PocketSierra

There are less expensive GPS Options for Pocket PC than Dell and Garmin, and they generally use the same . Try a place like BuyGPSNow. I would reccommend a Bluetooth GPS with Sirf III. But a Compact Flash GPS would also work fine with your device. BackCountry Navigator (which I work on), is good if you like Topo and Aerial views. The bundled software may be better if you want street maps and routing.

I use topographic maps and aerial photos on Pocket PC. It depends. Memory Map Navigator and NG Topo are ones that you buy the detail maps by region or state. In BackCountry Navigator, the software I work on, downloads map tiles from Terraserver-USA, so it covers any region in the US that you wish to download, but nothing outside the US. Other software allows to you import maps from images, and sometimes includes tools to calibrate and import them.

For Topo maps and Aerial photos in the US, BackCountry Navigator may be worth trying. I haven't used street map software myself.

Is it Compact Framework 1.0 or 2.0? If 2.0, it will work on 2003 and above, but needs to be installed. If 1.0, it can be installed on Pocket PC 2002 and even Pocket PC. In my experience, SQL CE doesn't seem to work quite as well on 2002. SQL CE would need to be installed regardless of the platform. I have found a few helpful beta testers here during the beta program for BackCountry Navigator for Pocket PC. They've found some important issues, and we have enough suggestions to keep us busy for a while.

I use and work on BackCountry Navigator for Pocket PC. I find that 100 or more caches isn't hard to do if you import them in a GPX file. If you are in the US, you can add Topo Maps and Aerial Photos. I think I've had up to a 1000 at a time with a map. Not that I've found them all, but I had plenty of options. It makes it a little more efficient if you have a Pocket PC GPS instead of a separate unit.

A relative just got an X51V, and a few other BackCountry Navigator customers use one. Windows Mobile 5, fortunately, didn't cause too many issues, although there are warnings on installation that can be ignored. Dell did change how they mapped bluetooth serial ports, but that was successfully accounted for a few months ago. You can certainly try out the trial version once you have the hardware and report any oddities if you run into them.

I also use an X50V with a bluetooth GPS. The HP Unit, I'd guess, is more expensive than something you could get at BuyGPSNow for instance. It's true the receiver is a detached unit, but that can be an advantage as well. I tend to put the receiver out on my front deck while kayaking, or on a belt or on top of a backpack while walking. You can put the GPS in a good place to see the sky, which isn't always the best place to hold your PDA. With a detached GPS, you are better able to protect your PDA with an Aquapac or Armor 1900 case. Depending on what software you use, it doesn't have to be a hassle to switch between different screens. I use and work on BackCountry Navigator, that imports GPX files and displays waypoints on maps.

As an update, I believe mail at yahoo.com will go into a 'Bulk' folder at first if yahoo thinks it might be spam. You wouldn't see the messages at all in Outlook Express. You'd have to go to the website. There may a be a similar thing for gmail. Check and see if the confirmation email ended up there.

I would reccommend checking your mail spam filter settings on yahoo so that they trust email from backcountrynavigator.com. While most emails make it through, there are some that apparently don't get through. Let me know if this fixes your issues.

No, I believe you've narrowed it down to the two basic choices. I've used both and they both work with the tradeoff you mention (bulk vs bonkproofness). I tend to use the OtterBox 1900 because of the greater confidence. The use hasn't been backpacking recently, though. It has been kayak touring. I need them to make a slick mount for my kayak. The bulk won't bother you if you can find a good place to hang/attach it on your backpack. You haven't mentioned cost yet. Otterbox 1900 costs about $40-50. Aquapac can be $25 or imitation brands (dry pak, etc) might be as low as $10 at an outdoor store. The Ipaq 4700 series doesn't have the power button on the front. How does your friend turn it on and off in the case? I think that would be an issue for both cases, although a bigger issue for the OtterBox.

Smiths, BackCountry Navigator works on Pocket PCs. There are others. I use it with the Axim X50V. I have a relative and few others that are using it with Axim X51V, which uses Windows Mobile 5.0. Clarification on WIFI: WIFI, also known as 802.11b, does not allow you to access the internet anywhere, and definitely not in the field. It is a short range network like I have in my house with a wireless router, or at so called "hot spots" at public places. For access anywhere, I believe you would need a cell service and card, or a Pocket PC Phone Edition with service.

BackCountry Navigator does allow you to add notes. If GSAK uses the GPX format, BackCountry Navigator imports that now and will soon be able to export it. I was able to find eight caches in Eagle Island State Park on Friday. Here is a screenshot:

BackCountry Navigator http://www.backcountrynavigator.com/ See: Geocaching with your Pocket PC

To clarify further, the maps used by BackCountry Navigator are the ones shown by TerraServer-USA.com. No additional software is needed to add maps, since they are downloaded free from the internet. The topo maps are up to 1pixel:4m in scale. There is also 1:16m and 1:64m scales. The aerial photographs are up to 1:1m in scale. They look pretty nice even at 1:4m, and better at 1:1m if you can afford the space. The .loc files will import basic waypoint information, while .gpx files will provide the entire description. I like using the program, but I'm biased since I work on it.

No.

BackCountry Navigator 1.0 is now available. http://www.backcountrynavigator.com/ This is Pocket PC software for geocaching that uses US Topo Maps and Aerial Photos from TerraServer-USA. Waypoints are displayed on a map, and you can navigate if you have a Pocket PC GPS Receiver. You can import .loc or .gpx files. With GPX files, you will get the formatted descriptions, clues, and recent logs from this site. This page explains how it is done: http://www.backcountrynavigator.com/content/view/19/41/ The software has gone through a beta testing period to ensure that it works on a number of Pocket PCs. Work is ongoing on feature requests from geocachers and other users. Any feedback can be given through the above site. Software offers a 21 day trial period, so you can verify if it works for you. I'll be using it to hunt down geocaches near Eagle, Idaho this week.

There is still time to try out and give feedback for the beta version of BackCountry Navigator, geocaching software for Pocket PC. The software uses free topo maps and aerial photos form Terraserver. It uses GPX files and, more recently, LOC files from geocaching.com. A page showing an example of using cache files is here: http://www.backcountrynavigator.com/content/view/19/41/ For any questions, please contact support at the above website.

I use: PC: Nothing. Pocket PC: BackCountry Navigator -(It's in Beta now; I'm an early adopter.) Uses topo and aerial maps, plus GPX files.

This is a suggestion for a link on the Geocaching Software resources page. Pocket PC: BackCountry Navigator (GPX) - Shareware application that displays geocaches on topo maps and aerial photos on PocketPC 2002 or later. If there is another process to go through to suggest this link let me know. It has already been mentioned in GPS Units/Software.

This software for Pocket PC is still accepting Beta users. www.backcountrynavigator.com It imports free Topo Maps and Aerial Photos from TerraServer. It imports GPX files for geocaching data. In recent updates, it now supports VGA resolution and a wider variety of GPX files.

Cost for program? Not released yet, but low double digits is expected. Since the beta people can give feedback on what its worth, marketing doesn't want to influence them by naming a price. Cost for maps/subscription? Good news - FREE. They are public domain maps from Terraserver. Arrows and navigational aids? Yes. I assume you mean navigating to a waypoint with a GPS. You can activate a waypoint, place, or geocache, and it will show you your bearing and range on the Nav screen. On the map it will draw a line. GPX import does not prompt you on every waypoint, although we still need to figure out how to handle duplicates. Renegade Knight, your feedback is valuable. If you prefer to wait until after the beta program, when more of the documentation is worked out and you can skip the signup, that is certainly understandable. As far as how maps are handled internally, each map is a database. Waypoints are entries in the database, as are the map layers. You can do multiple downloads into one database or into multiple databases. While typically you'd create one database for each place you plan to have an actitivity, thsi isn't the only thing possible. You've described the use case of a very large area. It should be possible to have a low detail map of a large area, and download more detail for specific areas within it. The present download interface doesn't make that easy, but there are some possible revisions that would. If you do have more suggestions or bug reports, I'd encourage anyone to make contact through www.backcountrynavigator.com as this forum isn't monitored as often.

CritterMap Software has announced a beta program for its BackCountry Navigator software for Pocket PC. This might be of interest to geocachers since it imports GPX cache files. BackCountry Navigator One of the pages at the site shows an example of using a GPX file. Have a great day.