Geocaching – Do I need another hobby?
So some friends convinced me to actually give geocaching a try. I picked up a Garmin eTrex Venture HC after I was dissuaded from jumping in on a much more expensive unit. I tend to be a bit impulsive with purchases, but I also prefer quality and functionality.
The Venture HC is very nice, I’m happy with it and it certainly has plenty of features for entry level ‘caching. The Garmin web site and product lineup are a nightmare though. Way, way too many different models with barely distinguishable features. Based on the reviews I read, there are really only a handful that you need to seriously consider.
The mapping software is where I really started to get disgusted though. The product compatibility “chart” is a joke. Some products are discontinued, but are still listed minus a “buy” button. Problem is, there’s no replacement. When I went looking for maps for my unit, the only products listed were a topological map and a marine map. I have since discovered that just about all of the map products are compatible in the sense that you can download them to devices with onboard memory or an SD card. The Garmin site makes it seem like the maps just won’t “work”.
So I emailed the cartography department simply asking what I should buy if I want detailed road maps for the Venture HC. Never got a response.
Lastly, when I tried to use the Mac version of their update software to install the latest firmware, it bricked the unit. Fortunately Amazon quickly replaced it and a windows update went fine. More on geocaching when I actually get to some.
Product A-; Software Support D-; Web Site = teh suxxor.
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