What do these things look like?

[jmccoy822]

Hi,

 

I'm thinking about getting a GPS unit to do a little bit of geocaching and to plot points of interest on some hikes that I do. I've been wondering a lot lately about the types of software (maps) I'd need to download and yadda yadda yadda, but I thought it would just be easiest if I asked for pictures.

 

So, does anyone have any pictures of what it looks like when you load a cache onto your GPSr and are actively searching for it, particularly when you only have the basemap loaded? How about a "track" file? I'd just like to see your screen, so I can have some idea of the detail (or lack thereof) when using the basemap, as opposed to paying for a topo. It will give me a good idea of how one goes about finding caches or hiking to waypoints.

 

Also, I've found a website for local hikers and it includes downloads for waypoint (.mxf) and track (.txf) files. Are those file types outdated? What does a track look like on a GPSr? Will it show me the outline of the hiking trail I'm planning on going on, or is it just an ordered list of waypoints? I'd love to have a route for my hike, especially on a new trail.

 

I just read through the forums here and think I might end up with a Garmin Venture CX, if that in any way affects the answers to my questions.

 

Thank you.

[+mr_candyman]

I have no pictures and really have no time to take any (maybe somebody else will though). I have that same unit you're looking at.

 

There's 3 ways to find an already loaded geocache. The first is to click on the menu button and go to "find" then "geocache" and by default it's set to display the caches nearest to your current location. This is the metod I use the most. From this screen though you can click the menu button again and select "Find by name" and then you can start typing in the name of the geocache. My girlfriend loves to use this mode, but I loathe it. The third way is to use the map and the little thumbstick and scroll around the map. There's little treasure chests that mark geocaches. Place the cursor over one for a second and it will get a white border around it. Click on it and it will ask if you want to follow the road or go off-road. If you have street mapping software on your unit and you need to drive there then select follow road, if not then off-road. If you do follow road, then when you pull over to go hunt for it, then hit the menu button and select "recalculate" and then select off-road.

 

I've never used .mxf files, so I can't comment on that. Track files however are breadcrumbs (little dots on the map) that mark where you have been. If you were to download one of these you would be able to view it in garmin mapsource and see the route they took. As far as I know you can not upload that to your GPSr and view it.

 

The basemap is really a pile of garbage. It really is. I find the street maps of either city select or city navigator or metroguide to be a much better option for most people. That way you can see all the streets (except the newest ones) and that will give you a much better idea of where you're going. The topo maps are better at defining where the edges of water masses are and are great for hills and mountains, that's it. Unless you're always going to be caching near water or in the mountains I can't honestly recommend getting it and would instead recommend getting one of the street mapping options.

[jmccoy822]

Thanks for the reply.

 

So if I'm mainly using the GPSr to find waypoints on hikes that I'm going on and already know how to get to the trailhead, I don't really need either a topo or street map on the GPS? It will just point me in the right direction and tell me how far away I am?

 

I'm looking at this Venture CX online and it doesn't say that the MapSource software or the USB cable are included.. are they?

 

I've never seen a GPSr used before, which is why I have such simple questions about their basic use. I apologize in advance.

Edited June 20, 2007 by jmccoy822

[+Miragee]

Welcome to the Forums!

 

If you do a lot of hiking, you might want to get the Mapsource Topo maps. You can purchase those on eBay for less than retail because they are not "locked."

 

To get the most out of your new Venture Cx, you might want to eventually get the City Navigator maps because with those installed, the GPSr will auto-route you to your destination, whether it is a Geocache, or a restaurant in a town you have never been to before.

 

You might already have the correct USB cable for the Venture Cx. I have one for both a Fuji camera, and an Olympus camera.

 

The new Legend HCx and Vista HCx models are coming out soon, so you might want to wait for those. If you don't want to wait, but want to save some money, you could check eBay for either the Legend C or Vista C. They were discontinued last year when the 'x' versions came out, but they are very good GPSrs which connect to your computer with the USB cable.

[jmccoy822]

Oh by the way, how are these Garmins in the woods? Will I lose reception? I do a lot of hiking in tree cover.

 

Thanks for the replies so far. I know the USB cable you're talking about, and I do have one or two around.

[+Miragee]

The Garmin Map 60Cx/CSx or 76 Cx/CSx have the new chip that gets better reception than the eTrex models.

 

The new HCx versions have a more-sensitive chip if you want to wait for those new models to be released.

[jmccoy822]

That's too bad, I really liked the price of the Venture CX.

 

Do you know when these new ones will be released?

[+briansnat]

  jmccoy822 said:

Oh by the way, how are these Garmins in the woods? Will I lose reception? I do a lot of hiking in tree cover.

 

Thanks for the replies so far. I know the USB cable you're talking about, and I do have one or two around.

 

The Venture CX has decent reception under trees. The older B/W eTrex units are very sensitive to position, but can get reception as long as they are held properly.

 

Has Miragee mentioned, the Map 60X and 76X lines get outstanding reception under trees and Garmin is coming out with a new eTrex line that has the high sensitivity sensor.

 

  Quote

So, does anyone have any pictures of what it looks like when you load a cache onto your GPSr and are actively searching for it, particularly when you only have the basemap loaded?

 

There are two screens used when navigating to a waypoint. The navigation screen, which is essentially a compass with an arrow and a field that shows you your distance from the destination, and the map screen which shows your location on the map, the destination and a line drawn between the two.

 

If you only have the basemap loaded you will probably just see your location and destination and a line connecting them on a basically blank scree unless you are near a major road.

 

  Quote

How about a "track" file? I'd just like to see your screen, so I can have some idea of the detail (or lack thereof) when using the basemap, as opposed to paying for a topo. It will give me a good idea of how one goes about finding caches or hiking to waypoints.

 

Again, I don't have a picture right now, but in general the basemaps are useless for anything outside highway travel. They only show major roads and bodies of water (like the Mississippi River and Lake Michigan). There is no detail on the base maps.

 

  Quote

Also, I've found a website for local hikers and it includes downloads for waypoint (.mxf) and track (.txf) files. Are those file types outdated? What does a track look like on a GPSr? Will it show me the outline of the hiking trail I'm planning on going on, or is it just an ordered list of waypoints? I'd love to have a route for my hike, especially on a new trail.

 

The track will show on the screen as a contiguous line. The trails generally aren't on the map, but if you load a track made by someone else it will show on your map (if you want it to) and you can set your GPS to follow it. As far as whether the files you find online are outdated, it depends on know old they are and how many changes have been made to the trail system since they were created. Potentially a 10 year old track will be just fine, while one made 2 months ago could be outdated.

 

I'm going to try to load a few pics later.

Edited June 20, 2007 by briansnat

[+briansnat]

OK here are some pics (sorry about the quality)

 

Here is a track of a hike I took on Mapsource Topo:

 

 

Here is the same track showing on the base map:

 

 

 

Here is me navigating to a waypoint using Mapsource Topo:

 

 

Here is the same using City Navigator:

 

 

Exact same spot using the base map:

 

 

Hope this gives you an idea.

[jmccoy822]

hey thanks a lot, that's perfect. those track files look like the exact thing I need when hiking a new trail. I wonder if they're easy to find on the internet? I've found one website that has the track files, but that's just for central Texas and I do a lot of hiking in Tennessee as well.

 

I can definitely see how the topo would be useful, especially since I enjoy hiking near or to streams and the like.

 

does it zoom in more than that so I would be able to better tell what direction I needed to go when I'm within say 100 yards of the cache?

 

thanks again, those help a lot.

[+mr_candyman]

yes it does

[+briansnat]

  jmccoy822 said:

hey thanks a lot, that's perfect. those track files look like the exact thing I need when hiking a new trail. I wonder if they're easy to find on the internet? I've found one website that has the track files, but that's just for central Texas and I do a lot of hiking in Tennessee as well.

 

I can definitely see how the topo would be useful, especially since I enjoy hiking near or to streams and the like.

 

does it zoom in more than that so I would be able to better tell what direction I needed to go when I'm within say 100 yards of the cache?

 

thanks again, those help a lot.

 

It zooms in a lot more.

 

As far as finding tracks, National Geographic has a site where you can find tracks. There are several other websites. Of course they require that someone submit the track, so many areas may not be covered.

[+gcfishguy]

As for zooming in, yes.

As an example:

The other day I was on a small country road. I pulled over to the right shoulder and parked. I then walked across the road, and waypointed a spring. It's right on the edge of the road, you can fill your water bottle while standing on the dirt shoulder.

Zooming way in on my map screen, I could see my track move to the right (where i pulled over) then see the track across the road, and see the waypoint just on the left side of the road. Then I could see that I drove on the shoulder for about 15' before pulling out onto the pavement.

 

So, they're very precise for something like that.

 

Now, be aware that your track will look pretty strange now and again if you get in an area with iffy reception...it will 'assume' where you were and your track may zigzag a bit here and there....

 

I found this site while researching my planned upgrade to the Legend CX...EXCELLENT screenshots.

The model that the screen shots were taken with was a Garmin GPSMap 60C, which I believe is discontinued. But, the screens are essentially identical to what you'll see on the similar models...They'll give you a good idea of what you'll be looking at after you buy one.

 

http://gpsinformation.us/gps60c/gps60screens.html

 

The screenshots were taken with a GPSr that had extra maps loaded on it...not just the basemap. (The basemap is pretty much useless)

When you get your new GPSr, you will have only (I believe) "Waypoints" and "Geocaches" on your 'Find" screen. When you load a map product like metroguide or city navigator, you will have lots of other 'Find" options, like Addresses, Fuel services, airports, restaurants, etc etc...

 

For hiking, I would recommend one of the Topo products, because the contour lines are invaluable.

 

I have a TopoCanada and Metroguide on mine, and I actually use Metroguide a lot more....it has much better detail for streets, and even small ATV trails are usually on it. When I have TopoCanada displayed, there are a lot of things that aren't displayed (small streets, trails, etc)

Keep in mind that each program is designed to do different things....

 

I had assumed that if I loaded Metroguide AND Topo maps on the GPSr, it would display one map, with BOTH features displayed on it: topo details, as well as the services and such that come with Metroguide.

Not the case....you can either display one map set, or the other, but not both at the same time.

 

While driving, I use MetroGuide, and when I hit the woods, I switch it to TopoCanada.

 

If you want to see the differences in what you'll see from one product to the other, you can go to Garmin's website and look at the product....there's a viewer that lets you actually use the product in a small window. Use that to see the differences in details in the different products.

 

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gcfishguy

[jmccoy822]

Thanks a lot everyone.

[keme03]

  jmccoy822 said:

Oh by the way, how are these Garmins in the woods? Will I lose reception? I do a lot of hiking in tree cover.

 

Thanks for the replies so far. I know the USB cable you're talking about, and I do have one or two around.

 

I have used my Garmin etrex Legend many times in the woods deer hunting in Arkansas with no problems. Of course I have recently read that may be because the leaves are drier that time of year and don't block as much of the signal as in the sring and summer.

[+Chuy!]

I have a Venture Cx and it picks up under tree cover alright. The accuracy level will widen, but stays locked most of the time. It has to be pretty thick overhead to lose signal completely. For caching you certainly want accuracy, but for hiking/biking, you don't need the same accuracy levels.

 

The new Etrex HCx are expected to ship in late July. I just pre-ordered a Vista HCx from offroute.com; they called me after the purchase to remind me the units have yet to be delivered.