things you may want to check or do: turn WAAS on check datum and coord format (WGS84 and hddd mm.mmm) switch to off-road navigation configure to map screens and compass screens to show you the data fields and/or the dashboard you want load a good map load some caches calibrate the compass I eventually turned off "relief shading". Edited December 7, 2010 by kunarion Quote Link to comment
+kwcahart Posted December 7, 2010 Share Posted December 7, 2010 Set your compass to "heading" and not "CDI". Also you might want to put the batteries in it to start. Quote Link to comment
+Chrysalides Posted December 7, 2010 Share Posted December 7, 2010 (edited) I eventually turned off "relief shading". I did this to improve brightness : http://www.gpsfix.net/making-the-oregon-an...ew-backgrounds/ Edited December 7, 2010 by Chrysalides Quote Link to comment
+jmuser Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 A screen protector might be a good investment. Got my 450 a couple weeks ago and slapped one on before the inevitable happened. Quote Link to comment
+LaxRef93 Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 And call Garmin, and tell them you want the part that slides on the back that accepts the ball socket (looks very similar to the caribiner that you can slide on there. It should only cost about $8 (but if you're nice, they may give it to you for free.. they did mine). Then you can use it with the bean bag dashboard mount. Quote Link to comment
+DragonsWest Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 First thing I did was learn how to move 5,000 caches in various GPX files onto the unit and explore. The questions I needed answers to I learned by trying. Just this evening I learned how to manage multiple .img files on the 4GB memory card ( Download maps from GPSFileDepot, extract and install them, run Garmin Basecamp, select maps, right-click on expansion ram disk, Install Maps, select, next, when done, copy them back onto my computer hard drive (since each time basecamp writes a new map it clobbers the old one, copy them back and forth as needed.) Quote Link to comment
+Chrysalides Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 ( Download maps from GPSFileDepot, extract and install them, run Garmin Basecamp, select maps, right-click on expansion ram disk, Install Maps, select, next, when done, copy them back onto my computer hard drive (since each time basecamp writes a new map it clobbers the old one, copy them back and forth as needed.) Get the right map package, and all you need to do is : rename if necessary, and copy it onto microSD card, under the Garmin folder. Quote Link to comment
savant9 Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 Make a backup of all the files on the unit. Run Webupdater. Quote Link to comment
+EFLFT Posted December 15, 2010 Author Share Posted December 15, 2010 Thanks everyone for all the tips! I've got my screen protector on, batteries in, and updated the settings you guys suggested. Next to backup, update, and upload some caches! woohoo!! I did see REI sells a video tutorial for the 450 .. has anyone viewed it? Good? bad? too basic to bother? I've no doubt I'll figure out how to use it .. but I want to figure out how to use it most efficiently, so that's sort of the guide I'm looking for. Thanks again! Quote Link to comment
+bpcooper14 Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 Cachechick - So what do you think so far? I'm thinking about hoping on board for a 450 also. I have 2 delorme's that i would have to unload first to free up the funds to be able to though. decisions decisions Quote Link to comment
+EFLFT Posted December 15, 2010 Author Share Posted December 15, 2010 Cachechick - So what do you think so far? I'm thinking about hoping on board for a 450 also. I have 2 delorme's that i would have to unload first to free up the funds to be able to though. decisions decisions Well I don't think I'm in a good place to give a review right now, as all I've done is turn it on basically ... I haven't had an offroad GPS before, I've only had my nuvi and blackberry apps ... I can tell you this puppy is much more responsive already than both of those, and rugged. Seems great so far! Quote Link to comment
+t4e Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 (edited) I eventually turned off "relief shading". I did this to improve brightness : http://www.gpsfix.net/making-the-oregon-an...ew-backgrounds/ i never thought the screen is hard to read, i don't know what people are complaining about and i even have the brightness turned somewhere bellow half, and i use the standard water bubbles background i even find it easy to read with polarized sunglasses Edited December 15, 2010 by t4e Quote Link to comment
+TrackerGirl Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 Cachechick - So what do you think so far? I'm thinking about hoping on board for a 450 also. I have 2 delorme's that i would have to unload first to free up the funds to be able to though. decisions decisions If you really want the Oregon 450... it's $240 on GPSCity.com!! Just ordered one this evening. Not sure how long the deal will last, but it's the best price I have seen on this GPS. Can't wait to get it!!! Quote Link to comment
+jundtie797 Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 First thing I did was learn how to move 5,000 caches in various GPX files onto the unit and explore. I have tried to put the .gpx file in the 450, and it isn't pulling anything up. I put it in E:/Garmin and E:/Garmin/GPX Neither one worked. What am I doing wrong? Quote Link to comment
+jundtie797 Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 First thing I did was learn how to move 5,000 caches in various GPX files onto the unit and explore. I have tried to put the .gpx file in the 450, and it isn't pulling anything up. I put it in E:/Garmin and E:/Garmin/GPX Neither one worked. What am I doing wrong? Nevermind. I am an idiot..... Quote Link to comment
+FollowMeChaps Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 Don't forget to put your email/phone number on the unit in case you loose it - you can add it to the start-up screen and the main screens. Quote Link to comment
+TrackerGirl Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 WOoHOo!! My Oregon came today. I'm setting here changing settings that were suggested and loading caches! Love it already! Quote Link to comment
Stamplecoskie Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 First thing I did was learn how to move 5,000 caches in various GPX files onto the unit and explore. I have tried to put the .gpx file in the 450, and it isn't pulling anything up. I put it in E:/Garmin and E:/Garmin/GPX Neither one worked. What am I doing wrong? Nevermind. I am an idiot..... Do you remember what you did wrong? I can't seem to get any loaded on mine either. Thanks. Quote Link to comment
+phlatlander Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 A screen protector might be a good investment. Got my 450 a couple weeks ago and slapped one on before the inevitable happened. Absolutely! Quote Link to comment
+jundtie797 Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 First thing I did was learn how to move 5,000 caches in various GPX files onto the unit and explore. I have tried to put the .gpx file in the 450, and it isn't pulling anything up. I put it in E:/Garmin and E:/Garmin/GPX Neither one worked. What am I doing wrong? Nevermind. I am an idiot..... Do you remember what you did wrong? I can't seem to get any loaded on mine either. Thanks. Sorry, it's been so long since I did it. I switched to a Magellan GC, as I found it easier to navigate. Sorry I can't help much. Quote Link to comment
+eusty Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 (edited) First thing I did was learn how to move 5,000 caches in various GPX files onto the unit and explore. I have tried to put the .gpx file in the 450, and it isn't pulling anything up. I put it in E:/Garmin and E:/Garmin/GPX Neither one worked. What am I doing wrong? Nevermind. I am an idiot..... Do you remember what you did wrong? I can't seem to get any loaded on mine either. Thanks. GSAK is the easy way Edited June 13, 2012 by eusty Quote Link to comment
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