Geocaching with a mini laptop

[+Globetrotter.uk]

Does anyone use a mini laptop for paperless caching? ifso what software do you use? gsak or what. To save airtime do you download to the laptop rather than surf.

[+*mouse*]

Haven't used it for caching, but have used a standard size laptop with memory map to navigate as a passenger in the car...... worked very well but not very portable!

Caches were preloaded into MM via GSAK.

[+currykev]

Wouldn't it be easier to write the GC #, coords, size and hint in a small paper notebook.

Even though I have an iPhone, I wouldn't rely on it for cache details or gps.

PS...I can't do paperless, I just cant!

[+searchjaunt]

I tried first with a Z22, but that doesn't work that well.

See also

http://searchjaunt.idizaai.be/channel-rat/

http://searchjaunt.idizaai.be/big-spoiler/

http://searchjaunt.idizaai.be/late-sunrise/

 

I'm looking to buy HP Ipaq 214. I see Windows Mobile and the large screen as an asset.

[lakeuk]

Don't have one, but having looked at the Asus 1000HE Netbook and does look tempting, it has a 6cell battery which Asus say gives 9.5hrs, and regular users have quoted getting over 8hrs

 

 

I'd keep an eye on http://www.hotukdeals.com, there is alot of competition in the netbook market with lots of deals regularly coming up, a recent one was tesco selling a netbook for £135

[team tisri]

Does anyone use a mini laptop for paperless caching? ifso what software do you use? gsak or what. To save airtime do you download to the laptop rather than surf.

 

I use a piece of software I wrote myself. The forum mods were kind enough to grant me permission to start a thread to link to it, which you can read here:

 

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=221802

 

It's free to download and use, and a small payment turns off the nag screens and enables full usage of a couple of extra features.

[+SaltercreaseRangers]

HP2133 + O2 dongle = sorted

Edited May 19, 2009 by SaltercreaseRangers

[+Matrix]

MSI Wind U100 and Three dongle for the hardware , memory map and gsak for the software

[+Moote]

Been using UMPC since 2006 and it has been useful on many occasions, it has a full UK GSAK Database and Memory Map; could not live without it

[+talkytoaster]

I have an Acer Aspire One A150 1.5GB Memory, 160GB HD, running Windows XP with GSAK and Quo (from Mapyx) for OS maps and a T-Mobile 3G Dongle for mobile connectivity.

 

It also has a 9 cell battery which gives me up to 12 hours on a single charge.

 

Use it from time to time whilst out caching, but mainly now just use my Oregon 200 instead.

 

Regards,

Martin

[+kinofrost]

I did a lot of research before getting my Samsung NC-10, which (give or take certain mobile broadband promotions, etc) appeared the best for the money and I have about 7 or 8 hours battery. I download my PQs from my inbox in the morning then grab my caching bag, the notebook, a cable and my Oregon and jump in the car. Provided I'm not driving I can copy the GPXs across to GSAK and the Oregon, then look for where's good on Dartmoor to go today using the GSAK map macro (filtered for whatever I'm not in the mood for). I then have the rest of the journey to chat, or watch episodes of "A bit of Fry and Laurie".

 

I'm thinking of also storing a Vodaphone dongle for "emergency" internet access (the only company that doesn't have an expiry on pay-as-you-go credit) and getting a cooler bag to store the machine in (lithium ion batteries degrade much, much faster in high temperatures)

 

So yeah, it's pretty good. I can also download my field notes on the way back, and if I had mobile broadband I could even log the finds on the way home. I can also use it to view pictures I took that day, either using the SD card slot for the digital camera or bluetooth connection from my phone.

[team tisri]

IIRC Vodafone has a six-month timeout on credit if you don't use it. I've got one of their mobile dongles and from what I remember as long as you use it the credit remains forever but after six months of non-use the credit disappears and after a further three months the SIM is deactivated.

[+Happy Humphrey]

I haven't tried it out yet, but I have a T-Mobile dongle (pay as you go, £2 for a day, £7 for a week or £15 for a month). The laptop is the aforementioned Asus 1000HE Netbook, as it has the longest battery life by far, and a very good spec.

 

The plan is to use it only as a backup in the field (the Legend HCx holds sufficient details for a few thousand caches amyway), so mostly for logging caches in the evening (on average, most caches I attempt are between 100 and 500 miles from home!).

 

N.B. T-Mobile doesn't advertise any expiry on their new daily mobile broadband rate (but I wouldn't guarantee that it never expires; I asked them if I could use it abroad and they said "yes", but that wasn't true).

[+kinofrost]

IIRC Vodafone has a six-month timeout on credit if you don't use it. I've got one of their mobile dongles and from what I remember as long as you use it the credit remains forever but after six months of non-use the credit disappears and after a further three months the SIM is deactivated.

 

N.B. T-Mobile doesn't advertise any expiry on their new daily mobile broadband rate (but I wouldn't guarantee that it never expires; I asked them if I could use it abroad and they said "yes", but that wasn't true).

 

Thanks for the info! After looking into it I read for T-Mobile that it has no expiry... and on the same page it said that Vodaphone has no expiry either. I suspect it's actually "no expiry"*, similar to the term "Unlimited"* Broadband.

 

* Subject to lies.

[+Jonovich]

Has anyone noticed any significant reduction in battery life when running with one of these 3G dongles plugged in? I didn't think the old USB port could draw much current, but I've noticed a reduction of about 40% battery life when running with the dongle in. To use up my unused allocation this month I sat down at lunchtime to watch Dr.Who via BBC iPlayer and got just one episode streamed in before the low battery light came on!

 

Jon.

[+talkytoaster]

Has anyone noticed any significant reduction in battery life when running with one of these 3G dongles plugged in? I didn't think the old USB port could draw much current, but I've noticed a reduction of about 40% battery life when running with the dongle in. To use up my unused allocation this month I sat down at lunchtime to watch Dr.Who via BBC iPlayer and got just one episode streamed in before the low battery light came on!

 

Jon.

The 3G dongles appear to be at least as battery hungry as WiFi, that's why I got a 9 cell battery that can give me up to 12 hours use (without WiFi or 3G Dongle running).

 

Regards,

Martin

[team tisri]

IIRC Vodafone has a six-month timeout on credit if you don't use it. I've got one of their mobile dongles and from what I remember as long as you use it the credit remains forever but after six months of non-use the credit disappears and after a further three months the SIM is deactivated.

 

N.B. T-Mobile doesn't advertise any expiry on their new daily mobile broadband rate (but I wouldn't guarantee that it never expires; I asked them if I could use it abroad and they said "yes", but that wasn't true).

 

Thanks for the info! After looking into it I read for T-Mobile that it has no expiry... and on the same page it said that Vodaphone has no expiry either. I suspect it's actually "no expiry"*, similar to the term "Unlimited"* Broadband.

 

* Subject to lies.

 

Given the choice between £2/day with T-Mobile and £15/GB with Vodafone (both pay as you go), I would go with Vodafone unless your daily downloads are positively huge.

 

When I was a much heavier mobile broadband user I reckoned on going through 2-300MB per month, in which case T-Mobile worked out £12.50/month added to a talk plan or £20/month on PAYG, and Vodafone worked out about £3-5/month.

 

With a contract things might be different, but certainly with PAYG I'd rate paying for bandwidth rather than time will probably work out cheaper.

[+Happy Humphrey]

Given the choice between £2/day with T-Mobile and £15/GB with Vodafone (both pay as you go), I would go with Vodafone unless your daily downloads are positively huge.

 

When I was a much heavier mobile broadband user I reckoned on going through 2-300MB per month, in which case T-Mobile worked out £12.50/month added to a talk plan or £20/month on PAYG, and Vodafone worked out about £3-5/month.

 

With a contract things might be different, but certainly with PAYG I'd rate paying for bandwidth rather than time will probably work out cheaper.

If you were using T-Mobile, the limit is (IIRC) 3Gb per month. Paying for 1 month in advance would cost £15. If you exceed the limit, you get service degradation (but no extra charge). It all depends on how you anticipate using it.

[team tisri]

Given the choice between £2/day with T-Mobile and £15/GB with Vodafone (both pay as you go), I would go with Vodafone unless your daily downloads are positively huge.

 

When I was a much heavier mobile broadband user I reckoned on going through 2-300MB per month, in which case T-Mobile worked out £12.50/month added to a talk plan or £20/month on PAYG, and Vodafone worked out about £3-5/month.

 

With a contract things might be different, but certainly with PAYG I'd rate paying for bandwidth rather than time will probably work out cheaper.

If you were using T-Mobile, the limit is (IIRC) 3Gb per month. Paying for 1 month in advance would cost £15. If you exceed the limit, you get service degradation (but no extra charge). It all depends on how you anticipate using it.

 

Yes it does, although you'd have to be doing some serious downloading while caching to even think about your monthly download limits, which in turn also assumes that the places you're caching have a strong enough mobile signal for it to be anything other than an academic concern.

 

But I certainly won't dispute the fact that if you expect to download more than 1GB per month then paying per GB isn't going to be the cheapest.

[+little-miss-naughty]

pc world get the new samsung notebook for free and have £30 a month for 15g wifi internet.

[team tisri]

pc world get the new samsung notebook for free and have £30 a month for 15g wifi internet.

 

Wifi is of limited use when caching unless you're in an urban area. Mobile broadband is far more useful because it works even when you're not within range of a wifi hotspot.

[+little-miss-naughty]

pc world get the new samsung notebook for free and have £30 a month for 15g wifi internet.

 

Wifi is of limited use when caching unless you're in an urban area. Mobile broadband is far more useful because it works even when you're not within range of a wifi hotspot.

 

i ment broardband lol

[modernman]

Don't have one, but having looked at the Asus 1000HE Netbook and does look tempting, it has a 6cell battery which Asus say gives 9.5hrs, and regular users have quoted getting over 8hrs

 

 

I'd keep an eye on http://www.hotukdeals.com, there is alot of competition in the netbook market with lots of deals regularly coming up, a recent one was tesco selling a netbook for £135

 

I have that exact model and at the risk of understatement IT ROCKS!!!

[+Guanajuato]

I've just ordered an Aspire One from 3 - 'free' on a contract at £17.50 a month. That gives 1GB a month usage & 10p/MB above that. Considering that the Broadband Lite package is £10/month for the same allowance, that works out at £7.50 per month for the Netbook. Over the 24 months that's £180 - seems like quite good value to me. From the sounds of things, the battery life is a bit rubbish.

 

They also sent a free Pay as You Go SIM. Top up with £5 and you get 1GB free mobile broadband, but it does seem to have a 90-day expiry. They're giving these sims away, literally! Once my current Vodfone contract expires, I'll probably go that route, as I hardly use it!

 

I'll not post a link for obvious reasons!

 

Quite looking forward to being able to log caches whilst on holiday, rather than waiting until I get home and have 30 or so to do. Yes, I know there's people who would class 30 as a rather bad day, but with small children we don't just go caching - it needs to be a reasonable walk, so roadside micros are completely out. But that's another thread...

[team tisri]

I've just ordered an Aspire One from 3 - 'free' on a contract at £17.50 a month. That gives 1GB a month usage & 10p/MB above that. Considering that the Broadband Lite package is £10/month for the same allowance, that works out at £7.50 per month for the Netbook. Over the 24 months that's £180 - seems like quite good value to me. From the sounds of things, the battery life is a bit rubbish.

 

They also sent a free Pay as You Go SIM. Top up with £5 and you get 1GB free mobile broadband, but it does seem to have a 90-day expiry. They're giving these sims away, literally! Once my current Vodfone contract expires, I'll probably go that route, as I hardly use it!

 

I'll not post a link for obvious reasons!

 

Quite looking forward to being able to log caches whilst on holiday, rather than waiting until I get home and have 30 or so to do. Yes, I know there's people who would class 30 as a rather bad day, but with small children we don't just go caching - it needs to be a reasonable walk, so roadside micros are completely out. But that's another thread...

 

Do keep an eye on your usage. Personally I found I struggled to reach 1GB per month but with the run-on rates it means your first GB is included, and if you use another GB it will cost you £100 extra.

[+Guanajuato]

Do keep an eye on your usage. Personally I found I struggled to reach 1GB per month but with the run-on rates it means your first GB is included, and if you use another GB it will cost you £100 extra.

Ouch! I'd not actually looked at it that way, as I can't see how I would get that kind of usage!

 

It makes the 15GB at £5 extra look pretty good value, if you need that amount.

I'll watch what I'm using and hopefully be way below 1GB on the mobile broadband - if not I should be able to change tariff.

[+talkytoaster]

I've just ordered an Aspire One from 3 - 'free' on a contract at £17.50 a month. That gives 1GB a month usage & 10p/MB above that. Considering that the Broadband Lite package is £10/month for the same allowance, that works out at £7.50 per month for the Netbook. Over the 24 months that's £180 - seems like quite good value to me. From the sounds of things, the battery life is a bit rubbish.

The battery issue is easily solved, I bought a 9 cell one for use with my Acer Aspire One, this gives me over 12 hours of real world use (if wifi or 3G not in use).

 

If you want the details on the battery and where I got it, let me know.

 

Regards,

Martin

[team tisri]

Do keep an eye on your usage. Personally I found I struggled to reach 1GB per month but with the run-on rates it means your first GB is included, and if you use another GB it will cost you £100 extra.

Ouch! I'd not actually looked at it that way, as I can't see how I would get that kind of usage!

 

It makes the 15GB at £5 extra look pretty good value, if you need that amount.

I'll watch what I'm using and hopefully be way below 1GB on the mobile broadband - if not I should be able to change tariff.

 

Unless you're downloading a lot of music and video you'll probably struggle to hit even 1GB, to be honest. Just keep an eye on it.

 

I used to have a 3GB package and, despite spending a lot of time surfing the web, downloading email etc, I never managed to go over 800MB in a month. If what you're going to be doing is caching and logging on the move, you'll probably barely scratch the surface of your 1GB allowance.

[+dartymoor]

Many smart phones, as well as acting as emergency (or main!) geocaching tools in their own right, will act as a Wifi Access Point. (Aka Hot Spot)

 

So they connect to the internet using your regular sim and allow your wifi enabled device to access through it.

 

Useful thing, and lots of people don't know their phones can do it. Worth bearing in mind.