paperless caching

[+Truscott]

I read in the geocaching.com pages about "paperless" caching. It said you could download the waypoints, descriptions, hints, etc. I can download the waypoints, but how do I get the hints, descriptions, etc?

 

Thanks

[+PJPeters]

There's a few different programs to use to go paperless. GSAK is probably the most popular on PC, but there's a few others. Check in the Resources section of gc.com.

Make sure you're downloading the .gpx format of the waypoint. That will give you all the info you'll need, including logs, diff/terrain, hints, description, etc. Then, import them into GSAK (or whatever you're using). Everything will be in there when you're ready for it.

If you want to take all that information along, you'll want a PDA. You can, apparently, download the info onto your iPod, but I haven't tried, and don't know where the directions are. If you're using a Palm based PDA, you can use Cachemate on it. If you're using a Windows based PDA, you'll need to ask someone else, since I don't have any idea how to make them work.

[+Wadcutter]

If you're using a Windows based PDA all you need to do is DL a program to your PDA like GPXSonar or GPXView which are both free. Cachemate is also available for Windows PDA at $8. When you DL the info from Geocachining either by the individual page or via a PQ you get a .gpx file of that page(s). With GPXSonar or GPXView you then just transfer the .gpx file to your PDA. GPXSonar and GPXView will open that .gpx file. No other transferring or tweaking needs to be done.

[+Truscott]

If you're using a Windows based PDA all you need to do is DL a program to your PDA like GPXSonar or GPXView which are both free. Cachemate is also available for Windows PDA at $8. When you DL the info from Geocachining either by the individual page or via a PQ you get a .gpx file of that page(s). With GPXSonar or GPXView you then just transfer the .gpx file to your PDA. GPXSonar and GPXView will open that .gpx file. No other transferring or tweaking needs to be done.

 

Ok...thanks to all

[+Ryan&Michelle]

How about for a Blackberry, any nice cache applications for one of those?

[superstition]

Trimble now has a version of Geocache Navigator for various Blackberry units with built in GPS. It's totally paperless: discover caches around you instantly, navigate to the cache you want, read hints and logs for the cache, and mark the cache as found/not found - all from the Blackberry. You can try it for free here:

 

Geocache Navigator For Free

 

Let us know what you think

 

Rich at Trimble

 

How about for a Blackberry, any nice cache applications for one of those?

[+Nachtraaf]

you can also export from Gsak to HTML and read the files in your windows based PDA internet explorer...if necessary you can even import the spoilers.

 

Regards,

Hans

[+BumperMcV]

Rich,

 

I have the Geocache navigator on my Sprint phone. I love it. It works great any time I have reception. The only problem I have is when the battery dies or I forget to pay my phone bill. I love to pull up the topo map when I'm out in the woods searching. Sometimes if my GPSr doesnt lock on I use my phone as a back up. A few times I have been traveking without my GPSr and used to phone to get the cache. it's great to pull up the hint and past logs with current info.

 

Bumper

[+gapple]

I got an IPod for christmas, because I was the last person in the family to not have one. I saw a Notes function on this device. After a google search, I found a program called Cachemagnet which will take a GPX file and will directly download the cache information, hint and some logs to the ipod. It sorts it by cache name or waypoint number. You then view the information via the Notes function of the IPOD. Tried it out in the field today and I am hooked.

[+Sail with Grace]

I recently got an Compaq Ipaq and have installed GpxView. I can download the cache info individually however I would like to down load a lot of caches at once using the GSAK program which I have already installed on my laptop. I can't figure out how to get the data from GSAK into GpxView. Any suggestions?

[+Wadcutter]

If you've gotten the .gpx files via a pocket query then you don't need to use GSAK. Open the PA and then just copy the file from the pocket query into your PDA and GPXView will read it without any further tweaking.

If you haven't gotten the cache files from a PQ and DLed them individually into GSAK then click "file", then "export", then "GPX/LOC file". You'll then go to a window where you can name and save the GSAK info wherever you want as a .gpx file. Once you've saved that file then just copy it to your PDA and GPXView will read it without any further tweaking.