Ok, call me ignorant, stupid, out of touch, a ditz, whatever...but what is geocamping? ????? I am relatively new to the pop up community having only had our PUP a year. I keep seeing things about this, but I haven't a clue what it's all about. :confused:
Take a look at www.geocaching.com (//%22http://www.geocaching.com/%22) for some information on geocaching. That is the premier website for geocaching information. One uses an inexpensive (>$200) GPS receiver to look for "hidden treasure" in parks and lots of other places. It is fun and makes a good family hiking activity. Enter your zipcode to find the caches near your home or where you plan to camp...
After I posted this last night, I did do some looking as you suggested. Looks like a lot of fun! (I may be sorry I asked!) Anybody have suggestions for the GPS?
Quote from: skippy102162After I posted this last night, I did do some looking as you suggested. Looks like a lot of fun! (I may be sorry I asked!) Anybody have suggestions for the GPS?
If you have the spring 2005 cataloge for Cabelas (pgs. 81 to 85), they an assortment, with descriptions, running from $99.00 to $699.00 depending on how technical you want to get. Might give you some ideas in your searching. These gadgets are a lot like popup campers, after you have one, then you see clearly which feature you should have gotten in the first place!
Probably the best you could do is get to a store that handles them so you can "fondle" them, and hopefully there will be someone there who can explain them in detail. I've found opionions will vary and, of course, how much do you want to spend really gets to the bottom line kinda fast.
Fly
I have a Magellan. The model is a Meridian Gold. It has several features some I may never use. I got it from Amazon.com for $199 and free shipping. I also have a navigation application and usb receiver for my laptop it is an Earthmate GPS from DeLorme.
The standard GPS unit most cachers use is the eTrex Legend by Garmin. It retails for about $170 at most outdoors stores including REI. It has a lot of minimum functions that you can use for Geocaching and geocamping.
Is the Garmin GPSMap 60C a good unit for somone new to geocaching? It sells for $369 at Costco with a $50 rebate offer which ends this month. Thanks.
I recently bought the garmin eTrex legend C it seems to do alot of stuff...if I could ever figure out the darn thing :banghead:
Quote from: griffsdadIs the Garmin GPSMap 60C a good unit for somone new to geocaching? It sells for $369 at Costco with a $50 rebate offer which ends this month. Thanks.
Dave,
That is a great unit. The Legend that I have is just a monochrome screen. The one you're looking at is in color, an enviable unit that will have uses far beyond just Geocaching. So, the short answer is of course it's good 'nuf and more.
Surfcal
Thanks Ray for the info. I'll tell Lori. Are we going to see you at Pismo? The rally needs your presence and hijinks. Dave
Quote from: griffsdadThanks Ray for the info. I'll tell Lori. Are we going to see you at Pismo? The rally needs your presence and hijinks. Dave
ya he better...I've got a payback waitin' for him :J
you are coming and bringing your Karaoke macine??
Quote from: griffsdadThanks Ray for the info. I'll tell Lori. Are we going to see you at Pismo? The rally needs your presence and hijinks. Dave
Dave,
Rallies are like Denny's, you never really set out to go to one, but you always end up in one.
Ray
Hey Surf...now you've gone and done it. Dave's out buying the Garmin Map60CS as we speak. We'll be camping in San Clemente this weekend and looking for our first cache. We'll be taking Griff along too. I told him it's a treasure hunt, and so he thinks that makes him a pirate and keeps saying "Arrrgh!" :J
I've also just logged my first post at geocaching.com (after signing up more than a year ago.) I'm griffsmom there too. :D
I'm afraid this is how it starts....?:yikes:
There's quite a few of us who are active in geocaching up here at Nick-Neff=Cough. If you go to the geocaching site, search for usernames Surfcal, Ca-geogirl and Cachenick. When we all go together, we're Team Nick-Neff-Cough. And closer to you, GSM and G-Whiz are into it too. SimiRich is addicted.
It's a lot of fun and it certainly gets you outdoors. You can certainly do worse in terms of hobbies. In fact, we've adapted the game at the last rally and had a scavenger hunt/geocaching combo for all the kids. They had a ball.
I'll go check out your log. Have fun and next time, we'll have to go Geocaching at that secret island.
Surfcal
P.S. I just checked and it couldn't find you.
Quote from: SurfcalI'll go check out your log. Have fun and next time, we'll have to go Geocaching at that secret island.
You know I was searching for our island not so long ago, and it seems that you can't get there from here anymore. :( Or maybe it was just archived? :confused:
QuoteP.S. I just checked and it couldn't find you.
Here I am:
http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=59735&st=650&#entry1397997 I'm the last post there as of the writing of this post here.:)
I have until June to figure out how to use it :banghead: I've gotten to turning it on and how to get to the main menu but can't figure out how to tell it where I want to go, so it can tell me how to get there...I just stink at this stuff :compumad: maybe a class at pismo is in order??? I loved the didgital photo class.
This is just like letterboxing. My sister is teaching me all about this .It certainly looks like alot of fun especially being an outdoors person.
Can you join without having your own box?
To the more experienced Geocamping people out there, what is the real difference between the models with and without maps on the screen. It seems the lower priced ones don't have a map display but just an arrow showing you where to go. For someone starting out is it really necessary to have the map or it just a matter of preference?
Quote from: cosmotcatTo the more experienced Geocamping people out there, what is the real difference between the models with and without maps on the screen. It seems the lower priced ones don't have a map display but just an arrow showing you where to go. For someone starting out is it really necessary to have the map or it just a matter of preference?
Cosmo,
If you are going to use the unit for geocaching, you definitely want to make sure it is WAAS enabled. This increases the accuracy, which is very important for geocaching.
I recently did an extensive comparison of the
Garmin units, so here's my humble opinion, and I don't want to offend anyone who uses another manufacturer.
All units are WAAS enabled.
The Garmin Venture has some city database information, but not really mapping with its 1 MG memory. This would be a good unit if you were going to go geocaching and little else.
The Garmin Legend has 8 MG of memory, which gives is basic mapping of the U.S. and a database of exits on the Interstates. This is the one we have. We used this last month as we drove to O'Hare Airport and suddenly needed a restroom, like "right now". Not only did the GPS tell us which one of the next three exits had facilities, it even let us know that the gas station required a left turn so we could get in the correct lane.
The Vista has 24 MG of memory, which allows higher resolution mapping.
Watch out for the Summit and the wrist worn Forerunner series. They are not WAAS enabled.
I did not look at the GEKO series, bu t they are WAAS enabled and cool looking.
A piece of advice that works for me. "Look at what you NEED and purchase ONE LEVEL UP." Then you'll avoid the "I wish I had..." that comes with purchasing just what you NEED not what you WANT.
Office Max has the Legend for $149.99, which falls in the range of what you would pay on-line, with no shipping fees.
In the end, I got myself a Legend (non-color). Now both G and I have our own GPS unit (the same model)...we just don't like to share technology.
Hope this helps.
gsm x2
Amazon.com has the Garmin Legend for $131 with free shipping. If you are a new customer you might get a popup that has you sign up for an amazon credit card for $30 off your first charge. Final cost $101.
Quote from: cosmotcatTo the more experienced Geocamping people out there, what is the real difference between the models with and without maps on the screen. It seems the lower priced ones don't have a map display but just an arrow showing you where to go. For someone starting out is it really necessary to have the map or it just a matter of preference?
I have been geocaching for about a year (150 finds). I use a magellan Sportrack Pro with Topo maps loaded. I can't imagine caching without the maps. It really helps in finding your way (in your vehicle) to a the general cache location. I also use it for vehicle navigation on long trips. Get the maps if you can afford it. I paid about $200 for my Sportrack including a 12V power adapter.
Hope this helps.
Quote from: rock_houndI have been geocaching for about a year (150 finds). I use a magellan Sportrack Pro with Topo maps loaded. I can't imagine caching without the maps. It really helps in finding your way (in your vehicle) to a the general cache location. I also use it for vehicle navigation on long trips. Get the maps if you can afford it. I paid about $200 for my Sportrack including a 12V power adapter.
Hope this helps.
I ended up getting a Garmin etrex Legend which was the cheapest Garmin with maps. I'm glad I did. It was worth the extra money.
Congratulations on you Garmin Legend purchase.
I know you will be more than happy. I have had my Legend for a good 3 years (cost a lot more back then).
I have had many adventures with it not only Geocaching but biking, trail hiking, bushwacking and searching for old ghostowns (a hobby of mine).
I also use it on sometimes when traveling not so much as a router but to check what's ahead.
It is a strurdy little unit, compact and easy to use with lots of features. Once you get used to it you will find plenty of things to do with it.
One recommendation once you start using it often. Unless you have stock in Duracell, invest in rechargeable batteries and a charger.
Cache On
Camp On
Happy Trails
MtnDave