Geocaching

Step 3

Busy SkyStep 3 in repairing my Garmin Venture HC was to call Technical Support. But first, for funzies, I decided to try and load the software using my work computer, as expected it didn’t work, so I dialed the 1-800 number for Garmin. There I was thrown into the voice mail pit of despair. The last email I received said I needed to talk to the Software Support Team. Well, as you can guess, there is no option for Software Support even after trying two separate branches of the hollow tree of hope. The third time through I opted for the next available Technical Support Representative.

After not too long a wait a nice young man answered and wanted nothing to do with the trouble ticket I had from my email steps and made me explain the whole story all over again. When I go to the part about being elevated to Software Support and he put me on hold and set up a transfer to the appropriate desk. Shortly I was transferred directly to a nice young woman with a hint of Indian accent.

I quickly explained how the unit was acting, she had me try the three finger start up that would reset the unit to its default settings. I once again got the same blink and fade out as before. After that she went ahead and set up my RMA.

This afternoon I set in motion the Venture’s trip back to Kansas, not via hot air balloon or clicking together my ruby slippers, but by FedEx ground. Now we wait.

Started down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 378

Technical Support Song & Dance

Step 2 is possibly blame it on something besides the GPSr. (emphasis mine)

This can be caused by a few separate issues and will cause the unit to not update. If the USB cable is bad, being connected to anywhere but directly to the back of the computer, and incompatible USB core driver system on the computer itself. These, or the device is just not operating properly. I would recommend calling in to our software team from this point. We will need to check some advanced settings on the computer to see what could be causing this.

I’ve tried it directly from the PC on the desktop and the laptop. Tomorrow before I call the Software Team I will try it on my work PC. Odds are heavily in favor of the unit being bad, but I’ll dance the dance so I can get this fixed under warranty.

Started down, went up, back down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 378

17th Level

Sorry CharlieGarmin Tech Support replied to my email cry for help. Step one was to download the latest version of the software for the unit and reinstall it. How was I going to reinstall the software you ask, seeing how the unit won’t fully boot up?

The way they told me to start the GPSr was a lot easier then those four fingered web variations from the other day. They gave me the secret handshake. Press and hold the toggle stick (think mini joystick or more like IBM laptop TrackPoint button) in the up position and power on the unit. You have to keep holding the stick up, double click the updater program on the PC and hold on while the software loads. I tried to load the software three times (just in case I wasn’t holding my tongue right) and all 3 times the process went something like this: erasing, loading, erasing and loading a second time, error message.

I replied to the email with my failure status and now await further instructions. Probably have to box it up and mail it back, I just hope they don’t require the original box, I can’t find it. And I usually keep everything, I mean I have the box this Dell PC came in six years ago…

Today’s title came from a piece of email we received from a friend today, it had been forwarded 16 other times before being forwarded to us.

Started up, went down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 376

Broke

Red TrailLast night the GPSr wouldn’t come on and I figured it was just the rechargeable batteries were weak, so this morning, first thing, we stopped at a store and bought a 4 pack of AA’s for $5. Our plan was to go west of Hendersonville to Jump Off Rock, see the view and then geocache our way back into H-ville.

The drive to Jump Off Rock was a nice windy road through neighborhoods and when we got up there the fog was so thick the view was nothing but gray. I loaded up a pair of new batteries into the GPSr because there is supposed to be a cache right there. It would get part way through the boot up process and shut off. Tried the second set and got the same results. Mmmm, maybe there was nothing wrong with those rechargeables after all.

We then took a walk on a couple of the short trails around the park and the sun was just starting to burn off the fog when we finished. Oh well. we’ll catch the view next time we visit in September.

When we got back to the SMH I plugged in the USB power cable into the GPSr and it exhibited the same symptoms, start to boot, then shut off. Google is my friend and it led me to a few places that gave the super-double-secret buttons to push on start-up to reset the unit to factory defaults. Same results. Guess I’ll be calling Garmin on Monday because there is a one-year warranty and we’ve only had the unit 8 months.

Started down, went up, back down, back up, down once more, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 374

Got My Answer

Brett M. Moule, Region 3 Heritage Preserve Manager sent me a copy of a bill that was introduced this spring (03/26/09) by Representative C. David Umphlett, Jr. TO AMEND SECTION 50-11-2200, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS, SO AS TO SPECIFY ADDITIONAL PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES;… and signed into law on (6/2/2009) by our Governor in between trips to Argentina.

The part of interest is paragraph (C) “The following acts or conduct are prohibited and shall be unlawful on all wildlife management areas, heritage preserves, and all other lands owned by the department; provided, however, the department may promulgate regulations allowing any of the acts or conduct by prescribing acceptable times, locations, means, and other appropriate restrictions not inconsistent with the protection, preservation, operation, maintenance, and use of such lands:” section (30) which reads simply “geocaching;”

So while the bill prohibits geocaching and 37 other things, it does leave the door open in the second half of paragraph (30) …the department may promulgate regulations allowing any of the acts or conduct by prescribing acceptable times, locations, means, and other appropriate restrictions…

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Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 362

Email Dance

I received a reply from the SCDNR guy this morning:

The regulation is more up-to-date than you can find. Typically, there is a delay from the time of approval to the point the internet regulations are updated.

I do appreciate your interest in the heritage preserve program, and I encourage you to consider use of SCDNR properties through other allowed activities such as hiking or birding. Below is a link to all of the HPs found in SC.

Then a minute later:

I forgot…can you send me the lat/longs for Henderson & Savannah HPs.

He seems kind of anxious to get the lat & long of those caches…In his original email he mentions Regulation 123-203 (T) and at first I though maybe the T was a revision level, but after reading the regs posted on the SC Gov Site I’m thinking the T represents a new section of the code as the current one ends at S. I’m having a hard time believing that geocaching would warrant its own section, but hey what do I know. So I asked him for a copy:

Wow, more up to date than September 26, 2008. Is there anyway I can get a copy of the updated regs? There is a gathering of local geocachers this coming weekend and I would like to let them know about this change.

That was at quarter to 10 this morning. So far no response.

I think I’m going to contact the local cache reviewer and clue him in to my conversation, maybe he can even get a copy of the updated regulations.

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Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 359

Against The Rules Here Too?

I sent an email this afternoon to the SCDNR to see about permission to place caches in Heritage Preserves they manage:

I am an Aiken resident and my wife and I have recently taken up geocaching (sort of a high tech treasure hunt.) We have found caches in a couple of the local Heritage Preserves (Henderson & Savannah River Bluffs) and would like to hide one or two caches in these beautiful areas as well. I am wondering who I should contact or what I need to do to gain permission to do this. I did not see anything in regards to geocaching in the Property Usage regulations on the web site.

Eighteen minutes later I received a reply (edited for brevity):

Currently, Regulation 123-203 (T) prohibits geocaching on any South Carolina Department of Natural Resources property. The majority of SCDNR property was purchased to protect unique and often rare natural resources. SCDNR allows and encourages recreational activities compatible and consistent with the character of the properties…

I am sure that most geocachers would likely be good stewards of SCDNR property, however, in recent years we have just begun to have problems associated with geocaching. Recently, SCDNR staff have found geocaches placed in sensitive areas on at least three Heritage Preserves…

Can you please send me the lat/longs of the Henderson & Savannah caches. I appreciate your help in protecting SC’s natural resources.

I read the Managed Lands Regulations on the SCDNR web site and with a little web searching and came up with a link on the SC government site and could not find any mention of geocaching, positive or negative. I wrote back:

Can you point me to the particular section or paragraph of 123-203 that prohibits caching? Everything I find on the web makes no mention of geocaching. Is the (T) in the parenthesis following the regulation number the revision letter of the regulation and is more up to date than I can find?

It was past quitting time when I sent it, so I wonder what kind of response I’ll receive in the morning? If any.

Started down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 358