Help! I am lost!

[+thecrew113]

I am of the 'older' generation.I started Geocaching last year and I have now become serious about it.

So serious that I have now become a Premium member and bought myself a GPS (Garmin Etrex 30).

Oh boy,I thought I was fairly tech savvy, having used many devices over the years, such as Sat navs in the car, chart plotters in the boat etc.. But now I have a new GPS for geocaching I am completely lost!! I am so lost I don't even know which questions to ask to get me out of trouble.

So, my only question is..... I live in Western Australia, postcode 6020. Is there anyone out there I could meet for a coffee and a chat, who is knowledgeable about how these things work, and be willing to impart a bit of knowledge into an old head????

Any assistance gratefully received.

Thanks.

[+Touchstone]

A few options you might want to consider:

 

1. Find an Event near you to link up with people knowledgeable in the use of a GSP:

 

Events

 

2. Host your own Event, to attract knowledgeable people:

 

Meeting Other Geocachers at Events

 

3. Or post in the local Subforum to find people near you:

 

Australia Subforum

 

Best of luck!

[+on4bam]

You might want to post in the Australian forum. I'd love to help you in person but 24 hours on a plane might be overdoing it. Loved WA in 2010 though.

[+cerberus1]

Was gonna say the same as Touchstone, but things all around seem a bit dead - unless they're all on facebook now too.

Maybe an email to a CO (by clicking on his name from a cache page) will give you an idea how folks in your area associate.

[Pup Patrol]

Do you have the full owner manual?

 

http://static.garmincdn.com/pumac/eTrex_10-20-30_OM_EN.pdf

 

The suggestions about contacting other cachers in your area are good. Events are great for meeting other cachers.

 

You could also contact other cachers by clicking on their username and either sending an email or contacting them using the Message Center.

 

B.

[+thecrew113]

Thanks Guys(or Gals) for the info.

 

I didn't realise there was an Australian forum, I will check that out.

As for events near me, I have only seen mention of events 2-300 klms away. Maybe our country cousins have more events than our Metro ones.

I believe I have downloaded the complete manual (60 Pages), and almost know it word for word, but nothing I do seems to have any resemblance to the manual.

Also I didn't know I could contact other users and send them an Email.

 

I have taken all your good advice on board and will try and find other members near me.

Thanks again,

[+wmpastor]

There are people that swear by the high tech bells and whistles. But guess what, with phone or gpsr, you can do it low tech.

[+on4bam]

There are people that swear by the high tech bells and whistles. But guess what, with phone or gpsr, you can do it low tech.

 

What!!??!! Paper map and compass I'm telling ya!

 

Of course there's all levels of tech stuff we can use to go caching but I would trade my Oregon 600 for my older Colorado 300 and certainly not for my first and still working XL12 monochrome no maps GPS.

[+MountainWoods]

Besides, how can you be lost if you have a GPSr???

[+Gill & Tony]

If there are no events near you, why not host one?

 

Organise it at a cafe with an outside yard and specifically mention in the description that you are new to the game, want to meet some locals and are looking for help and advice.

 

I have a e-trex 30 so if you want to PM me feel free. Please don't use the 'message this user' link, use the e-mail link and I'll see the message a lot quicker.

 

Cheers

 

Tony

[+wmpastor]

Do you have the full owner manual?

 

http://static.garmincdn.com/pumac/eTrex_10-20-30_OM_EN.pdf

 

The suggestions about contacting other cachers in your area are good. Events are great for meeting other cachers.

 

You could also contact other cachers by clicking on their username and either sending an email or contacting them using the Message Center.

 

B.

 

My point with the "low tech" comment was that it is not necessary to master every feature of a good up-to-date gpsr right at the start. For example, using a paper printout of the listing and then using the gpsr only for the location readout will get you to the cache. *Then* learn the bells and whistles.

 

The OP mentions using a boat chartplotter and so obviously has the technical know-how and smarts to master thsee issues.