+Highpass Duo Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 I would like any information about Paperless Caching, such as how it is done and what it takes to do it. Tired of killing trees Quote Link to comment
+garri Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 You will find thousands of topics abouts paperless caching if you use the forums search engine. Firstly, you have to create a Pocket Query, you will get an XML file, with cache waypoints, descriptions, logs and hints. If yu are using a palm this GU page is the best guide for you. Quote Link to comment
+garri Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 ...and, o course, my Palm software of choice, Cachemate. What device are you using? Quote Link to comment
+Quiggle Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 As garri suggested, the forum search will yield you quite a bit of information. A recent topic can be found here. You may also find more of what you are looking for in the GPS Units and Software forum which also covers various aspects of paperless caching. Quote Link to comment
+Teamhawaii1981 & blueicyrose Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 Today was my first day of paperless, and let me tell you. I will probably never use paper again. It was awesome to go to one cache and do a "nearby" search on the Garmin and in cachemate and just go from there. Then for logging having times, took, left, and being able to filter by found. Wow. Makes it so much easier. Anyways for the information: I created PQ's in the two areas and drag the file from Zip into a Cache Folder Then Download GSAK from resource page. Creat a database, File>Open>then browse for the file you just DLed. It will open up all the Waypoints in that window Then get Cachemate and upload it to your PDA. Hook up your GPS and PDA to your computer. GPS > Send Waypoints to send to GPS FILE > Export > Cachemate PDB File it will automatically queue it in your Hot Sync list. Hot Sync. All the points are now on your GPS and PDA. Go CAche Quote Link to comment
+Jeep_Dog Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 You could use my method of paperless caching, involving nothing more complicated than my GPSr. Quote Link to comment
+graveyard mom Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 You could use my method of paperless caching, involving nothing more complicated than my GPSr. I've gotten to where I only use my GPSr as well. Once I download the .loc and open it in EasyGPS, I just edit the waypoint and make the description a quick description, using abbreviations and shorthand(basically). If I need extra info that won't fit, I have a spiral notebook that I write down the info in and then take with me in the car. Quote Link to comment
+Jeep_Dog Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 I've gotten to where I only use my GPSr as well. Once I download the .loc and open it in EasyGPS, I just edit the waypoint and make the description a quick description, using abbreviations and shorthand(basically). If I need extra info that won't fit, I have a spiral notebook that I write down the info in and then take with me in the car. I am glad to see I am not the only insane one out there. I did neglect to mention that I add to the GC waypoint name some shorthand information. After the GCXXXX, I believe I have about 5 more figures. If the cache is a traditional standard size (ammo can or such), nothing is added to that name. If the cache is a micro, and a film canister, then I put in something like GCXXXXMF, indicating micro film. If a multi, then GCXXXXMMFRT (which would mean Multi, first leg Micro Film, final Regular Tupperware). Like you, for offset or mystery/puzzle caches, I take notes. Hints? If the cache looks nasty, I put an H in there that a hint exists. I either call for someone to decode for me and tell me on the phone, or tough luck for me on that cache if I cannot find it. I go home if a DNF and look at the hint, and if the location was worthy of a return, I have the hint stored in my neurons to assist me. The two times I have DNFed a cache with a hint, the hint did not really assist in the find anyhow. The first was one where knowing where not to look (already covered many hiding spots) assisted more than a hint to where to look (under a rock... in a field of rocks...gee, thanks for the hint), and the second today, where telephone back-up gave me the hint, and I still could not find the cache. I generally tend to remember the cache description from reading the listing, which is facilitated by my record day being 17 finds, and my average finds in a day (other than drive-by opportunity caching of new local caches) is 8 or 9. Again, this is by design to fit my style. This method does not necessarily lend to racking up numbers quickly, and some folks are appalled that I could consider caching this way. However, I tend to stop and smell the flowers in the area, and appreciate why the hider has brought me to the location. If I DNF, and the area has no intrinsic value and is a long distance from my caching HQ, then I ignore (gasp!) that cache. Quote Link to comment
+TheFreshwaterAnglers Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 If I need extra info that won't fit, I have a spiral notebook that I write down the info in and then take with me in the car. If you use a spiral notebook, how is it paperless caching? T. Quote Link to comment
+Jeep_Dog Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 If you use a spiral notebook, how is it paperless caching? T. How about "we use our God-given 'palm pilots' and write the information on the underside of our hands?" There. Paperless again. Quote Link to comment
+humanloofa Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 For the most part I stopped using printouts. I will copy the name, coordinates, anything usefull in the descrption, and the hint onto a word document and print out five or six caches on one page. For more than that I save the page and its map to my laptop and take it with me in the truck. I want to get a better laptop with wireless internet so I can log finds as I go, but that expensive. Quote Link to comment
+Postman Pat Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 You can get a cable to go from your mobie to your laptop it requires a dial up internet host but it works Quote Link to comment
+graveyard mom Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 If I need extra info that won't fit, I have a spiral notebook that I write down the info in and then take with me in the car. If you use a spiral notebook, how is it paperless caching? T. Well, it's not completely paperless-although the notebook is basically my PDA-I use it to put notes on anything I do in it. I also get about 11 or 12 listings per page(depending on how small I write), so I use 1 full page(front/back) for a couple dozen caches, instead of a couple dozen sheets of printer paper. Saves in printer ink too(which ain't cheap!). Quote Link to comment
+StarshipTrooper Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 You could use my method of paperless caching, involving nothing more complicated than my GPSr. Jeep Dog - If you put your PDA in a hard case, it won't turn itself on. There - paperless again! Quote Link to comment
+Jeep_Dog Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 Jeep Dog - If you put your PDA in a hard case, it won't turn itself on. There - paperless again! Oh! I guess I could have done that! I had not thought of that. I suppose you operate with more RAM than I do. If I was a light bulb, I would probably only be in the 20 watt range. If I was a GPSr, I would probably be a Magellan... Actually, on one outing I had PDA issues, I continued hunting with just coordinates in the GPSr. I found that method more challenging and/or fun (more surprise in the hunt), so I stuck with it. Quote Link to comment
+Miragee Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 I forgot my Palm one day and "sort of" enjoyed the hunt. I have GSAK create "smart names" for the waypoints in my GPSr, so at least I knew if I was looking for a Micro or a Regular, Traditional or Multi. I have a hard case for my Palm M500 . . . oh, and my Palm turns itself off automatically if I forget to turn it off myself . . . Quote Link to comment
+StarshipTrooper Posted October 18, 2005 Share Posted October 18, 2005 There are many caches out there that require information included in the description to find them. I never used to let it bother me when I found that I was trying to hunt such a cache with only the GPSr. But it is far more satisfying, knowing that I now have at my fingertips all the info that is required to find even these caches. Cachemate rocks! Quote Link to comment
+RakeInTheCache Posted October 18, 2005 Share Posted October 18, 2005 I went paperless and the nozzles on my ink jet printer encrusted over. Now I have to go out and buy pricy new cartridges which will just encrust over again because I am paperless caching. Oh the sacrifices ... Quote Link to comment
+denali7 Posted October 18, 2005 Share Posted October 18, 2005 i use easygps, but i always read threads like these in which people rave about cachemate and gsak. what can you do with cachemate and gsak, that you can't do with easygps? i'm curious about what i may be missing. (i use an ipaq) Quote Link to comment
+Polar B's Posted October 18, 2005 Share Posted October 18, 2005 i use easygps, but i always read threads like these in which people rave about cachemate and gsak. what can you do with cachemate and gsak, that you can't do with easygps? i'm curious about what i may be missing. (i use an ipaq) Cachemate is a program for Palm pilots that allows you take the cache webpage with you, including description, hints and past logs and some other cool feature such as search for nearest caches. Gsak is basically the same as easygps with a lot more features. GSAK stands for "Geocaching Swiss army knife" so a good comparison is that Easygps is a regular pocket knife. Quote Link to comment
+RV'er Posted October 20, 2005 Share Posted October 20, 2005 (edited) i use easygps, but i always read threads like these in which people rave about cachemate and gsak. what can you do with cachemate and gsak, that you can't do with easygps? i'm curious about what i may be missing. (i use an ipaq) I, too, used EasyGPS. It was great. GSAK is sooo.. much better. Even if you never use it to send data to a PDA. GSAK has filters that help eliminate caches that you don't want to look for (DNFs, archived, Terrain of 5+, you get the idea). GSAK also gives lots of extra info about each cache. The program can also send your cache waypoints to other programs such as Map Source, Streets and Trips, etc. and also send the waypoints to your GPSr. Glad that this forum turned me on to it. RV'er Edited October 20, 2005 by RV'er Quote Link to comment
+SparksWG3K Posted October 20, 2005 Share Posted October 20, 2005 I just started using my BlackBerry today for caching. By using the wireless website I was able to query and log finds in real time. Pretty cool. I posted a request on the website topics forum to see if they could add some additional information to the pages so they are more useful. But you could use them on any wireless web device whether it be a BlackBerry or cell phone. Quote Link to comment
+DreadPirateRoberts Posted October 20, 2005 Share Posted October 20, 2005 what can you do with cachemate and gsak, that you can't do with easygps? I use a combination of Google Maps, gpsbabel, and GSAK to give me a completely free way to do "caches on a route". This page: http://www.alancurry.com/gpsbabel/route3.php has instructions for using Google Maps and gpsbabel to create an ARC file from driving directions, and then you can use GSAK to filter your cache listings based on distance from that ARC. The worst part is generating a bunch of PQs to cover your route, but until gc.com adds features for this type of thing, you're stuck in that boat no matter what your solution for caches on a route. The upside is that other than your premium membership, this can be a totally free way to do caches on a route! Also, I agree with the other poster to say that the filtering capabilities of GSAK are very powerful. I've used those capabilities to define filters for kid-friendly caches, caches containing Jeep TBs, etc. Quote Link to comment
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