indicate cache type in name

[matjes]

I just downloaded a number of caches to my Garmin GPS (Legend) and found that

a) they all seem to have the 'dot' symbol attached to them initially, I had to switch them manually to 'Geocache'

all listed type 'geocache'

c) all had waypoint names of the type GCxxxx

 

As Garmin GPSes (at least the Legend I have) only has two symbols for Geocaches (Geocache and Geocache found) it is impossible to tell from looking at the GPS alone whether a given cache was a virtual one (or other type). This may result in spending a long time searching for a physical cache, unless one carries along a separate printout etc of the caches..

 

Ideally Garmin should add more geocaching symbols for each

of the classifications, but as that would require assistance from Garmin and require users to flash new firmware,

I would like to suggest that

 

a) The type of the geocache should be encoded in the

name of the cache, eg:

GCxxxx-N: normal cache

GCxxxx-V: virtual cache

GCxxxx-M: Multi-cache

GCxxxx-L: Letterbox Hybrid

GCxxxx-E: Event Cache

GCxxxx-W: Webcam Cache

GCxxxx-U: Unknown Cache

 

This system could also be extended to indicate

the current status of the cache by

using a 'D' suffix for a dead cache

Similar, if geocaching.com thinks that at the

time of download a travelbug is located in the

cache, this could be indicated by a 'T' suffix.

 

I do understand that there are GPS receivers that only

accept 6 character waypoint names. I would think that

either the download tool could be written to use a

different naming scheme for such users eg GVxxxx, GUxxxx

etc)> On the other hand, maybe EasyGPS will truncate

the longer names to 6 characters, such that users of

limited names sinmply lose that information.

 

Could the download tool create the waypoints for the

geocaches with the symbol 'Geocache' right away

eliminating the need to edit each waypoint after

download?

 

What do others think?

[matjes]

I just saw that almost exactly the same suggestion was made recently in

 

this thread