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Geocaching with the Garmin Legend HCx

Recently I've gotten into Geocaching a bit more, and decided to fork over the $30/year for the premium membership, which gives me the ability to do PocketQueries, which is a way to set up a Geocache query of what you're looking for in what area, and have that data downloaded to your GPS automatically for up to 1000 POIs.   Previously I was downloading each point, and the PocketQuery puts them all in a .zip file, which can be loaded en-mass to your GPS.  

Initially, I thought I had to have EasyGPS loaded, so I loaded and installed it.  It turns out I didn't need it, as GSAK (the Geocaching Swiss Army Knife) does everything I need.  So I installed EasyGPS needlessly.  

Anyway, per the instructions from CacheFreakTim at 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WY9PjTwVlE0 and 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cevWjHMPvOI

I downloaded and installed POI Loader 2.7.2 fromwww.garmin.com/products/POILoader, telling it to save my Custom POIs to my Garmin Device

I then downloaded and installed GSAK 7.7.4.36, making sure to associate my geocache ID with the program (so it knows who I am).  

I then did a pocket query as a zip format, and loaded it in GSAK by going to the File->Load->filename.zip.  

I also set my home location in GSAK by Tools->Location and putting in "Home, N 26.225542 W 127.445234" (without the quotes).   This organizes all the geocaches in GSAK WRT their distance from my home.  

Next, I installed the MacroIndex Macro, from GSAK.net/board/MacroIndex.php, and ran it.  I selected the cache name, hint, and long description, and told the Macro to run.   It downloaded all the Geocaches in my PocketQuery to my GPS, and all the other details under the Custom POI icon.   So, to find a Geocache, I go to the Find menu, and click Geocache.   If I want to read the hint or description, I go Find and click on Custom POI, which is a newly created icon from the Macro.  

The descriptions are a bit hard to read, as the GPS splits them up in 88 character logs, but it's better than no information at all.   However, since a Paperless GPS is on the order of $100 these days, if you can afford it I recommend buying one of those for Geocaching, and using the eTrex for a hiking GPS.  

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