Waypoint Naming

[+The Ulmcrest Ct 4]

Anybody have any ideas or conventions for naming waypoints, other than WPT001, WPT002, etc. I am new to the GPS world and topo software, and am thinking a custom naming convention would be easier to manage. Thanks for any ideas you have!

 

TUC4

[+Stunod]

If you are using cache waypoints, use the GCXXXX name to help you cross reference it to the site.

Edited February 25, 2004 by Stunod

[robertlipe]

Or use GPSBabel's "Smart names" and use actual *names*. (The crowd goes wild!) The names are guaranteed to be unique even if multiple caches have identical names and they're picked to be the "best" your reeiver can support.

[SBPhishy]

GSAK will also rename the waypoint names to "smart names" that actually make sense

[+Limax]

One of the biggest limitations I've noticed so far of my GPS (A Magellan 310) is that the waypoints only allow four characters, so I need to be more clever with my naming.

[Us 5 Camp]

I agree with all the previous posts to date, especially related to geocaching names.

 

I will add that I like to categorize my waypoint names so they are sorted better when i search by name on the gps. Eg:

CG-LakeV for Lake View Campgruond

CG-Spruce for spruce hill campground, etc.

[+The Ulmcrest Ct 4]

Great responses folks - thanks for the help. Being a newbie, I have a couple questions:

1) Where do I find GPSBabel's "Smart names" and GSAK?

2) I haven't quite got the gist of GCXXXX. I have looked at it a little, but am confused. Downloading the Easy GPS didn't help. Qualifier - a little is less than 30' - time has been short of late!

3) I have a Magellan SporTrak Map that supports 8 digit waypoint names. 16 would be nice!

4) I like the category approach Us 5 Camp.

 

Thanks again for all your replies and I look forward to learning more from your answers.

[NCCamper2003]

Boy, have I got a lot to learn! I guess I need to skip the geocaching quick start and go to Geocaching 101. I am just learning my way around a Garmin etrex legend. Looking at these posts just reminds me I have a long way to go. I will be stayin tuned in. Thanks for the guidance.

 

John

[SBPhishy]

The cool part about the SporTrak Map as far as GC.com waypoints go, is that it supports the "comments" section that imports automatically into the GPS. So, you get to see the GCXXXX and also the name of the cache in the comments section. I actually never rename my waypoints unless I am going to put them on my Topo or Direct Route software so I can get an idea of where they are.

 

Here is GSAK by the way

GSAK

 

2) I haven't quite got the gist of GCXXXX.

 

If you mean that you dont understand the why they are written like that, it's just a random code that is assigned to every cache. You can search caches by that name on the hide and seek page, and it also kind of gives each cache an "official " geocaching number. They really dont help at all, unless you like to reference them on the site by that name, or tell someone else to look for a cache with that name. Many people change them, especially people that use eTrex's because you cant see the name of the cache and the GCXXXX at the same time. (i think)

Edited February 26, 2004 by SBPhishy

[robertlipe]

Great responses folks - thanks for the help.  Being a newbie, I have a couple questions:

1)  Where do I find GPSBabel's "Smart names" and GSAK?

GPSBabel uses smart names when given the "-s" option, as described in the doc. Depending on what OS you use, there may be a pointy clicky interface to turn on that option. GSAK has a number of threads on this forum, but can be found even as the first hit on google at http://gsak.geocaching.com.au/

3)  I have a Magellan SporTrak Map that supports 8 digit waypoint names.  16 would be nice!

GPSBabel (and therefore, programs that use GPSBabel, such as GSAK) knows that your STMap has 8 character filenames, spaces are legal, dollar signs are not, mixed case is good, and lots of other details that you don't really want to know. Some other packages do this, too.

5)  I like the category approach Us 5 Camp.

I couldn't figure out what he was suggesting. The approach I chose it to map the icon depending on cache type when given an input file (i.e. GPX with Groundspeak extensions from a PQ) that contains that data. You'll get a film canister for micros, a bunch of grapes for multis, etc.