GPX Files - All on your GPSr?

[+alienbogey]

I've been contemplating Premium membership for our family should this geocaching turn out to be a sustained interest rather than the latest flash in the pan. Reference this quote explaining GPX files:

 

"GPX – A cache database file format. Files in the GPX format are available only to Premium Members. This format contains virtually all the information available on a cache page, plus the last 5 logs made to the cache, as well as any logs the person requesting the file may have made to the cache. GPX files can be requested from a cache page, or via Pocket Queries. See also “LOC”."

 

Do most (any? some?) GPSr's have enough space on their screens or "notes" type areas to download, store and present "virtually all the information available on a cache page"?

 

That seems like a lot - the "notes" space on our new Garmin 60cxi looks like it has room for maybe 50 characters.

 

If not, what good does it do to have all that info downloaded? Downloaded to what?

 

Be gentle, newb here.

[+O-Mega]

I've been contemplating Premium membership for our family should this geocaching turn out to be a sustained interest rather than the latest flash in the pan. Reference this quote explaining GPX files:

 

"GPX – A cache database file format. Files in the GPX format are available only to Premium Members. This format contains virtually all the information available on a cache page, plus the last 5 logs made to the cache, as well as any logs the person requesting the file may have made to the cache. GPX files can be requested from a cache page, or via Pocket Queries. See also “LOC”."

 

Do most (any? some?) GPSr's have enough space on their screens or "notes" type areas to download, store and present "virtually all the information available on a cache page"?

 

That seems like a lot - the "notes" space on our new Garmin 60cxi looks like it has room for maybe 50 characters.

 

If not, what good does it do to have all that info downloaded? Downloaded to what?

 

Be gentle, newb here.

 

The GPX files are best for using GSAK or other utility to manipulate, sort, review the data. I used to use the loc files but I didn't like naming the caches by the gc code so finally got GSAK and never looked back. I use a PDA (pocket pc) with gpx sonar (cachemate for PALM) to view the page while in the field, that is where the gpx pays great dividends.

 

O-Mega

[+StarBrand]

If you save the GPX file to your GPS as a POI (Point of Interest) file - then you can get quite a bit of the info. However, I would not expect to get full descriptions or any of the logs to stuff into that space. I think I read you can put something like 135 characters worth in there.

 

You can download the POI converter from Garmin for free.

 

Best to get a PDA and just carry the GPX info that way.

[+Airmapper]

Some units with a long name field can hold the main cache info, for example I use GSAK custom tags to send the waypoint name to my Lowrance as:

 

"Cache Name" by "Cache Owner" Traditional Cache Regular (3/ 2.5) GCABCDE

 

As it's seen there that amounts to: Name, owner, type, size, diff/ terr, and GC#. GSAK also lets you customize the icon used for each different type of cache, and even the status of the cache.

 

Like the others, I also pack a PDA for complete cache info. My Palm and my GPS both use SD cards, and with that expandability I can carry more cache info than I can ever use.

[+Miragee]

<snip>

 

Do most (any? some?) GPSr's have enough space on their screens or "notes" type areas to download, store and present "virtually all the information available on a cache page"?

 

That seems like a lot - the "notes" space on our new Garmin 60cxi looks like it has room for maybe 50 characters.

 

If not, what good does it do to have all that info downloaded? Downloaded to what?

Since you have an 'x' GPSr, you can use Garmin's POI Loader in conjunction with GSAK to get lots of information on your GPSr that comes from the .gpx files, but not "virtually all the information available on a cache page."

 

Even on my Vista C, by using GSAK's "Smart Name" codes, I can get a lot of information on my GPSr, but I also Export from GSAK in the correct format for a program called "Cachemate," which I installed to my Palm M500. In Cachemate I have the complete cache description, the hint, and since I have been maintaining my database for quite a while, I have many Past Logs on the frequently-visited caches in the area.

 

Getting a Premium Membership for access to regular Pocket Queries, and the "Caches On A Route" PQs is a bargain.