Another paperless caching question

[bradnlinds]

I have a PDA that doesn't see too much use, I am upgrading our membership to premium and have been reading around the forums all kinds of things about paperless caching. There's no lack of information, I just think there might be so much information that I don't quite no where to start.

 

Is it necessary to have a program for both your PC and your PDA? Like two seperate programs rather than a program that you use on your desktop for downloads and then one you operate on your PDA. I don't even know if that makes sense to you guys. I have read some of the tutorials and I am still a bit lost.

 

For now, our GPS is not PC compatible, so we don't need a program with those features. I guess I am really just wanting to be able to read the cache pages/descriptions on the PDA instead of printing out all that paper. Anyone have a jumping off point for me?

[+StarBrand]

First - what kind of PDA do you have?

[+Nachtraaf]

There are many ways to go for paperless caching. As soon as you have not printed anything and carry the cache description electronically with you while you are caching...you have it...

 

1) download the pdf of a geocache description to your pda and read it with a pocket pdf reader (one by one).

2) download the GPX files and read it with a gpx reader (one by one)

3) use a pc program (like GSAK) which is loaded with geocaches and export it to several types. Advantage? You can do it in bulk: html, gpx,...

 

I use option 3 and update my PDA weekly using GSAK exporting to html (including spoiler images if necessary).

 

Regards,

Hans

[+Miragee]

I have a Palm m515 and use Cachemate on it. On my PC, I have GSAK (Geocaching Swiss Army Knife) and from it I send the waypoints to my GPSr, Export the .pdb files for Cachemate, and Export for other applications, such as Mapsource maps and Google Earth.

 

If your PDA is a PPC, there is a Cachemate for PPC, but you might also like GPXSonar or GPXView on the PPC.

[cliff_hanger]

Anyone have a jumping off point for me?

 

Step by step starting with Pocket Queries and showing several different ways to paperless here Paperless caching

 

Best to read it in order, but check out the "Overview" and "Two schools of thought"

[bradnlinds]

I have a Tungsten E2, I know its not the latest and greatest, but I think it could be useful caching.

[+StarBrand]

I have a Tungsten E2, I know its not the latest and greatest, but I think it could be useful caching.

Http://www.markwell.us/pq.htm

 

http://www.geocacher-u.com/resources/paperless.html

 

The above links are good resources to get you going.

[+Pirateseekers]

I have an 2 old Palms, IIIxe and M105. They work great using cachemate. Cachemate comes with a program called CMconvert which will convert the GPX files you download from geocaching.com and convert them to cachemate data base file that will upload when you sync your palm.

Paperless caching does require a premium membership to be able to download GPX files. I also have used GSAK(Geocaching Swiss Aarmy Knife). Very powerful tool lots of advantages to using it. GSAK will also create the required file for your palm upload and load your GPS if it has a connection to your PC.

Using cachemate with the included utility CMconvert is a good way to get started paperless caching. And pay the $8 for cachemate, well worth it.

[+Kealia]

Many people use CacheMate on thier PDAs and it's a great, simple interface that allows you to put up to 500 caches per Pocket Query in your PDA quick in a text-format. You get all the cache info, logs, hints, etc.

IIRC, it's $8.00 to register the software, but you can try for free.

 

I prefer to use a program that allows for HTML pages on the pda as they look nicer, and feel more like reading the cache page (inlcuding images).

 

Read through this link that was given above for step by step instructions:

http://www.geocacher-u.com/resources/paperless.html.

 

Both programs needed are free. Be aware that Plucker can be slow, so I use iSilo instead and it works exactly the same way as Plucker so the tutorial is accurate.

 

Try them all (CacheMate, Plucker and iSilo) and see which you like best. iSilo runs $19.99 after the free 30-day trial period but is well worth it IMO.

 

Let us know what you decide. I'm always curious to see which program new people gravitate towards.

[+Pegasi]

I have a Tungsten E2, I know its not the latest and greatest, but I think it could be useful caching.

 

I use a tungsten e2 with Cachemate and GSAK. I Load GPX files from pocket queries into GSAK which exports the .PDB file necessary for cachemate.

 

The benefit o the tungsten E2 is its bluetooth ability. I have a very Small Holux GPS unit that connects via the bluetooth, Sirf 3 and WAAS enabled.

 

99% of the time I use this setup as an all in one solution. Paperless info on the PDA, cachemates nav feature to use the PDA as a gps. The 1% of the time I do not use this solution is for caches over water - I would rather drop my waterresistant Garmin in the soup than my PDA.

[+jpwrangler]

I recieved my M515 today, loaded Cachemate, and my query today in all of a couple of hours. That included some editing in GSAK, as I had never really figured that program out, kinda hard to figure out with the nag screen.(I promise I'm going to buy a license, Clyde, you deserve it). Easiest thing I've done since I started all this. So, I believe you're all set with the Tungsten and Cachemate.

Edited March 21, 2008 by jpwrangler

[+Tech Nic]

I use a paid for Cachemate and a paid for GSAK. I started with a Palm Zire 31 and it worked fine. Only problem is I bought it at one of those XS freight stores and it was a refurbished unit. It calved on me after about 1 week. I decided that since the Palm offered good paperless caching, I should buy another Palm, but a new one from one of those office supply stores that sell Staples as well. I ended up with a Palm TX. It is Blue Tooth and WiFI capable. I like it.

 

One thing to remember, as I found out during my first attempt at paperless caching, some of those puzzling, or multi cache type caches require you to either memorize hints, or write them down somewhere. It is not always convenient to get out the PDA and fire it up and make notes. A small pad of paper and a pencil are still very handy.

[+HaricotVert_52]

I got my Garmin and use a Palm M10 with CacheMate for paperless caching.

I see discussions about GSAK and using iPods, but don't see a need for either now. What am I missing out on if I don't move over to those?

[+Miragee]

I got my Garmin and use a Palm M10 with CacheMate for paperless caching.

I see discussions about GSAK and using iPods, but don't see a need for either now. What am I missing out on if I don't move over to those?

The main reason I use GSAK is for its ability to filter the caches I want to search for in this cache-rich area.

 

I get seven PQs each week to cover a 50-mile radius from a point inland from the ocean, so I get a reasonalbly full circle. Using GSAK, I can divide up all those caches into three databases. Caches 35-miles or closer to my home, caches out in the desert, and caches more than 35 miles from my home.

 

Then, within those databases, I can filter for whatever type of caches I might want to look for on a "caching adventure": easy caches or hiking caches. I can also do an Arc/Poly filter to get only caches along the roads I will be driving to get somewhere.

 

I cannot imagine trying to cache without using the capabilities of GSAK -- and I don't even use all the capabilities that program has.

 

I use a Palm m515 . . . and don't have an iPod, but for people who already own one of those, the cache data can be Exported for GSAK in the correct format for the iPod.

[+HaricotVert_52]

I got my Garmin and use a Palm M10 with CacheMate for paperless caching.

I see discussions about GSAK and using iPods, but don't see a need for either now. What am I missing out on if I don't move over to those?

The main reason I use GSAK is for its ability to filter the caches I want to search for in this cache-rich area.

 

I get seven PQs each week to cover a 50-mile radius from a point inland from the ocean, so I get a reasonalbly full circle. Using GSAK, I can divide up all those caches into three databases. Caches 35-miles or closer to my home, caches out in the desert, and caches more than 35 miles from my home.

 

Then, within those databases, I can filter for whatever type of caches I might want to look for on a "caching adventure": easy caches or hiking caches. I can also do an Arc/Poly filter to get only caches along the roads I will be driving to get somewhere.

 

I cannot imagine trying to cache without using the capabilities of GSAK -- and I don't even use all the capabilities that program has.

 

I use a Palm m515 . . . and don't have an iPod, but for people who already own one of those, the cache data can be Exported for GSAK in the correct format for the iPod.

 

I can see the purpose of GSAK when you do that much caching. Sadly, my caching time is very limited and my best day so far has been only 6 finds ( isn't that sad?).

I'd love to make that better but at my level I'm doing OK with the equipment and software I have.

 

Oh, to find that I need GSAK ... I can only hope.

 

Thanks for your comments!