Former Hawkeye

I use a Z22, and it works very well, with the caveat that the screen is hard to read in direct sunlight. The 24MB memory might seem a little skimpy by today's standards, but it's way more than enough for paperless caching. The first thing you need is a program to track the caches on your Palm. I use CacheMate, a small database manager for Palm. It is available as shareware, but it's severely limited until you register it. Fortunately it's not expensive, and well worth the asking price. Some people prefer viewing the actual info from the cache site on their Palm devices. The advantage to this is that some viewers will let you view the images on the site as well as the text. Next you'll need a program to create .pdb (Palm Data Base) files. I use GSAK (Geocaching Swiss Army knife), which is shareware and will also need to be registered eventually, but fortunately it includes a free period with no crippling, so you can thouroughly try before you buy. Other options include EasyGPS. Once you have the software installed you will need to generate Pocket Queries. To do this you need to be a premium member of geocaching.com. To generate PQs, go to your profile page and click on "Bulild pocket queries in the list on the right. From here you will be able to define queries that will search for caches using criteria you define, such as zip code, type of cache, status, etc. You will also tell the site when you would like the queries delivered. You can receive queries every day, but only up to five per day, so keep this in mind. When the queries arrive in email you need to load them into GSAK, or whatever program you're using. The easiest way is to simply drag and drop the file onto the open program. You can sort and filter the caches using a whole range of options, but you will eventually settle on what info you'd like to see on the Palm. Once you do, select File>Export>Palm Database (.pdb) and the program will create a database file that will be loaded onto your Palm the next time you sync it. Once the sync is complete you just need to follow the on-screen prompts in CacheMate to complete the import. A couple of tips: you can create custom categories in CacheMate. If you do, be sure and name the export file the same as the folder name, and CacheMate will import to that folder. Otherwise you have to tell Cachemate what folder to put the data in. Also think about what kind of info you want. I sync Found, Not Found, DNF, Archived and Owned. Some people might prefer to separate the caches by Traditional, Multi, Puzzle, etc. You have a lot of flexibility here, so experiment and see what works best for you.

I use a Z22, and it works very well, with the caveat that the screen is hard to read in direct sunlight. The 24MB memory might seem a little skimpy by today's standards, but it's way more than enough for paperless caching. The first thing you need is a program to track the caches on your Palm. I use CacheMate, a small database manager for Palm. It is available as shareware, but it's severely limited until you register it. Fortunately it's not expensive, and well worth the asking price. Some people prefer viewing the actual info from the cache site on their Palm devices. The advantage to this is that some viewers will let you view the images on the site as well as the text. Next you'll need a program to create .pdb (Palm Data Base) files. I use GSAK (Geocaching Swiss Army knife), which is shareware and will also need to be registered eventually, but fortunately it includes a free period with no crippling, so you can thouroughly try before you buy. Other options include EasyGPS. Once you have the software installed you will need to generate Pocket Queries. To do this you need to be a premium member of geocaching.com. To generate PQs, go to your profile page and click on "Bulild pocket queries in the list on the right. From here you will be able to define queries that will search for caches using criteria you define, such as zip code, type of cache, status, etc. You will also tell the site when you would like the queries delivered. You can receive queries every day, but only up to five per day, so keep this in mind. When the queries arrive in email you need to load them into GSAK, or whatever program you're using. The easiest way is to simply drag and drop the file onto the open program. You can sort and filter the caches using a whole range of options, but you will eventually settle on what info you'd like to see on the Palm. Once you do, select File>Export>Palm Database (.pdb) and the program will create a database file that will be loaded onto your Palm the next time you sync it. Once the sync is complete you just need to follow the on-screen prompts in CacheMate to complete the import. A couple of tips: you can create custom categories in CacheMate. If you do, be sure and name the export file the same as the folder name, and CacheMate will import to that folder. Otherwise you have to tell Cachemate what folder to put the data in. Also think about what kind of info you want. I sync Found, Not Found, DNF, Archived and Owned. Some people might prefer to separate the caches by Traditional, Multi, Puzzle, etc. You have a lot of flexibility here, so experiment and see what works best for you.

I'm 55 year "granny" who likes to geocache. I broke down and purchased a laptop and Palm. Now I would like to go paperless. I don't understand the responses about the loading different programs into a palm. Questions: Will a palmz22 allow me to go paperless? If so-what is the first thing I should do? Sorry this is so basically-but you have to remember I typed on a manual typewriter in high school-things have changed and I need help. Thanks!!!

Make sure the FTF prize you state(what ever it is) is there for the finder. I saw a nasty written note in a log when the owner made up a fib. People do like the EXTRA.

Own Garmin Legend-primary and got a brand new "yellow' at a store "moving" sale for 41 dollars. The backup is for my "guest" cacher, got to get them addicted

I am resident of Moorhead, Minnesota which borders Fargo (the biggest ND town of 90,000). I have felt sorry for the ND cachers and put a couple of caches on their side of the Red River. How do we get more caches in this state? There are less than 300? Do we need a county challenge like Mn and Illinois? I know there is an caching event in Grand Forks this month, but I will be in Iowa visiting relatives-so I would appreciate some feedback. Thanks!!

Yes-as I have found all (new cache today) within 10 miles radius of my home. I have a limited amount of funds for gas since I'm a blue collar worker so I ride my bike to anything under 10 miles, this granny needs the workout (I eat too much). I try and talk a geocaching friend into a road trip when we can find a town with alot of finds. We are going to do the St. Paul Classic Bike Tour with a side trip for geocaching in September. I hope to do a couple in August when I'm attending a wedding out of town too! My solution was to place some caches in my home area-so others can enjoy this great activity. That gives me a good feeling

I moved a cache last month and changed the container (went to a 50 cal can) and posted it was version 2 and invited cachers to revist the area and log another find. I have gotten positive response, plus TB activity. I think everyone wins with this solution.

3.1 miles(new yesterday) and then its jumps to 14.3 (tick heaven) and then 40.5 miles (a little hard on the gas budget). Me-to pass the time I have been placing caches in my area, so others won't have the same problem. Its helping-found 2 yesterday that were within 10 miles!!!

Last night I had my 2005 Specialized bike on the great prarie land of North Dakota-great gas mileage. This last Sunday-I let my geocaching friend drive-we went 90 miles away to Thief River Falls, Minnesota. We have done all the local caches (actually I got new one today to do!)

Thanks-I have sent them an email tonight-hopefully they will edit it since I told them what was wrong.

Someone has put information in their log that does not belong there. Duh-how do I just take out that one little item and leave the rest?

I first keep in mind what I'm looking for (in size) and then has this person placed any other ones I have found-(history sometimes repeats). Once I get within 40 feet I saw looking at geobeacons. I notice I usually find it quicker than my friend who has a much more expensive gps.

Accuracy range is normal. What I suggest is go with an experience cacher and you will learn what to look for in those nasty micros and nanos.

Sounds good with an event planned in August. I hope to attend. Contact Minot geocaching group (they are active) for tips!

I usually ask the owner of the cache for a hint after I have logged a DNF. If I don't get a reply in a week-I have asked (e-mail) someone else who has found it. This seems to work. Sometimes the coordinates are off and no one has posted correct ones or mentioned it in a log. I was just terrible at finding anything, even a big 50 cal can when I first started I was lucky to go with someone who did know how to find caches and maybe finding others to join in the hunt would help. I'm still learning-just saw some different containers this past weekend. Good luck to you.

Thought about this? I brought a "guest gps" Garmin e-trex had a sporting goods store that was having a moving sale yesterday-for the price of 51.45. I never saw an entry level one that cheap that was brand new.

I leave a mini-pen that says Former Hawkeye and www.geocaching.com. This item is popular-as it usually gets picked up by the next cacher or two.

9/10 of the caches on my list are ones I want to visit in the spring. I have to drive a distance to any new ones-so I want to check that they are active. 1/10 are DNF's

Yesterday! It had been 2 months for my urban one-I thought everyone had gone into hiberation

I have my fanny pack from 2000 olympics-well worn since I wear it on bike tours. Cold weather-I have a back pack with a plastic tent hammer and protective edged chisel for freeing frozen containers-works great and doesn't do damage. In warmer weather I leave my stuff in the car and take my folding walking stick with a bottle of water clipped to me. When riding-A few light things are carried in my bike pack mounted on the rear. I like to carry a spare log book and ziplock bags to help out a cache in need. I can hardly wait to geocache while doing Ragbrai (Registar's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa) in July

1993 Chev Corsica with 178K that is missing blue paint and has broken AC so its works great in northern Minnesota for road trips or my good car 2001 Olds in the winter. I did the caches in Fargo-Moorhead on my bike and this year I will be taking my bike with me when I do the Twin Cities!!

I get my batteries at Menards. They just had a great sale on a 30 pack with a mail in rebate. To save on use when doing road trip-I wait until I within 5 miles to turn my GPS (unless its over 150 miles way) so it can "find itself". Once I find my cache-IF I know my way to my car I turn my machine off and repeat the procedure. I have to drive miles between caches, so this would not work in big metro areas.

I went with an experienced geocacher and let them show me the ropes. It really helped especially with the difficult ones. Check around your area on this forum to see if someone will assist. This Saturday I'm taking a newbie with me. Its my way of saying "thanks" Good luck

Please list trackables and log them, so the owners can followed their journey. I also list my signature item-a labeled mini-pen. It useful and small and I see they do get pick by others.