eTrex30/basecamp/geocaching

Basecamp can only load what it sees. It doesn't have a direct link to geocaching.com

What you need to do is import your PQs into Basecamp and send caches from Basecamp to your Etrex. Then when you've been geocaching connect your Etrex to BC .... It'll read the log files from your Etrex and then show which ones you've found.

Follow up

Thanks for the reply. However, I am not sure that really the issue...(as what you say makes sense and what I do). The issues are once you or if you do that. For example, using BC seems to mean that you can not update an individual cache by downloading it from geocaching.com. Nor can you download an individual cache to BC. Feels like you have to run PQs all the time. Then, where does BC put the files on the eTrex30 ? Through the file manager I can see cache GPX files on the eTrex30 that I download directly, but I can't see the data uploaded from BC. I think this is what causes the "conflict" and is why individual GPX files are ignored.... BC is writing the data elsewhere and the device is now looking there ?
(have to say, it has me quite confused and a little frustrated because I am never confident that a download of new information has occurred!). Sorry, it's not easy to explain the issues I think it's that there appears to be a conflict with PQ obtained data and individual GPX downloads especially if the cache is common to both.

You seem to be over complicating this, but it just may be the way you're explaining it.

BC doesn't write files anywhere else, it writes them to the GPX folder on your Etrex/card. You can if you wish add/delete data via BC. Doesn't matter if that is a geocache or other data. You certainly can download an individual cache from geocaching.com. Save it to your PC then import it into BC just like any other gpx file. Or if you prefer simply drop the gpx file into the GPX folder on your Etrex.

Follow up

Thanks again. Yes, maybe I am making it more complex, but then what is the easy way to (1) handle PQ and (2) individual downloads. I agree the BC seems to be the best way for PQs but not sure about qu2. FYI I've had the eTrex30 for almost 2 yrs, always struggled to get this to work 100% reliably, geocache very regularly, and have reasonable computer skills... so something just feels wrong. It should be easier. It feels like there is a conflict between PQ geocache data and individual cache GPX files.

For example, your reply says BC writes to the GPX folder on the eTrex30.
First question then, what does it write ? One GPX(?) file per cache or one GPX file for all cache data in BC ? (this might influence what I am talking about above I think.
Second, do you know the default file name ? I ask because when I look in the eTrex GPX folder I can not see any files other than those downloaded directly from geocaching.com.
The geocaching.com map interface allows files to be downloaded direct to a linked GPS via Garmin Communicator but it does not seem to allow you save to the PC first.

It depends ... :)

BC will generally write one gpx file that contains all the data you send at the same time. If you send caches one at a time you'll get a whole list of gpx files, send 10 and they'll all be wrapped up in one file. But really you needn't get down in the weeds like this, BC handles all of that for you so you just need to look at what it's telling you is there and add/delete as required.

As I've tried to explain, BC will handle any gpx file, doesn't matter whether you want to import a PQ containing hundreds of files or an individual gpx file with just one cache. You're correct that geocaching.com wants to write individual files to a GPS. You can either do that then copy the cache across from your Etrex into BC. Or do what I do. I have a usb stick permanently installed in one of my rear USB ports. I've copied the Garmin folder and it's GarminDevice.xml file from my Etrex to that stick, so geocaching.com sees that as my Etrex so I can download files to that without having my Etrex connected. I can then import gpx files from there into BC if I need to.

Follow up

Once again thanks for the help. I think I will try to see if I can find the BC gpx file on the eTrex. I think I need to try a few more things with BC to find the reliable way to do it so that I don't get into the field and discover I don't have the info I thought I had on the eTrex which has been happening....