Inputing Cordinates?

[linkerjpatrick]

I'm new at this..In fact I haven't even bought a GPS yet but I do have a question. When searching for these caches can you input the cordinates via the device or do they have to be downloaded? Or do you just get to an approximate location and hone in on it?

[+sbell111]

Actually, all of the above. You can input the coords manually into your GPSr, you can download the coords to it, or you can use a topo map to go find the cache without a GPSr.

[+Shoebox]

After you hone in on a cache (20 to 40 feet depending on conditions) you then have to search, as the caches have been hidden. Some are quite clever and are hidden in logs, under brush and behind objects. So getting there is sometimes just the beginning.

[linkerjpatrick]

quote:

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Originally posted by Shoebox:

After you hone in on a cache (20 to 40 feet depending on conditions) you then have to search, as the caches have been hidden. Some are quite clever and are hidden in logs, under brush and behind objects. So getting there is sometimes just the beginning.

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Oh I understand that it's just that I'm new and haven't bought a GPS yet and all the screen shots I have seen have not shown the cordinates or them being input and I was sort of worried about getting one that didn't allow me to do that for some weird reason but I have since downloaded manuals in PDF format and have seen how to do that.

[triple6]

If you can, borrow a GPSr and play with it. That's how I got hook.. uh, started. A co-worker lent me his GPSr. It was a mapping unit and out of my price range, so I bought an eTrex at a local Wal-Mart. It's a small, basic unit that does the job. But at first, I had no idea how to manually enter a waypoint. I worked out that you need to mark your current location and then edit it to the coordinates you want to find. I don't have a serial cable for my eTrex yet, but I expect that at some point, downloading waypoints will be much more efficient. Hope this helps.

[+Night Stalker]

By far the easiest method is to download the coordinates using TOPO software if you have a GPS that will allow you to download maps. The manual download is not nearly as easy. You have to create a waypoint and then modify it with the new coordinates. To me it doesn't seem to be very logical.