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Considering an Oregon 750T


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Hi all. After many years with my Magellan Triton 400, I had finally sorted out all of the bugs and my own user errors and we were getting along great.... then I left it on the roof of our van and let's just say gravity is not a friend of the Triton. It seems like the whole world uses a Garmin and neither GPScity and GPScentral even carry Magellan units so I figure it might be time to join team Garmin.

 

I will be using the GPS mostly for geocaching with some hiking etc thrown in. I had a TOPO map for my Triton and loved it so I want to get it again with whatever unit I buy. I have a few questions about the 700 series and being new I hope someone here will have the answers.

 

1) Being a touch screen, is there a way to lock the screen so that if it bumps or touches something in my bag or pocket it won't change pages or start doing something it isn't supposed to?

 

2) I understand that you can load geocaches via WIFI when you have a computer etc. How many caches can you upload at once? When I reconnect at a later time will it delete any caches that have been discontinued so I don't accidentally search for caches that aren't there anymore? Will it automatically update all of the caches I have loaded onto it or do I have to go back to different areas on the map to update the logs etc of the caches? Will it indicate caches I have already logged with a different icon so I don't accidentally search for a previously found cache?

 

3) Can caches be deleted from the unit after they have been found?

 

I looked at possibly getting an E-trex 30x but by the time I buy one and then buy the TOPO map of Canada for it, the difference in price between the E-trex30x and the Oregon 750T is only about $200. While $200 is $200 I don't want to buy something that will be badly outdated in a couple of years and I want something that I can easily load caches onto so I don't have to constantly be guessing where I'll be caching next. I hate relying on my smartphone for impromptu caching as the battery just doesn't hold up for more than one or two caches.

 

Thanks

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1) Being a touch screen, is there a way to lock the screen so that if it bumps or touches something in my bag or pocket it won't change pages or start doing something it isn't supposed to?

 

Yes, you can lock/unlock the screen easily.

 

2) I understand that you can load geocaches via WIFI when you have a computer etc. How many caches can you upload at once? When I reconnect at a later time will it delete any caches that have been discontinued so I don't accidentally search for caches that aren't there anymore? Will it automatically update all of the caches I have loaded onto it or do I have to go back to different areas on the map to update the logs etc of the caches? Will it indicate caches I have already logged with a different icon so I don't accidentally search for a previously found cache?

 

Multipart question. Multipart answer. You can always load a PQ GPX/GGZ file via computer but your questions are about Live Geocaching data. There are two ways to download Live data, 1) download a "Geocaching List" which is simply a PQ that you've built in your GC.com account, and 2) using the map, you can pan anywhere and download 25 caches that are closest to the center of the map (where you panned or you can use your current location). There is no limit (that I'm aware of) on how many times you can download the 25 caches so you can pan around to specific areas and keep downloading. The Live downloads consist of the Geocache locations without the Log/Description info. It allows you to download the Log/Description info by selecting a geocache you want to find and hit "GO". At that point the device will wirelessly download the Log/Description info. Once found, the unit will change the icon from a closed treasure box to an open treasure box.

 

As the data will be live, the Oregon 7xx won't download caches that have been discontinued.

 

3) Can caches be deleted from the unit after they have been found?

 

Normally, after caches are found, they're identified as an open treasure chest icon. That icon makes identifying found caches easy. You could also filter out found caches in the geocache filter, but there seems to be reports that this ability isn't working at the moment. Garmin is aware of the issue and will likely soon issue a fix. There is no way that I'm aware of to target and outright delete found caches short of using GSAK to edit a PQ. Live Geocaching data (data downloaded wirelessly on the fly, can be deleted but it's an all or nothing kind of deal. But, with the changing of the icon, you don't really need to in my opinion.

 

Good luck with your decision. Plenty of people like using the eTrex 30 but I feel the Oregon 7xx is in another league in many respects. Compared to the Triton 400, it's in another universe. Consider your Tritons experience with gravity a fortunate event. As someone who had a brief and disappointing run with a Triton, you're going to like using a Garmin so much more.

 

Yoga

Edited by yogazoo
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I hate relying on my smartphone for impromptu caching as the battery just doesn't hold up for more than one or two caches.

There's something wrong; you should be able to go all day. There are ways to identify battery-hog apps and rein them in.

 

Are you on Android? Look at Locus Map (-Free or Pro), and possibly save yourself hundreds of dollars. That's assuming you can conquer the battery issue, of course. (I'm quite happy with this setup and am never going back to a Garmin.) PS, on a high-res screen, the topo maps (cheap/free) are a thing of beauty.

 

I'm not trying to reopen the GPS/phone debate (there are plenty of threads on the topic), but do consider it...

Edited by Viajero Perdido
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If only for geocaching, there are indeed pros and cons for just using a phone. If you intend to use the device for some hiking as well, and spending the $$ fits in your budget, the Oregon 7xx is a great choice. Rugged, waterproof, easy to read screen in most lighting conditions, carries on your pack strap, field replaceable batteries. I'm not willing to dive into the GPS vs Phone debate either, but if your budget allows, my opinion is that a Garmin is best suited as a general device for all outdoor activities.

 

Many people are more than happy just using their phones for geocaching. Do a bit of research and decide what's best for you.

Edited by yogazoo
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