New GPS/ Waymarking Question

Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 11:40 am

I know this is most likely covered in depth in several threads but I could not find a search function and I am not familiar with the WGA site since the redesign....I know its been ages since I have been active Sad

My Oregon 450 is dying slowly... Its 2 years old and has been beaten, dropped, thrown, ran over, dunked, and left on the hood of the car. So it has had a great run. It turns off randomly even with fresh new batteries, takes a long time to sync with the satellite and has now even been having a hard time loading caches on ( it gets stuck in loading screen exactly half way ) Yes I have reset it many times, but still has been a pain.

I am not nearly as active of a geocacher since my child was born, so I cant justify even the 300 I have seen them going for. My question is what is everyone opinion on the Magellan GC? The reviews I have read seem to be okay, but how much will I be disappointed going from a good GPS down to that? Also does anyone know it it will take way marks from waymarking.com?

Figure I would kill 2 questions with one post..... Waymarking? Does anyone do it? if so what is the workflow to get them on to the GPS? I keep a large GSAK database and send them over as Geocaches, but that is a pain keeping the database somewhat up to date, marking them as found in GSAK and watching the 5k limit between waymarks and geocaches.

Thanks Guys and Gals!

Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 2:50 pm

Hi! I have had 2 vista's and 2 60C's refurbished by Garmin over the years and all are still working to date. I still have the one 60CSX. I think they still do this. Those units had some the same problems you have mentioned in your post. I have used those units mounted on our ATV's and daul sport motor cycle, which I'm sure shorten thier working life spans. I remember the last Vista cost $60.00 to refurbish, and the 60CSX was $100.00 when I had that one refurbished. Look on the Garmin web site or give them a call. I am now using a 600 montana and it started turning off and on by its self and the screen flipping back and forth while on the motor cycle, they replaced it with a different unit, when I sent it back to them. This was or is still under warranty, but I noticed with all the units I've sent back over the years, they always had a different serial number when the new one came. You know they say get Garmin or get lost. I have used Delorme's, Magellans, Bushnells, and Loran brands and I have tried them all in between owning the different Garmins, and I had my best results and enjoyment from Garmin product and, because of my use of thier GPS's, thier tech support and repair service. Hope this helps! srvive

Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 9:26 pm

Also, don't forget that even the new Etrexes have paperless geocaching built in, at just over $100. They have added so much to these low end units that I would have a hard time justifying a more expensive unit.

Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 11:18 pm

Though I don't own one, a Magellan eXplorist GC is too specific to just geocaching to get much enjoyment out of in my opinion. I have an eXplorist 310 which will allow the download of all sorts of different waypoint, geocaches, POIs, etc. A little more expensive but haven't had many problems. Also they have a model 110 that is the same at the 310 with less memory. I like the refurb idea though!

I don't waymark myself, though I have looked at the sight and can pick out quite a few locally at least.

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 5:38 am

Make sure you have the most up to date firmware in your GPS

http://garminoregon.wikispaces.com/Versions+x50

ours locked up quite a bit on one of the updates, maybe yours came with that loaded.