[hogrod]

The POI loader used to work great for me with my 60Cx, then with one of the upgrades they did it always crashes when I try sending to my GPS. I downloaded an older version & it worked fine again.

Decided this might have been a fluke & upgraded when a newer version came out, I had the same issues all over again.

[hogrod]

@ToyotaRyan wrote:

The guys over at the Geocaching Podcast reviewed this unit in their episode 106.

Thanks for the heads up! Here is a direct link to the show for anyone interested.
http://www.geocachingpodcast.info/2009/05/episode-106-geomatejr.html#links

After Reading more online about the unit I see it uses the same SirfIII Chipset as the 60CSx, so it might not be that bad under the trees.

[hogrod]

I use GSAK for a few different waypoint databases, not just caching. They made it really easy to do, just check out the database drop down menu & create a new database. That way you can have the one you use for caching, and a completely different one so you can keep things separated nicely.

[hogrod]

Whats actually going on here is Garmin made it so all the newer color models a few years ago started automatically switching from upper case letters to lower case after you type the first letter. It also automatically switches back when you type a space so your next word starts in upper case.
Once you understand how it works it’s very easy to live with it. Either click the little arrow to switch back from capitol letters & symbols to lower case & numbers or just type a space.
My LegendC also didn’t do this because it was around the same age of unit as the 60c. There is no way around this on the newer gps units unless you could try running an older unit firmware that might not have had the feature added yet.

[hogrod]

I really like having the maps on the PC, that way you can see your tracks & caches on a large screen. also buying a unit with preloaded maps you can only use them on the unit. one advantage is having the preloaded maps you get them for the entire US on the unit, which is impossible to do normally because of the map segement limit all the garmin units have.

I would also recommend using the maps from gpsfiledepot. I also noticed that these maps can be slow if you load to many mapsets at once or just allot of segments. I used to have the whole US of city navigator & about 6 other mapsets, I cut it down to just the midwest and WI,IL,IA,MI,MN of the free topo maps.

There are two different topo maps avalible for WI on GPSfiledepot, one is just WI & the other one is a NE US region map. These maps are not exactly the same, one has more of the rivers named(region map) & the other has tighter topo contours(more elevation lines shown) & parks shown as green space(WI only map).

[hogrod]

@jerrys dad wrote:

The problem here, in this thread, is not with the way it was logged online, but the way it was found. I know I don’t put out difficult finds out, but if I put a cache out, I want you to physically find my cache. Just getting to the area doesn’t qualify for a find, if it did, there wouldn’t be a DNF on the drop down, when you log your find on the website.

As an example lets say I go to find a cache that you hid near a local fishing hole.
I get there and right at ground zero is a couple guys that obviously aren’t leaving anytime soon. I decided instead of coming back at a later date to ask them how the fishing is going and as we talk I look for the cache discreetly.
After a few minutes of talking and secretly looking I spot the cache in its hiding spot. I have found the cache, yet there is no way of retrieving it without a follow up visit.

To me this is clearly a find even though the log was not signed. I will continue to log any cache I physically find, even if I don’t sign the log.

Drive by caching is another thing altogether, why even bother geocaching then?

[hogrod]

You ever update the Unit software(firmware) on your H2OC?

Quite often these updates fix numerous issues and could make the unit work better. I updated the H2O I had, it was a pretty simple process. You just downloaded the update file on the PC, transfer to and SD card and put the card in the unit. I don’t remember if it was automatic or if I had to load the file from some menu, but simple either way.

The software update for the H20C can be found here:
http://www.lowrance.com/en/Products/Outdoors/iFINDER-H2O-C/Downloads/

[hogrod]

@gotta run wrote:

We use a pair if Ifinder H20Cs, which I really like for the user interface.

What I’m hearing is that the Garmin 60s are really good signal-wise.

However, those Oregons do have that jazzy touch screen interface…

You might want to look at those Lowrance models I mentioned above, they also have a touch screen(but it also still has buttons for some functions). They are preloaded with maps & the one model can even do autorouting.

Another Really good GPS for signal would be the Delorme PN-40. I haven’t use one but have heard lots of good things. The Pn-40 also comes with maps.

If you are looking for cheapest price, Battery life & good signal in the woods I would be any of the Etrex H models. I’ve used the VistaHCX and never lost signal. There were a few quirks with this model at the time where it would show your position off a bit until you turned the unit off and on. I’m not sure if they have ever updated the unit software to fix this but either way it’s still a very good unit.

[hogrod]

@gotta run wrote:

Currently we use Lowrances

What model? I owned a h2o for a few day and it was pretty good in the woods, though sometimes it would loose signal. If I compared it to my 60Cx sitting in my house, there was no comparison. The 60cx NEVER would loose lock where the H2o would every few hours go though 20-30 minute fits of loosing lock constantly(the reason i returned it).

I realized this was an older model when I tried it so I’m sure the newer Lowrance models are using much better gps chipsets. I really liked the Lowrance and would definitely consider another one.

You might want to check out the new handheld models Lowrance has coming out, The Endura Series.

Endura Out & Back: http://www.lowrance.com/en/Products/Outdoors/Endura-Out-Back/

Endura Safari: http://www.lowrance.com/en/Products/Outdoors/Endura-Safari/

Endura Sierra: http://www.lowrance.com/en/Products/Outdoors/Endura-Sierra/

[hogrod]

@Averith wrote:

I know most people will disagree with me but my Magellan Triton 2000 in spite of some it’s other problems seems to hold it’s signal lock through just about everything we’ve thrown at it. Dense woods, cloud cover, one story buildings, etc. Just my humble opinion.

The Triton Series Uses the same chipset as the Garmin 60csx, the sirfIII. I have no doubt it holds lock in the woods very well.

I have a 60Cx and it holds lock in pretty much any situation, but accuracy is effected when in the thick woods or canyons. Notice any gps with a “high sensitivity chipset” doesn’t claim better accuracy in poor conditions but just that it holds lock better.

Unless your in the open I wouldn’t expect anything better than 20-30ft accuracy, though its usually be better than that.

[hogrod]

Another one not mentioned, beer.

On one of our old cache I recently adopted out, Reuben’s Cave GCNVC1, You were almost guaranteed to find a naturally cave cooled refreshment(beer) in the cache.
I was cleaning it out monthly for awhile but finally started only going out every 6 months or so. I’m pretty sure these were not left my cachers, but the numerous people visiting the site via Canoe trips who just happened to find the cache in its dark cool hiding place.

[hogrod]

I didn’t see it mentioned, but I think Condoms should be added to the list.

We recently found a cache in the U.P. near Ishpeming, MI That had a whole assortment of Colored condoms. Yes these do promote safety but are NOT kid friendly as I even thought to myself when I seen them; “hmm, wonder why all these colored balloons are individually wrapped” lol.

[hogrod]

Here’s a few in the SW corner of the state.
GCGAX2, GCB9E3, GC11RNV, & GCRPY1.

Edit: I see Duck! was already mentioned above.

[hogrod]

I don’t sign every logbook In the caches I find, especially those tiny micros that take 10 minutes just to get the log back into. I figure I am saving the cache owner a trip to replace the log.
Most logbooks get replaced because they get wet or are full so the online log is the only one that really matters.

If some of you want to police the logs and compare online to logbook I wouldn’t change my logging habits at all. I obviously don’t play for numbers & would have no reason to fake my 50-200 finds a year.

On the caches I have owned I get 4x the number of logs in the paper book as online. should I delete these from the book since they didn’t log them online? 😉

[hogrod]

I read something a couple years ago about how solar flares are suppose to get much worse in the next 5 years effecting gps signal. That article also stated that all the newer satellites that have been put up are higher power & could handle this.

I don’t think we have much to worry about, they have been putting up new satellites every few years so unless something catastrophic happens this isn’t going to happen.

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