Garmin Etrex Vista C Geocache Function

May 29, 2005

According to the user's guide, when you "go to" a geocache, the compass should switch to geocache navigation which provides you with the ability to select "found" which in turn, logs the find in your calendar.

I cannot figure out why my compass never switches to this mode. I also noticed that the geocaches listed under "find - geocache" are listed in the regular waypoint list as well. You would think that the GPSr could know the difference by the icon assigned. Any help or comments would be appreciated. I sent an email to Garmin and am waiting on a response.

May 29, 2005

Unless you changed the icon to a geocache icon before you downloaded it to the GPS you will need to manually change it in the GPS. Once you change the icon from a waypoint flag to the geocache treasure chest icon, the compass page will work properly. Take a look in the manual

Edited May 29, 2005 by moonpup

2.4k · May 29, 2005

According to the user's guide, when you "go to" a geocache, the compass should switch to geocache navigation which provides you with the ability to select "found" which in turn, logs the find in your calendar.
I cannot figure out why my compass never switches to this mode.

It works on mine. These are the steps I followed:

- Press and hold the "Find" button; then select "Geocache".

- A list of unfound caches is shown. Select one of them, and then select "Go to".

- The compass page appears. The top of the compass page has whatever customizable data you normally have on it. The bottom of the page has three options: "Found", "Note", and "Stop". If you select "Note", the top of the display changes to show the comment field associated with the cache. Pressing "Data" returns it to the previous display format.

- If you select "Found", a page appears with a little "Congratulations" note, and has a "Find Next" option to point you to the next closest cache.

I also noticed that the geocaches listed under "find - geocache" are listed in the regular waypoint list as well. You would think that the GPSr could know the difference by the icon assigned.

I thik that it's because a geocache is just a type of waypoint -- they aren't a completely different type of thing. So when you want to show all waypoints, geocaches are listed too. (I like it this way -- mostly because I have waypoints for cache parking, trailheads, and the caches themselves, and I want to be able to see them all at once.)

May 30, 2005

I am uploading geocaches via GSAK and the geocache icons are correct. when i select "go to" the compass page does not just appear, the map page appears. Help.

3.8k · May 30, 2005

That is very odd behavior. Have you by any chance accidentally changed the icon on your GPSr to something other than the closed treasure chest? The unit recognizes geocaches by the icon alone, comparing it to the one you have set in geocaching mode.

2.4k · May 30, 2005

I had what I thought was a good idea of what might be causing it -- I thought that maybe you didn't have the Compass page in your normal page-rotation set. So I tried removing it from mine (Main Menu -> Setup -> Page Selection), and then tried doing a Find -> Geocache. But it still brought the "geocaching navigation" compass page up when I did that. So I have no idea what could be causing it not to snow up on yours.

June 1, 2005

Maybe I can try to change the geocache icon, turn off the GPSr, turn it back on, put the icon back and see if that will do anything. any thoughts?

June 1, 2005

I also have the same problem with my Legend C. I also emailed Garmin and awaiting a response. Right now I just manually change the icon to found. Hermit Crabs, what software version are you running? I am running 2.4

2.4k · June 1, 2005

Hermit Crabs, what software version are you running? I am running 2.4

Mine is 2.10.

June 2, 2005

Kbecker, I am having to change the icon to found as well. It is interesting that I am not the only person on the planet with the problem. Hopefully one of us will hear from garmin. pls post what they tell you as i will do the same.

June 2, 2005

I have a 60CS, which uses the same firmware. The unit can be set to use whatever icon you want for the Geocache function. It may have gotten set to something else. I don’t know if the sequence is the same on a Vista, but on my unit it’s Menu->Menu->Setup->Geocache. You can set both Found and Unfound icons to any thing you like. I’m not sure, but I think you need to have some waypoints with the icon for the Unfound caches already in the unit when you do this.

June 2, 2005

I have changed to different icons and also have returned it to it's default geocache setting. The only thing I can think of that "could" be wrong is that I am using Metroguide maps (until I can upgrade to the city select). That really shouldn't be the problem, but that is the only thing I can think of at this moment.

June 2, 2005

This is the response from Garmin. It is nothing we do not know already.

Thank you for contacting GARMIN.

The unit will list them in two separate directories, waypoints and geocache, just to help the customer organize their data. To get the Found option to show up you will need to simply change the waypoint symbol to a geocache symbol then when it is found the symbol will change to an open box and it will say Found at the bottom of the screen. Nothing will happen to the compass itself. If you still have trouble with this feature please give customer service a call and they can trouble shoot the problem with you.

Thanks for using Garmin.

Have a nice day!

Larry Keegan

Product Support Specialist

GARMIN International

1200 E. 151st Street

Olathe, KS 66062 USA

http://www.garmin.com

800/800.1020

913/397.8200

913/397.0836 fax

Here is what I sent them.

-----Original Message-----

Problem:

when searching for a geocache, and pressing the "go to" button, the compass is supposed to switch to geocache navigation mode and provide the user with a "found, Note, Stop" button . The compass page never changes and therefore I cannot tell the compass that the item is found which will in turn, log the find into the calendar. I also noted that when a geocache is created or uploaded, it is placed in the geocache folder as well as the waypoint folder. why is is listed in two places? How to i get the GPS to search for the geocache iaw the users guide. thank you.

Request emailed to mobile@garmin.com

2.4k · June 2, 2005

I have changed to different icons and also have returned it to it's default geocache setting. The only thing I can think of that "could" be wrong is that I am using Metroguide maps (until I can upgrade to the city select). That really shouldn't be the problem, but that is the only thing I can think of at this moment.

My Vista C also has Metroguide maps (North America version 6), and the Geocache function works fine, so that's probably not it.

June 3, 2005

Bah, I got the same reponse from them as well today:

Thank you for your inquiry.

The Geocache setup page will have an option to set the symbol for the

geocache waypoint. When you are creating the geocache waypoints, you would

need to have these setup with the same icon that is chosen from the setup

page. When this is done, you would have the found button when arriving to

the waypoint.

Thank you and best Regards,

Stacy Derks

Product Support Specialist

GARMIN International

1200 E. 151st Street

Olathe, KS 66062 USA

http://www.garmin.com/

tel. 800/800.1020

913/397.8200

fax. 913/397.0836

My message to them:

-----Original Message-----

To whom it may concern,

I recently purchased the Legend C and immediatly upgraded the software to

2.40. When I use the find geocache function, the navigation screen does not

have the "found" button or any of the other geocache specific buttons as

shown in the manual. I dont know if the unit had the function before the

upgrade as I didnt test them out.

Thank you for your time and help.

38.2k · June 3, 2005

I guess it is possible you have a defective unit.

Edited June 3, 2005 by briansnat

June 3, 2005

I have sent another email to garmin asking them to discuss the issue with the programmers and see if it is possible to create a patch to repair this. If not, I requested them to determine if our units are defective. I will post the response as soon as I receive it.

June 3, 2005

I would try a master reset on the unit. Be aware this will delete all user information suchs as waypoints, tracks, routes etc.

RESET SEQUENCE

1. With power off, press and hold FIND, PAGE and Click Stick, and then press POWER.

2. Release all four buttons after 5-10 seconds when the welcome page is displayed

3. All memory is now clear.

4. Place the unit outside with a clear view of the sky until satellites are acquired (The unit will display "3D GPS Location.")

June 3, 2005

Hi Fitz21,

Before doing a reset and that sort of things, did you verify your setup page?

Go to the "main menu" and then "setup". In "setup" you"ll find "geocache". When you open this page, you can define the "find" and "found" symbol (closed and open treasure) and the "calendar entry when found" should be on yes.

If these settings are not done, your compass page will remain normal when looking for caches.

June 4, 2005

Well I just tried that master reset. Thats very cool, but it still didnt work. I am totally at a lost now of what to try next. Any more tips / suggestions? I think the problem is that no matter what the icon looks like, it still thinks / treats it as a normal waypoint.

June 4, 2005

Any more tips / suggestions? I think the problem is that no matter what the icon looks like, it still thinks / treats it as a normal waypoint.

Yes, if you don't change the "find" and "found" symbol in the "geocache setup page", your GPS will not recognize the GC symbol of the caches-waypoints.

June 6, 2005

Krismolleke,

Kbecker and I both have ensured the geocache symbols are correct. You can define any symbol to be the geochache symbol and whatever you define, the GPSr is supposed to recognize it. Kbecker is correct in thinking that for some unknown reason, our GPSr's are treating the geocache symbols as regular waypoints and therefore, the geocache functions are not available.

I havent done a master reset yet, but i will today and i will probably have the same results.

June 9, 2005

something wierd happend today. I went looking for caches and my GPSr geocache function worked exactly as advertised. The only thing that was different was the fact that since i was uploading caches from my PC, I had the unit on without GPS enabled (to avoid getting the lost satallite message). Anyway, i got in the car, selected a cache and hit the go to button. The GPS alerted me that the GPS was not enabled and asked me if i wanted to enable it> I did, and once it aquired the satallites, the compass page displayed the found, note, stop buttons. I went to the geocache and hit found and everything worked as published.

I selected another cache, hit the go to button, and back to the problem i went. This really $%^&*s! I have been racking my brain all evening trying to duplicate this to no avail. It should not be this difficult to resolve.

Since i uploaded the caches using GSAK, i downloaded from the web both file types (.loc, .gpx). the cache that worked today was the .gpx format, so im only going to use this type from now on. I dont know if that would matter or not. Any thoughts?

Edited June 9, 2005 by fitz21

June 9, 2005

Just a thought - When I download waypoints as .loc files, the standard waypoint type is just waypoint with a dot. When I use gpx files to GSAK, it is listed as a geocache with the correct icon. The "type" listed was worded geocache both times (i think) but the icons were different... it's been a while since I've used the loc files, so I'm not 100% sure, about that. I do VERY distinctly remember when I first started having to manually change all the waypoints to geocaches before I sent them to the GPS to see the chests instead of dots.

I can't reproduce your problem with my legend, but your last post makes sense that using a different raw data would give a different result.

June 9, 2005

I have tried easygps, mapsource metroguide, city select, and the gps itself to make geocache waypoints, but it still treats them the same as normal waypoints.

Edited June 9, 2005 by kbecker

3.8k · June 9, 2005

I have tried easygps, mapsource metroguide, city select, and the gps itself to make geocache waypoints, but it still treats them the same as normal waypoints.

Are you using .loc files or .gpx files from Groundspeak?

June 9, 2005

As per the previous post, im using .gpx files because I actually had a .gpx file work once. Sorry, I thought you were asking me vice kbecker.

Edited June 9, 2005 by fitz21

June 9, 2005

I am using .loc files from Groundspeak. That dosnt seem to be an issue because I still have the same problem if i create the geocaches from within the gps itself. That alone pretty much rules out the external programs doesnt it?

June 11, 2005

I agree, I have built geocaches on my GPSr without any difference. Hopefully I will hear something back from Garmin soon.

June 13, 2005

Got the same problems. I'll keep checking back.

I bought a VistaC at REI about a month ago, and the joy stick was loose, so I brought it back and exchanged it for another on. However, the first one's Geocaching pages, 'found', etc all worked well. This one's doesn't. And the compassed 'froze' on me last evening. At least the joystick's OK...

I started using GSAK about 3 weeks ago. Don't know if that matters.

2.4k · June 13, 2005

Got the same problems. I'll keep checking back.

I bought a VistaC at REI about a month ago, and the joy stick was loose, so I brought it back and exchanged it for another on. However, the first one's Geocaching pages, 'found', etc all worked well. This one's doesn't. And the compassed 'froze' on me last evening. At least the joystick's OK...

I started using GSAK about 3 weeks ago. Don't know if that matters.

salpal, what software version do you have on your Vista C? kbecker is using 2.40 (and has the same problem you do); I am running 2.10 and do not have the problem. I'm wondering if it's something specific to 2.40.

June 13, 2005

I don't know how to check to see what software I'm using... Tell me!

I just went to the Garmin website to download the most recent update 2.4, but I'm embarrassed to say that I don't know how to do the update! (Also, it could be that the 2.4 is already in the GPSr.) So, I don't think that one got loaded onto the GPSr, it's just stuck in the computer, waiting to get out...

2.4k · June 13, 2005

I don't know how to check to see what software I'm using... Tell me!

Go to Main menu -> Setup -> System

press the menu/find button, and then select "Software version"

June 13, 2005

Another setting to check out is the navigation mode. I think the geocaching mode only works when the navigation mode is set to off-road.

June 13, 2005

Go to the Setup Menu, Routing Setup and what does it show? I have mine set to Prompted, Prompted and On. Make sure that you don't have Follow Road set as your Guidance Method.

When I select Find, Geocache, and select a waypoint, I am given a pop-up that asks if I want to Follow Road or Off Road. If I select Off Road, it will give me the compass and the Found, Note, Stop menu. If I select Follow Road it will not give me those options.

(edit: sorry as77...didn't mean to duplicate. Got side-tracked with kids and fiddling with my GPSr and didn't see your post before I put mine here)

Edited June 13, 2005 by souperteam

June 13, 2005

You guys are nothing short than genious!! that is the fix. I assume at some point i had it to follow road vice prompted. As per your instructions, I went to set up menu, routing set up, prompted, prompted, on. Now the function works as advertised!!! I even switched back to follow road and as you stated, you do not get the options. Kbecker, try that out and let us know.

June 13, 2005

I will give it a try when I get off from work. I do know that I have my GPS set to Follow Road. I will keep you all posted.

June 14, 2005

Souperteam, kudos to you!

I had the Follow Road set, and when I changed it all to the choices you use it worked!

The software is 2.10. I guess I had just gotten a little button-happy.

Here's another issue I noticed tonight while playing with the GPSr in the car:

I KNOW that I downloaded the Mapsource maps onto the unit a few days ago, but only the main roads are showing up. None of the smaller, well-established roads show. What gives with that?

11.3k · June 14, 2005

I don't have the Vista C, I have the Vista (in fact, after REI's used-gear sale last Saturday, I have two Vistas <_< ). Anyway, there is a place on the Map page menu where you can designate how much detail you want shown on the maps.

Maybe you have the maps loaded but have designated the lowest detail to show.

June 14, 2005

fitz21,

The navigaion "off road" did the trick. I now have the geocaching functions as shown in the manual.

Thanks all for finding the (undocumented?) solution.

Garmin Etrex Vista C Geocache Function

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