[hogrod]

@Team Deejay wrote:

I can’t tell, but part of the advantage of the 60/76x models is the antenna, which is involved in the higher sensitivity of the Sirf III models. The Legend CX model I played with did not have the same “bulletproof under tree cover” performance of the 60Cx or the 76Cx. I’m guessing that these new models will have the same “patch” antenna as the current etrexes.

When I first started caching everyone said patch antenna’s weren’t as good as quad helix antenna’s(this was true with older receivers). I was also told that patch antenna’s are better at receiving signal from above, where the quad helix can pickup signals lower on the horizon(which can cause more multi-path errors).

Now it’s more about the GPSr chipset than the antenna, many very well preforming GPSr use a patch antenna. Any of the explorist model magellan’s or lowrance Ifinders come to mind, and also the highly recommended gilsson external antennas are all patch type.

I’m sure these new etrex models will be great, or at least an improvement.

[hogrod]

Although all these new etrex models have a “high sensitivity chipset”, the new Venture HC is a downgrade from the current venture CX(except for better chipset).
The current venture CX is the same exact thing as the legendCX, except it doesn’t come with USB cable, Mapsource waypoint software, or the small 64mb card. The new Venture HC looks like it only has 24mb built in storage, and no Micro SD card slot.(though this info not being from straight from garmin could be wrong)

looks like amazon.com has removed the product links now except for the new etrex yellow H. you can still find some info about these new models if you search google for the models listed below.

Vista HCx
Legend HCx
Venture HC
Summit HC
Yellow H

Did anyone else notice the summit HC has a color screen but seems to be the skinny screen body of the old B&W etrex models?

[hogrod]

@tyedyeskyguy wrote:

Wouldn’t it be great if there were some sort of generic web-site where we could all go and type in coordinates and see if there was a cache/mystery cache/multi-cache WP nearby?

Great idea, it’s just to bad some people would probably abuse this to find multi/mystery cache waypoint locations.

[hogrod]

I have used the Proximity alerts and really like how they work, its just to bad my 60cx & vista CX only allows 10waypoints to use this feature.

It’s also nice because you get an alert when entering/leaving the proximity even if your not going to the waypoint your near. I also really like the dotted red proximity circle shown on the map screen around the waypoint.

These proximity alerts shouldn’t be confused with the proximity alarms you get when going to a waypoint, as far as I have found there is no way to adjust when the random waypoint arrival alert goes off on the garmin gps units. (maybe someone here knows how, I know my magellan and lowrance GPSr had this setting)

[hogrod]

I used to work as a tower hand constructing cell phone and radio towers, and quite often would pick up strange things on the numerous radios we used.
we were constructing a cell phone tower near Bancroft,WI (just north of vista royalle campground) and kept picking up some factory workers chatter 15-20 miles away in Wisconsin rapids.

If I remember correctly I also remember hearing someone reading off numbers, though the guys on the ground couldn’t hear it (and yes it was a little creepy). it’s amazing the range increase of a hand held radio when your sitting at 250′ or higher on a tower.

This was one of the worst locations we worked at in terms of radio interference. we were lifting the last 20ft section of tower into position and communicating with the crane operator via radio. some wise A_ _ decided to come on radio and tell the crane operator to come down with the load….. luckily he knew it wasn’t one of us.

[hogrod]

I’ve seen a few posts on GC.com forum about the 60csx failing to power on…. the only fix I saw sending it back to garmin.

I had an issue with my 60cx power button requiring a very hard press to get the unit to power on(after it was about a year old). at the same time my base map decided to self-delete, so I sent it to garmin and got a replacement for free.

Just remember if you end up sending it in and have city navigator or similar locked maps, to ask garmin about getting a new unlock code. otherwise you’ll end up having to call them again because they won’t send you back the same unit you sent them.

[hogrod]

I just ordered a couple more 1gb kingstons from newegg yesterday.

[hogrod]

well I decided since we already have a great GPSr with our 60cx and only needed a spare/second unit again I would take advantage of the up to 30% off sale at REI(may 4-13th).
I got a vistaCX for $219 before taxes, and I can use my existing garmin maps. I could have picked up a ventureCX for $169, but decided the compass/altimeter might be a nice change.

EDIT: you can also get those prices ordering from REI online.

[hogrod]

Thanks for posting the forum link, I’m sure it will come in handy sometime.

Well my luck being bad as ever the screen on my brand new H20 crapped out on the third day. I returned it and decided to order an expedition C online sometime soon…. hopefully I have better luck with the color unit 😥

[hogrod]

If anyone else knows any lowrance tricks or has experience with the mapping software(especially the new mapcreate V7) please let me know.

[hogrod]

I agree, this is a great location & must do cache. when I was a teen we used to come out to the tunnel on really hot summer nights, the tunnel stays about 50degrees year round so it was a great place to hang out(though somewhat spooky at night).

A few months back I decided not to renew my premium membership for geocaching.com so I can no longer read the logs for that cache. 🙁

[hogrod]

I notice my 60cx was having slightly higher claimed accuracy tonight(I also lost lock in my house where I normally never have issues).
I check the solar activity monitor I mentioned above and they are showing some activity tonight…. maybe thats what was causing me issues, but who knows.

[hogrod]

@The Hike and Seekers wrote:

Has anyone tried or own a Brunton Atlas GPS?

If I’m not mistaken the brunton atlas is just a retagged lowrance gpsr. I see online the atlas is going for about $200, for about $20 more online you could pickup a lowrance h20 C(color unit) and it has a newer/better receiver.

I’ve never used a lowrance, so I would probably stick with a garmin or magellan(for me my preference is garmin, though I have owned 4X more magellan products).

[hogrod]

Solar flares really effect all electronics, when there is high solar activity even your cell phone will have issues in places it normally works fine.

You can check the current solar & magnetic filed activity here:
http://www.n3kl.org/sun/status.html

[hogrod]

I have not tried using gsak in ubuntu, though have used wine to get other windows software to work under ubuntu.
There is a small program you can install in ubuntu called automatix, that will make it way easier to install wine & many other useful programs.
http://www.getautomatix.com/

Allot of wifi cards are based on the broadcom chipset, which isn’t supported natively in linux. you can get these cards to work using the windows driver and the ndiswrapper(it’s kinda a pain to get working)
I’m not sure if your laptop has a wifi card(sticking out the side) or if it has an internal card. if yours has an internal card you could just replace it with one that works in linux out of the box. My laptop had a dell 1370 mini pci internal wifi card, I bought a intel 2200bg mini pci card from new egg for $30, now my wifi works even when using the software off a live CD. I also get much better wifi range than I did with the dell wifi card. in one park near home I used to see 5 wifi hotspots, now I pick up over 20.

For installing ubuntu, you can resize your windows partition and have both windows and ubuntu installed, but if your not sure what your doing you can mess up your windows install.

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