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New Etrex20 owner and Geocacher


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Please bare with me as I know this is a lot of Q's.

 

I was curious as to why when I do a PQ for just my area and I set it to ones that I haven't found and certain attributes, it doesn't show up in the preview online? Am I doing something wrong? Are PQ only for newly recent hides?

 

Is there an easier way to upload large amounts of GPX files or do I have to do it all individually?

 

After I have sent individual GPX files to my GPS using Geocaching.com's "Send to GPS" link, when I go and click "found it" how does it sync with the online account? Do I have to plug it back into the computer or does it automatically sync via Sat?

 

I only have the default world wide base map-"map" that came with the GPS and when I want to look at a cache, it just gives me NE and it doesn't zoom in to look at my current area or cache. Is there a trick to zoom in or does it zoom as soon as I get closer to the Cache?

 

Is there a better FREE map I can use that will show me the caches on my GPS? I have several maps that I have installed via Garmin Map install/manager and enabled on the GPS and all of them don't seem to work. (Metopo11, Vermont wilderness, New England Topo, Mass topo, NH topo, trail100, digital globe)

 

Sincerely,

 

Frustrated New GPS owner ~VermontPi

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Please bare with me as I know this is a lot of Q's.

 

I was curious as to why when I do a PQ for just my area and I set it to ones that I haven't found and certain attributes, it doesn't show up in the preview online? Am I doing something wrong? Are PQ only for newly recent hides?

 

Is there an easier way to upload large amounts of GPX files or do I have to do it all individually?

 

After I have sent individual GPX files to my GPS using Geocaching.com's "Send to GPS" link, when I go and click "found it" how does it sync with the online account? Do I have to plug it back into the computer or does it automatically sync via Sat?

 

I only have the default world wide base map-"map" that came with the GPS and when I want to look at a cache, it just gives me NE and it doesn't zoom in to look at my current area or cache. Is there a trick to zoom in or does it zoom as soon as I get closer to the Cache?

 

Is there a better FREE map I can use that will show me the caches on my GPS? I have several maps that I have installed via Garmin Map install/manager and enabled on the GPS and all of them don't seem to work. (Metopo11, Vermont wilderness, New England Topo, Mass topo, NH topo, trail100, digital globe)

 

Sincerely,

 

Frustrated New GPS owner ~VermontPi

 

Points in order:

 

1. Yes you almost certainly are doing something wrong, it's quite easy with PQs to create a set of criteria which excludes everything. A common mistake is to tick both the "that I have found" and the "that I haven't found" box, that will return nothing as it will search for caches satisfying both criteria. The best thing to do when starting out with PQs is to create one with NO selection criteria other than your location and distance, preview it; then edit it to add one criteria at a time, and preview each time. Then when you add one criteria and the next preview displays nothing you know what's caused it.

 

2. Not really for a handheld GPS. Ypu could start using something like GSAK on your PC, let it use the API to download caches and then use it to create .GPX exports for your GPS, but to start with I would carry on with the PQs until you really have the hang of things.

 

3. No the GPS has no way to sync/update .gpx files unless it is plugged into your PC, it can't do anything via satellite other than work out where it is.

 

4. The map doesn't zoom automatically, you have to zoom in and out using the two buttons on the left of the GPS.

 

5. You can get free and pretty detailed maps for anywhere in the world from http://garmin.openstreetmap.nl/ these definitely work. I'm not sure what your problem is here, with the maps you're using do you see the map but not the geocaches (if so it's not a problem with the maps), or do you see the geocaches and not the map?

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MartyBartfast covers PQ's with:

 

1. Yes you almost certainly are doing something wrong, it's quite easy with PQs to create a set of criteria which excludes everything. A common mistake is to tick both the "that I have found" and the "that I haven't found" box, that will return nothing as it will search for caches satisfying both criteria. The best thing to do when starting out with PQs is to create one with NO selection criteria other than your location and distance, preview it; then edit it to add one criteria at a time, and preview each time. Then when you add one criteria and the next preview displays nothing you know what's caused it.

 

The other usual problem with PQ's is NOT selecting a "Day To Run" for the PQ.

 

Having made your selections, a PQ will 'run' and produce a search page of results...

This can be edited if needed, and then run with "Day To Run" selected.

 

It's a good way to see if you get the results you expect, without using one of your 10-a-day PQ's

 

Also. Be aware that if you loaded ANY files as a Basic Member, any files loaded as a Premium Member will 'Default' to Basic Member level... Delete any and all cache files loaded before you became a Premium Member.

 

If you haven't done so already, it may be worth registering your unit via http://www.geocaching.com/garmin/freetrial.aspx to extend your PM by 30 days. :)

Edited by Bear and Ragged
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Ok thank you all! I found out how to zoom like you said. For some reason I thought the "up" button was suppose to zoom in..but apparently it's the "down" button closer to the menu button.

 

I am going to work on the PQ for a little bit tonight and I will touch base with what happens.

 

I will check out the open street maps too. I got the map to zoom in now but I want to see what other options I have.

 

TTY soon. :D

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So far I have the PQ set up to download. Thank you. I will try when I get home from work to download them to the GPS. Is there a specific Micro SD card that you like to use or should I use? size? certain class #?. I currently have a 8bg sandisk class 4 installed. I forgot to ask that before. Thanks.

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