Multi-cachers rejoice!

Updated: GPSMAP62/78 2.44 Beta also includes multi-caching support and possible altimeter improvements.

If you use an Oregon or Dakota you are probably tired of your friends who own 60CSx’s snickering at you every time you have to enter coordinates for a multi-cache or mystery cache in the field.  On the newer units once you enter coordinates for a subsequent stage you are forced leave behind all of the paperless caching features, switch back-and-forth between waypoints and geocaches to see the cache details, and the geocaching dashboard is no longer helpful since it only navigates to geocaches.

With the introduction of today’s betas on the Dakota, Oregon x50 and x00 Garmin has introduced multi-cache support (which works for all cache types not just multis).  Once this beta is installed and you are navigating to a geocache you will notice a new button under Geocaches called “Enter Next Stage”.   Pressing this button will land you on a coordinate entry screen where you can type in the coordinates for a subsequent stage.   This creates a temporary geocache called “Next Stage” which is linked to the original “parent” cache.  Selecting it will display all of the parent cache level attributes like description and hint but it will show up on the map with the same icon as the parent cache at the new location. The geocaching dashboards will also identify “Next Stage” as a geocache .  You can continue to mark Next Stages as you move through the stages of the cache and when you finally log your attempt the Next Stage will go away. Next Stage gets saved across power cycles so if you decide to bail out half way through a long multi you can pick up where you left of the next day.

Enter Next Stage from Geocaches Menu

Next Stage visible on the Map Page

Next stage visible on the Geocache List

Next Stage on the Geocaching Dashboard

There are some limitations.  You can only use this feature on one cache at a time since there is only one special Next Stage geocache.  Setting a Next Stage on one cache will wipe out a Next Stage you had set for a previous cache.  Similarly, within the same multi-cache you will lose coordinates for the second stage when you navigate to the third stage.  Garmin does not automatically save each stage a waypoint which would have been a very nice way to prevent this type of data loss.  You can deal with this issue manually.  Once you have entered a Next Stage and are navigating to it, go back to the Main Menu, select Geocaches>Show Description and press the “Flag” button to save a waypoint.  This will save a copy of Next Stage so if you need to get these coordinates later you can (and you’ll have a nice record of the entire multi-cache).  Hopefully Garmin will consider automatically adding waypoints in the future or at least prompt when the Next Stage is set to save a waypoint or not.

There are several other changes worth mentioning.  All three units received fixes to improve Trip Odometer accuracy.  We’ll have to spend some time testing to see if any real improvement was made.  The Dakota picked up Track Archiving, the ability to move waypoints on the map page, gpx import progress monitor, track/route detail improvements, and the auto shaded relief changes which were introduced in earlier Oregon x50 betas.   Oregon x00 users only pick up the auto shaded relief and trip odometer improvements — it seems like Garmin is starting to limit the changes it is port back into the older Oregons.

Full details on the three releases are below.  Please note the special instructions required to upgrade the Oregon x50 from 3.71 and 3.74 on the Garmin site.  I had no problems performing the upgrade but it is more complex and error prone than the usual beta upgrade, some people are reporting bricked units.  Follow the instructions to the letter if you decide to take the plunge.

Changes made from version 3.71 to 3.74 (Oregon x50):

  • Added multicaching support.
  • Added display color to track gpx files.
  • Added ability to set user declination direction.
  • Improved accuracy of trip odometer.
  • Fixed occasional shutdowns.
  • Fixed issue with stuck route button.
  • Fixed issue with Oblique Mercator User grid.
  • Wiki thread

Changes made from version 3.12 to 3.14 (Dakota):

  • Added multicaching support.
  • Added ability to move waypoints using the map.
  • Added display color to track gpx files.
  • Added periodic track archiving.
  • Added Automatic Shaded Relief option.
  • Added ability to set user declination direction.
  • Added import indicator for gpx files.
  • Added track review page improvements.
  • Improved accuracy of trip odometer.
  • Fixed occasional shutdowns.
  • Fixed issue with Oblique Mercator User grid.
  • Wiki thread

Changes made from version 3.81 to 3.85 (Oregon x00):

  • Added multicaching support.
  • Added Automatic Shaded Relief option.
  • Added ability to set user declination direction.
  • Improved accuracy of trip odometer.
  • Fixed occasional shutdowns.
  • Fixed issue with Oblique Mercator User grid.
  • Wiki thread

Changes made from version 2.40 to 2.44 (GPSMAP 62/78)

  • Added multicaching support.
  • Added display color to track gpx files.
  • Added periodic track archiving
  • Added Automatic Shaded Relief option.
  • Added import indicator for gpx files.
  • Added track review page improvements.
  • Improved accuracy of trip odometer.
  • Fixed occasional shutdowns.
  • Fixed calendar to display all geocache finds and attempts on the correct day.
  • Fixed paging after logging a geocache.
  • Fixed issues with inconsistent altimeter readings.

Related posts:

  1. Garmin Oregon/Dakota Beta Adds Geocache Filtering
  2. Garmin Dakota Beta Picks up Latest Oregon Changes
  3. Garmin releases chirp – A wireless geocaching beacon
  4. Tips on Garmin Custom Maps — GPS Visualizer Adds Garmin KMZ Support
  5. GSAK Adds Support for Oregon and Colorado, Import/Export Macros Improve