gubbool

Attention: There have been NO updates to address "easy of use" or much needed features issues that I posted earlier. I chose Sprint because of this software and have regretted that decision almost daily. I will discontinue paying Sprint until Trimble Outdoors addresses at least one of my earlier posted issued. I cannot recommend this software to anyone and will actively post negative comments in forums requesting comments.

I may be too late to offer my request for features and of course, someone else may have made the same requests. I have recently posted these suggestions at the Trimble Forums and now see that this is the better forum to make such posts. The following is a slightly edited version of that post and I hope that there is no confusion. 1. Change the order of the menu options on the Map Menu. Currently it takes seven clicks to show the street map once the Map screen is displayed. Actually this item could be addressed on most Menu screens. When switching between screens users are more likely to be looking for information than wanting to post a Found or Not Found log. 2. All settings in the Search Filter function need to be stored as user preferred settings. Users should not have to restore their preferences whenever the app crashes or as they change between the phone functions. This needs immediate attention and has to be among the easier to implement. 3. Names for Manually Entered waypoints should auto-increment. And the information should be stored on the handheld device or transferable to prevent accidental loss. 4. The Maps screen needs a Menu option to show the entire result of the last query - that is, the position of all of the nearby caches should be overlaid on a street map at once allowing for better route planning to clustered caches. Currently the action requires at least seven clicks per item in the result list and a pretty good memory. 5. Map backgrounds should be stored on the phone and when possible stored on any available external memory. Users should be able to limit the allotted storage space and from that point, older images are overwritten first. It appears that a very restrictive version of that is already implemented. Street maps are most important and topo’s are more important than aerial photos. 6. Baring the on-line “Found” determination, consider storing a user editable file to reflect status of caches. 6a. Certainly the results of active or recent sessions can be stored, even if only for the day; the icon of those logged (found/unfound) should be appear differently and recently/today's logged caches should be filterable. 6b. Most geocachers load their handheld gps’r using a computer based program (GSAK, etc). By storing the same user file in a designated folder on the handset, perhaps the “Found” status could be retrieved from that information. There is a website, http://www.itsnotaboutthenumbers.com/ where users can upload their personal query and that file contains all of the user’s geo-history. The query comes from geocaching.com and is available for download only once a week, I believe that weekly data is recent enough to address the “Found” issue in a cache saturated area. 6c. To address delay problems when the scanning for Finds within extremely large user files, if a user file is implemented, provide a Menu option to deselect the function. ------ I have the Sprint SCP-8400 handset. Clearly this is the best all round “smart phone” available Sprint and I went with Sprint specifically for this application. The $25 data plan includes the free Sprint Navigator for driving instructions. Upon receiving a "new cache alert" on the phone, I can get the desired cache info from Geocache Navigator using the gc waymark, ie. GC13675. that came within the alert. I have not determined a reasonable method to the get the street level information (re: street intersection) so I can insert it into the Sprint Navigator for turn-by-turn instructions to the area of the cache. Anyone?

The Alabama geocaching group, AGA, has a AGA Logo printed on a static window cling available. Let other cachers know that you are in the wood and that they had better hurry if they want the FTF Please visit the AGA website for more details.

I could NOT find anything to treat clothing and gear at a major Wal-Mart. I did find three products at The Academy Sports & Outdoor store. Each of these products had the active ingredient Permethrin and each had the about the same application, use, and warnings. Each cost $10 and each included both the treatment product and a version of their insect repellent. I chose the Sawyer product which is labeled Sawyer Premium Insect Repellent. This kit includes a 9 oz spray container labeled Clothing, enough to treat two sets of clothing, and 6 oz of controlled release 20% DEET in a lotion form to spread on face and neck. The directions indicate the product should not be reapplied to clothing within 6 weeks. "Oxygen, light and agitation break down the protection barrier, so the length of protection can vary. If you begin to see insects within your range, it is time to reapply. Just spray a non-staining permethrin formula all over clothing until wet. Allow 3-4 hours to dry, depending on humidity before wearing. Once dry, the product is odorless." Information can be found at http://www.docforgey.com/

The Patton Creek Challenge is a tough multi. And most find the Triple A a winner. If you are limited on time, you might want a life line, or two, for those. The best cache, loot wise, is the Beans, Broccoli, and Cabbage Cache. There are several nearby drive-up micro's like the 'Well'. I have found about 24 within walking distance - but you should know that I have discovered that no distance is too far to walk, if you have the time - and I have too much time.

You have me thinking. I looked at the CDC and here are some facts that I found interesting. I gotta warn ya, if you hang around on the CDC for long, you many never go outside again. Be sure to read the last comment and lets be sending in all of our geocaching ticks. Mosquitos & DEET http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/q...t_repellent.htm Q. How does mosquito repellent work? A. Female mosquitoes bite people and animals because they need the protein found in blood to help develop their eggs. Mosquitoes are attracted to people by skin odors and carbon dioxide from breath. Many repellents contain a chemical, N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET), which repels the mosquito, making the person unattractive for feeding. DEET does not kill mosquitoes; it just makes them unable to locate us. Repellents are effective only at short distances from the treated surface, so you may still see mosquitoes flying nearby. As long as you are not getting bitten, there is no reason to apply more DEET. Q. Which mosquito repellent works the best? A. The most effective repellents contain DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), which is an ingredient used to repel pests like mosquitoes and ticks. DEET has been tested against a variety of biting insects and has been shown to be very effective. The more DEET a repellent contains the longer time it can protect you from mosquito bites. A higher percentage of DEET in a repellent does not mean that your protection is better—just that it will last longer. DEET concentrations higher than 50% do not increase the length of protection. Ticks & Permethrin-containing Repellents (e.g., Permanone or deltamethrin) FYI: The Ixodid and Argasid Tick Species can host the West Nile Virus. http://www.cdc.gov/travel/bugs.htm Permethrin is highly effective as an insecticide and as a repellent. Permethrin-treated clothing repels and kills ticks, mosquitoes, and other arthropods and retains this effect after repeated laundering. There appears to be little potential for toxicity from permethrin-treated clothing. The insecticide should be reapplied after every five washings. Got Ticks? http://www.ag.auburn.edu/aaes/communicatio...all00/tick.html Anyone who removes a tick from a human host in Alabama can contribute it to the researchers’ continuing study (Mail Those Ticks to Us!). Researchers are particularly interested in receiving ticks from Barbour, Bullock, Cleburne, Crenshaw, Dale, Franklin, Geneva, Henry, Lamar, and Washington counties.

I have no idea about what is best, but reading all this made my skin crawl. I had to get up and take a shower. Where does bubba cache hang out that he would find so many ticks? When I was attempting Mine, All Mine, I caught one tick heading up my bare leg. Other than that, nothing – and I am one to charge into the thickets in search of shinny plastic trinkets without a thought of varmints of any kind.