mobile one Posted January 11, 2005 Share Posted January 11, 2005 Hate to sound dumb but, here it goes. I am just getting started and I bought a Garmin etrex for geocaching. Do I have to buy software in order to have the ability to enter and locate a way point number? Tks for any help. Quote Link to comment
+AuntieWeasel Posted January 11, 2005 Share Posted January 11, 2005 Nope. You can always enter by hand. But you might have to buy a data cable to download directly from the computer, if your unit didn't come with one. Which eTrex did you get? (eTrex is a range of products, not a single model). Quote Link to comment
+Robespierre Posted January 11, 2005 Share Posted January 11, 2005 Find a cache, locate by zip code and look around. Print out the "print friendly" sheet (there's a button on the left side to make it print friendly). Wait until your etrex "acquires" satellites, go to the main menu. The easiest way, first time, I think: use the "Mark" button to mark your current location in your yard. Then highlight the number/name at the top and use the toggle to change it to a short name you'll recognize. When you get to the park, you can "mark" your car's location the same way. After you hit "OK" for the name, then highlight and change the coordinates to match the page. After you "OK" that, then use the "goto" function and it will give you distance and direction to the cache. Hope you have the instruction book to make it easier. They can be downloaded. Quote Link to comment
mobile one Posted January 11, 2005 Author Share Posted January 11, 2005 I have the 12 channel personal navigator. I do have the instruction book but still trying to figure it out. Thanks for your help. I wasn,t sure if I had to have additional soft ware in order to get started. Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted January 11, 2005 Share Posted January 11, 2005 I have the 12 channel personal navigator. I do have the instruction book but still trying to figure it out. Thanks for your help. I wasn,t sure if I had to have additional soft ware in order to get started. They all are 12 channel personal navigators. Do you have the Vista, Venture, Legend, Camo or basic yellow model? Quote Link to comment
+ZingerHead Posted January 11, 2005 Share Posted January 11, 2005 You are looking for the section of the manual that describes how to "Mark a Waypoint". I had an etrex yellow (the most basic kind) but unfortunately it disappeared at an event this summer , so I'm at a loss to remember the exact button sequences to do this. If your etrex came with a data cable that plugs into your computer, then you have the option to download waypoints from the geocaching.com website. The advantage of doing this is that a) you don't have to spend a lot of time punching in numbers and you won't make mistakes entering the wrong digit. It's very easy to make a mistake and send yourself off on a wild goose chase. You can get the required software here for free. Do you have the complete user manual, or just the little "getting started" manual? You can download the complete manual from Garmin which will give you step by step instructions. Quote Link to comment
+johnnyspud Posted January 11, 2005 Share Posted January 11, 2005 Easy GPS and a cable you're ready to go. I've tried to enter the coordinates by hand, about half the time I mis-entered the coordinates - that's no fun in the field. do a google search for blue hills innovations, they have cables for your etrex for $15. Quote Link to comment
+souperteam Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 My etrek vista came with a USB cable and it won't work with the version of EasyGPS that downloads. I loaded GSAK and it works like a charm. Quote Link to comment
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