Thank you Bill, I will refer back here one's I get the unit.

 

I don't know if my GPS will hold all of the geocache waypoints I just created pocket queries for but there are about 12,000 Geocaches within 50 miles of my house that I am downloading. I have a long way to go to catch up.

 

Hehehe, you're gonna be busy!

According to the wiki, the 550 handle 5,000 geocaches, but no more than 200 files.

I put a 4gb microSD card in mine, and I've been putting my geocaches on that card. I'm pretty sure the limits are the same however.

 

I have a micro sd card in mine but have not figured out how to access it through the GPSr yet.

 

You don't really access it from the unit. The unit merges data it finds on the internal memory and the SD card memory. But you may have to create specific folders on the SD card. For example, if you want to upload your geocaches to the SD card, you have to create the folder on the SD card. Here again is where the Garmin manual is useless, and you have to get the info from the Wiki page.

When you plug your unit into your PC, you will see two drives created on your PC. One is the unit internal memory, and one is the SD card memory.

At the Geocaching.com web site, if you click on the Send to GPS button, you will be able to select the GPS internal memory (the default choice) or click the drop down arrow and select the SD card drive. Of course this assumes that you have an SD card installed, and that you have the Garmin Communicator driver installed.

I was disappointed that I could never get EasyGPS to work properly with the 550. It is a neat program, and free, but does not handle geocaches properly.

I'm sorry this has turned into a Garmin 550 thread. But I'm trying to be helpful.

 

I am using geocache swiss army knife, it is not free but does a very good job and works with the 550

 

Update!! received the unit today and now I'm waiting for the friggin batteries to charge

 

Ok have it all charged and ready to test. This weekend I will try finding a geocache. I shall report back on the geo search.

 

I know the manual frowns on using alkaline batteries, but I find they work just fine. Even with the camera. Duracells all the way.

 

Went out today and failed at our first cache search. Kinda sucked.

 

I also found that there is a setting in the gps to tell it what batteries you are using, don't know why it matters though.

 

I think selecting the type of batteries should make the power meter a little more accurate. Probably doesn't make much difference.

 

Here are some pics of where our caching led us this weekend.

The Alabama Spillgate (GCXZ2F)


Whitney Arch, with Mt Whitney in the background (GC1F4C4)


Bedrock Hotel (GCECD0)


The Reward Mine (GC1R8EH)


The Superduty did not bore that shaft. Don't want to mislead anyone.

 

Very nice Bill. I had some fun but no pictures were taken because my daughter had it in her car.

 

I have been out caching and having fun sorry i havent checked in lately. Made it to 700!! yeah.. and have had the ol Big Blue Beast in places it wasnt designed for. But Who cares. It dont have to know its not a desert runnin rock crawler.