valntine

One more little question - now that I have the map. The list of caches along the side. You can tell it to show numbers next to the caches which relate to the GC number/name list on the side of the map. Unfortunately, the list scrolls inside a window so if you try to take a picture you lose some of the info (unless you have a very small list). It doesn't seem to lend itself to cutting and pasting very well either. In a perfect world, I would have the map showing the caches with the GC number next to them. Congested maps might require using the reference number from the side as presently shown but then you need to have the key (ref number - gc number) list and that is ok too but how to get that all important list? Yes, I have the gpx file loaded in the garmin but I can't see an overview map. Same problem with the iPaq. I really want to look at my printed map, choose a GC location based upon my overall desired direction from where I am at that moment (may be running out of time, need to replan route on the fly, etc.) and select that GC from My Favorites in the GPS and launch. Having a visual map with the GCs or at least reference numbers and a list of their related GCs would be so perfect. Got a solution for that?

Whoa .....You Da Man ! That's exactly what I wanted !!!!!! Thanks

GPS Visualizer looks good - the map is a bit small but perhaps that can be changed. Thanks.

I have a wonderful little system going for caching with my Nuvi 350. I run a pocket query and drop the resulting gpx file into the favorites folder on the nuvi and they are all available (erase old favorites first). I drop the same gpx file onto my iPaq and the gpsview software has all the information about the caches the nuvi is finding. This works equally well for caches in a radius or along a route. No paper! Well almost. It is still useful to have a map so you can kind of determine where to go especially if there are two caches showing up 2 miles away in opposite directions. Nothing like the old eyeball. To accomplish the map I have just done a view and zoomed to the proper level, done a print screen to the clipboard and pasted it into photoshop. With a quick crop and resize I have a pretty serviceable map. If I'm planning an "expedition" I usually write the gc numbers next to the cache on the map for handy reference. That way if you have to make some last minute changes you can quickly see where things are. This all works well except the map doesn't reflect the results of the pocket query. For instance, I like to do only traditionals and I can filter the map view to show only traditionals but if I am going some distance I may only want to do caches that are terrain level 1.5 or less or difficulty 1.5 or less or perhaps I only want large caches - no micros in the woods. I can do all this with the pocket query but the map from the search page doesn't offer this level of refinement. As a result, I may have a map showing many more caches than my pocket query has returned. My question (finally) is - How do you display the results of a pocket query in a map similar to the search page. Don't say google earth because I want a plin map like the search page with streets, etc. without all the photo-landscape stuff. I'm sure there is a way but so far the solution has eluded me. What I'd really like is the mapit button when I view the results of the pocket query. Any suggestions?

I suppose it is a little bit disturbing when you first think about it but.... the point of putting caches out is for people to find them. I know from caching with my friends that my gps is far more accurate than theirs is. Is that cheating because I have better technology? Nah - he still finds more than me. I have a friend that gets a notification on his cell and jumps up in the middle of the night to drive miles to get the FTF. I need my beauty rest. Is he cheating? So, if someone is clever enough and determined enough to triangulate travel bugs to "poach" a cache - who cares? They must have wanted to get it more than I did. Have at it! I was miffed at one point when a virtual army of professionals set out to find a series of my caches. Then someone pointed out that it was a great opportunity for people to get together, socialize and have fun doing what they like to do and that I was a contributor to that by placing the caches. I thought about that and I realized that they were right! The point of caching is to meet interesting people, see different places and have fun. So, enjoy finding and putting out caches and relax. Its only a game.

What is mapsource - is that a program that you get with a garmin gps or do you have to buy it or is it a free download? It looks to me like it is a seperate program on Garmin site.

I'm going on a trip. I create the klm file in Google Earth. I download it and then upload it to geocaching and create a pocket query with it. I get the pocket query results - all good. Normally when you run a pocket query you can preview it (see the caches on a google map). That lets you grab some screen shots, print them, make notes, etc. When I generate the pocket query from a route, I don't have that option. I can see the individual waypoints and a map of that location and data about it but I can't get a "global" picture of my entire route. It is possible to see something in google earth but it is all muddied up by the satelite imagery. I'd like to see it in something like google maps where you could see the routes and caches clearly. Anyone have any suggestions?

I'm pretty new at this but I've found a few of each size hide including one micro the size of a pencil eraser. The log inside was so tiny you had to unroll it and just add your initials. I searched for it several times and when I found it I was shocked - I hadn't imagined anything that small. It seems to me that there is a place for caches like that - probably not out in the woods on top of a mountain but as someone noted - "I'd rather search for one of these in public than stuck on a rail behind a smelly dumpster in the back of a strip mall." It probably would help all concerned though if an additional category was added so that you could filter them out of pocket queries. I don't like solving puzzles or doing multis so filtering those out makes my experience much better. Filtering out nanos might make other's better as well.

I thought I saw a link somewhere on the site where you could run a list or query of all the log entries that were added for the previous day. (hopefully limited by a range). I'd like to run something today (Monday) that would show me all the log entries for caches within say ten miles of my home so I could see who found what. It would be much more interesting than having to try and troll them all up one by one. I'm sure I saw something like this but I can't find it now. Help?

Learning, learning, learning. After reading this forum and doing some other research I had a great weekend of caching with my Nuvi 350. I'll start by saying that I became a premium member - well worth it to have access to the pocket queries. Here is my current method. I run a pocket query (show me fifty caches, within ten miles, all traditional, not found by me, hide my finds). I receive the zip file and unzip it to get the gpx file. I downloaded the custom POI loader from Garmin. Using the Custom POI loader I read the gpx file and upload them to the Nuvi. On the Where To? menu there is now a new selection "Custom POI" Pop the Nuvi in your car and pull up the custom POI list. It will show the distance from you and the relative direction. You can select one at any time but if you leave this up while driving around you will see the list changing as the Nuvi recalculates. Pick one and the usual screen with coordinates AND a description will pop up. There is also a chance to view a map to see where it is. Hit Go and follow the Nuvi street directions to get therr. When you arrive and park. DO THIS. Stop the trip (red button). Now on navigation setting switch to off road and pedestrian mode. This stops it from trying to drag you back to a road. Now, go back to recently selected and hit the cache id again and hit GO. The nuvi will draw a straight line from your position to the cache - no roads. As long as you are moving it will recalculate your position and all you have to do is follow the magenta line to the cache - no trying to calculate the N and W or opening up the satellite view (unless you like to do math in your head). When you get to the cache the voice will probably even say "arriving at GCXXXX" Yeah. Stop the route (red button) Find the cache and then (assuming you have cleared your favorites) look at recently selected again and choose the cache ID again but click "add to favorites". Then back out. If you do this, when you get home you can look at your favorites to see all the caches you found. Remember to clear them out once you log them. I haven't used a gps with a compass finder but following the straight line on the Nuvi while walking is pretty easy you can see when you're off course compared to the line - I like the triangle avatar instead of the cars to make it easier. Don't forget to set the navigation back for vehicles by reversing the pedestrian and off road settings. Now, there are ways to get all the details into the nuvi if you don't want to be lugging around paper but it seems a bit complicated. If you happen to have a pda (I have a iPaq pocket pc) you can get a program like gpxview that will read the same gpx file that you loaded into the nuvi and give you a nice list of all of your caches. You can sort by name or by id and when you click on one all the details and even the last four log entries come up. Way better than pieces of paper getting crumpled and wet and falling all over the place. With these two pieces of technology working I was able to go paperless all weekend. I hope this helps you Nuvi owners. It has been mentioned elsewhere but don't forget that the Nuvi isn't waterproof, shockproof, etc. so you'll have to treat it a little more gently but when it comes to getting you around unfamiliar places to locate a cache - the Nuvi does a great job. A little more complicated to use out of the car but once you get it to draw a straight line from your car to the cache - hey how hard can it be?

Just a quick test.

How do you switch the Nuvi to pedestrian and off road????