Finding mew locations WHILE out in the field

[+Nittanys1]

I have found my first few caches around my area. Once I find them all of the locations noted while I was at home I have to return home, get on my computer to get some more caches. Then I head back out to find those. While out if I have problems locating them I dont have a way to get any more info on the area other then what I wrote down before I left the house. SO what other tools do you use to find your next cache other then the GSP, while still out in the field?

[+Cyclemanics]

I have found my first few caches around my area. Once I find them all of the locations noted while I was at home I have to return home, get on my computer to get some more caches. Then I head back out to find those. While out if I have problems locating them I dont have a way to get any more info on the area other then what I wrote down before I left the house. SO what other tools do you use to find your next cache other then the GSP, while still out in the field?

 

The best is way is to run, not walk and get a used palm on eBay, premium membership and cachemate and use the site to download the pocket queries and you'll be good to go. This is the first weekend I used it and it is awesome. Good luck.

[+Cardinal Red]

Are you open to the cost of a Premium Membership? If so "Paperless" Caching is your solution.

 

As a Premium Member you can request Pocket Queries (PQ's) to load to your GPS and/or a PDA.

 

$3 per month or $30 per year.

[+IV_Warrior]

What they said. With even a basic older PDA, you can easily have the entire description, coordinates, last 5 logs and ratings for 500 (or more depending on the memory of your PDA and number of Pocket Queries you run) of the nearest caches in your area. The new "cache along a route" feature makes it even easier to find caches that'll be along the way when you're traveling somewhere. The measly $30 yearly fee is well worth it for the time and effort it'll save you compared to taking paper notes.

Edited November 19, 2006 by IV_Warrior

[+Nittanys1]

thanks all for the info. I have two Palms laying around that I can never find any use for it.

 

OK so I have the palm, now i need to become a premium member to be able to download what?

 

ANY step by step info on how to get all this to my computer and then on the palm.

 

Then how to get the pocket queries downloaded correctly to the palm would be wonderful!

[+IV_Warrior]

The Maryland Geocaching Society has a paperless tutorial for the Palm platform. Click here.

 

Another can be found over at Geocacher University. Click Here.

[+Harriet the Spy]

Geocacher University has a great step by step tutorial on how to cache paperless using free programs. I started out using this method, now I use Cachemate, which is only 8 bucks. Podcacher has a great podcast about the different programs people use to go paperless.

[Cloudwalker501]

I have downloaded entire web pages onto my laptop and carried it in a backpack.

[+Nittanys1]

ok, I have now installed the programs and have added a few caches on the palm(s) I just paid the $8 for the full version on the palm program and I noticed that It asked me for my user name on my palm. I understand why this was asked BUT I have two palms and I would like to have my info stored on both of them. I dont feel as if I should have to pay another $8 as I WILL NOT be sharing this file and will only be using it for myself. SO i was wanting to ask for help on how to change my user name on the palm, or how to get it to work on both palms.

[+Nittanys1]

Ohh and is there any way to dounload all the info either in an area of a state. rathere then going to all of them one by one?

[+IV_Warrior]

Now that you have the premium membership, on the right side of your "my account" page, there's a "manage pocket queries" link. Click that, or go directly to www.geocaching.com/pocket/

 

You'll need to set up a pocket query and wait for the results to be e-mailed to you. When you first set up the query, DON'T select a day of the week for it to run. Make all your choices, sumbit it, then use the "preview the search" link to preview the results. If you have the results you were expecting, THEN select the day for it to run. (Choose the current day if you want it right away) If you didn't get the results you expected, or any results, go back over your choices and try to find the conflict. Remember, the choices are "and" choices, so choosing both "that I have found" and "that I have not found" will return no results, as there isn't any cache that you both have and have not found.

[+Nittanys1]

I selected the generalize answers and i still got "Sorry, no results were found for this search."

[+Nittanys1]

another question, After I have added the wanted points on my palm is there a way to see the locations on a map while still looking on the palm?

[+IV_Warrior]

Go to your query, and copy/paste the link here so we can take a look at it. As to your other question, I'm not sure as I don't have a Palm, and I use my laptop for maps.

[+michigansnorkelers]

another question, After I have added the wanted points on my palm is there a way to see the locations on a map while still looking on the palm?

 

Are you asking if you can copy the map page to your palm?

 

It depends on your palm, its memory, its display resolution etc. Can it store and display images? If so, you probably can.

 

I have a Palm Pilot Zire 72. It has a high resolution color screen. I do this all the time. The map image looks exactly like what I see on the PC.

 

There are different ways to do this. Here is one.

 

step one: display what you want to see on your PC screen. Then, press ALT and the PRINT SCRN key together. It won't look like anything happened, but you just copied your screen to the clipboard.

 

step two: open your paint program.

 

step three: go to edit, choose PASTE, and the image should appear.

 

step three: save the image. Use the SAVE AS command to name it. Save it to the desktop.

 

step four: open your palm program and go to the media page (or whereever you store your photos)

 

step five: drag the image from the desktop to the media page

 

Thats it. When you sync your palm, the map image will be there.

 

Hope this helps. There are other ways to do this depending on what programs you use.

[+ThePropers]

ok, I have now installed the programs and have added a few caches on the palm(s) I just paid the $8 for the full version on the palm program and I noticed that It asked me for my user name on my palm. I understand why this was asked BUT I have two palms and I would like to have my info stored on both of them. I dont feel as if I should have to pay another $8 as I WILL NOT be sharing this file and will only be using it for myself. SO i was wanting to ask for help on how to change my user name on the palm, or how to get it to work on both palms.

 

Here are Instructions on reseting your username on your palm.

Just set the username on both of your palms to the same thing and it should work fine.

 

Of course, when you hotsync, you'll have to add the cachemate file, hotsync to the first one, then add the cachemate file again, and hotsync the second one.

Edited November 20, 2006 by ThePropers

[+crzycrzy]

As to other ways to find caches while out, I know geocaching made a wireless application because I have used it.

Also, I am kinda stoked about the new cell phone app.

[+Nittanys1]

another question, After I have added the wanted points on my palm is there a way to see the locations on a map while still looking on the palm?

 

Are you asking if you can copy the map page to your palm?

 

It depends on your palm, its memory, its display resolution etc. Can it store and display images? If so, you probably can.

 

I have a Palm Pilot Zire 72. It has a high resolution color screen. I do this all the time. The map image looks exactly like what I see on the PC.

 

There are different ways to do this. Here is one.

 

step one: display what you want to see on your PC screen. Then, press ALT and the PRINT SCRN key together. It won't look like anything happened, but you just copied your screen to the clipboard.

 

step two: open your paint program.

 

step three: go to edit, choose PASTE, and the image should appear.

 

step three: save the image. Use the SAVE AS command to name it. Save it to the desktop.

 

step four: open your palm program and go to the media page (or whereever you store your photos)

 

step five: drag the image from the desktop to the media page

 

Thats it. When you sync your palm, the map image will be there.

 

Hope this helps. There are other ways to do this depending on what programs you use.

 

Thanks, I know how to do it that way (im a graphic design major) so I knew that was possible. BUT with that option you have to have alot of maps stored on you Palm I was more thinking towards a way to store the map to where you could navigate the map like you can on the computer.

[+Nittanys1]

Go to your query, and copy/paste the link here so we can take a look at it. As to your other question, I'm not sure as I don't have a Palm, and I use my laptop for maps.

 

What link would I click to get to my query?

[+Team Teuton]

http://www.geocaching.com/pocket/

[+jadeskyline]

I ONLY use my gpsr and my super skill!

[+Nittanys1]

I now have my GPS and Palm up and running! Time to go out an test

[+Nittanys1]

found the cache in the woods! thanks for all the help!

[+Nittanys1]

so i still havent figured out how to get all the cache locations in my area in one file so i dont have to hunt down every point within 50 mile of my location....any help would be great!

[+Bimble Bee]

so i still havent figured out how to get all the cache locations in my area in one file so i dont have to hunt down every point within 50 mile of my location....any help would be great!

 

 

Okay, try this in the pocket query selections to start with:

 

 

Show me 100 caches

 

 

Of - select any type, select any container

 

 

That - select nothing

 

 

And - select nothing

 

 

Within - select "none selected"

 

 

From Origin - Okay, here's where you have some choices. If you haven't found or set your home coordinates in your user preferences, you might want to. It comes in handy. You can then set the search out to a radius from your home coordinates. You can also enter in and select a nearby cache name... GCXXXX. The rest of the selections are pretty self-explanatory. The radius to search out to is just below the point of origin selection. I'd set the radius to something close like five or ten miles for starters.

 

 

Placed during - select "none selected"

 

 

That should about do it for finding caches near your home and having the search put them all in one .gpx file.

 

 

Good luck and happy caching.

Edited November 30, 2006 by Bimble Bee

[+Strike Anywhere]

You will get it figured out and your life will never be the same... wait to you figure out how to export a route from your mapping software and get all the caches listed from where you are to where you are going within .3 miles of your route... you stop all day long, take hours to get there but have tons of caches, hints, notes and all along the way.

[+Nittanys1]

I did that Bimble Bee, now what? shouldnt i get an email or something?

[+Bimble Bee]

I did that Bimble Bee, now what? shouldnt i get an email or something?

 

 

The pocket query should be generated and emailed to you after you select the day to run and submit it. If you have done all that, then I am at a loss as to why you do not receive them.

[+Nittanys1]

I FINALLY GOT IT TO WORK....i thought I had posted that up here...guess it didnt make it...

[+Nittanys1]

Thanks for the help everyone!

 

I would like you to know that due to your help I was able to get 100 caches in 23 days! aprox. 18 miles walked.

[Digital_Cowboy]

I have found my first few caches around my area. Once I find them all of the locations noted while I was at home I have to return home, get on my computer to get some more caches. Then I head back out to find those. While out if I have problems locating them I dont have a way to get any more info on the area other then what I wrote down before I left the house. SO what other tools do you use to find your next cache other then the GSP, while still out in the field?

 

You could always print out the cache descriptions and take 'em with you. If you have a laptop, PDA, or a PPC you can also d/l the information to that and take it with you. judging from the descriptions I gather that one can (presumably depending on your phone) have some or all of the info sent to yer cell phone.

 

Digital_Cowboy

[+Nittanys1]

i guess you didnt read everything....I got it all worked out. have program on palm and gps unit.