Peztone

People amaze me..when do we start the intelligence testing & subsequent cull? I have some spare Ammo cans if you want a replacement, they are the smaller type. -S.

Wrong. All you need is cachemate. You get the pocket queries delivered to you in email. You unzip them. You use "Cachemate convertor" a program that comes with cachemate to convert the pocket query into cachemate friendly format You sync your PDA and all the caches are loaded into cachemate complete with descriptions & hints. Cachemate is all the software you need. -S.

I have Fugawi UK on my iQue, it works fine, the interface is a little odd but once you get the hang of it it's fine. There's a bug in OS5 on the iQue which leaves the last used map resident in memory, so I had to create a 1k map which I load after each session to free up RAM. You can load a map which looks just like an OS map, showing all footpaths etc. and if you took the time to turn the cache locations into waypoints you will have them on the map too, you can load .gpx or .loc files straight into fugawi, you'll have to go via the Fugawi software. What other specific questions do you have? -S.

I just don't get it.. there are a million female cachers on this thread, yet every time I meet a young lady then at some point mention I like Geocaching they roll their eyes & start edging away from the geek! ...and yet when you read the profiles on dating sites all women seem to like a walk on the beach, how much more fun would that be if there were added caches! I'll never understand women -S. (For "s"olo cacher)

Hope you're not going for huge numbers around Cambridge, we don't have that many! If I'm not working that weekend I'll drop you a line on here & we'll tick some off I'm sure.. -S.

Hi Jeff, Search the forum all the info is here, try this thread for starters: http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...c=69237&hl=3600

I've found the best way to do that is mark them "found" so they go into the found directory, then tick the "bookmark" box on the cache "info" page, that way the one's to log online are the red ones in your found directory. -Steve

If you own an iQue you need to use this forum: PDA Street iQue section. Now, to address your question. All you really need is "Cachemate" get it here: Smittyware You'll need to pay to be a premium member of geocaching.com so you can download "pocket queries" these allow you to do searches for caches in your area, and then download them in bulk, I have 1500 in my iQue. Download the caches in .gpx format, then use "cacheconvertor" program that comes with cachemate to convert them for the iQue, hotsync, and viola! you're all set. Check out the "plug-ins" folder in the cachemate download too, there are plugins to make it interface with the iQue even better, like exporting caches to the address book so they show up on the map etc.. Also, search this forum, we have loads of threads going into more detail about all this Good luck and may your Que serve you well.. -Steve

I have a virtual in a graveyard, I placed it because my friend who's grave it marks seemed lonely whenever I visited him.. I'm sure the trail of strangers wandering through makes him smile. I deliberately made it a virtual to stop it just being a "game" -S.

1) It doesn't have (as standard) a 'navigation' page 2) With the GPS active and the backlight on, the battery life can be measured in minutes. I love Cachemate as much as the next man.. I rely on the dadgum thing in fact, but I've found the Pointer in the free software "Cetus" to be more accurate, no idea why, but in the crucial last 10 feet it does seem more responsive. The power problem is easily solved with a 4xAA external battery pack, I did a test at home, screen on, GPS active, 10 hours non-stop. It will also charge an iQue from flat in about 30 minutes. Do you use the backlight when caching with the Que? turn it off and the internal battery will go for a continuous 2 hours, I just switch the Que on now & then while hiking & have never had power problems. I'm currently building a handheld "sled" for the Que which will have 4xAA batteries and a Gilsson external antenna on it, I'll conquor tree cover if it kills me -Steve

I use an iQue for road navigation and Geocaching and it simply Rocks, my single favourite piece of technology. One downside for caching, it's not waterproof, it's fabulous in every other dept.

In your orginal cachemate download zip file there should be a file called iQuemapping.prc install it and the "map" button will appear -S.

To address these two questions: 1. after you've exported to cetus go to the "page" menu in cetus and select "position" then go to the "list" menu and select "select database" the cache you exported from cachemate will be there with it's jolly long ID number.. hit "goto" and there's your pointer, to get the distance to cache "view" menu select "destination". 2. To export to the address book hit the "map" button at the bottom of the cache page.

Don't bother with .loc files, they don't have all the information in them, as previous posters have said get cachemate, but download .gpx files, then you will have all the descriptions and hints for caches. I have 1500 caches in my iQue, I use cachemate to organise them, I export them to the Que address book for voice guidance to the trailhead, or local proximity to the cache, then I export from cachemate to cetus for the compass pointer to guide me in (I find cetus more accurate than cachemates built in compass) Log the find in cachemate, "Find nearest cache" and then off you go again.. As long as you don't drop it or get it wet the Que is a great tracking tool. You may want to visit this forum for up to date iQue news: PDA Street iQue section

Hmm.. first day of BST, that means they have an extra hour of sunlight today, I hope that doesn't skew the sweepstake Wonder where they are now...

I've never had a power problem with my Que, it charges between caches in the car, then when I get on the trial I turn the backlight off (It's easily bright enough in daylight) and head off hiking.. in my pocket I have a 4xAA battery charger just incase the Que runs down, but I've never needed to use it. I don't walk miles staring at the screen though, if I can see I'm walking half a mile in a straight line I switch it off and look at the scenery I'd guess with the backlight off I get around 4 hours out of the Que, I once did a test at home with the 4xAA battery pack attached and it went 11 hours with no problem. I couldn't trade it for a 60c now because I've become attached to having all those Cache descriptions in there, as an example I finished work at 3pm today 100 miles from home, a quick "find nearest cache" later and I was deep in the woods looking for a cache, with a 60c I'd have had to plan the trip the day before to make sure I had the caches local to the job in the thing and even then I wouldn't have the descriptions & hints.. I know I'll drop it one day and then I'll start moaning about its fragility, but for now I'm 100% with it as a caching machine. -S.

I have to add my 10c.. With Cachemate the iQue is a formidable caching machine. I download my pocketqueries use cmconvert to add them to the Que, this is painless and takes seconds. I now have 1500 UK caches in my iQue, complete with descriptions, hints, coordinates etc, I know that wherever I am if I get a spare half an hour I can "Find nearest caches" in cachemate and there will be one closeby. I then export the result to the iQues mapping software, have the Que guide me to the cache on road, then I get out of the car launch Cachemates CacheNav plugin and go caching.. When I find the cache, I log it in cachemate, it gets filed under "found" and I'm all set for another cache. The only drawback to the Que as far as I can see is that it isn't waterproof. But then neither am I. -S.

By jingo you're right, I didn't log that one, no idea why, if you look at my stats you an see I usually do log DNF's (I'm not proud!) 20 mins per cache plus travelling? I can't wait to see how many you manage.. I'd love to come along, but I'm working the other end of the country on Saturday & doubt I'd make the early start.. Good luck anyway! -S.

Rotherhithe to Rickmansworth at that time of the day an easy 45 mins.. Watford to Gatwick on a Sunday evening is hobsons choice, I'd give it 2 hours just in case you run into Sunday drivers. It's 1 hour dead if all goes well.. You realise your day is doomed right? starting at the evil "where 4 corners meet" will take you until at least lunchtime.. (Said the bitter DNF'er...) -S.

I use Cetus too, it's just another compass arrow with "goto" but it's free and sometimes works better than cachenav, sometimes not

I've suffered at the hands of Tree fellers twice this week, on one of the cache pages the owners said they'd "taken a look at the site" but they didn't say they'd removed it.. which they had.. 2 hours wasted there then. mutter grumble.

The north up concept!! yes! he did that too.. held the GPS at 45 degrees to "up" ..and ran sideways... I won't be showing him this thread, just the thought that I mentioned it would set him off, at the court today I told a room full of attractive young ladies that he'd "run down a hill a little faster than his legs and taken a spill" they all burst out laughing & he could do nothing more than join in.. He wouldn't talk about Geocaching though, I did a cache close to the job, his only comment: "I've had it with that stupid game.." "Game?" My friend, it's a treat for the mind & body which only the truly enlightened can appreciate.. -Steve

Today I travelled from my home in Suffolk 250 miles to work in North Wales, on the way I planned to doa few caches to stop me getting bored. During the drive I landed up in convoy with my work buddy who I have worked with for 15 years.. he's a placid funny chap who I get on with very well, I called him on the cellphone and asked if he wanted to do a cache with me as I figured he could do with another hobby and I could get him into geocaching.. We approached "Happy Meal" which is right by the road we were driving up, so no big detour, parked the cars, I loaded the coordinates into my iQue, launched CacheNav, explained to my friend that the arrow is pointing to the cache and the distance would count down as he neared the target.. then... WHOOSH! off he went like a greyhoud out of a trap. I ran after him wondering what the panic was.. I treat geocaching like a gentle stroll in the country, he was a man posessed! I caught up with him at the top of a path in some trees looking confused; "The arrows going mad!" he cried, "yeah it's the tree cover, just walk about a bit and get a consensus I offered.. "ZOOOM!!!.." he went, dashing this way & that, it was at this point I broke out the clue, it was helpful, but not a giveaway, the GPS wouldn't give us an accurate fix, but the clue was good enough for us to start searching the rocks all around us.. he was dashing about like a lunatic screaming "It's not here! it's not here!" "yes, I explained, that's the fun, hunting for it.." "eh?" he replied before scrambling up a muddy bank with my precious iQue in his left hand.. then it started to snow.. We were in shirtsleeves and getting soaked wasn't on the agenda so started to make our way back to the car.. once I was under a clear sky I looked at the GPS (I'd taken it back off him because he was going to break it!) the cache was 300 feet away, "It's over there" I said.. VROOOOM! he went away from the cars into the snow.. "NO!! I shouted, not that way!" "I want to look over HERE!" he shouted back like a 2 year old.. "It's not there" I muttered like a disapointed father.. I started making my way back to the car.. then from behind me I heard the sound of someone running reeeeally fast, we were going down a hill. ..now, we all remember being 9 years old and running down a hill don't we.. we all remember how our bodies started going faster than our legs and then the inevitable... VRRROOOOOM CRASH! SKIIIIDDDDD.. rolled the 39 year old business professional past me in the mud & shingle... Tomorrow we have work to do in the County Court, my friend has mud splattered trousers and a pronounced limp. I ticked off an easier cache later in the drive, he watched from his car, I don't think I converted a newbie. (And who knew my placid, father of 2, sensible friend is actually a lunatic??) -Steve

Yes, the batt extender does charge the internal battery, takes about 30 mins for a full charge if you're not using it, longer if you are. Yes you can load mapsource & topo maps, get a 512meg memory card and have them all available at the same time, I have "Fugawi" UK topo maps in mine which are as detailed as you can get. I said earrlier that it's lack of ruggedness is it's only downfall but I'm happy to run that risk, I don't do any climbing/scrambling unless it's safely in my inside pocket and I have both hands free so it's no big deal to me. Having said that you can get an "otter box" for it which out ruggeds any stand alone GPS... -S.

That's how I cache, and the iQue has gone all day under those conditions, however I do carry a 4xAA battery extender box in my pocket just in case (I've never needed to use it), it's a tiny thing to carry. As an experiment I plugged the battery box into the iQue, put the backlight on, and left it playing MP3's at high volume through headphones, it lasted 14 hours...