Post by AB4N on May 4, 2005 19:34:24 GMT -5
I finally got the long awaited Explorist 600 a couple days ago, and there are some great features - and a few things I hope that they will fix in a future firmware update.
This is probably one of the best units for geocaching because of it's high performance combined with features specifically for geocaching. When you export .gpx files into it you get all the cache information except for the description. You even get the hint in the GPSr, with a one click decrypt function.
Some of the nice features are:
1. High Speed USB transfer
2. SD memory card for unlimited maps, wpts, routes, etc.
3. Menu system so you can save different wpt databases and different maps.
4. Built in Li-ion rechargeable battery (Can use AAA or purchase additional Li-ion batteries).
5. Intuitive and simple menu navigation. There are only three display screens other than the satellite screen. They are the compass screen, the map screen, and location screen.
6. Bright TFT color screen
7. Weather station includes pressure, temperature and a pressure altimeter.
8. Electronic compass that doesn't rely on satellite reception.
So far there is only one main issue that I would like to see changed.
1. The geocache function does not allow you to edit or delete cache data. I don't like this, because when I do multi-caches I edit the coords and move to the next location. So far I have only seen that you have to add a "POI" Since you can't delete geocache wpts they stay on the map screen until you delete the whole database file or replace it with a new one. This is somewhat of a problem if you are doing several caches in a high density area, because you have to keep wading through the ones that you have already completed.
What I would like to see is the ability to edit/delete geocache waypoints. And even better yet, the ability to move found wpts into a separate folder designated just for found caches.
This problem is not associated with waypoints that you mark while out in the field. These are now called POI (points of interest), and they can be edited or delete on the fly. I'm not sure why they didn't include that functionality with the geocache waypoint section.
The screen is very bright and colorful. The back light has a full/medium/dim mode. I have found that turning it to dim is suitable for most situations. The screen is very visible even in bright sunlight.
This is probably one of the best units for geocaching because of it's high performance combined with features specifically for geocaching. When you export .gpx files into it you get all the cache information except for the description. You even get the hint in the GPSr, with a one click decrypt function.
Some of the nice features are:
1. High Speed USB transfer
2. SD memory card for unlimited maps, wpts, routes, etc.
3. Menu system so you can save different wpt databases and different maps.
4. Built in Li-ion rechargeable battery (Can use AAA or purchase additional Li-ion batteries).
5. Intuitive and simple menu navigation. There are only three display screens other than the satellite screen. They are the compass screen, the map screen, and location screen.
6. Bright TFT color screen
7. Weather station includes pressure, temperature and a pressure altimeter.
8. Electronic compass that doesn't rely on satellite reception.
So far there is only one main issue that I would like to see changed.
1. The geocache function does not allow you to edit or delete cache data. I don't like this, because when I do multi-caches I edit the coords and move to the next location. So far I have only seen that you have to add a "POI" Since you can't delete geocache wpts they stay on the map screen until you delete the whole database file or replace it with a new one. This is somewhat of a problem if you are doing several caches in a high density area, because you have to keep wading through the ones that you have already completed.
What I would like to see is the ability to edit/delete geocache waypoints. And even better yet, the ability to move found wpts into a separate folder designated just for found caches.
This problem is not associated with waypoints that you mark while out in the field. These are now called POI (points of interest), and they can be edited or delete on the fly. I'm not sure why they didn't include that functionality with the geocache waypoint section.
The screen is very bright and colorful. The back light has a full/medium/dim mode. I have found that turning it to dim is suitable for most situations. The screen is very visible even in bright sunlight.
