Magellan vs Garmin

[+Hummingbird48]

Since I started Geo caching I had used the Magellan GC. It worked awesome. Then it wasn't supported by the Geo caching site anymore for downloading caches. I stopped downloading  new caches and just used what I had on my gps for a few years. Now I am looking for a new gps that works for geocaching with the same features as the Magellan.  Maps included and ease of downloading. Also a huge thing for me is not having to use a phone to link it up.I did buy the Garmin Extrex SE and loaded some caches before heading out on our vacation and downloaded the app on the phone that they said we needed. It did not work at all. Very disappointing. I need a unit that requires no phone connection because cell service is non existent in alot of the areas I go to. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Also do not want to pay an arm and a leg for the unit.

[Keystone]

Since you are a Premium Member, you may wish to consider learning how to save caches for offline use on your smartphone.  See this Help Center article.

[+Hummingbird48]

I really don't want to use my phone at all. It does not have a good battery or much  storage. I use it for phone calls and texts. 

[+Atlas Cached]

Since you are frequently in areas with no cell service,  you will need to load all geocache data prior to each trip. This is not difficult to do once you create some PQs for the desired region, download them and copy the GPX files to the GPX folder on any modern Garmin GPSr. Now you just need to determine which model you want...

 

 

Edited August 4 by Atlas Cached
Typos

[+kunarion]

10 hours ago, Hummingbird48 said:

Also do not want to pay an arm and a leg for the unit.

 

Maybe look at the newer Garmin GPSMaps, or Oregon 650 or 750.  Depends on if you may prefer buttons or touch screen.  Then look around on ebay.  You can get a nice device without breaking the bank.

 

I would suggest that whatever you get, to then get the most recent software updates.  And there are a lot of maps available for free.

[+BAMBOOZLE]

For sometime I have been using the Garmin 78s

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p4432023.m570.l1313&_nkw=garmin+78s&_sacat=0

I also like the Garmin 62s........both these units can be found on line.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2332490.m570.l1313&_nkw=garmin+62s&_sacat=0

[+Hummingbird48]

With the new Garmins - do they all download the information of a cache like the Magellan did ? Like the size of the cache or the hint if available? The one Garmin I did try E-trex SE said I had to have a smart phone and download an App on it then register the Garmin then link it up. I returned it.  I wanted something simple. Hook the Garmin up to the computer. Download the caches and be on my merry way. Maybe there isn't such a thing anymore. As for making a pocket query - I have never done that yet. Is there a video on how to make one?  I kinda looked into it but I just always downloaded all the caches straight from the individual cache. Maybe not as efficient  but it did work for me.    Also do the maps include Canada? I haven't had to download any maps yet either. The Magellan still works kinda if I input the cords but then I have no info on the cache itself.

[+kunarion]

3 hours ago, Hummingbird48 said:

With the new Garmins - do they all download the information of a cache like the Magellan did ? Like the size of the cache or the hint if available? The one Garmin I did try E-trex SE said I had to have a smart phone and download an App on it then register the Garmin then link it up. I returned it.  I wanted something simple. Hook the Garmin up to the computer. Download the caches and be on my merry way. Maybe there isn't such a thing anymore. As for making a pocket query - I have never done that yet. Is there a video on how to make one?  I kinda looked into it but I just always downloaded all the caches straight from the individual cache. Maybe not as efficient  but it did work for me.    Also do the maps include Canada? I haven't had to download any maps yet either. The Magellan still works kinda if I input the cords but then I have no info on the cache itself.

 

I have a Garmin 650 and 750, and they plug into USB for file loads, as do most of the newer Garmins.  Some support live Geocaching via a connected smartphone, but I don't use that feature.  I load whole towns' caches as Pocket Queries, plus I have a "Go Find" List for caches that I don't want to miss.  I load that in my App (and on my Garmin) so they stand out from the mass of loaded caches.

 

I found a video on how to make a Pocket Query:  https://youtu.be/O0DXycnqei4?si=a9dxnGoEgMCTLvF1

That's handy for creating a file of a lot of caches, rebuilt on a schedule and filtered just the way you like, and it automatically may include new caches and exclude archived ones.

 

If you're picking and choosing just a few caches to hunt, you may place them into Lists.  You can then download all the chosen caches as one file, and the cache info is fresh when you download it.  Yes, the cache info is available in Lists and Pocket Queries.

 

The included maps vary.  Sometimes the seller includes regional maps.  Mine came with TOPO, and I bought a Garmin Street Map SD card because it was easy to install and to move to another GPS, and because it supports street routing.  But it doesn't update, and I now use Waze while driving, so I do routing from The App.  If I'm offline, I can use my Garmin Nuvi instead for driving directions to a parking area.

 

Edited August 7 by kunarion

[+Atlas Cached]

2 hours ago, Hummingbird48 said:

With the new Garmins - do they all download the information of a cache like the Magellan did ? Like the size of the cache or the hint if available? The one Garmin I did try E-trex SE said I had to have a smart phone and download an App on it then register the Garmin then link it up. I returned it.  I wanted something simple. Hook the Garmin up to the computer. Download the caches and be on my merry way. Maybe there isn't such a thing anymore. As for making a pocket query - I have never done that yet. Is there a video on how to make one?  I kinda looked into it but I just always downloaded all the caches straight from the individual cache. Maybe not as efficient  but it did work for me.    Also do the maps include Canada? I haven't had to download any maps yet either. The Magellan still works kinda if I input the cords but then I have no info on the cache itself.

 

Modern Garmin devices do everything your Magellan will do,  and much,  much more. 

 

You can see very detailed examples and walk throughs at GPSrChive.com

 

You can also learn about the various methods to get geocaches loaded to your Garmin by visiting GPSrChive > How To... > Geocache

[+Hummingbird48]

Thankyou  all very much for the information and links. I will look into these topics and figure out my next purchase because I miss not being able easily download a cache and go.

[+Atlas Cached]

The latest Garmins with GCLive will load them to your device for you via Bluetooth link to your phone, can't get any easier!

[+Funeralguy1950]

I was given an old Magellan eXplorist GC.  Will this work with geocashing.com to download caches onto it?  If so, can someone give me an idea of how to do that?

[+Atlas Cached]

If memory serves,  you can drop the GPX files directly into a 'Geocache' folder in the GC.

 

Some additional info available at GPSrChive.

 

 

 

 

Edited September 20 by Atlas Cached
Typo

[robertlipe]

That memory is correct. Upvoted.

Note from this and related posts that the Explorist GC, while a nifty unit during its brief day in the sun in 2010, is essentially an orphan. You will not find substantially updated maps for it. You will not get support for new cache types or attributes in the PQs as icons. You will not see any bugs fixed for it. It is essentially a time piece of geocaching in 2010 or so.

That said, it was not an unpleasant unit. The 'potato' shape seems chubby now, but it was comfortable in your hand. It was never really very popular and never got much attention. FAQs like https://www.gpsfaqs.org/faqs/magellan/explorist-gc/geocaching.html tended to stop at launch as it never really got a lot of traffic. It was nifty that it was one of the first models to ship with a worldwide basemap, so if you're traveling internationally, this has a lot going for it as maps are preinstalland Just Work...as well as non-routable basemaps ever work.

Set your expectations for a free tech product that's 15 years old and you'll likely be impressed. If you're a power cacher used to a new unit that's supported by the vendor with an active community and a steady roll of new features/support, you're going to be disappointed.