I’m Alive

[John Robie]

I finally did it, I got a GPS. It is only a Garmin 12, but it is a start. Now I can start playing. I am still figuring out how to set a waypoint but I figure that won’t take long. I will hopefully get my first find this weekend. Get ready.

[Todd Bloomingdale]

Go get em Johny!!! Once you start, you’ll never stop..lol.

smokey

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“Be safe and Keep on Searchin”

[jthorson]

-In a Darth Vader voice-
WE HAVE YOU NOW.

And never, never say just a Garmin 12.

[bnb]

I started with a Garmin 12. I handed that over to my spouse when I went to my Legend. But, we still think that the 12 has a much better lock on satellites. When we are out together he always seems to keep contact with the satellites in situations where I fade in and out. – Ruth

[EnergySaver]

Way to go J.R.!
Sorry we did get together yet … but not our fault … it’s that bad weather and those horses.

I agree with others, a Garmin 12 will get the job done. Our 2nd GPSr for “guests” is a lower cost unit too. I’m find the accuracy just as good and for geocaching it has a couple features that I like better than my “good” unit. My comments to a few people that are deciding on what GPSr to get and how much to spend, is more a question on “what else” do you want to do with it … such as, traveling and mapping ability (ie. our “guest” unit has zero road mapping ability, but who cares in our case.)

P.S. – Come find my geocaches first!

[Ray]

Our first 600 caches were with a Garmin 12. We still use it. Kudos for joining the Garmin family. “Get a Garmin or get lost!”

[waukesha wizards]

I use my 12 now and am looking for a new one but I get great locks in the woods in the summer; when others seem to have trouble. Enjoy the sport, and hope to meet you out caching.

[brkster]

Welcome aboard John. Happy caching!

[John Robie]

Well all, I am starting to get the hang of this GPS thing. It just takes a long time to hand enter in all the corrodinates. I can’t download on this model. Well so much for having it easy. Thanks for all the encouragement. I think I am going to love this. (Indiana Jones theme song).

[Miata]

I have used a Garmin 12 before, and it uses the same round plug cable as my GPS III and GPS V. It does require a serial connection, which can be a problem on newer laptop computers.
Oh by the way, Welcome John!

[Todd Bloomingdale]

Yea. I thought it had the same round plug, So if you got that with the GPS, you can use any of the programs to punch the coords in the programs such as easygps, or GSAK and its easy as 123!! Any questions, just hollar. Someone will help!
Smokey

quote:

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Originally posted by Miata:
I have used a Garmin 12 before, and it uses the same round plug cable as my GPS III and GPS V. It does require a serial connection, which can be a problem on newer laptop computers.
Oh by the way, Welcome John!

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[This message has been edited by smokey & the teacher (edited 03-09-2005).]

[EnergySaver]

J.R. ….

I’ve never held a Garmin 12, but my “guest” unit is the Garmin GPS72. This too has the round connector (under a rubber plug in my case) that others speak of. If you buy the cable, you should be able to download from a computer, assuming the computer has a serial port. What you might be confused about, is that you can NOT download maps/roads for navigating on your next trip to Florida or something. But you SHOULD be able to use the cable to download geocache coordinates (waypoints), with the free software others have indicated.

Here’s a link to where you can buy the cable for your Garmin 12 … http://store.yahoo.com/gilsson/gagps12se.html … a steal at $8.30! They seem to have other stuff too for the Garmin 12, including combo cables (so you can download and power the unit without batteries, not sure where you’d find a geocaches with power).

[John Robie]

Ok I found the plug. I didn’t even know that it was there. I thought it was for the batteries. I will go out and get a cable as soon as I can. Then all I need is the program to download the waypoints. This is getting easier by the min.

[EnergySaver]

quote:

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Originally posted by John Robie:
Then all I need is the program to download the waypoints. This is getting easier by the min.

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With the risk of making this even easier … here’s one software option, that many use … http://www.easygps.com/

[EnergySaver]

Just to leaving nothing un-answered … if you happen to be using a laptop with USB but no Serial port … no fears, they make adapters to plug serial cables into USB ports … such as: http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=382979

(I’ve not found a laptop in a geocache yet, so I’m not speaking from experience, but I see no reason for the cable not to work for GPSr units if it works for PDAs and such)

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