Garmin eTrex 25: No preloaded caches

[--JJ--]

Hi guys,

 

Recently I purchased a Garmin eTrex Touch 25 that comes with 250k preloaded caches. However, these caches are nowhere to be found (not on the map, nor under "Geocaches"). On the PC I have found the GGZ file that contains the caches, so they are on the device but are simply not being shown.

 

I updated the software and firmware, which did not solve the problem. Any ideas as to how to solve this?

 

Thanks!

[+Red90]

Are they only in North America? Not sure. If so, they won't show up as you are in Europe and too far away with a regular search.

[+FrankenHipster]

Did you check the filter settings? Maybe all geocaches are being filtered out.

[+Atlas Cached]

Check your filters and map zoom settings very carefully.

[--JJ--]

Thanks guys!

 

I have now proceeded to the stage where the device asks on booting if I want to load the preloaded caches. (Got there by removing the files and replacing them, dismounting and rebooting the device in between.) It says it may take up to 20 minutes, but way before that the device turns off and on booting it again asks to load the caches.

 

Any more suggestions?

[--JJ--]

Okay, the fourth time I asked it to load the caches it still turned off midway, but on booting it did not ask again. The caches have now appeared!

 

Not sure what the solution was for loading the caches. The steps for making the device recognise the files are the following, for posteriority:

- Plug in to your PC and remove the three preloaded files in the GGZ folder (back-up!)

- Unplug and reboot device

- Turn off device

- Plug in to your PC and replace the three preloaded files

- Unplug and rejoice!

[+FrankenHipster]

Glad that you got it working. The first thing I did when I got my GPS was to remove the preloaded caches. They are out of date, out of the box.

[+The A-Team]

The first thing I did when I got my GPS was to remove the preloaded caches. They are out of date, out of the box.

^This

 

Depending on when your device was manufactured, the preloaded caches could be nearly a year out-of-date (the eTrex 25 seems to have been announced last summer). For devices that have been available for longer, it could have been sitting on a shelf for years. There's a good chance that some of the caches you try to find have since been disabled, archived, moved, etc. There may also have been new caches hidden on the way to some of the preloaded caches, so you may unknowingly walk right by one. It would be much better to clear them out and load fresh caches.

[+Atlas Cached]

The first thing I did when I got my GPS was to remove the preloaded caches. They are out of date, out of the box.

^This

 

Depending on when your device was manufactured, the preloaded caches could be nearly a year out-of-date (the eTrex 25 seems to have been announced last summer). For devices that have been available for longer, it could have been sitting on a shelf for years. There's a good chance that some of the caches you try to find have since been disabled, archived, moved, etc. There may also have been new caches hidden on the way to some of the preloaded caches, so you may unknowingly walk right by one. It would be much better to clear them out and load fresh caches.

 

Exactly. And furthermore, if you use GSAK (or similar), you can load the GPX file into GSAK and refresh the caches to see which are no longer available, and then send the currently available caches back to your GPSr!

[--JJ--]

I do realise that the preloaded caches are not up to date, but since I am not a premium member I am happy to have any caches preloaded.

 

Now I want to upload my own caches, but I still have the same problem with the device not recognising them. Is there any foolproof way of doing this, bearing in mind that I am not a premium?

[+FrankenHipster]

I'm sorry for not understanding the question, but what do you mean by uploading your own caches? If you are saying that you cannot send caches to your device then you may have a browser issue. The only browsers that can send single caches from the search screen to your gps are Internet Explorer and Safari and I believe Firefox as the plugin doesn't work with any other browsers. When they do get sent, they go to the /Garmin/GPX folder. If your device isn't recognizing GPX files then you might need to update your firmware. If after all the above is checked and you are still having problems, then contact Garmin.

 

Keep in mind the GPX files that get sent to your device as a basic member are truncated and only give you the name and location.

Edited April 24, 2016 by FrankenHipster

[+Mineral2]

I do realise that the preloaded caches are not up to date, but since I am not a premium member I am happy to have any caches preloaded.

 

Now I want to upload my own caches, but I still have the same problem with the device not recognising them. Is there any foolproof way of doing this, bearing in mind that I am not a premium?

 

Your new eTrex should have come with a 1-month free premium membership. And even if it didn't, $30 for an annual membership is well worth the benefits.

[+GeoTrekker26]

I do realise that the preloaded caches are not up to date, but since I am not a premium member I am happy to have any caches preloaded.

 

Now I want to upload my own caches, but I still have the same problem with the device not recognising them. Is there any foolproof way of doing this, bearing in mind that I am not a premium?

 

Your new eTrex should have come with a 1-month free premium membership. And even if it didn't, $30 for an annual membership is well worth the benefits.

 

I think it was mentioned in a past forum thread that Garmin isn't currently offering the free month. But the OP can ask a moderator or reviewer for a free one month trial, unless that too has ended.

[+GeoTrekker26]

[White space is better]

Edited April 24, 2016 by GeoTrekker26