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Gungadoy

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Posts posted by Gungadoy

  1. What program is used to find U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey Disks? I have used a couple different apps, but they have more than the disks so it gets kind of confusing. Wish the geocache app would map benchmarks better. It only lists them without the map. I always take a picture if I stumble across a disk.

    To best help you it's best to find out what programs and apps have you used?

    I use the old Hunt Markers and Findacontrol app on my iPhone. Plus the NGS webpage, NGS Datasheets to pull up the datasheets and load them into GSAK for sorting.

  2. Somebody sent me a note after they tried to download and convert from .txt to .gpx the entire State of California's BM database. That's a lot of data, 63,768 benchmarks or 270 MB. The NGS-GPX program stalled after 90% or so in-progress.

     

    Apparently, the programmer says it's a memory processing issue. If you've tried it and experienced the same, there's a work around it. Here's how I made it work being a non-computer programmer guru; Split the size of the .txt file and make it into two or more smaller files. I.e. ca.txt and ca2.txt

     

    1. Open state.txt file using Microsoft Notepad.

    2. Highlight bottom half of the data, then right-click and 'cut'.

    3. Save and close file.

    4. Open new Notepad file, then 'paste' your copied text onto page.

    4. Save file with new name, I.e. ca2.txt.

     

    Now you have 2 smaller .txt files to convert to .gpx that the NGS-GPS program can handle more easily.

     

    I hope this helps if you've had this problem. Now you can load each .gpx files, one at a time into GSAK.

     

    There may be another way to do this using DOS or some file splitting program. If someone knows of another way, please share the details.

  3. Haven't been finding too many USC&GS disks lately. I've been working on recovering AD7220. I was surprised to recover Reference Mark 2 so easily on the surface. Now I have to return at a time when there's less traffic in the area. The station mark appears to be borderline on the homeowners property line & front lawn.

     

    Has anybody been finding any USC&GS disks around the country?

     

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  4. I've been having a run of bad luck lately. I like recovering Triangulation disks, their reference marks and azimuth disk but they've either been missing or I just can't locate them. Oh well, what's one more DNF!

    I found this RM on a cool boulder along a canal on S. Florida's SR27. Exposed to the weather for 50+ years it certainly did tarnish a lot. AD7338

     

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  5. This benchmark (BM) doesn't seem to be in the NGS database. This image lists all the BM's in Florida that have PNLS in the stamping. You found the actual page and logged it? Can you explain.

     

    This one has pics of a PNLS disk, My link Getting off-topic a bit, another BM the USPSQD logged as DNF several times.

     

    Down here in Broward County, I have a FL DOT series of disks stamped with PNxx that are, sadly, not in the database.

     

    With datasheets, the designations and stampings are varied and not always accurate. Posting a good picture of disk, the area, lat/lon, nearby Geocaches, etc. is useful when asking for disk identification.

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  6. I believe the disk is labeled F 217. You found my favorite disk type. A USC&GS disk, PID JJ0519

     

    Back on Aug, 2014, you found a cache that was 173' from this benchmark. Geocache Link

    Maybe you've never given much attention to the link on the Geocache page that shows benchmarks in the area of a Geocache; this benchmark is listed there?

     

    No matter, if you're just getting started on Benchmarks and their research; most of the folks on this forum are very helpful and give good advice!

     

    Check out my post of the forum, NGS Benchmark Retrieval by State. My link It'll show you how to load BM's into GSAK. The NGS-GPX file converter program I mention is, NGS-GPX Website

    It's used to convert .txt files to .gpx.

     

    If you need help...send me a mssg.

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  7. Wow. Thanks so much. I can't believe the painful way i have been doing this of cut and pasting into gsak...Thanks thanks thanks!

    Your Welcome! I share your pain; but now the pain is gone. This benchmarking site has been pretty good as the regulars like to share information and help others in the pursuit or benchmarks.

    Happy Benchmarking 2016!

  8. Happy 2016!

    I spent a nice S. Florida sunny afternoon trying to find two benchmarks, BIRD & SMOKE, on an Everglades levee road. The levee's go on and on for miles often with a bunch of triangulation stations together with their two reference mark disks.

    Even with a metal detector, I only had limited success. I was able to find a broken off disk stem at one of the reference marks. At the other I found one reference mark disk and a cut-off metal witness post. Link to BIRD

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    Link to SMOKE

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  9. Hello. Started on geocaching a couple years back, just started on Waymarking, and now I'm trying to figure out Benchmarking. The other 2 you can show a map that displays the cache/waymarks in an are. Is there a way to display Benchmarks in an area on a map like that? would help on long trips (driving, hiking, kayaking, ect) to see if there are any along your route, but I can't find a way to display like that.

    If you're also looking for an Iphone app to use on a road trip, try:

    1. FindaControl - nice real time mapping as you drive and will display NGS datasheets. No link to Groundspeak.

     

    2. HuntMarkers - I've been using this app for a couple of years. It displays a snapshot of BM's around your location. It links to Groundspeak; any BM you find using this app is loggable on the Geocaching website. Unfortunately, I searched for app today in the app store and could not find it. (it was searchable as FindMarkers)

    I sent an email to the app creator to see what's up. I'll post a note when I get a reply.

     

    They may also be available for Androids, but I don't know.

    Maybe someone else that knows of other mobile apps can chime in?

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  10. In the past I was downloading benchmarks (BM's) by county, which was very, very time consuming. I finally figured out how to download BM's from the NGS site by State and then import them into GSAK.

     

    1. From the NGS Survey Mark Datasheets site, NGS Datasheet Site, you click on and download your state file from the option, 'Monthly Archives by State:'. (see below image) The file will download as a .txt file.

     

    2. Use the NGS-GPX program to convert the .txt file to a .gpx file.

     

    3. Load the converted .gpx file into the GSAK database. IE. fl.gpx

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  11. too big of a hurry to get out of the Rising Trout Coffee Shop to head up to the fish hatchery on a Snipe hunting trip [photo available].

     

    Not too cold for Snipe hunting over there? :blink: I would've stayed indoors at the coffee shop!

    Attended a BBQ party next door Christmas Eve. :laughing:

  12. Did KayakBird answer your question or are you actually looking for the NGS link? Here it is if needed...NGS PID Link

     

    Nice CGS+SS disk!

     

    I query the NGS site by county as the state search times-out for me. I convert the results to gpx files and then upload them to GSAK. In GSAK in the filter area, I use the Full Text Search box to search by disk type. If I'm looking for a Magnetic Disk I enter MARKER: DM That searchs the datasheets for that match.

     

    If you need a list of the 2 letter disk codes let me know.

    I have an excel sheet with all the Gravity and Magnetic disks in the U.S. If you want it, send me a note.

     

    Searching by county is very tedious but effective. If somebody knows a way to search by State, without it timing-out, pls let me know.

  13. Merry Christmas!

    You may have seen in one of my previous posts that I created a Geocaching Benchmark Challenge for USC&GS disks. USC&GS Challenge

    During my travels throughout all of Florida's 67 counties I recovered a 'Topographic Station' disk. AG1367 This find occurred on a 16 hour all-nighter benchmarking trip. (And no encounters with the LEO's)

     

    I don't know much about these disks except that most of the one's I researched seemed to be on airport property, hence inaccessible to us common folk. I was fortunate to find one in Tampa adjacent to the water.

     

    Question is: Does anyone know about these disks, their purpose and why they seem to be primarily at airports? Also, why was this one along the water?

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