How many fit into each Garmin model?

4.3k · January 8, 2012

Does someone have a comparison chart that lists how many geocaches (as distinct from other waypoints) each Garmin model can hold?

Edited January 8, 2012 by Portland Cyclist

January 8, 2012

Here is my mental list... so it may have an error (highly unlikely )

Montana - 12000

Oregon x50, Gpsmap62/78, Etrex x0 - 5000

Oregon x00, Dakota x0, Colorado -2000

4.3k · January 8, 2012

I believe your list is wrong in listing "Etrex x0" at 5000. I have an eTrex 10 and it only holds 500 and I'm specifically curious of the limits for the 20/30. I don't understand why Garmin doesn't break this out as a separate line item on their own comparison charts.

January 9, 2012

Yes, the new etrex line was my uncertainty. I wasn't sure whether it was 2000 or 5000, but 500 seems laughable. I don't personally own one to test( although I currently have had or do have all the others listed). I suspect all the etrex x0 line is the same as they all run the same firmware, do they not?

January 9, 2012

Yes, the new etrex line was my uncertainty. I wasn't sure whether it was 2000 or 5000, but 500 seems laughable. I don't personally own one to test( although I currently have had or do have all the others listed). I suspect all the etrex x0 line is the same as they all run the same firmware, do they not?

Not sure of the upper limit yet, but I've got at least 1k in my Etrex 20 right now...

4.3k · January 9, 2012

...500 seems laughable ... I suspect all the etrex x0 line is the same as they all run the same firmware, do they not?

I don't know if 500 caches in the eTeex 10 is laughable or just a matter of its low-end, budget model status: Lo-res greyscale screen, no maps, etc. And although the firmware versions are numbered the same (all three models are at version 2.5), I think there must be differences for the 20 and 30 to support features the 10 lacks: memory card slot, maps, color screen (and compass/barmoetere/ant+ on the 30).

Edited January 9, 2012 by Portland Cyclist

January 9, 2012

I have an old eTrex Legend (not Legend H, just Legend) and it only does 500.... So far I'm pretty happy with that. Maybe I'm just too new to this to realize what a boon having 1000 would be :laughing:

6.4k · January 9, 2012

I have an old eTrex Legend (not Legend H, just Legend) and it only does 500.... So far I'm pretty happy with that. Maybe I'm just too new to this to realize what a boon having 1000 would be

Actually that unit does not hold any.... It only holds waypoints. They call them Geocaches, but they are just special waypoints.

22k · January 9, 2012

Most are 1000. Even the Blue once had an upgrade to go from 500 to 1k.

It's one thing to wonder way the old models aren't expanded. No not really. It's better to look at upgrading to units that provide cache detail.

Edited January 9, 2012 by BlueDeuce

1.6k · January 9, 2012

I currently have 5000 in my etrex vista HCX. Programmed to store "waypoints" on the expansion card. When I make a find I mark it by "copying" the waypoint over itself with the open treasure chest icon, which is stored on the unit. Not sure the limit on the unit directly, since I store all my GC data on the card.

3.2k · January 9, 2012

I currently have 5000 in my etrex vista HCX. Programmed to store "waypoints" on the expansion card. When I make a find I mark it by "copying" the waypoint over itself with the open treasure chest icon, which is stored on the unit. Not sure the limit on the unit directly, since I store all my GC data on the card.

I don't think the OP is l9ooking for workarounds, just the actual specs.

4.3k · January 9, 2012

Ballo&bd, you are correct. Just looking for data, specifically on the newer models that store (and count!) geocaches separately from other waypoints. Surprises me Garmin doesn't list this info on their own comparison charts.

Edited January 9, 2012 by Portland Cyclist

1.3k · January 9, 2012

Yeah I checked as I though it had this info...but it's the waypoints they list.

3.2k · January 9, 2012

From personal experience;

Montana - 12000

Colorado 300 - 2000

Colorado 400 - 2000

Colorado 400T - 2000

GPS60 - 1000

GPS60CS - 1000

Yellow Basic Etrex - 500

GPS V - 500

GPS III - 500

and even though you didn't ask;

Droid3 running C:GEO - 1,616,514 (at the time of this message.

4.3k · January 9, 2012

Funny you should list your Droid, but no fair comparing online access with local/offline storage. But I've done the same thing -- someone asked me how many geocaches I could get on my iPhone and I said "All of them."

Edited January 9, 2012 by Portland Cyclist

3.2k · January 10, 2012

Funny you should list your Droid, but no fair comparing online access with local/offline storage. But I've done the same thing -- someone asked me how many geocaches I could get on my iPhone and I said "All of them."

Actually, the two things I have never understood is why the new models have neither bluetooth or wifi, the later would allow quasi live operation and the former easier transfer from other devices(laptop, Smartphone, even iPhone).

But thats another subject.

4.3k · January 11, 2012

I posed the question in an email to Garmin tech support, specifically about the eTrex 10/20/30 models, and here was the reply:

The eTrex 20 and 30 can hold up to 5,000 geocaches. The eTrex 10 can hold up to 2,000 geocaches.

The thing to remember is all three devices have a limitation of the number of gpx files. When you load a geocaches one at a time, then this will create a gpx file. However, when you load a pocket query to the device, you will be able to put in a large number of geocaches that only use one gpx file.

The gpx limitation for the 20/30 is 2,000 while the eTrex 10 is 500.

Using the eTrex 10 as my example, I think that means I can have up to 500 caches in a single GPX file, but I can have multiple GPX files that will load at startup to reach the maximum of 2000 geocaches.

I'm going to test this later -- but does my interpretation make sense?

7k · January 11, 2012

I posed the question in an email to Garmin tech support, specifically about the eTrex 10/20/30 models, and here was the reply:

The eTrex 20 and 30 can hold up to 5,000 geocaches. The eTrex 10 can hold up to 2,000 geocaches.

The thing to remember is all three devices have a limitation of the number of gpx files. When you load a geocaches one at a time, then this will create a gpx file. However, when you load a pocket query to the device, you will be able to put in a large number of geocaches that only use one gpx file.

The gpx limitation for the 20/30 is 2,000 while the eTrex 10 is 500.

Using the eTrex 10 as my example, I think that means I can have up to 500 caches in a single GPX file, but I can have multiple GPX files that will load at startup to reach the maximum of 2000 geocaches.

I'm going to test this later -- but does my interpretation make sense?

I think it means that the number of GPX files is limited to 500 on the eTrex 10 and to 2000 on the other models. I don't think there's a limit of caches per GPX file.

1.3k · January 11, 2012

I think you are right as long as the number of caches doesn't exceed the maximum of 5000 (or 2000).

The same as you can have 5000 caches in a single GPX on the x50 Oregon.

7.7k · January 11, 2012

I posed the question in an email to Garmin tech support, specifically about the eTrex 10/20/30 models, and here was the reply:

The eTrex 20 and 30 can hold up to 5,000 geocaches. The eTrex 10 can hold up to 2,000 geocaches.

The thing to remember is all three devices have a limitation of the number of gpx files. When you load a geocaches one at a time, then this will create a gpx file. However, when you load a pocket query to the device, you will be able to put in a large number of geocaches that only use one gpx file.

The gpx limitation for the 20/30 is 2,000 while the eTrex 10 is 500.

Using the eTrex 10 as my example, I think that means I can have up to 500 caches in a single GPX file, but I can have multiple GPX files that will load at startup to reach the maximum of 2000 geocaches.

I'm going to test this later -- but does my interpretation make sense?

No. What it means for the eTrex 10 is :

1. One GPX can contain up to 2000 geocaches

2. Total GPX files can be up to 500

3. Sum of all geocaches in all GPX files cannot exceed 2000

4.3k · January 12, 2012

In theory, there should be no difference between theory and practice.

In practice, there is.

Now after trying it on my eTrex 10), I'd say in theory you might be able to put 2000 geocaches on the device. In practice, this might only be possible if the caches have very short descriptions and few or no logs. The file storage space available is only about 6 megabytes. I just tried copying over a pocket query that had 765 caches (3.8 megabytes) and it did load them -- but immediately complained the GPS was dangerously low on memory and I should delete some data.

January 12, 2012

I have an old eTrex Legend (not Legend H, just Legend) and it only does 500.... So far I'm pretty happy with that. Maybe I'm just too new to this to realize what a boon having 1000 would be

Actually that unit does not hold any.... It only holds waypoints. They call them Geocaches, but they are just special waypoints.

'Kay, well then, officially for this list mine has 0 caches but 500 waypoints with a special icon works just as well for me.

So, just to clarify this in my head.... Are these Geocaches files then more like actual files you would get on a computer, like with hints and things? Instead of just the coordinate? Is that what this is? (am learning still)

4.3k · January 12, 2012

... to clarify this in my head.... Are these Geocaches files then more like actual files you would get on a computer, like with hints and things? Instead of just the coordinate? Is that what this is? (am learning still)

A waypoint is just a named ocation, a set of coordinates.

A "geocache" waypoint may have additional information attached; description, hints, logs, etc.

The starting point of this discussion came about because newer Garmin units divide regular waypoints and geocache waypoints into different lists and display them differently, each with their own size limits.

And lastly -- A "pocket query" or GPX file lets you download lots of geocache waypoints, in bulk.

Hope that clarifies rather than muddies. See also: http://www.markwell.us/pq.htm

Edited January 12, 2012 by Portland Cyclist

1.7k · January 12, 2012

I just tried copying over a pocket query that had 765 caches (3.8 megabytes) and it did load them -- but immediately complained the GPS was dangerously low on memory and I should delete some data.

This is a bit misleading as.... how much other data files do you have on the GPS?

When I got my etrex 20 the first thing I did was go through all the files on the unit and delete anything that I really didn't need, like all the various language user manuals. that frees up some space.

4.3k · January 12, 2012

...This is a bit misleading as.... how much other data files do you have on the GPS?

None beyond the system files that come on the unit. The test I mentioned in my last post was done with no other ttracks, routes, or waypoints loaded either.

New out of the box, when connected to the computer the eTrex 10 shows up as an 9.4 megabyte mass storage device with about 6.2 megabytes free space. It didn't come with nearly as much on it as your eTrex 20 had from the factory -- because the eTrex 10 comes with so much less storage to begin with, Garmin doesn't load it up the same way.

Edited January 12, 2012 by Portland Cyclist

January 13, 2012

... to clarify this in my head.... Are these Geocaches files then more like actual files you would get on a computer, like with hints and things? Instead of just the coordinate? Is that what this is? (am learning still)

A waypoint is just a named ocation, a set of coordinates.

A "geocache" waypoint may have additional information attached; description, hints, logs, etc.

The starting point of this discussion came about because newer Garmin units divide regular waypoints and geocache waypoints into different lists and display them differently, each with their own size limits.

And lastly -- A "pocket query" or GPX file lets you download lots of geocache waypoints, in bulk.

Hope that clarifies rather than muddies. See also: http://www.markwell.us/pq.htm

That helps very much! Thank you! :)

4.3k · January 13, 2012

...When I got my etrex 20 the first thing I did was go through all the files on the unit and delete anything that I really didn't need, like all the various language user manuals. that frees up some space.

Just curious: How much space did all those extras take up? And how much free space is available on the internal memory (not microSD)?

1.7k · January 13, 2012

...When I got my etrex 20 the first thing I did was go through all the files on the unit and delete anything that I really didn't need, like all the various language user manuals. that frees up some space.
Just curious: How much space did all those extras take up? And how much free space is available on the internal memory (not microSD)?

Beats me.... it's been several months ago that I did that and I've slept since then.

It is one of the things that the manual suggests that you do, tho.

Edited January 13, 2012 by ngrrfan

4.3k · January 13, 2012

How much space did all those extras take up? And how much free space is available...?

Beats me.... it's been several months ago ...

Guess I didn't emphasize the right part of my question originally.

Next time you plug your eTrex 20 into your computer, could you look at its propoerties and tell me how large the internal disk is, and how much free space it has on it? Garmin advertises 1.7GB internal memory. I want to know how much of that is really available for copying over GPX and map files.

Edited January 13, 2012 by Portland Cyclist

4.3k · January 13, 2012

Sussamb, that would likely be the size of the data contained. How much space (total, and available) is on the internal storage? That is, when you plug it in to your computer in "mass storage" mode, and it shows up as a disk drive, how big does your operating system think it is? And how much free space?

Edited January 14, 2012 by Portland Cyclist

4.3k · January 13, 2012

Exactly what I was after, thanks!

4.3k · January 14, 2012

Now that I've spent a good part of an evening loading, unloading, and reloading stuff on my eTrex 10:

It is possible to free almost a full 8 megabytes on the device for loading GPX files. But if you put more than about 3MB of files on it, you will get low memory warnings. Must want lots of free space for potentially saving waypoints and tracks. It is possible to get 2000 caches into a 3MB file, but you'd have to strip out all the logs and long descriptions. So "3MB of combined file size" or thereabouts may be a more practical guideline/limit on the eTrex 10 than the "2000 caches" figure provided by Garmin Tech Support.

I'm guessing this wouldn't be an issue at all with the eTrex 20 or 30, as their internal memory is so much larger. Has anyone (sussamb? nggrfan?) loaded either the eTrex 20 or eTrex 30 with 1000 caches or more, and timed the startup?

Edited January 14, 2012 by Portland Cyclist

1.4k · January 14, 2012

Now that I've spent a good part of an evening loading, unloading, and reloading stuff on my eTrex 10:

It is possible to free almost a full 8 megabytes on the device for loading GPX files. But if you put more than about 3MB of files on it, you will get low memory warnings. Must want lots of free space for potentially saving waypoints and tracks. It is possible to get 2000 caches into a 3MB file, but you'd have to strip out all the logs and long descriptions. So "3MB of combined file size" or thereabouts may be a more practical guideline/limit on the eTrex 10 than the "2000 caches" figure provided by Garmin Tech Support.

I'm guessing this wouldn't be an issue at all with the eTrex 20 or 30, as their internal memory is so much larger. Has anyone (sussamb? nggrfan?) loaded either the eTrex 20 or eTrex 30 with 1000 caches or more, and timed the startup?

I've had 1800 to 1900 in my eTrex 20 but never timed the initial startup. The initial boot after loading the GPX files is rather lengthy, perhaps several minutes. Subsequent starting times are as rapid as if there were only a couple of hundred caches. I do not remember if the caches were on an SD card or in core memory when I was pushing 2000 caches. I know I have 1000 in core memory and the pattern of slow then normal startups was the same.

If there is real interest, I can do an exact timing for you. Are you considering getting a 20 or 30?

Edited January 14, 2012 by GeoTrekker26

1.3k · January 14, 2012

The initial startup is always slow with a new gpx as it had to load the info into it's internal memory.

November 6, 2013

I'm trying to get good coverage of all local geocaches on my Garmin ETrex 20 and I'm running into a "too many caches" on startup. I'm wondering if getting an SD card would help, or if I'm just running into what is essentially full RAM. If I had more storage with the SD Card, would that help go over the 5000 (or 2000, whatever it is) limit?

Thanks so much.

8.3k · November 6, 2013

I'm trying to get good coverage of all local geocaches on my Garmin ETrex 20 and I'm running into a "too many caches" on startup. I'm wondering if getting an SD card would help, or if I'm just running into what is essentially full RAM. If I had more storage with the SD Card, would that help go over the 5000 (or 2000, whatever it is) limit?

Thanks so much.

Nope.

November 7, 2013

I'm trying to get good coverage of all local geocaches on my Garmin ETrex 20 and I'm running into a "too many caches" on startup. I'm wondering if getting an SD card would help, or if I'm just running into what is essentially full RAM. If I had more storage with the SD Card, would that help go over the 5000 (or 2000, whatever it is) limit?

Thanks so much.

Once you hit the limit, there is nothing more you can do.

Your only solution would be to use multiple SD cards and somehow split your caches across the cards.

4.3k · November 7, 2013

Well, not easily at least. You could carry around multiple data cards and swap in the field. Or if traveling with a computer, your one card could have a second file directory holding additional gpx files - when you wanted to change sets, you'd have to connec to the computer and move files around, then restart the and move things around and restart the GPS. More trouble than it's worth for most people.

Both Magellan and DeLorme had file managers in some models that would let you load/unload sets of waypoints and geocaches. Not sure why Garmin hasn't offered this.

1.6k · November 7, 2013

How many fit?? Each model is different.....

There's a difference between, how many CAN fit and how many will allow the unit to function properly.

http://www.garmin.com/en-US

Several years ago when we bought our Oregon, Garmin listed it can hold 5,000 geocaches.

We loaded it with 5,000 geocaches....and we spent several years of poor performance via lockups, freeze ups, shut offs and various other glitches. Just this year we've discovered to only load 3000 geocaches in it and the unit works flawlessly. If you visit the OREGON website currently, they list it will only hold 2,000 Waypoints/favorites/locations. Did something change (in hardware) or did Garmin finally realize that they couldn't FIX the glitches?

We also have a 62 that's a year or so newer...same results. Works flawlessly if we load only 3000 geocaches in it.

2.6k · November 7, 2013

How many fit?? Each model is different.....

There's a difference between, how many CAN fit and how many will allow the unit to function properly.

http://www.garmin.com/en-US

Several years ago when we bought our Oregon, Garmin listed it can hold 5,000 geocaches.

We loaded it with 5,000 geocaches....and we spent several years of poor performance via lockups, freeze ups, shut offs and various other glitches. Just this year we've discovered to only load 3000 geocaches in it and the unit works flawlessly. If you visit the OREGON website currently, they list it will only hold 2,000 Waypoints/favorites/locations. Did something change (in hardware) or did Garmin finally realize that they couldn't FIX the glitches?

We also have a 62 that's a year or so newer...same results. Works flawlessly if we load only 3000 geocaches in it.

+1.....we've had glitches when over 4000 and none when less than 3000. Currently I load less than 2000 at a time.

November 10, 2013

I have an etrex 20 and can put 5 full pocket queries on it(1000 each) The 6th one will load most but tells me I have exceeded my limit. This is without an SD card

5.1k · November 10, 2013

http://garmin.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1557

Hans

How many fit into each Garmin model?

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