What to buy … handheld vs. dash-mounted

[zuma]

@Cachew wrote:

I am extremely interested if you can successfully upload geocache waypoints (as we know them, and as they come from gc.com) without any fussing around. Also, please let us know if you can successfully upload your existing waypoint libraries. I know they claim that you can upload custom POI’s, but I have a feeling that the format is different.

Thanks,
Cachew

The nuvi 450 that I have does allow you to upload user waypoints from cachemate. I have mine configured on cachemate, that the waypoint gives the cache name, placed by,and the terrain and difficulty level. (It is also possible to configure it to include hints, but I have not done that, but know it can be done.)

I just select the cache I wanna go to, tap the screen, and the nuvi directs me to what it thinks is the best parking, which is right about 95% of the time,but gets ya close enough ya can figure out parking. If baby waypoints for parking are included in the cache description, cachemate can include parking coords, the nuvi can be set up to take ya to the suggested parking coords. I have just started using this feature, and it is great.

zuma

[greyhounder]

How is the touch screen “out in the field”? Can you disable it? I’d worry that once I had it out of my car I’d be bumping it all the time and messing things up.

I’ve been looking at an in-car unit myself. I bought a Magellan Roadmate a few years back. It’s just huge and the maps are out of date. It would cost me $100 to update the maps, so I thought it might just be smarter to buy a new in-car unit.

Bec

[Cachew]

Another question: Is there a compass screen? (I’ve looked but haven’t been able to find on-line manuals.)

[TyeDyeSkyGuy]

@Cachew wrote:

I am extremely interested if you can successfully upload geocache waypoints (as we know them, and as they come from gc.com) without any fussing around. Also, please let us know if you can successfully upload your existing waypoint libraries. I know they claim that you can upload custom POI’s, but I have a feeling that the format is different.

Thanks,
Cachew

I have the Garmin C330 dash mount GPS and can (and have) loaded all of my own caches and caches I intend to do into it. All it requires is a simple download from the Garmin website called POI Loader. I imagine this works with all Garmins, including the Nuvi series.

[EnergySaver]

I will experiment with all these things, once I have the unit. I had not planned on actually taking the unit out in the field, but had figured I’d punch in parking coordinates. My feeling is that once I’m out of the car and in the woods, what use is auto-routing and cool features; all I need to know is what the distance and direction is, beyond that it’s all about finding your own path to take.

Near as I can tell from Garmin’s site the free POI Loader (which I’ve already download) IS suppose to work with the Nuvi units.

[zuma]

@greyhounder wrote:

How is the touch screen “out in the field”? Can you disable it? I’d worry that once I had it out of my car I’d be bumping it all the time and messing things up.

I’ve been looking at an in-car unit myself. I bought a Magellan Roadmate a few years back. It’s just huge and the maps are out of date. It would cost me $100 to update the maps, so I thought it might just be smarter to buy a new in-car unit.

Bec

I leave the nuvi 450 in the car, on the mount. While it would be possible to find a cache with it, that is not what it is designed for, and it would not be elegant.

The touch screen is perfect for in car use, as it can be used on the go without fumbling with buttons. As you say, a touch screen would be lousy in the field.

z

[zuma]

@Cachew wrote:

Another question: Is there a compass screen? (I’ve looked but haven’t been able to find on-line manuals.)

On the nuvi 450, no. Perhaps on the higher end models.

z

[Team Bear Bear]

[Cachew]

My question about the compass screen was purely academic – I like driving to this screen, even with my auto-routing handhelds.

[Cachew]

Okay – one more curious question: Have you marked a new waypoint with one of these Nuvi’s?

[zuma]

@Cachew wrote:

Okay – one more curious question: Have you marked a new waypoint with one of these Nuvi’s?

Yes, this is also quite easy to do. When at a spot that ya wanna return, say maybe at a Chipotle’s or a distant relative’s house that ya think ya might want to be back at, but may forget the route, ya can mark the spot just by touching the screen.

Also, if ya know where you are going, ya can put in the street address, and mark that as a waypoint.

z

[Cachew]

Thanks for all of the answers! A final (?) question – can you upload Garmin .gdb files?

[zuma]

@Cachew wrote:

Thanks for all of the answers! A final (?) question – can you upload Garmin .gdb files?

Sorry, I dont know what a gdb file is, so cant answer that one.

z

[Team Bear Bear]

@Cachew wrote:

Okay – one more curious question: Have you marked a new waypoint with one of these Nuvi’s?

When you do this the new waypoint is saved in a different folder(?) so when you “delete all” of you waypoints for geocaching, the manually inputted waypoints are still saved.

[TyeDyeSkyGuy]

@Cachew wrote:

Thanks for all of the answers! A final (?) question – can you upload Garmin .gdb files?

You can just click the “Send To GPS” button on the cache page. This will send the coords. and cache name to the GPS. You can then choose the cache as a destination right from the menu on the GPS.

Another nice feature of the Garmins is that all caches downloaded into the GPS have a treasure chest as an icon that appears on the map screen. So, even if you’re not out caching, you can still see caches in the area as you are driving by them. You can then choose to stop and hunt them if you like, and the GPS is plenty accurate to hunt with if you don’t have the handheld with. Although I wouldn’t make a habit of it. (no compass screen)

[Author]

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