how do I download pocket queries to etrex20?

[+Wild-Skye]

So far I've jsut downloaded individual caches - fine but time consuming. Re pocket queries - I've jsut previewed them - never actually had one sent to my email or gps. So can someone pls explain to an ageing newbie - how do I download pocket queries onto my garmin etrex20?

 

I can see the loc file on my pc PC can't open it. Tried dragging it to my etrex20. When I view the files from my pc I can see that all the caches are listed there on the gps memory card - but when I unplug gps from pc and try to view them from the gps - I can't see them.

 

Would be grateful if someone can give me advice in simple "for dummies" way

[+MartyBartfast]

The files need to go in the /Garmin/GPX folder on the Etrex, which you should see when you connect it to your PC.

 

I would forget about using the .loc files though as they only have very basic info, you need to use the .gpx files, but you can't get a .gpx just by "previewing" the PQ, you need to set it to run by ticking the day on which to run (bear in mind the day is the US date not the UK date), it should run within 10 minutes or so depending on the server load. Once the PQ has run the last run date will show against it on the right hand side. Then go to the "PQs ready for download tab", click on the PQ you just ran, and save the file (If it's a .zip file then you must extract the .gpx from it) and move the .gpx file(s) to the /Garmin/GPX folder.

 

Then when you fire up the Etrex it should find the caches.

 

Edit to add, if the PQ returns less than 501 caches then you can have it Emailed to you as an attatchment, which is handy if you have the PQ run on a schedule as it means you don't have to manually download the PQ, but any PQ with more than 500 caches will just send you a mail informing you that it's run and you will need to manually download it as described above.

Edited April 23, 2014 by MartyBartfast

[+Gitchee-Gummee]

A couple of things here...

 

1] A great tutorial here: http://www.follow-the-arrow.co.uk/resources/gps.html .

 

Hover over Paperless Caching in the red banner > select the bottom option, "Show me how to do paperless caching" > follow the directions for Garmin.

 

 

2] You post mentions LOC files. If you have loaded ANY LOC files into your device, you need to get rid of them (before loading a PQ download). Delete any data that was loaded pertaining to LOC files, as they will corrupt the GPX files of a Pocket Query.

[+Wild-Skye]

Thanks for the replies - will follow instructions - starting wu know how I get onith deleting loc files then back to first answer - will let yo

[+Wild-Skye]

Success - thank you so much for your help

[+MowerMan19]

I have read the "follow the arrow" document....I know I am so close to having this correct. I just can't seem to get the PQ to show up on my GPSr. I can see the files on my computer as .gpx and the waypoint one. I have sent to or copied them to my GPS under GPX folder under Garmin once the Garmin is plugged in. The file shows up there when I plug the Garmin in and look under the GPX folder, but when I unplug the unit from the computer, and go to "geocaches" on the unit screen, it says "no geocaches found" WHERE ARE THEY??? I have NOT opened the file on my computer. I am not running any other software (GSAK) to do this. When I try to open the file, of course, Windows tells me it can't open the file as it doesn't recognize the file type. I know this is not a complicated thing to do and I'm close to getting it right, but I'm missing something easy......

 

thanks for your help.....

[+kunarion]

I have read the "follow the arrow" document....I know I am so close to having this correct. I just can't seem to get the PQ to show up on my GPSr. I can see the files on my computer as .gpx and the waypoint one. I have sent to or copied them to my GPS under GPX folder under Garmin once the Garmin is plugged in. The file shows up there when I plug the Garmin in and look under the GPX folder, but when I unplug the unit from the computer, and go to "geocaches" on the unit screen, it says "no geocaches found" WHERE ARE THEY??? I have NOT opened the file on my computer. I am not running any other software (GSAK) to do this. When I try to open the file, of course, Windows tells me it can't open the file as it doesn't recognize the file type. I know this is not a complicated thing to do and I'm close to getting it right, but I'm missing something easy......

 

thanks for your help.....

What model Garmin is it?

 

You can save a "GPX File" from a local cache page, to be sure at least that works. It avoids several gotchas. It's possible to select GPSr filters so that no caches appear. Maybe loading just a single cache will help narrow down the possibilities.

 

Is your PQ for local caches? One thing that newer Garmins do is, they ignore caches beyond a certain distance until you arrive. That's a feature, not a bug.

[+Gitchee-Gummee]

@ MowerMan19:

 

I think it possible that kunarion may have hit the nail on the head. Of your 1127 finds, most all seem to be local.

If you have loaded PQ data that is a distance away from your current location (75-100 miles?), it will not show on your device until you are closer.

... you can "cheat" it by making it believe it is closer to those caches. One method is to scroll (pan) the screen map to that area. It will not show the caches until you are zoomed in somewhat close. A wide zoom will not show any.

[+MowerMan19]

ok...I'm continuing this adventure (not a fan of technology, thus have been using note cards for YEARS) I KNOW this isn't supposed to be difficult! The PQ that ran shows caches as near as 15 miles from my house. I panned the map to the area, and zoomed in to various closeness levels--as close as 30 feet-- and still did not see a single cache. We're missing something easy here..........have to be....I am going to just send one single cache and see how that works...I feel pretty confident that a single one will indeed go through just fine, as I never had problems with that and using an old Garmin Nuvi (when I tried to ditch the note cards before

 

and, yes, I'm on an etrex 20 now

thanks again

[+Graculus]

Hi

I wrote that 'how to' guide. Just to clarify a few things. When you created the PQ you got a preview page which shows you all the caches in the PQ. You did see that so know there are caches in it? You then downloaded the PQ and unzipped it to get two files, xxxx.gpx and xxxx-wpts.gpx? You copied both of these files to the eTrex into the \Garmin\gpx folder and can see them there while the eTrex is connected to the PC? Make sure you 'eject' the eTrex from the PC before unplugging it. Sometimes, if you just unplug it the PQ doesn't get copied properly. The caches should show up in the Geocaches menu. Now... if the caches in the PQ are ones you've found they won't show up in the Geocaches menu. I don't know the eTrex 20 menu in detail but if it's like the Oregon I use you have to select Found caches to show ones you've found. Garmin GPS's read the Found status of the caches in the PQ.

 

Chris

Graculus

Volunteer UK Reviewer for geocaching.com

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