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I use an older IPAQ 3670 running PocketPC 2002. It works great with a Transplant GPS CF that plugs into the sleeve. You will want to try out the following programs: 1. GPx Sonar -- uses the GPX Pocket Queries to bring the information with you. No more paper. You can log your entries for later reference when you are back online. 2. GPS Tuner -- uses that GPSr CF and also reads the GPX file to plot the caches relative to your current location. Does have a digital compass (must be moving at a fast steady walk) and other great tools. 3. Mapopolis -- also uses the GPSr CF to help you navigate from a distance away to your destination. However, you will need to buy a sleeve with extra battaries or a way to charge it up while in the car. The combo will burn though a charge (although I spent nearly three hours wandering around Toronto last spring without shutting down or needing to re-charge).

The best one is the one in your hand at the time!!!! Don't shy away from a PocketPC. They may not run Cachemate but they do run GPX Sonar and GPX Tuner (great tool for a GPSr CF plugged into the PDA).

Not knowing the database engine being used but being a DBA (and they also pay me!) it shouldn't be too hard to just have a section on the GPX format for the last 'x' posted coordinates. Even better is if the coordinates could have a real short comment with them such as: You really should park here --> Found the referenced stump at --> (even if referenced stump is only halfway to the cache) and, of course, the one ones we really want, Found cache at -->

Not precisely true. That is why signals tend to smear together (or apart) over long distances. Also why fiber optics have to have regenerators every so many kilometers. And that is why a prism works so good at spreading light into the various colors. But, for GPS signals the variation from the low frequency to the high frequency is accounted for in the mathematical model. And they must also take into consideration other quantum effects. However, for the majority of us it is simple enough to say that all electromagnetic radiation (of which radio and light make up just a small part) travels at the same speed in a vacuum. It slows down in the atmosphere and travels slower yet in water. Absolutely crawls in glass (comparatively speaking)

Mapopolis -- routeable navigation with downloadable maps which you purchase. There is a demo map of your area. GPS Tuner -- for the final hunt. Great tool that will now directly read the GPX format. I forget what the registration was on this. Maybe $35.00 GPX Sonar -- Great for getting the data from the GPX format into readable condition. Looks like the on-line web pages. Those are the ones that run on a Win CE Pocket PC. I extensively use the last two and have played with the first one. Will probably pop the $90 for the download rights for the entire US.

My DNFs are usually stories. Aren't we supposed to post "The Story"? Hey, there was one that I spent several hours over a few days and gave up -- only to have the next guy find it! So back I went for another half day. But, the stories I told about searching for that cache. I guess the other guy doesn't like to read stories. All some folks want are: TNLNSL. -- Jane TNLNSL. -- Jim TNLNSL. -- Sally <<sigh>> If that is all the story they can tell, they must (oh, Hi there Mr. Moderator. Yes sir. No sir. I'll just slip off and out the exit right there. Sure, no problem.)

There was one out here in a brown (sugar?) container. Held about a gallon -- especially when it rained!!! It was brittle after a couple of years in the woods and didn't seal. Was replaced with an ammo can.

My brother has been type 1 for almost 40 years now. It is a big lifestyle change and he doesn't monitor it as well as he should. Low sugar levels can hit at anytime. He stayed with us for a number of weeks in the last couple of years. One morning as we were getting ready for work he called for my wife with panic in his voice. He was laying on the floor unable to move (his leg muscles refused to hold him up). My wife didn't quite figure out what was going on but as soon as I entered the room I knew he needed sugar and fast. And then carbs to keep from spiking the sugar level too high and provide a longer lasting blood sugar level. So, it can get away from you even if you've been at it for awhile. In the "who wants to be a Millionaire" you have life-lines. Well, you have some: 1. Your doctor (50/50) -- he can provide options. 2. Your family (audience vote). 3. Take a buddy (phone a friend). Please, don't preload your needle. Keep them sealed until you need to take that shot. If you are stopped with "unknown" solution -- do they really want to believe you -- do you really want them to believe every stranger? Rotate the bottle (your doctor may have a better idea) so it isn't the same one taken out of the fridge every day for work. Hiking in the back country will be possible after you are stablized and have established ongoing control in various conditions. Now, I gotta remember to take off at lunch time and chase some signals around Seattle. But I'm a work-a-holic! There, I admitted it!

I don't use those files but I do know that a lot of the Flying navigation software picks up their airport and air routing information from those files. There are other sites such as Cirrus for DUATS. From that page you can download the Airport file. Then AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) has a site for Airport information. You need to be a member to access it's data file. Finally, the RMS folks on this page note that they use the DAFIF data for their software. They might be willing to share some tidbits of the specific files they use. Good Luck. I promise, another 25 pounds off and I'll go back to see the flight surgeon about getting my medical back!

What about using the DAFIF data?

That works great for some caches. Then there are the ones where you sit down on the bench, reach under the table, remove magneticlly held box. Why go anyplace further? You are already sitting at a table. Probably already have some of your stuff strewn around anyway. Just proceed to take notes (sign log), etc. Reach underneath to scratch leg and replace cache. Get up a few minutes later, gather your things and move over to the next table where the real cache is (sigh -- it was a multi).

That's why you purchase aeronatical charts for the area into which you will be going. The declination is marked on each chart with a line showing roughly the locus of points that should exactly match. However, there is usually a note at the bottom stating that it is changing at such-and-such a rate per year. Why they post that note I don't understand since the charts are "not current" 6 months after publishing (provided that the new chart is published on schedule). But then, if you don't fly your own plane, then you may not want all the other information shown on the chart. And it isn't really set up for back county navigation -- hence the title "aeronatical". The other way is to keep track of the lat/long for magnetic north. Then do spherical trig to calculate the declination based on your current GPS suppllied lat/long. Of course, if your GPS will show both True and Magnetic then switch between and note the difference in bearing to the destination.

I just wish the logs could note the time the cache as found (or not found). I've seen notes from other cachers that log the same day I do. Sometimes I'm sure that they are out of order as I know they were in the log at the cache and logged online before me but somehow my log shows up after theirs (or before theirs depending on which direction you choose for before and/or after). Just wanted to clarify that little situation -- the before and after. However, will not go into the hereafter as that's what I tend to ask myself a lot time times -- Now, what is it that I am hereafter? Oh yes, that bright red micro pen reminded me that there should be a cache somewhere around here.

It's easy -- especially if you are an amatuer radio operator (ham). There is a network of relay stations that will take Automated Position Reporting Service (APRS) data from a "tracker" and broadcast it even to the internet. I have friends that keep their APRS unit running while on vacation in their motor room. It's easy to see where the are and where they have been.

Another reason for the compass to jump around is under low sat signal conditions (it happens to me a lot under trees with heavy canopy). The unit itself thinks you are jumping around even when you stand still. Ergo, since you are "jumping" around it is trying to keep up and point the way. At that point it is better to back off a bit to where the signals settle down and get a bearing. Find another spot with open sky and get another bearing. Go look where the bearings cross and search out from that point. Also that's a good time to peek at the hint -- maybe it will really mean something as you look around. The last time the "drunken bee dance" happened to me I was standing still next to a "6 inch stump 2 feet high" but it didn't have the "moss covered log that knows the way" next to it. But 50 feet away there was such a combo. When I finally did find the cache the GPS said I was 18 feet away.

If posting directions be sure to note whether you are giving it as a Magnetic or True direction. In some parts of the county it makes no difference. In other parts (where I live) it is about 19.5 degrees different. Be sure you know how to convert from one to the other for the location in question.

I went with a Transplant CF card for my IPAQ 3670. Picked it for the WAAS that came enabled on it (I also fly and would use it as a backup device). For PocketPC type PDA (I'm not familiar with yours) you can get GPx Sonar to handle the field notes and GPS Tuner to locate the cache. You may also find that Mapopolis will be helpful in getting into the neighborhood of the cache.

I was maintaining one cache for some folks that moved out of town. Another cacher contacted me about another one of the owner's caches that needed a lot of help. I'd never found the cache and spent one evening chasing around a rock pile for it. Gave up and left an email note for them call me so I could really find the thing and bring it in for a major overhaul. Well, I was back out looking for it when two things happened at the same time. I spotted the cache and the phone rang. The caller informed me of where the cache was -- which matched what I was pulling out of the hole in the rocks. I did log that one as I figured I'd really found it before being told where to find it. But there was a backup plan in case I was really stumped. The fun for me is ferriting it out -- even if it takes multiple trips. Now, there is this one cache that I spent several hours on each of 3 trips trying to find. Found it on the last trip. Went back last week and couldn't find it in the 15 minutes I allotted myself. Guess I'll have to spend some time back there again. Maybe I'll wait until somebody else verifies that it is still there!

I'll just jump in and correct the typo of the previous poster. .001' = 6' (N/S and less E/W as you get closer to the poles). Therefore .01' is 60'. Hmm, that might be confusing as in once case the ' means minutes and in the other case ' means feet. Therefore, .001 minutes = 6 feet (approx) and .01 minutes = 60 feet (give or take). Note that at the 45th parrallel .001 minutes is approxiamtely 71% of 6 feet (or about 4-1/4 feet) so .01 minutes would be about 42 feet (measuring in the East/West direction -- it would still be 6' in the North/South direction.)

Well, I'd mention Lost in Seattle but that might be considered bad form. So let me mention that Nolenator has a number of caches in the downtown area that show interesting sites (and sights). A couple of virtuals down on the waterfront and one film cannister that took me three tries to find. Why not start your search at GCJKCE and look for nearby entries. I liked the hunt for that one the best. But bring your own pen.

GPx Sonar and GPS Tuner are a great combo on a Pocket PC (mine is an ancient Compaq IPAQ 3670). The latest version of GPS Tuner now can read the GPX file format. So I just copy my pocket queries to the PPC as is. Both GPx Sonar and GPS Tuner can open them (earlier version of GPS Tuner required something -- I used GPx Sonar on the PPC -- to convert to the .LOC format). BTW, anybody get Mapopolis to show caches? It's nice for driving directions in an unknown area -- but would be nice to see the caches on that map also.

Nobody has time to visit the sites. I had one of my caches approved within a couple of hours of placing it. It was the middle of the week. I placed it on the way home from work. Another cache had previously been in the park but had been missing for some time. The review will read your cache page, study any notes you leave in the reviewer notes message and research to be sure the cache is not to close to another cache, a school, railroad trackes, etc. Also will check if it is covered by a blanket permission unless you note that you have personally received permission to place the cache (if so, then so state in the reviewer note). After that you wait for the reviewers to work through whatever backlog they may have. In themiddle of the week there may not be a backlog.

The more you tell the reviewer in a note the better you chances. I had a cache close to a school. It would be obviously too close if somebody looked at the map. Except that, it was in a Veterans Memorial park with all sorts of military displays. My cache was at one end and the school stadium clear at the other end. Obviously folks wandering around with GPS units would not raise any red flags. And that is pretty much how I explained it in the note. I think it took 2 hours for it to get approved. I suspect most of that time the approver was looking at other sites.

I'd post a Should Be Archived note and in the note state the above mentioned reasons and note whether or note you would be willing to adopt the site. It sounds like you would. There was a local cache where the owners left town. But they did respond to emails and were willing to let me adopt. Turned out to be easier for them to archive it and I just collected the units (two different sites), refurbished them and put them back out. Since the owner isn't responding to email it is time to up the ante. Especially since they need more work than can be done in the field.

Lost In Seattle just grew on me bit by bit. Er, or was that street corner by street corner. Oh well, just wander around wondering how you could use what you find and some idea will pop into your head. Of course, others may complain that their's hurts!