Shrek & Princess Fiona

Yeah, but nobody has answered the couple of questions I had in the post dated October 5th. I have been sending HTML files exported from GSAK to the PDA. But how does one add notes so that they get reinserted into the GSAK database, or so you know what to log on the Geocaching.com website? Yes, I can do what I have been doing and that is simply using PDA in note format to write them, but I thought there may be a better way out there. Also, where and how do you adjust a setting, so that all previous Cache waypoints are deleted prior to sending the new set from GSAK to the GPSr?? Thanks, Shrek

Hello Grey Wolf, Thanks for your help. I have tried your way, but I also have the MobiPocketReader and GPXSonar installed as well. It says that the version of GPXSonar is designed for previous Windows?? I downloaded it direct from the website that was provided in this particular forum. The Pocket Reader I have kept to view Ebooks. But your explanation and using the HTML export is so far the best I have found. I have the HP iPAQ HX4700 PDA now - not going to buy anything else for a while. Getting a few caches on the road now which is good. A question though?? I cannot seem to find anywhere where I can write notes attached to the Cache I am on - to refresh my memory when I get home? Yes, I could write on note via the notes area on the PDA, but I had hoped there would be some cool way to write it via the menu I get from the HTML screen?? And for your technical people, I have the GPSmap60c as previously mentioned. Where do I set the feature where I do NOT double overlay waypoints on download to the GPSr? I was stuffing around with GSAK and I had two caches at the same point at one stage. Is there some way it deletes caches as it replaces them with a fresh GPS waypoint dump?? Thanks, Shrek.

Thanks. I got my HP iPAQ HX4700 series PDA today. It is charging in the docking station and I am doing quite a bit at once with it. Yes, I know I have to read the instructions carefully But how do I get program files to install on the PDA? I have GPXSONAR and MOBIPOCKETREADER to install on it (as downloaded files on my PC) However when I drag the files over using ActiveSync, they are no longer executable installable programs. I know it would be simple, but I am keen to get these programs on my PDA. Shrek

Still trying to download PocketQueries. Not going as planned. By the way, I am doing the default "send as .ZIP file" to my email. Does anyone use the compress in eBook format - ie. the selection above the one I just mentioned? I think I remember someone saying dont use that as it garbles the content??

G'day RockyRaab, Just dont put the name OSBOURNE after the OZZY. I may have killed a few brain cells over the years, but not as bad as that dude. Thanks for explaining how to get further caches, but that sounds like a task where one needs a lot of patience. I had hoped to simply downloaded all traditional and multi caches in one hit from all of South Australia. I was wrong!! With all that has been explained to me, I need to clarify a couple of things. I am using GSAK at present to sort out GPX files from the PocketQuerys as instructed. sprocketman927 has mentioned using GPSTuner and MobiPocketReader. You mention GPXSonar. Not having used any of these programs, do they all do the same thing?? Do I understand correctly that GPSTuner, MobiPocketReader, and GPXSonar are all programs that are (or can be) installed on the PocketPC? Cheers, Shrek

I have the Garmin GPSMAP60C and it is great with heaps of features. Most of the people that I show what it can do, tell me that compared to theirs, state that it is well beyond what they can do. I cannot give you a product vs product rundown, but wish to corroborate others that give the 60C a thumbs up. I personally also appreciate having the colour screen. I purchased and use MapSource City Navigator on mine which is of great benefit rather than just rely on the factory base map. You should be happy with the prices people have quoted in the UK. Here in Australia, this unit cost the equivalent of 300 pounds with the Navigator software at 150 pounds. And at that price, it was a steal. Another local retailer here had the 60C for a further 150 pounds more expensive than what I paid.

By the way RockyRaab, you mentioned to set default to "miles" otherwise it would show kilometres from Australia. In fact, I need it to be in kilometres, as I am in the capital city of South Australia. 1000 km to the West, 1000 km to the north and 500 km to the east and I reach the borders of the other states. I live about 15 km from the coast. Hence the reason for selecting 1000km as a radius for all traditional caches.

I have run a Pocket Query. It only allowed me to select 500. I performed a search on Traditional caches only, with a limit of 1000km of my home coordinates. I managed to get them over to GSAK after unzipping. I have also managed to set my home coordinates in GSAK, so that I get true value of distance from home. At one stage it was saying they were 16000 odd km. With the price of petrol, and the fact that I would at some stage need to get on an aircraft or ship, this looked absurd. The problem is that after getting 500 (maximum allowable download), the maximum distance that the last one at bottom of page is only 57km from home. I have found one about 800km from home. So I know more exist at a greater distance. As I set the distance at 1000km which puts me at the border of my state, how do I get ALL the caches? I dont at this stage want to run another Pocket Query on the ones I have already downloaded. So what do I do now to get the others that I know are out there? Oh, and in GSAK, the header is IG, and there are four square boxes in a cube. Some are green, grey, red (I think).............what do they represent?

Thanks RockyRaab, the steps seem simple enough. I have had a couple of problems with the PDA I bought on EBAY. Seller stated that it was new new new, and I specifically requested a "new in box - unopened" item. Basically what I received was a refurbished USA model PDA. I went and bought adaptor anyway, but it seemed to get real sluggish 5 mins after taking off charge and I reckon the battery was not working sufficiently. There were also too many wear marks on stubs, corners, and around the stylus. Not happy!! Sent it back and guy stated he would refund full amount. As it is, found another (hopefully new) HP iPAQ HX4700 series. Should be getting it next couple of days. But yes, it comes with Windows Mobile - ie. it is Pocket PC. So if you say I need different software, do I disregard comment of the CacheMate? And to the Team that dont use any other info or devices.......all I can say is that for the caches that have clues and bounce you all around the countryside, I havent got the paper and ink nor the carrying capacity on the motorbike to store all those files. Hence the need to go paperless. If I see a cache on the GPS enroute to a job somewhere, I can check the PDA, see if it is a "direct find on coordinates" type of cache and go and have a look. I will give the Pocket Query thing a go. The downloading one .GPX file at a time was a pain the a**. Shrek

Thanks everyone. Some of your comments really make me laugh. Am now premium member, and have twiddled with GSAK. Pretty extreme program to get a grip on - but I guess over time, it will be useful. Nobody has stated whether using GSAK, downloading .GPX files and then transferring to GPSr.........whether the new action will overwrite the old cache waypoints initially downloaded as .LOC files?? Do I delete all the old stuff first, before doing this? And when you are looking at lets say all the caches in your home state for example, I can "check all" and download, but they are simple .LOC files. I have opened an individual Cache, and downloaded the .GPX file, which does obviously show a lot more detail (using GSAK). But sure you dont need to open each and every cache to get the .GPX file. Is there some way you can CHECK ALL and get a bunch of em all at once?? Ta, The Big Green Fella

Continuing....... I am not sure what software the iPAQ 4700 comes installed with?? Got it today, but dont ya love ebay purchases, it came with a power adaptor for a country other than mine!! Waiting to hear back from the guy to see what he can do for me. Until then, I cannot even charge the thing. Does the regular software on these PDA's allow me to view the .GPX files?? I think I will give GSAK a go, but does it need to be installed on the computer, on the PDA or BOTH?? Several people have mentioned several different types of software for managing .GPX files. Again, does this software need to be installed on BOTH the computer AND the PDA or what? I have joined up to be Premium member, so getting the .GPX files wont be an issue now. I am not a hunter/killer Indiana Jones type that does this everyday, but given that I travel a lot with work, having the PDA filled with info on the caches makes it a little easier when I am hundreds of miles from home. Oh, one last thing. I have downloaded and transferred the .LOC files to my GPSr and it obviously shows the cache (waypoints). Does downloading and transferring .GPX files overwrite these old caches? Should I delete all those cache waypoints first, before playing around with the new stuff? Thanks again.

Hello again, I have had my Garmin GPSmap60C for a while now. Found a few caches the hard way. That is, downloading .LOC files and saving waypoints direct to GPS. Then printing off the clues and previous logged visits to assist with clues etc. A lot of paper and ink used, and generally those printouts have been left at home when the GPS is in car or I am on my work motorcycle. (GPS is velcro'ed on tank) I found a couple whilst riding just by going to the co-ordinates and simply using my god-given eyes to find the cache. The problem is that I have gone to a few cache waypoints on the GPS armed with nothing else than that, and not finding anything. So knowing that quite a few cache's require further work, and clues/hints, I have ordered a HP iPAQ hx4700 series PDA. Should be delivered tomorrow. My QUESTION is this - other than paying to become a Premium member in this community to get and download .GPX files, what else do I need?? I think I read somewhere about a Geocaching program or similar, but not sure about that. I am using MapSource Navigator - but have also read many comments about the Swiss Army Knife Caching program. I have not downloaded that as yet, as I get the impression it is a little daunting. I know these questions may have been posted previously, so send me the link if that is the case. Otherwise, tell me what else I need to obtain, purchase, download - so that I can get all the info onto my PDA so I am not stuck out in the scrub looking for something that may or may not be there. Thanks a lot to all that read this, Shrek

Hello, I do a lot of country trips that use regular routes but have some negotiation through small towns etc. doing wide load escort duties. Although it is possible but time consuming to plot routes using mapsource and dumping them onto GPS, I have been saving off specific tracks from certains trips. I sometimes dont actually know the route until I get to the job but want to save the route for further use after having travelled it. What I need to know from you wonderful people, is can I convert tracks that I save or that are currently being drawn by my Garmin, to save them as ROUTES that can be selected at a further time. I dont particularly like the Tracback feature for this purpose as I need to go back and select a point with the cursor which is cumbersome. Any info on this would be appreciated. Instructions using (if it is possible) the GPSmap60c itself or MapSource Navigator is welcome. Regards, Shrek

When I enter the heading page from main menu, and I select Magnetic north as my North Reference, it automatically comes up with 008degE in the magnetic variation area. This is unchangeable. However, changing North Reference to USER, I can put anything I want in for variation which I consider dangerous as in my mind it would throw out my position or bearing accuracy etc. So I am not sure what BlindLeader means when he suggests that it wouldnt matter what setting I manually enter? I have been leaving it in true north setting as I believed that was simply easier. But if I begin to use a normal magnetic compass to assist in navigation, I have noticed there is quite a bit of difference in which way the needles point. I only have a standard clear plastic map-reading Silva compass. From years ago. Does everyone involved in Caching use a standard compass as well as their GPSr, or just, perhaps I say, Advanced Users?? I am still unsure of the Tracking issue. As previously stated, I have mine set for 3000. But as I am driving, and then on the occasional day trampsing through the environment for another Geocache, there is a mixture of driving/walking. So I still dont know if 3000 is an appropriate figure to leave in for tracking. Simply becaused I am unsure what effect changing this value would have??? Thanks again, Shrek

Hi People, Not being an expert in either map reading nor GPSr use, I need to know whether I should leave my GPSmap60c in TRUE NORTH mode or change to MAGNETIC NORTH? Changing it to magnetic north reguires a possible setting for magnetic variation. I wouldnt have a clue what that is for my part of the world (South Australia). I have compared the compass on the GPSr to that of my magnetic compass and yes, alas, they are different. So please tell me what mode to leave it in for navigating. Furthermore, do most of you leave your map navigation orientation in TRACK UP mode or NORTH UP mode. I have been using TRACK UP mode for my general use, but when hunting for caches this gets a bit hard when trying to navigate. Any tips? Lastly, for Tracking where the selection for TRACK POINTS on mine shows 3000, I am not sure if this is right, or to adjust for more or less. I am not sure what this will affect (ie. more or less readings during a track route?) Thanks to you all, Regards, Shrek

Hello, I am new at this game but I think I have the answer to your question. Using EasyGPS, click on header of GPS - then subheading of GPS Version Info. (Making sure you are connected to PC from unit) This gives details about your GPSmap60c. Cheers, Shrek

Thank you all for your responses. You have answered my questions well.

Hi there, As a new owner of a Garmin GPSmap60C, I have hammered away getting heaps of use in last week. But I have a couple of questions. a) Can you plot waypoint on unit away from current reference point? I know how to download waypoints from the computer, but when I have tried to move cursor to the reference point onscreen, and hit "mark" it marks obviously the location where i currently am. When selecting auto-routing options, what is the difference between FASTEST TIME and SHORTEST DISTANCE? To me, they mean the same thing, or am I looking at it from the wrong way? And it humbles me to ask, but does TB in notes from Cache visits refer ONLY to Travel Bugs or can it mean something else?. I have learnt what TNLNSL means, but was does GZ mean? I have some ideas but want to be sure before I post logs to visits I make. Thanks, Shrek.

I have the same problem. I use both EasyGPS and Mapsource 6.7 and find that when I download from the Garmin GPSmap60C to the computer, I lose the Cache icons and vice versa. I know how to get into properties and change the icon etc, but this is a pain to do on a regular basis. I simply thought that it was a software glitch with the programs. Does anyone know if you can direct enter coordinates into the GPSmap60c?? I have only owned this a week and have been shifting the arrow around onscreen to find the coordinates. I find it would be easier to enter what you need to for the next step in a cache-chase to get there. Thanks, Shrek.