wheretheskygrows

I did not read all 10 pages, so if someone answered this, I apologize. Do you need to have a Dataplan to use WAP? (On verizon)

I guess it's not really an event, but more of a chance for people to get together, cook some burgers, play some frisbee, and search for caches. If there are other recreational options (fishing, boating), that would be great too. Nothing spectacular. Just need a place with several caches in one area. Camping in the park, and/or a hotel nearby would be good, too. I know this isn't Northern New Jersey, but how about Spruce Run SP? Seems like a bunch of caches there. (There would be people traveling from CT, NY, Philly, NJ, etc, so I'm trying to find a centrally located place.) Thanks for the suggestions!

Hello, from NEPA. I don't get out as much as I would like, but I love it, still the same!

I'd like to plan an event in Nothern New Jersey or Western New York where people can come, hang out for a day, have a cookout and search for caches. Maybe 6-12 caches? Does anybody know the best place that might have several caches for a group of newbies to hunt? I'm not from those areas, so I'm a little unfamiliar with what kind of parks exist. Thanks!

What's everybody's take on tiny mico caches that are so difficult to find because they are hidden in very touristy areas where there are hundreds of muggles around? I just came back from vacationing in Florida, and most of the caches I tried to find were DNFs. They were hidden so close to very high traffic areas, that I started to look like a criminal (bending over and looking under things, on top of things... all while other vacationers were staring). I love this sport, and I am grateful to people who hide caches - they are what makes this sport continue on. But it's kind of frustrating when a cache is so hard to find because a) it's smaller than car key, and it's somewhere that has a ton of people milling about.

Ok great. Thanks! Now I just need to figure out how to pay for one!!

I was reading some threads on the 300/400, and it sounds really sweet. So, I assume, I don't need programs like GSAK or Cachemate?

I've been out of the caching loop for a while now, but I want to get back into it. My Garmin eTrex Legend died a while back, so I'm in the market for a new GPS unit. Back when I was going paperless, I downloaded my pocket queries and imported them into GSAK. Then I transfered the files to the Legend and to a Sony Clie, and took both out on trips with me. Between a camera, a cell phone, a GPS unit and the Clie, it was just too many gadgets for being outdoors. I'd like to consolodate. So, is there anything out there now that allows me to do this in less steps and less gadgets? A GPS unit that holds the GPX files, too, perhaps? TIA.

I recently was given a Garmin eTrex Legend after my GPS unit died. I'm planning on using this for a few more months until I buy a new one. Does anyone use this GPS unit? And if so, do you use the "route" feature? I am not clear exactly how to use this feature and don't have any documentation. I created a pocket query for my route and transferred all those waypoints to the unit already. So what exactly would the route do? Thanks in advance.

Totally agree with this. I bought a Sony Clie on ebay about 3 years ago for about 80 bucks. I installed Cachemate on it, and I load all my caches into that on the PDA. Nothing fancy, but is sure beats carrying reams of paper around the woods!

wow, thanks for the responses. i forgot about google earth. i actually started playing around with Mapbuilder.net, which lets you import a CSV file (which you can create from GSAK), then plots the points for you and creates a Google map. It works great, but obviously you need a webpage to view the map. Ideally, i'd love to be able to save the map locally to my PC. Thanks again.

Hi, is there a way to take a pocket query and put those caches onto a geocaching.com map? I like the idea of seeing the proximity of caches to each other. If there's no way to take pocket query caches and put them onto a geocaching map, is there a way to input the caches into another map (mapquest, google, etc). If this has been discussed, I do apologize.

Wow, thanks everybody for your help and suggestions. Appreciate it. I'm using a Venture. I would guess that it wouldn't matter -- it's still a Garmin. I'm pretty sure I have the most recent Cachemate, but I'll double check when I get home tonight. Thanks. Thank you. I will look into this. Do you agree that I need #PSTGS? (Since I have a Venture) I've tried every setting, so that's what made me think it was the cable. If it is indeed supposed to be set to Garmin, I will make sure that I keep it that way. Thanks.

Yes. However, technically you can carry the waypoints in the PDA using Cachemate (or something similar) and you don't necessarily need to upload the waypoints to the GPS. But it helps if you are in the field, and decide you want more waypoints in the GPS that weren't there. (if that makes sense). Also, in theory, if the two are hooked up with a cable, certain mapping software on the PDA can show your tracking in real time. That's my goal, but so far, it hasn't been working out.

Just curious if there is a way to get the "real time" functionality of USAPhotoMaps on a PDA with Palm 4.1? I've been able to view the JPGs, but it would be neat if I could get the actual program on my PDA. Thanks.

I also have a Venture. Here's what I did. --Downloaded EasyGPS --Became a premium member of GC.com --Created a PQ --Realized GSAK was the best thing since sliced bread. I now use that instead of EasyGPS Like the others have said, to add a waypoint, go to the main menu and click on mark. Adjust the number to the waypoint you want to add. Then click GOTO. It will then guide you (well sometimes ) to that waypoint. Or you can load all the .loc or .gpx files into GSAK or EasyGPS and send them automatically to your GPS. That takes some setting up I'm sure, but you can do it.

I'm not sure but I think the pocket query gets emailed to you as a zip file. So there's no need to 'run the search'. Once you hit 'submit information', your pocket query goes into que and it will get emailed to you when it runs. Then you download the zip file, unzip it, and the file will be a .gpx file, which you can then open in GSAK (and however many caches were in your PQ will be in there) I've only done a few pocket queries and I haven't quite figured out the many uses for them. Good luck!

Does anyone use the combo cables that include a cigarette lighter adapter that charges and powers the PDA, and simultaneously powers the GPS? Just curious. I can get the single interface that connects my Clie to my eTrex, but wondering if I really need the car charger that will charge both. Is it really worth it?

I also have a Sony Clie and I know the feeling of frustration! It took me a while to figure it out, but I think I finally got the hang of it. Here's what I did: Became a premium member and created pocket queries. Loaded the pocket query into GSAK (http://gsak.net/). That gave me all the information that you find on the individual cache pages. I installed Cachemate onto my Clie. Then I exported the GSAK file to my Clie, where Cachemate organizes all the individual cache pages with hints, descriptions, past finds, etc. In this example, after you have Cachemate installed on your PDA, GSAK can export the caches in the form of a Cachemate PDB file. Once you do that, you hotsync that file to your Clie.

There's a setting in GSAK (just as there is in CMConvert) in the CacheMate file export dialog box that controls the max. number of past logs to put into the PDB file. In CMConvert, this defaults to 0... it might be the same in GSAK. You just need to set it to something more than that. Thanks! That was it. I found the settings in the CMConverter.exe application. It worked! It's amazing what can be done with these programs. Kudos to everyone involved in creating software for this hobby.

GPS Tuner can take any picture and use it as a map. You just need 2 known coordinates on the map to calibrate it then your GPS will show where you are on the picture as you move. Cool. Thanks, I'll try it out!

I'm also using Cachemate on my Sony Clie SJ22. So far, I love GSAK and sending waypoints to the PDA is a breeze. Does anyone know -- can you get past finds in Cachemate when you transfer the .gpx files from GSAK to PDA? I'm able to get descriptions and hints, but no finds. And the only thing I don't have yet is the cable to send waypoints from PDA to GPS (Garmin Venture) I'm also using USAPhotoMaps to plot the caches, saving as .jpg file and transferring to PDA. I haven't quite figured out how to view my progress on my PDA with the points on the map. If anyone has suggestions on how to do that with this program or a different one, I'd be super happy. Now all I need is to actually start looking for caches.

I had the same problem, and the dummy that I am, the batteries in my GPS were almost dead. That could be it.

Great. Thanks! I'll take a look at both suggestions. I think I'm finally getting the hang of all these software/hardware setups. One program I like is USAPhotoMaps. I'm not quite sure yet of its capabilities, but I'm working on it. I guess my concern was that, in order to get "real time" progress on my PDA, does it need to be connected to my laptop, which has wireless internet access. I can't see walking around in the woods with a gps, pda and laptop all hooked together. That seems crazy. And my PDA isn't internet-enabled. I guess the best way to figure all this out is by trial and error, and by just diving in!

Hi, I am having a hard time finding a post I read last week. Someone stated that it's possible to hook your PDA up to your GPS using a cable, and with certain software, you can track where you are going and see your progress in real time. Did I imagine this, or is it really possible? I have a Sony Clie and eTrex Venture. What software do I need in order to do this? Any help would be great. Thanks!