AshleyK

Not true. If you are a Joe Public member you can only download the.loc file and that only contains the main cache listing coords, which may or may not be part of the multi cache. To get a download of all the visible waypoints you need to be a paying member to get access to the .gpx file. Many multi and puzzle caches use the waypoints (have to) to give the end user the places to get the next part of the puzzle or mini cache containing part of the final clue. If this is the case, then the system needs to be made a whole lot simpler for people to add them - i.e. just a list will do, rather than the tedious way in which you currently have to do each one, one by one. If the main purpose is to help the reviewer, then all the additional information is not required - does it really matter to them that what a waypoint is, if the purpose of the exercise is to avoid duplication? Actually I'd go further and say that if this really is the case, then people don't need to describe trail heads, car parks et etc because they are not actually part of the cache and may be duplicated by other cache listings If this is the case, then why present them at all on the cache listing?

The point that I think everyone has been making is that 'the system' as it currently stands is causing people to duplicate effort to get around the inadequacies of the system. That's what needs addressing. Not the reiteration a set of rules, which we all knew about anyway. Perhaps you'd care to comment on the other point I make about .loc files and having to pay in order to get the full waypoint list?

I read this thread with interest when trying to solve a related problem; Why can't I see additional waypoints in the .loc file that I download as a non-premium member? As has been pointed out several times, when setting up a cache (I set up my first just recently) you are actively encouraged to use the AW feature for puzzle or multi caches. This is fine as long as a/ they are available to the general public to download. It appears that you have to be a paying site member for this to happen, and b/ that the information is correctly downloadable when it is available. IMHO, making people pay to play the game is sort of against the spirit. No problem with Groundspeak making dosh to run things on ancillary services, but not to play. Clearly the programming team and/or management need to sort this one out PDQ 'cus else I'd recommend everyone ignores the active encouragement to use AWs and reverts back to the old method of listing them in the description

Can't quite bring myself to throw out the maps yet so I'm afraid they'll have to stay :-) Checked out the spreadsheet which seemed to give errors on the short initial testing I did (gave N 52° 17.064 W 000° 39.239 as being in the TL grid when it is in the SP grid [Waypoint GCHXQQ]) and then failed to work at all on second try On my Garmin GPS II+, changing datum systems is a little clumsy to have to do on a more than infrequent basis. As all of these kind suggestions are workarounds, does anyone know why GB OS ref are not used in body text for UK listings? I can't be the only bod who uses a map anymore!

This may well be the wrong forum and if it is, please redirect me to the right one. However, I notice UK cache listings display the coords in WGS84 (I believe) but more importantly (or at least where I'm concerned) they give the OS Map reference. This is great as I have my garmin set up for GB OS as well, and the maps I use are GB OS. This means I can use the map straight away to decide which way to point the car in. (Actually, and again where I'm concerned, it means that I can mark the location on the map so when I'm out and about I can quickly locate places that might be close to where I am working that day) However when you read down any of the listings and the author mentions that perhap you should park at xxxx, the coords are always in WGS84 and no helpful GB OS reference is given Does anyone know if this: - can be rectified? - has been asked for so many times people have given up? - just illustrative of my ancient ways and I should throw out the map? Any help would be appreciated.

This may well be the wrong forum and if it is, please redirect me to the right one. However, I notice UK cache listings display the coords in WGS84 (I believe) but more importantly (or at least where I'm concerned) they give the OS Map reference. This is great as I have my garmin set up for GB OS as well, and the maps I use are GB OS. This means I can use the map straight away to decide which way to point the car in. (Actually, and again where I'm concerned, it means that I can mark the location on the map so when I'm out and about I can quickly locate places that might be close to where I am working that day) However when you read down any of the listings and the author mentions that perhap you should park at xxxx, the coords are always in WGS84 and no helpful GB OS reference is given Does anyone know if this: - can be rectified? - has been asked for so many times people have given up? - just illustrative of my ancient ways and I should throw out the map? Any help would be appreciated.