coondog77 Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 I am just getting started and have a Garmin Oregon 450. Was wondering what the best settings, I.E. compass settings etc., would be recommended for geocaching. Quote Link to comment
+Gitchee-Gummee Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Magnetic north... but, (in geocaching) you generally are heading to a coordinate point, it really doesn't matter. If you are truly using it as a compass, then it would matter. Other settings -- From the Groundspeak Help Center: Most GPS receivers are set coming out of the box with WGS-84 and HDD(D)° MM.MMM Datum and Format. Using this setting will be less likely to confuse new GPS owners. Check the datum and format settings (through the Main Menu) to assure that they are set per above. Trying to mix and match format is a bad thing. Pay attention to the decimal location. Also, don't sweat trying to figure out how to make a degree symbol (°). Your unit knows what you mean without using it. Set your time differential up with Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). I dunno where you live so I cannot advise the differential. Quote Link to comment
+kunarion Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 (edited) I am just getting started and have a Garmin Oregon 450. Was wondering what the best settings, I.E. compass settings etc., would be recommended for geocaching. That's a great unit which can be customized in many ways! I installed routable maps, so I switch to Profiles between “Automotive” and ”Geocaching”. Each profile has appropriate settings, and I placed the most frequently used menu items (such as “Change Profile”) on the first page of each menu. The Automotive Profile sticks to the streets, while the Geocaching Profile always directs straight to the cache. The Compass is handy for when you're walking the final distance to the cache. You can choose four indicators for the “dashboard” above the compass, such as “Distance to Destination”, cache name, and current location. I've recently selected “large data field” so that there's just one large easy to read “Distance to Destination”. But it can be changed when needed. What you might do is, try all the features, get familiar with what each one does. Find some caches, and keep track of which menu items you seem to be scrolling to. You'll eventually want to have them in view without scrolling. Once you get a feel for what you prefer, based on how you use it, take some time and adjust some Profile settings, re-order icons, and set up the dashboard. Good luck! Edited March 31, 2014 by kunarion Quote Link to comment
+Walts Hunting Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 I would disagree with magnetic north. True is what is generally used. If you get a bearing cache that says go 200 meters at 93 degrees and you are set for magnetic you will never find the cache. Quote Link to comment
+Gitchee-Gummee Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 I would disagree with magnetic north. True is what is generally used. If you get a bearing cache that says go 200 meters at 93 degrees and you are set for magnetic you will never find the cache. ...and vice-verse if that 93° bearing was taken (determined) with a standard compass... but, 200 meters won't usually make a hill's beans worth of difference. At the distance of a KM, maybe... Quote Link to comment
+GeoTrekker26 Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 ...and vice-verse if that 93° bearing was taken (determined) with a standard compass... but, 200 meters won't usually make a hill's beans worth of difference. At the distance of a KM, maybe... Really? A difference of 11 degrees at 200 meters creates an error of 38.8 meters (127.5 feet). That's a pretty sizable pile of beans. The actual declination where I live is 12.3 degrees, which will vary by location. FizzyCalc is your friend. Quote Link to comment
+Chief301 Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 I am just getting started and have a Garmin Oregon 450. Was wondering what the best settings, I.E. compass settings etc., would be recommended for geocaching. I installed routable maps, so I switch to Profiles between “Automotive” and ”Geocaching”. Each profile has appropriate settings, and I placed the most frequently used menu items (such as “Change Profile”) on the first page of each menu. The Automotive Profile sticks to the streets, while the Geocaching Profile always directs straight to the cache. I find it's not necessary to switch the entire profile...you can just toggle back and forth between "Navigate On Road" and "Navigate Off Road" within the same profile. It's taken me a while fiddling with all the settings on my Oregon 550 but I eventually got it set up like I want it for maximum efficiency and ease of use. The variations of how to set it up are limitless. Quote Link to comment
+kunarion Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 I find it's not necessary to switch the entire profile...you can just toggle back and forth between "Navigate On Road" and "Navigate Off Road" within the same profile. Yes, if you only have one setting to switch, it doesn't require a new profile. Quote Link to comment
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