Wireless Web (wap) Testers Wanted

[+mlord]

Prior to Jeremy's recent provision of WAP access to geocaching.com, I had been working on a cellphone interface for fast cache and TB lookups. It's been live for a few weeks now, and works well. For me, at least. But I need more people to try it out and report back.

 

This may live on in the longer term as an alternative wireless web interface for (at least) my own use, but I suspect Jeremy's main site will eventually catch up if not overtake it in terms of capabilities. Where this one differs though, is that I am in Canada and will be optimising it for use in our environment where possible.

 

What's it good for?

 

1. Cache lookups and searches while travelling with only a GPSr and a cellphone. Search by Lat/Lon, owner, postal code (or zip), or proximity to a known GCxxxx waypoint.

2. Paperless caching -- at 2 cents/page, Telus users may find it cheaper than taking along cache printouts.

3. Travel bug lookups while at the cache, to help decide whether to take the bug or not.

 

Eventually:

 

4. Log a cache from the field.

5. ???

 

Currently the site formats pages slightly differently according to handset type: one version for Nokia browsers, and another version tailered for OpenWave browsers. Most Telus phones use OpenWave. The site also automatically detects the max transmission size for a given handset, and breaks pages up accordingly. So older handsets receive smaller chunks, and newer ones (with bigger buffers) might typically get an entire cache page in one lump sum. With Telus, it's 2 cents per page, regardless of bytecount..

 

Anyway, I'd like another tester or twenty to help me out.

 

If you are interested, drop me a SHORT email, and I'll send you the URL. I'd love to post it here, but until I get formal permission from the geocaching.com Gods, it's best that it be kept semi-private.

 

Cheers

 

mlord (Mark)

Edited November 21, 2003 by mlord

[McKenzie Clan]

Sent you some mail.

 

Let me know.

 

Scott

[+Bzzliteyr]

I am all up for that, as I have a Treo 270...

 

email me.

[+mlord]

My GeoCache Portal (for wireless handset users) has now been updated to include LOGIN capability. If you trust me enough to enter your geocaching.com userid/passwd, my server feeds it to geocaching.com and gets a cookie back, which is then sent to your phone. The userid/passwd are not kept anywhere for any pupose.

 

Why login? Well, it's optional, so ignore it if you like. But if you do login, then all cache searches automatically do a "filter finds" -- weeding out your own caches and those you've already logged. If you don't want to filter, then don't log in!

 

Coming someday.. "Log Cache.."

 

Cheers

[+Insp Gadget]

I tried using this service and got an error message saying that the data was too large or something to that effect...

[+The Two Navigators]

It works like a charm for us even the log in.

[+mlord]

I tried using this service and got an error message saying that the data was too large or something to that effect...

Please email me with specifics of you phone model, and I'll try and find it in the logs to see what happened.

 

Thanks

[+mlord]

NEW FEATURE:

 

I've just added the ability to POST A LOG for a cache using the cellphone. This means you can log a find/nofind from the cache location!! Very handy for travelling cachers, or even for eager "first finders" and the like.

 

As always: http://rtr.ca/geo

 

Cheers

[+Jayloki]

Sounds like a cool idea.

 

I presently have a laptop with me that has a wireless card in it so I usually find hot spots while I cache anyhow. Type my logs in word perfect and then copy and paste them to the Geocacging.com site

 

Keep us informed on how the portal thingy goes

 

-Jayloki=

[+Bzzliteyr]

Hey mlord, it seems to work fine on my TREO 270.. nicely done.. haven't used it on a cache yet.. but I plan on it now.. next cache will be fully electronic/wap.

 

Bzz

[+MedicP1]

This works great!! Thanks for the work you put into it. I haven't tried it on an actual cache yet but have looked up a number of them as I passed by them on the 401 Hwy. (when traffic was at it's normal standstill, not while moving HEH HEH HEH)

[Curious George]

Logged my first find from a cache site on top of a mountain about 9:00 last night - worked great

[+mlord]

Okay, fixed some bugs today: The login function was broken temporarily, and is now working again. Also, the site is now marking uncacheable pages correctly, which should reduce confusion when using the site.

 

Cheers

[+Bzzliteyr]

Tried to login today to log a "no find" I could not get on... "NOT FOUND.. The requested URL /get was not found on this server" I was able to find and view caches though..

 

Bzz

[+mlord]

You probably need to force your phone's browser to RELOAD the page (do this on the main menu of the site). After that, it should all work well again.

 

Also, I just now fixed the "log a cache" feature -- was slightly broken for the past week, works again now (I just logged in and logged a find with it a few minutes ago).

 

And one more bugfix: the login function should also now be working for HTML users (eg. Palm Tungsten).

 

Cheers!

[+m.zielinski]

Any hope to make it working with the new Waypoint-name length?

[Twister65]

I keep getting "the requested page cannot be displayed" while trying to view a cache or search for caches near a postal code. I am able to bring up the site and login, however.

 

My phone is a Samsung 840 through Telus.

 

Scott

[+GPS Derek]

Are you still looking for testers? I emailed you but no response.