CompassCollector

Sorry, but you're missing a step. I use EasyGPS for transferring waypoints; I've never used GSAK. But with GPX Spinner, I am able to customize my waypoint data so that I can tell the cache's name, GC I.D. number, terrain and difficulty rating, cache type, whether or not I've already found the cache, and whether or not it has a travel bug in it... all on my GPS screen. I have managed to find a couple of caches using the combination of EasyGPS, Spinner/Plucker, and Watcher. It works well for me. I know I'm sacrificing some advanced features, and that certain tasks take more time for me to complete. I am OK with that. Maybe someday I'll upgrade, maybe not. I just wanted to point out that there's an intermediate level that's entirely free, and is easy to learn for someone who's not a computer programmer. The beauty of having such a wealth of tools is that you can use whatever suits your style. Also, there's no harm in trying out the free software first.

Typically I cache with my children, and trading is a big part of it for them. So I carry swag of various values so that I can always have them trade fairly. When I have all three of my kids with me, it's typical that they'll want more than one item from a cache. Sometimes (not often) I'll let them trade two items. That's also why I carry so much other stuff (first-aid supplies, extra water). [edited for spelling]

All (or nearly all) of the features in GSAK can be found in other programs. In the past I have used ClayJar's Watcher, EasyGPS, gpsbable, gpx2html, GPX Spinner, Plucker, ExpertGPS, and probably some others I've forgotten. GSAK is nice because it does 90% of what I need in one interface. I still use other programs from time to time, but I keep the data in GSAK and push it out to other formats from there as needed. It uses other programs under the hood (cmconvert, gpsbable, perhaps others) and does a good job of putting a single interface on all of it. I use a Palm Zire 72 and put the waypoints on the SD card, which CacheMate supports.

The N and W coordinates are Lat and Lon. However there are several ways to represent the same thing. Here are the same coordinates in different formats: Degrees, with decimal minutes: N 37° 01.144, W 121° 37.264 Decimal degrees: 37.019067,-121.621067 Degrees, Minutes, Seconds: N 37 01 08.64, W 121 37 15.84 UTM: 10S E 622665 N 4097876 Geocaching.com uses Degrees with decimal minutes. If you find yourself needing to switch formats a lot, I recommend Fizzymagic's Geocalc app: http://www.fizzymagic.net/Geocaching/GeoCalc/GeoCalc.html

LOL!

I use an old daypack my wife was going to give to goodwill. It has three main compartments inside, some inside pockets, and two mesh pockets outside. I've modified it slightly so I can hang my gps and Palm Zire 72 on the shoulder straps. If I want to look 'casual' I only use one strap. Inside I carry swag (of course) two compasses or more (depending on how many of my kids are going with me) a folding knife, a magnesium fire starter, gloves, flashlight, headlamp, benadryl gel, a first-aid kit, bug wipes, and usually some snack food for the kids. Outside I usually carry water, although sometimes I stuff my gloves in one of the outside pockets. Yeah, it can get heavy.

Thats all right. We practice getting offended for no reason whatsoever.

There have been at least two reported cases of cachers finding human remains. Doesn't get much weirder than that.

Other advantages to CacheMate vs HTML & Plucker: - I can re-sort the caches from any set of coordinates - When I log a find in CM, it automatically moves it to the 'found' dataset, which I can select to see or hide - It's faster than generating the HTML export On the other hand, I used to use GSAK + Plucker and import the HTML that way. It worked fine, so whatever floats your boat.

Just curious since I haven't used it, but what does Cachemate do that the HTML option in GSAK doesn't? The description on the Cachemate page sounds very similar to GSAK. Am I missing out on something whammo? The big difference for me between using CacheMate vs HTML & plucker, is that with CacheMate you can store the database on an SD card. It's easier for me to drag and drop the CM database onto the SD card than it is to sync up the PDA with plucker.

You're assuming that they don't already.

I don't think it's unrealistic, especially if you make it a requirement to log the cache. I've been pondering something like that for a while and am considering it for a girl-scout cache we're going to be placing in november: Find the cache, take a bag, fill the bag, take a pic with a full bag next to a trash can in order to log the cache. Check with your local approver.

Some people collect them, if they are still in the original bag.

As I understand it (and someone more knowledgable on the actual algorithms used should feel free to correct me) a large part of the variability of accuracy depends on the angle between the sattelites that are 'visible' to the GPSr at the moment. The larger the angle (lower in the sky) then the more accurate. If all of the visible sats are close to zenith (such as in a canyon, or in tree cover), then the calculations are less accurate.

I embraced my geekdom a long time ago. For christmas my kids got me a black t-shirt with the single word 'Geek' on it.

testing sig links

I'm biased, which should be obvious, but I think that a good, inexpensive baseplate compass (which can be purchased for as little as $10) is essential in geocaching, even in well lit, mapped, urban areas. Why? Triangulation. If your GPS goes wonky near the cache site due to signal difficulties (trees, mountains, buildings, etc) then you stand off 100 feet or so, get the best signal you can, and shoot the bearing with the compass. Move sideways another 100 feet, repeat, and you now have a pretty good idea of where the cache should be. So yes, I always carry a compass. Now, which compass should I take today... ?

Mine are all here now too. It looks like the problem will have been on gmail's end. The timestamps in the emails shows them being sent out shortly after they were generated, but not arriving in my mailbox for 4 to 6 hours.

I haven't seen mine yet either, but just for grins and giggles, I sent a test email to my gmail account from my yahoo account... and it hasn't arrived yet either. Looks like a gmail problem?

I have the avery software plus adobe PDF, and can "print" to PDF files. If someone needs a particular sticker for a particular label, drop me a line.

my $0.02 - I reuse plastic shopping bags, and slap a neon sticker on the bag that says "A GeoCacher was here" and "Volunteer trash collection provided by a geocacher - www.geocaching.com", and put the bag in or next to (if it is full) the trash bin. Never hurts to give the sport good PR.

Yes, GSAK is free... for now. For my $15 I get to download updates a day before you.

I have a huge bag of them I got from the local walmart, which represents perhaps a day or two of processing for them. Places that have one-hour drop off service frequently have more than they can handle, and will gladly give them to you. WalMart, Longs, Target, etc, etc, etc.

I bumped this thread because I think it goes along with this one. I like the Groundspeak CITO bags and stickers too, and I may get some for a CITO event or semi-permanent CITO cache. But yeah, there's no way you're going to get a 20-gal bag in a 35-mm film can. I once got a 10-gal tall kitchen bag in one, but it wasn't fun. The standard plastic grocery bag fits just fine. I really like the film can idea. I carry 4 or 5 with me all the time, because the small backpack I use has loops for film. Thats why I did up the bag labels; I got the idea from the big yellow CITO bags anyway. I wanted a way to signal that a geocacher had done the cleanup, so now I carry a folded sheet of bag labels along with the CITO cans. When I trash out, I tie the bag(s) and put a label on it.

bump