PDA?

[+Buckazznkdntx]

I have noticed people mentioning PDA's a lot when Geocaching. Is this merely used for storing hints and such or is there another reason. Being a newbie I assume it's for hints and such because today I was trying to remember what a person had said about the spot while I was out hunting.

[+oprystar]

Your on the right track but it goes a but further. You can actually download all of the info from the geocaching.com pages to your PDA. You can set parameters to controll things like distance, types, not yet found, etc. It is called paperless caching. No more printing out site pages.

[+Buckazznkdntx]

Your on the right track but it goes a but further. You can actually download all of the info from the geocaching.com pages to your PDA. You can set parameters to controll things like distance, types, not yet found, etc. It is called paperless caching. No more printing out site pages.

 

thanks could see where this could be useful. You have a recommendation for a good yet reasonable PDA.

[+tenulp]

Your on the right track but it goes a but further. You can actually download all of the info from the geocaching.com pages to your PDA. You can set parameters to controll things like distance, types, not yet found, etc. It is called paperless caching. No more printing out site pages.

 

thanks could see where this could be useful. You have a recommendation for a good yet reasonable PDA.

 

I'm happy with my Palm Z22. Apparantly can be found on e-bay often. I decided to purchase new locally. Under $150.00Cdn IF I remember correctly but don't quote me. I do suffer from oldtimers!

[+gof1]

Just about any PDA will work.

Generally the recommendation is one with 8megs or more of memory.

Keep in mind that PDAs are not as rugged as hand held GPSrs, get one that is inexpensive.

That way if you damage it it won't be as much of a heartbreak.

Check out Ebay. lots of good deals on PDAs there.

Also search these forums for info on paperless caching. Many threads on the subject.

[+matcat]

Greetings, PDA's are quite awesome tools, not just for caching though! I have a Palm TX (It is one of the higher up lines though for Palm), and I use it for everything from listening to MP3's, to working on Microsoft Office Documents, to even watching movies! However my main use of it is for internet access, and to use as my GPS. I am new to doing caching, however it is something I have been wanting to do for years, so I ordered a bluetooth GPS receiver this weekend, and hopefully it will arrive on time to do my first few caches by next weekend! The reciever I bought is just a receiver, and requires a bluetooth device to use it (Which my Palm TX is), so I can use my PDA as my GPs device! And no they are not as rigid as something like a garmin or magellian designed for more torturous use, but with good care and preperation, and common sense, it is not hard to keep them well protected. Anyway, Happy caching!

[+wesleykey]

I think I paid about $25 for my Palm Zire used on eBay. No complaints at all.

[+ZagtasticFour]

an even better pda that will cost you about $1. very reliable, best battery life, drop it all you want and noone wants to steal it. check it out here.

 

what i do is use GTD Tiddly Wiki Plus to make tiddlers of the caches i'm going after. nice for taking notes on what you left/took for later web logging.

 

except for the cost of index cards and binder clip, all free.

 

now if i could only figure out how to post pictures, i have screen shots.

Edited March 6, 2007 by ZagtasticFour

[+KA7CJH]

All you need to do for posting images is, Find an online hosting site such as Photobucket.com. Then upload your image there. And have it generate the "HTML"code and paste the code here.

 

 

Thats what I just did. The image shown here is being stored on one of my Photobucket sites. The direct link to it is here. http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y133/8100...ns/clapping.gif

 

Hope this helps.. Chris - KA7CJH

[+BAMBOOZLE]

I have two Palm M500's and two Sony Clie'....all from ebay and all work fine for caching using plucker.

Get a backup pda ( as little as 10- 20 bucks)....a broken pda will ruin your trip.

I'll include the following :

LIST OF USUFULL GEOCACHING ITEMS

I can’t say that mine is better than any other because I have only used 1 other. But my Magellan Meridian Color with Mapsend Software gets the job done. I can carry the whole Southeast US on my 500 mb sd card and have plenty of room for more. That includes dirt and gravel roads. Last summer, I lead a column of cars carrying 19 people across the Florida countryside in the middle of the night for 4 hours, and I did it from the rear of the column via CB radio. Missing signs were not a problem. That’s real-time mapping capability in a practical application. Superior signal stability under harsh conditions, etc, etc. So Watcha, what kind of Magellan are you using? And what did you do to provoke it?

 

Doggy is right.......again.

Bamette and I each use a Meridian Platinum ( Magellan) with Directroute Software and I have a Platinum for a spare. With the SD card capability you can store maps, lists of caches, etc. ( an immense amount) and you also have an electronic compass, big screen, easy to use buttons, and maintain a lock under heavy canopy for hours. I also have two Garmins but the Platinums are the way to go.

Grab you a couple of Palms on ebay, download spinner and plucker, and you're good to go. On a cross country trip you could load dozens of spinner files ( one for each city?) on your Magellans SD card and use plucker to put each one on your Palm, charge your batteries, and you're ready for weeks of caching ( you can also get the Platinum GPS on ebay w/ lots of extras for about $150.).

 

A convenient holster will give you a place to carry and protect your gpsr. A PDA holster will do the same for your PDA. An adaptor for your cig lighter will stretch your batteries life. A probe will help you avoid biting varmints. A mirror with an intense pocket flashlight will get you past those out-of-sighters. I like to use a lensatic compass for precision. I also use a wrist compass clipped to my watchband for qlance orientation. That’s just on the weekends of course. I like it so much that I’m looking for 2 more, one for my dress watch and the other for my son. I guess they’re out of season? If you are really loaded for bear, bring along a metal detector. If the cache has a coin in it or is made of metal, it will give you the edge. I guess that’s about it. I’m not saying I do that. It’s an interesting thought though

 

To add to the geocache tool list you must buy a top of the line MAHA battery charger ( I use three) and a supply of MAHA POWERX Ni MH batteries .....these are the best made ( don't take my word for it, look it up ) then you will have plenty of batteries for your digital camera ( my wife and I each carry one), GPS unit, flashlights etc.

For a small , powerfull flashlight you can't beat a Surefire L4 Digital Lumamax ( 5 blinding watts of LED driven by two 3 volt lithium batteries.....the batteries are $15 for a box of twelve and have a 10 year shelf life....kind of pricy but well worth it...will light up the woods.

I don't know if the most important thing was mentioned....a good walking stick. Local cachers and special guests can get one free at the View Carre' cache.......don't leave your car without your stick.

Also a small pocket screwdriver for digging out micro logs and other probing.

AND DON’T FORGET TO BRING A PENCIL.

LIST From Above :

 

1. Magellan Meridian Platinum GPS Unit + Belt Holster (EBAY- If you will have a regular partner , get two )

2. Palm M500 PDA and case ( ebay- buy an extra for backup )

3. 12” metal probe for searching tree cavities etc. for micro caches

4. 2 “ or 3” extension mirror

5. Small, intense flashlight ( Surefire L4 Digital Lumamax )

6. Pencil

7. Sharpie ( Fine Point)

8. Cotton Gloves

9. Pocket Screwdriver

10. Walking stick

11. Plastimo Iris 50 Hand Bearing Compass ( Great for offset caches)

12. C401FSDC MAHA NiMH Battery Charger

13. Maha 2500 mAh NiMH PowerX AA Batteries (GPS,camera,flashlights,etc. )

14. Digital Camera

15. Access to computer w/ internet connection ( premium membership in geocaching.com is best )

 

INFORMATION ON PAPERLESS CACHING

 

I got started with step by step info. I got from the Florida Geocaching website and I keep copies here at my View Carre' cache to hand out to others. I am not hi tech and can't quite use my cell phone but this guide is can't miss. If you can't find it email me and I can fax it to you.

 

http://www.floridageocaching.com/paperless.htm = step by step instructions.

[+Bad_CRC]

you can really do anything with a pda

 

a $20 black and white palm III will let you download every cache page (description, hints, recent logs) within 50 miles, as well as some games to play along the way. it's great if you are going to be going around to several caches on a trip.

 

a $200 dell axim with a gps attachment will let you connect to geocaching.com, create a new pocket query, email it to yourself, download the results, get turn by turn driving directions to the cache, and take you right to the cache, then let you log it right from the pda.

 

 

I've done all of the above. I wouldn't use a pda as my main gpsr since they are more breakable than a gpsr, but when I went on vacation recently, it worked great for picking up a couple of caches.

[+geocacher_coza]

I use a Garmin iQue 3600. A GPS and PDA combination. IMHO the best combo around!

[+Arndtwe]

at the end of the shcool year i'll be getting a palm lifedrive, for only 30 bucks brand spankin new . i have my connections .

[+matcat]

at the end of the shcool year i'll be getting a palm lifedrive, for only 30 bucks brand spankin new . i have my connections .

Good deal, just note that the HD in the LD is VERY slow compared to any other solid memory device

[+simplyred]

Just bought a PalmVx for 39.99 cdn from xcess cargo, set it up for paperless and ready to go, using along with my 60CSX should cut down on the DNF's. No more going home to read the cache because it was a multi or missing, that is as long as I remeber to bring it when I go. LOL

[+Alan2]

you can really do anything with a pda

 

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a $200 dell axim with a gps attachment will let you connect to geocaching.com, create a new pocket query, email it to yourself, download the results, get turn by turn driving directions to the cache, and take you right to the cache, then let you log it right from the pda.

 

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How do you conect to geocaching with the PPC? Do you have to have a separate connection service or is there a way to connect through Verizon? Need WiFi?