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Scattagory => Scattagory => Geocaching => Topic started by: Skhilled on August 08, 2010, 04:09:09 PM

Title: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Skhilled on August 08, 2010, 04:09:09 PM
Garmin eTrex Legend H (https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=30120)

It has a monochrome screen but has a ton of features! I can load goecache info into it. It also has games, a calendar, rises and sets for the moon and sun and best times for fishing for a particular area, stopwatch, calculator, and trip planner for running, cycling, and cars.

After I bought it we went to the pool. I played with it there and then we had to pickup Christina (tina14) from the mall...shopping with her friends.  :yikes:

I wanted to see how it tracks my steps so I turned it on when we left the pool and watched as we drove to the mall. I turned it off after we picked her up. After we got home I checked out the website and downloaded a few things for the PC to detect it and all. I ran the software and discovered that it logged each and every time I turned it on! Once I was walking around the pool and it traced my every step which I found very amusing!  :2funny:

I also checked the log for when we went to the mall. It showed me our average speed as well as our max speed. Also, it showed the time it took and mileage. I did not show this to Lealer but told her how fast she was going when we went there...50.8 mph. Of course, she gave me a strange look. Then I printed out the report and showed it to her and she was amazed! I told her I was going to hide it under the car seat and track her when she goes out on her own.  :rofl:

Of course, she didn't find it as amusing as I did!  :2funny:

You can actually save these logs and every lock them from prying eyes!!! There is also functions for tracking jogging, cycling, heart rate, etc.

Anyways, now that I've got a few caches loaded into it I'll have to find some time to search for some. I'll also have to get used to all of the features, etc. first...too many to mention.
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Ken on August 08, 2010, 04:15:40 PM
Sounds like a great little unit Steve, and the price is not that high.  :2thumbs:

Making me wish for one.  :08:
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Skhilled on August 08, 2010, 05:20:19 PM
Yeah, they tried to sell me one for about $80 (same brand) but it did not have nearly as many features. One thing I did notice is that not all of the features are on the box for GPS's. It is best to go online and check out the specs first. I read that the $80 one was good but saw that this one had a bit more features so I got it and was glad it did. Nice surprise to find the extras that it did not mention. LOL

btw, FOR LES. Geocaching is now worldwide. Check your area and see if there are any there. :)
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Lesmond on August 09, 2010, 02:39:20 PM
Sounds good Steve, I would like one of those, might see it Lisa will buy me one for Xmas ;)

I have seen some Geocaching around my area, but not tried to find any.
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Skhilled on August 10, 2010, 08:12:00 AM
If I have the time, I'll try again this weekend. :)
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Skhilled on August 14, 2010, 08:55:19 AM
We went yesterday looking for one but didn't find it. However, we did find a very nice (and very large) park/forest area that we had not been to before complete with a bike trail. There are many wildlife there including herons, frogs, turtles, deer, muskrats, people. LOL

The kids had a great time trying to catch frogs. Too bad we forgot to take a camera. There are a few old buildings there from the 1700's. We are going back today. At least, we'll get some good pics...if we remember to take the camera. LOL
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Ken on August 14, 2010, 09:22:37 AM
I've been wanting to get back into this and the Garmin eTrex like yours may be just the unit that I need.  :happy:
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Skhilled on August 14, 2010, 09:42:04 AM
I'm still getting used to it. Has 6 buttons and they all do different things depending on the screen you are on. LOL
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Ken on August 14, 2010, 09:47:07 AM
Have you tried using it as a travel GPS, like for a trip?
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Skhilled on August 14, 2010, 10:01:17 AM
Sort of, yes. I didn't plot the course, per se. I just used it to follow the route we were taking.

btw, I forgot to check out the logs for the trip we took yesterday. I'll try to plot a course today and see how it goes. :)
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Ken on August 14, 2010, 10:18:16 AM
I like the idea of a handheld device like yours, but would want to use it as a 'regular' GPS for plotting trip routes as well. It's nice to have a GPS for long trips of course, but it's even more useful for around town stuff, like finding a store or office that you've never been to before.
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Skhilled on August 14, 2010, 10:39:26 AM
It does work like that but it is a hiking GPS more than an auto one.

Auto GPS's tell you street by street and "usually" (depending on the model) with voice.

Most hiking ones do not have voice (more expensive one may have this) and may show less streets...the smaller streets. Mine does not show all of the really small streets. Then again I may not have it set correctly. LOL It does have a zoom and shows all major roads. When I zoomed in it did not show some of the smaller streets I was on. However, it did still show my direction, speed, etc.

When viewing the logs, it shows it on Google Maps and does show all of the streets you were on and the exact route you took...even if you are walking around in circles. LMAO!
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Burgundyrose on August 17, 2010, 02:40:31 AM
 :innocent: I'm still waiting for you guys to catch up. 187 and holding, but the itch to go out and get some more is getting pretty bad, hehehe.
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Skhilled on August 17, 2010, 02:55:16 AM
LOL, we did go on Saturday again and did not find the cache yet. However, we had a wonderful time just walking around and exploring this area that were were not used to. We did see all kinds of nice things like flowers we've never seen before as well as finches (yellow and black...I think they were finches, lol), woodpeckers, buildings from the early 1800's, brown frogs and a lot more. :)

We will go back this weekend and try again.

btw, I'm still getting used to how this thing works. It's a bit different than an auto one.
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Burgundyrose on August 17, 2010, 03:12:01 AM
I think the main idea is to go out and explore area's you haven't really taken the time to go to. For me though I have already explored most of the local area's, I just didn't know there were caches there at the time. I am very glad you are out at it, and hopefully you'll find the cache next time. It makes the trip just that much more fun. It also makes for some really good quality time. Ok, I can't take it anymore, I am just gonna have to go out and get some more, hehehehe. Once you find the first few, then you'll really get a kick out of some of the "hides" people come up with. I think that is some of the most fun for me, to see what the person has come up with to hide it in. I am still working on my first hide. I am wanting it to be totally unique for our area. After some of the one's I have found it is going to be very hard to out do them. I have containers of all sizes and shapes ready to go. I even have a few items to put in my cache, I just haven't found that "really great" hiding spot yet. Most of them have been taken already. Good luck to you, and I will be waiting to hear all about your find.
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Skhilled on August 17, 2010, 03:22:43 AM
The best part is the quality time that I spend with the kids. They are pushing me to do it more that I actually want to...not that I don't want to do it. LOL

It opens their eyes to many things that they have not seen before and they really like it. Maybe next time we'll take a picnic lunch along, some of their favs to make it more enjoyable. We've already bought a knapsack just for caching and added a flashlight, folder with blank page and also for pages we've printed out to help (clues, etc.), tweezers for extra small caches, pencils, bandaids, and bug spray. I do plan to get a first aid kit for it and maybe a few other things.

Christina would bring her bike and a bed along in case she gets tired, if she could. You should have seen the list of things she created. We originally had 2 full backpacks. Can you say "overkill" boys and girls? LOL There are many bike trails so maybe we might bring the bikes one day.
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Ken on August 17, 2010, 07:32:01 AM
:innocent: I'm still waiting for you guys to catch up. 187 and holding, but the itch to go out and get some more is getting pretty bad, hehehe.

Me gonna get back into the routine of finding the caches locally, it's doubtful that your totals are in jeopardy BR but I'll be trying.  :bigteeth:
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Ken on August 19, 2010, 05:40:23 PM
Went into to town today for my DR's appointment and looked at a Garmin Venture HC... looks to be a good unit but I'll still giving it some thought. Just received a nice little card, but the funds on it are limited so I'm wanting to be sure to get the right unit.  :disted:
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Burgundyrose on August 20, 2010, 02:33:42 AM
Not sure if this will help, but the geocaching website has a forum with user reviews of the GPS units.  http://www.geocaching.com/reviews/gps (http://www.geocaching.com/reviews/gps)  They also have a guide to buying a GPS  http://www.geocaching.com/about/buying.aspx (http://www.geocaching.com/about/buying.aspx)   I still have not bought one and have only used my Iphone. Although people have reported it quit buggy, I have not had a problem with mine, once I learned how to use it. I think a lot of the bugs they report are due to a lack of knowing how to use the program. My husband wants to buy a GPS but if we do it won't be til around spring time, next year, so he is stuck with my Iphone til then. I am going to place a practice cache with my Iphone this weekend, just to see how accurate it can be for placing one. I have not tried that yet. I have read that some people have placed caches using the Iphone and have not had a problem. Other people say the coordinates are way off. Good luck in choosing a unit. There are way too many choices for me to make up my mind. Waiting to see how well Skhilled does with his GPS.
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Skhilled on August 20, 2010, 07:21:05 AM
I'm still learning the darn thing. LOL

We have a wedding to go to this weekend, cousin is getting married. So, I'm not sure if I'll be caching or not.
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Ken on August 20, 2010, 08:06:11 AM
Have you tried it anymore for streets navigating to see how useful it would be for that?
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Skhilled on August 21, 2010, 05:46:16 AM
A little yes. It does not have all of the streets as it is mainly for hiking. However, you can purchase street maps for it that include atms, restaurants, etc. for $99 or so depending on what you want.

As I said before it will allow you to plot courses to find cities, parks, lakes, etc. But it does not show all of the streets even though you can be seen driving along them. It only shows major highways unless you get an extra map.

You can set up to 1000 waypoints and still plot courses using map coordinates such as longitude and latitude, etc.
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Ken on August 22, 2010, 02:47:33 PM
Found an interesting article on how to use a Garmin Nuvi for Geocaching... that would save lots on money because the price on a Nuvi starts at under $90 and they already have the maps loaded, so all you would need do is hack the system with this free how-to and software.
Plus you can do regular trip navigation in your car.  :bigthumb:
http://geocaching.totaltechworld.com/ (http://geocaching.totaltechworld.com/)
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Ken on August 22, 2010, 07:32:27 PM
This may be the one:
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=13431
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Skhilled on August 23, 2010, 09:13:46 AM
I was looking at the Nuvi ones while I was shopping around. I would have gotten one of those if I did not get this one.

Found an interesting article on how to use a Garmin Nuvi for Geocaching... that would save lots on money because the price on a Nuvi starts at under $90 and they already have the maps loaded, so all you would need do is hack the system with this free how-to and software.
Plus you can do regular trip navigation in your car.  :bigthumb:
http://geocaching.totaltechworld.com/ (http://geocaching.totaltechworld.com/)

The gps should come with a usb cable and software that you download from the garmin site. It will allow your PC and other programs to recognize the gps. You can:

1.  Go to the garmin site and download caches (only 5 per day are allowed) directly into your gps.

2.  Download one of the many free geocaching software available for the PC which will gather the info for you and then import it into your gps. You'll need to make a Pocket Query to help expedite the process as shown in the link you gave. I currently use GPSBabel but want to try the others to see which is best.

3.  Go to geocaching.com and click on the "send to my gps" link to get a cache. The garmin software will allow the site to recognize your gps proving that it is connected via usb to your PC.
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Burgundyrose on August 26, 2010, 03:42:21 AM
Well, I tried to place a practice cache over the weekend. I am not sure I went about the process correctly since I cannot find any steps on how to do this with an Iphone in the geocache forums. I will go back to the spot I marked on my map to see if the reading is the same. Although I managed to get 2 completely different readings within 10 minutes of placing the practice cache. I set my phone in exactly the same spot and wrote down the coordinates both times. I also placed a pin on a map. Now this weekend I will walk around with my phone and try to get the same coordinates I wrote down to see how close it comes to the spot I actually set it at. I definitely am not sure if this is the correct way to go about it, but it is how I am trying it, til I can find some info to guide me. The one thing I like about my phone is that I can use it for traveling in a car like a regular GPS, which I have done quite a few times, or use it for geocaching. I get both types of GPS in one unit. I just type in an address and get step by step directions for vehicle use when I don't know where I am going or how to get there. I would still like to get a regular GPS for geocaching but that will have to wait. It seems like the geocaching app on my phone just uses up way too much battery power. My hubby has fixed me up a charger for it on my bike. but it still seems to use way to much even while it is plugged in.
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Ken on August 26, 2010, 05:58:16 AM
Rose... You may have read the iPhone section on the Groundspeak forums  already, but just in case here is the link:
http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?s=10819cf1d375bf21300804ee5ae6bd06&showforum=70 (http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?s=10819cf1d375bf21300804ee5ae6bd06&showforum=70)

And, found this one topic about placing a cache with an iPhone:
http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=255516 (http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=255516)
The first part of the topic is not sounding very promising, one poster said this:
Quote
you don't want to do that. seriously, trust me, you don't. use a proper GPSr for placing caches, always always always.
---------------------------
because you have to jump through several hoops, do a backflip and then stand on your head for a while in order to only get somewhat accurate coordinates. it can be done, but unless you really know what you're doing, don't do it.
that's also the reason why the Groundspeak app doesn't offer that function in the first place.
... do ya think he's not to keen on the iPhone idea?  :belly:

The advice/comments get a little more positive and helpful later on in the topic, hope this helps.

Ps: Me gonna have an update to post about my adventurers later... HINT; me exercised the gift plastic.  :bigteeth:

EDIT: Found this 'Helpful Tip' that may be useful for you:
http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=8749&st=0&p=921840&#entry921840 (http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=8749&st=0&p=921840&#entry921840)
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Burgundyrose on August 26, 2010, 11:30:27 PM
Wow Ken!  :danban: You are amazing! I spent a couple of hours trying to search those darn forums and could not find a thing. I even tried to use the search numerous times with no help. I will read through the info right now, and thank you for the wonderful help.

 P.S. :yahoo: I can't wait to hear how the adventure goes!
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Ken on August 27, 2010, 04:09:29 AM
Wow Ken!  :danban: You are amazing!

Of course.  :bigteeth:







j/k... j/k...  :08:
Hope the links help out for you BR.
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Burgundyrose on August 28, 2010, 01:44:27 AM
The links are exactly what I was looking for, thank you very much.  :bigteeth:
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Skhilled on August 29, 2010, 01:11:25 AM
For some reason I can't log into the gc forums but can login the regular site...

Didn't go caching this weekend but went here instead:

http://www.gearedforfun.com/ (http://www.gearedforfun.com/)
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Burgundyrose on August 30, 2010, 01:29:36 AM
I think you have to register for the forums separately. If I remember correctly. I just used the same user name but different password.
Title: Re: Steve's Latest Toy!
Post by: Skhilled on August 30, 2010, 11:11:19 AM
The funny thing is that I thought I was registered there. I tried to re-register and the link was dead. I did see something about something happened and some people would have to re-register again. Maybe my account was affected as well. I'll try again later.