westonwanderers

I took my son, Callum out 'treasure hunting' today... First time he's gone caching.... I think he's hooked!

Cheers for the feedback... Hmmm... I'm not sure about 'Everybody loves menus' - I find them a little 'Wordy', especially on a mobile device. For example, to update the waypoint, you press # on the waypoint screen, and then 'overtype' the current wp. Job Done! If this was done with menus, then, you'd press the menu key, scroll down to 'update waypoint, that might take you to a new screen, when you enter new waypoint details, then 'ok'. As I say, wordy! But, saying this, I will add a menu for configuration details,(for example, adding a bluetooth GPS, on mobile phones that do not support the location API, the user might need to scan for a GPS). Also, if (eventually), you need to scan online for nearby caches, then this option will be via a menu. I think, I would rather keep the primary GPS functions via hotkeys though, so it 'feels' like a typical handheld GPSr, and not a mobile phone, trying to emulate a GPSr. I Have seen the shove eveything in the top left hand of screen bug. I guessing its because The location API is supplying me with invalid heading details, as it only happens when 'Signal Lost' is shown. I'll investigate further! A satellite status page would be good, though, As Im uncertain if I can get this info via the Location API, I guess it might not be possible. Cheers, Tony.

Well, fair enough, it looks as though it is using the bluetooth GPS then. I am surprised, though!... On my Sony K800i it doesn't run at all, even with an external gps, it only works on the better half's N95!! Thanks for the info, Tony.

Mmmmm just tried it on my N73 with an external bluetooth receiver and it worked first time but was a little of my home co-ords , but I just tried it again and it cant get any satellite data from the receiver I can assure you, that there is definitely *no* code that supports external GPS receivers in there (yet!!....I 'll add it at some-point soon!).... So, the question is, how the heck did your N73 know where it was, without a GPS??... ~After some digging, i discovered that the N73 can actually triangulate its position using cell towers, instead of GPS... The accuracy will be poor, but, well, its better than nothing! Cheers, Tony.

I've written a GPS app for Nokia Phones, with built in GPS (ie, N95). Its more suited for Geocaching than the built in one, as you enter the coords you want to go to in H DD MM.MMM format. It should work on any Mobile phone with a built in GPS.... But, not on ones that require an external bluetooth GPSr.....I've only tested it on N95 though. Let me know what you think! Instructions: To download, point your Phone wap browser to here: http://www.tonywestonuk.plus.com/GPS-ME.jad alternatly, download the jar from here, and transfer to your phone using Bluetooth. http://www.tonywestonuk.plus.com/GPS-ME.jar * - change centre view of GPS # - update waypoint, on waypoint screen.

I've written a GPS app for Nokia Phones, with built in GPS. Its more suited for Geocaching, as you enter the coords you want to go to in H DD MM.MMM format. Let me know what you think! Instructions: To download, point your Phone wap browser to here: http://www.tonywestonuk.plus.com/GPS-ME.jad alternatly, download the jar from here, and transfer to your phone using Bluetooth. http://www.tonywestonuk.plus.com/GPS-ME.jar * - change centre view of GPS # - update waypoint, on waypoint screen.

Well, I did Exactly this a few years ago. Unfortunetly, I also couldn't get anywhere with getting gc.com to provide a low bandwidth interface to their data, but did manage to get the maintainer of geocacheuk.com (a UK caching site) to set one up for me. However, since then, this interface doesn't work anymore, and he does not reply to emails to fix it. That is that. If you want to have a look at it, download it, etc.... the instructions are here: http://www.geocacheuk.com/main/midlet/ Cheers

I've always thought what is needed, is a google for caches. Not 'Yet another cache listing site', but more just a cache search engine, that, putting in your co-ords will give you a list of nearby caches, on ALL sites, with links back to the actual page on the site. I even did a mock up: http://www.tonywestonuk.f2s.com/ListCaches.html (Dont get your hopes up, it doesn't work) Geocaching.com, however are very protective of their data, as, well, they make there money from drawing people to this site.....However, there is nothing stopping people registering on a search site, that their cache is registered on GC.com, indeed, GC.com's terms and conditions say that a listers cache details, are NON-EXCLUSIVE to geocaching.com. Such an open database could be benefical to all, epecially as GC.com has a tendancy to not be working just at the moment I want to find some nearby caches. At some point, I will get around to actually getting this going, though, I admit, lack of knowlege is letting me down. Anyone know a good way of storing/retrieveing caches using Postgres and PHP? Cheers.

Hi So, here I am in the middle of nowhere, and so I fire up the wap and get a list of nearby caches: 1mi | Wrottesley Park | 2/2 | TRAD 3mi | Big Wood | 1.5/1.5 | MULTI 4mi | Old Park | 2/2 | TRAD 4mi | **DISABLED** The Dimmingsdale Mul... | 2/1.5 | MULTI 4mi | Krystal's Birthday B... | 3.5/3 | OTHER 4mi | Rebend that knee (th... | 2/1.5 | TRAD 4mi | Wolverwebcam | 4/1 | OTHER 4mi | Ladies in white 'Ret... | 1/1 | TRAD 4mi | It's A Bit Weird Her... | 2/2 | TRAD 4mi | Skool Dayze (Staffor... | 2/2 | TRAD The problem is, that even though I know the distance, It doesn't tell me the direction. This makes it difficult to 'cache hop' from cache to cache and return to where I started, without going into each cache and finding the co-ords and putting them on my GPS. (Causing me grief, and you more server load!) Is there any chance you can add an extra field onto this list - Compass Bearing (N/W/S/E etc). Cheers. Tony

I am another freeloading scum, who's not yet got a premium membership. I have been very tempted, especially after the recent google earth enhancements (that are, very cool). After all, it's very cheap, and that warm fuzzy feeling can be hard to beat. But then I remember what happened here last January in these forums, or I look at what's happening now to Virtuals/earth caches, etc. (and a few other things that are a thorn in my side). So, I don't bother on principal, so there!

Hi There..... I've moved it!!... Try pointing to http://gc.gemoli.com from your 6600's web browser. Cheers, Tony.

Opps.... Found a spelling mistake in my .jad...... For anyone who tried, and failed to get the new Nokia series 60 version, try again now. Hopefully it will work this time! Cheers, Tony.

the http://gemoli.com:8080/gc/ points to a Wap page...... You should be able to get to this... I developed it on a Nokia 6600, so I'm sure it should work. What network are you on? (Orange/Vodaphone/etc). PS...Just tried the link again, I get a 'App Closed Browser' message. I needed to turn off/ turn on my phone before it worked. Try this. Cheers, Tony.

Hi All, I recently received a brand new mobile, a Nokia 6600, which, though very impressive, did not run the Geocaching Midlet. While Geocaching UK are getting around to host it for me, you can try it out by pointing your Nokia 6600 phones WAP browser here: http://gemoli.com:8080/gc/ (sorry, this is fiddly using just the phone keypad).... Or,, The old version is still at it's usual place: http://mobile.guk2.com The new version has no more functionality added, It's just compatable with Nokia Series 60 Phones. And for those of you who have no Idea what I'm talking about, Have a look here: http://www.geocacheuk.com/main/midlet/ Cheers, TOny.

Cut Down Cache... http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=GCHBD1 a Five star, and needs specialist equipment, but this is cheap to get , or you probably have it already, and is still easy enough for anyone to do.

Excellent utility, I shall be using it. There is one tincy little thing, however... It's actually against GC.com T'c and C's to use it. And, by the looks of things, this plugin is actually a scraper!.. True, I'm sure that Groundspeak wont mind, however, as This sort of technology could allow people without premium membership to use premium like features, they may take measures to prevent it been used. Sorry to be a party pooper!

Jeremy, I have just done a 'List nearest caches'. The page that comes back, excluding pictures (that can be cached up by the browser) is a whopping 56K's worth of data. 55204 bytes, just to show a list of 20 items. This is very poor. Examining the source, there's a fair bit of , not displayable, bandwidth sapping crud..... I can't believe you need 30 lines or so of random chars, just to store a view state!..... 56K, Though this is quick using broadband, using a modem this is about 10 seconds to download. or, if Using GPRS (mobile phone) while out in the field, then this takes 20 seconds, (and is charged by the byte). If everyone who uses GC.com is pulling 56K each time they query a list of caches, I am not surprised you are having a large bandwidth bill. If you coded this page more efficiently, you should be able to at least halve the about of data coming over the line, saving you money on bandwidth costs, and saving us the pain of using GC.com over a non-broadband connection. Tony.

Any chance of the original .VOB/mpeg file? I know it will be big, but it would be good to view it on the telli, instead of through Windows Media player (For us Mac users ) Cheers, Tony.

Ive just come back from a trip to Canada, and have a Canadian to Europe phone card, that I have no use for. There's about 900 minutes left on it. If anyone want's it, reply here, and I'll let you have the details (If more than one person posts, I'll pick someone at random). Cheers, Tony.

Hi there, I Haven't 'cached in a while.... It maybe just I'm fed up with it, However I became board around about the time when the people at GC.com started restricting their data,... (this is another topic.... I'll Get back On to subject). Now, when I cache I just have this nagging feeling that I'm just a cog in the GC.com business plan, rather than warm feeling of been part of a 'secret community of cachers', as it used to be. It might be also, I guess, because the sport's becoming just too popular..., or maybe it's because of the high petrol prices., or probably a combination of all three. Either way, I'm just not as interested as I was. I suppose it's one of the reasons I didn't bother replacing my cache (Ladies in White) that got trashed a few months back. Tony.

One last thing to do.... The Virtual URL for the midlet isn't configured! http://mobile.guk2.com isn't working Cheers! Tony

Geocacheuk.com is a valuable resource, but, considering the forums on there are used only very lightly (Only one or two posts Daily!), Couldn't you just host your own forum server sitting at the end of your DSL /Cable modem?.... $250/Year.... This is far too much for what use they get.

That Nokia 6310i that's been sent to you has both bluetooth and irda...... Your laptop Will, (if it's fairly modern) have one or the other of these technologies, so you'll be able to connect them without having to purchase a cable, or pay anyone anything! Cheers.

Ok.... This is getting confusing. To Summarise, This is what all techi words men. Your mobile phone needs to establish a connection to the internet in some way, before we can do anything! There are 4 ways this can happen.... Pick one from the following!! CSD - Your phone connects to the internet, in a similar way that a modem connects over a fixed line.... However, mobiles been mobiles, you only get 9.6kbps - pretty slow compared to a fixed line modem.... you pay by the minute. HSD - Similar to CSD, however, the modem uses multiple connections to give higher speeds, Orange allow you to connect at up to 28kbps, but it costs quite a bit, and again are charged by the minute. Your phone needs to be compatable with HSD, and you might need to phone customer services to get this option setup on your account. GPRS - This is a different way to connect, and more similar to Broadband in that you connect almost instantly, and are not charged by the second, but by the amount of data transferred. Unfortunelty, you don't get the speed of Broadband, On Orange I get about 17-18Kbps.... Wifi/802.11 - Just been launched at the moment, some very new fancy phones have the ability to connect via a wifi hotspot, and avoid the telephone network altogether.... Ie, you're phone provider wont be charging you to use this facility..... Problem is, that wifi hotspots are usually very localised, you wont find one in a middle of a field. Your PC may also have the ability of using Wifi directly. Now that your connected, you are able to use the following. Web browser - If your phone supports it, otherwise a PC connected to your phone in some way (see ahead) Wap Browser - Quite a few phones now support Wap.... A simpler form of Web browsing, but pretty poor in comparison. Instant Messenger - A few phones have a instant messenger facility, that allows you to send many 'texts' to another using similar programs... each text message is sent via the internet, so you're not charged unlike when you send a normal text message. If these applications are not enough, you can access the internet via your PC. To do this, you need to be able to connect your PC to your phone in some way interface Cable - Nice and simple, a few strands of copper wire connecting your PC to the serial, or usb port on your phone (depending on what your phone supports) IRDA - If your PC, and mobile both have an infrared port, then you can connect them together using infrared, rather than the interface cable. Bluetooth - now Replacing iRDA, this connects your PC to your phone using radio waves, rather than infrared.... Can only be used short distances (under 20 meters)... but you probably wont be separating your phone and PC more than this. Both your phone and PC need to be bluetooth compatible. - to reitterate, Bluetooth is used to connect your PC to your Phone - It costs nothing to use, and is a replacement for either irda, or an interface cable.

Gulp!!!... I'm thinking, if you have a GPRS mobile phone connection, this only costs £3/megabyte (though you only get 48Kbps), or even cheaper if you sign up for a package..... And also, you wouldn't have to pay for time connected.... just data transfered.