Newest Wap Interface

[Jeremy]

I tested this on my own cell phone and was able to enter a log. check it out at

 

http://wap.geocaching.com

 

This will be the permanent location for the WAP interface. You can also log caches with a web browser if you want to bypass all the web pages on geocaching.com

 

Let me know if your phone doesn't work with it. We tried it with a multitude of mobile phone simulators, but I'm sure we missed a couple.

[+Stunod]

Works great with my Motorola i730. Thanks!

 

edit: The only issue I see is when you veiw logs it doesn't give you the cacher's name or log date.

Edited September 8, 2004 by Stunod

[+planetrobert]

so this would be a good thing to use to log caches when the site is sucking on mondays?!? right?!?

 

type log entry in a WP then paste it in.

 

what aboout a spot to enter maybe upto 3 TB tag numbers to be able to drop don't list them, just let us remember the number.

[+DomHeknows]

keep getting unable to reach the server, from the uk on vodafone using a nokia 6310i. Hitting refresh got me the view/log cache page etc.

then would go through the unable to reach process again on each page. Login page just keeps going back to the main menu though.

[Elias]

so this would be a good thing to use to log caches when the site is sucking on mondays?!? right?!?

The wap interface uses all the same servers, so using it instead probably won't help much.

 

Elias

[+LazyK]

Samsung v205 returns only the error message "Not Acceptable".

 

LazyK - Dan

[+Mopar]

so this would be a good thing to use to log caches when the site is sucking on mondays?!? right?!?

The wap interface uses all the same servers, so using it instead probably won't help much.

 

Elias

I would think in terms of bandwidth there would be a savings, since the gc.com pages are about 25-50x larger then the wap pages, and there are less page loads involved. I guess if most of the bottleneck is with the database though, there might not be much savings.

[Elias]

Bandwidth isn't really an issue in terms of how busy the servers are. Its the number of simultaneous connections that bog them down. We have enough bandwidth with Internap such that returning 100 bytes vs. 100k really doesn't make much difference. But a database hit from the WAP site is equally as expensive as a similar hit from the main site.

 

Elias

[+Insp Gadget]

Works great with my Samsung SPH-A460

 

Now if someone can tell me how to bookmark this page in my phone.....

[+Muirwoody]

Works great on my Motorola T730.

 

As far as bookmarking - the Motorola is a slow process. I have to find the menu item that says my bookmarks, then start. It gives me an "add bookmark" as one option, then i have to type in the name. Then it asks me to enter the URL, then it asks me if I want to move it to "my bookmarks" Everythings is "yes' and I'm ready to go.

[+Prime Suspect]

Cool. But it would be great if the option buttons and entry fields were always at the top of the screen. For example, if all you need is the hint, you've got to wait for the entire cache page text to load, then scroll all the way to the bottom. Some of the cache pages are pretty big, and it can take quite a while to scroll 5,000 characters on little phone display.

 

Or maybe a hint option that doesn't require displaying the entire cache page...

[+jeff35080]

Seems to work well on a Audivox 8900 with an Openwave 4.x browser. I was able to log in and post a note to one of my caches.

[+Mopar]

FYI, works good on a Blackberry, thanks.

[lowracer]

Just checked it out on a Samsung SPH-A500. Works like a champ and fast too. Thanks. Another tool for us to use out in the field. I may be logging all mine from the actual cache site. If the mosquitos will let me that is!

[+TEAM D & D]

It would be nice if you could filter out the caches you have found when you search by zip code. This may be asking too much but everyone should have a goal.

[+planetrobert]

Bandwidth isn't really an issue in terms of how busy the servers are. Its the number of simultaneous connections that bog them down. We have enough bandwidth with Internap such that returning 100 bytes vs. 100k really doesn't make much difference. But a database hit from the WAP site is equally as expensive as a similar hit from the main site.

 

Elias

ok, it was a hopefull idea.

[+CrimsonWrath]

Last night when I first tried to get to http://wap.geocaching.com/, I got a Server 500 error. Everything is working now this morning on my with Verizion Wireless Kyocera SE47. Very nice!

 

I look forward to using this in the future!

[maxxer_it]

works fine on my Nokia 7250i phone!

 

I'll try it next time I'm away :-)

[Jeremy]

For the record, my phone is the CDM-8900 on Verizon Wireless. It worked great with the new WAP interface.

[+benjamin921]

Works good with my Motorola V300 (flashed to a 600). Service provider is T-Mo.

[+Cache & Keri]

Works great with my Samsung V1660

[+Marky]

Amazingly, these pages work just fine on my t-mobile sidekick! I didn't think the sidekick did wap, but apparently it does. Very cool. I will have to give this a try and see how it works in comparison to my normal method (boulter's geocaching quick search).

 

A few missing pieces of functionality that I use on a regular basis:

• Ability to drop travelbugs when making a log entry.
  
• Ability to disable/enable a cache.
  
• Ability to do anything with travelbugs (i.e. grab them from a cache, leave notes, etc.)
  

--Marky

[Jeremy]

We're adding travel bug functionality to the page. It will duplicate the features of the other wap site (well done, I might add) and we'll add additional enhancements.

[Jeremy]

I didn't think the sidekick did wap, but apparently it does.

I'm actually using the term WAP loosely. It will attempt to render in the correct format for any mobile device, but it is specifically meant to handle WAP. That's why you can visit the site in a browser window. Normal WML sites cannot render in IE.

[+jeff35080]

For the record, my phone is the CDM-8900 on Verizon Wireless. It worked great with the new WAP interface.

 

I love my 8900 and have hacked the heck out of it. I love being able to download pics from the phone for free and was sooo happy to get rid of the annoying Verizon banner on it.

[Jeremy]

I love being able to download pics from the phone for free and was sooo happy to get rid of the annoying Verizon banner on it.

well, you gotta share now.

 

Nevermind. found it.

Edited September 9, 2004 by Jeremy

[+jeff35080]

That's a good link. Get a cable off eBay and you can download to your heart's content. I bet I have taken thousands of pics and never paid a dime to get 'em onto my PC. Plus I can upload my own ring tones for free and I got rid of that darn flashing banner. My phone now works as it should without the Verizon advertising Have fun!

[kablooey]

Woohoo! A non-Javascript-required version of the site. I can actually once again see the second page of a nearest search! (Too bad the f=1 parameter doesn't work, though.)

 

I really like how there are text equivalents for the type, rating, and Foundit icons, as these don't appear on the normal site, and you get nothing if you turn off images because of a slow internet connection.

 

Suggestions: Allow nearest search based on waypoint ID. Provide search by name.

[+papade]

Works great with my Samsung N400 using Sprintpcs. Thanks for the improvement.

[kablooey]

Okay, so I finally tried this out in the field tonight on a virtual. Heh. I found that there's no way to email the hider. So, I had to revert back to the normal site anyway.

[+DomHeknows]

tried again this morning - now get "no response" on trying to find a cache or log in :-(

[+Gibbenator]

Very Nice! It works great on my Nokia 6610 running on T-Mobile's GSM network.

[Jeremy]

I wanted to try logging it from a cache location yesterday, but WAP wasn't available from my phone service there. *sigh*

[+Prime Suspect]

I logged (a , unfortunately) with my LG VX6000 today. Worked great, though the interface takes a little getting used to. I'm more use to web than wap.

[+GeoSharks]

I don't have wap, but my Sony tj37 pda has wifi and works fine.

 

Thanks!

[+JDHnz]

There seems to be a difference in the way that the wap site determines if a log is encrypted to the way that the main site does it. It looks to me as though the wap site uses the presence/absence of square brackets to determine whether a log should be encrypted, which the main site uses the flag that the user sets when entering their log.

 

Other than that, it's pretty cool! Works great on my i-mate Pocket PC phone; so much faster than accessing the main site in Pocket IE.

[+-Jamz-]

When entering a waypoint name ( eg GCHWA6) it would be nice if the WAP interface would automatically add GC if it was omitted. Typing on phones is a pain in the butt and every few key strokes saved is greatly appreciated.

-james

[Elias]

When entering a waypoint name ( eg GCHWA6) it would be nice if the WAP interface would automatically add GC if it was omitted.

Seems like a good idea. I'll log it as a feature request.

 

Elias

[+K4CacheCrew]

I just tried it on my new V600 on AT&T and it works great. I was at the desk when I did it and the log showed instantly. Awesome job once again guys.

[Jeremy]

The wap interface has been updated to include travel bug logging. Additionally, you can skip the TB and GC prefix to get to a cache page. It isn't documented, but once we get all the kinks worked out we'll put a "how to" page on the Geocaching.com web site.

[+Hemlock]

Additionally, you can skip the TB and GC prefix to get to a cache page.

Back to the drawing board.

 

I just tried entering "GC78" which is a valid cache (the oldest in Northern California) but the wap site took me to GCGC78.

[+southdeltan]

Additionally, you can skip the TB and GC prefix to get to a cache page.

Back to the drawing board.

 

I just tried entering "GC78" which is a valid cache (the oldest in Northern California) but the wap site took me to GCGC78.

Did you try just putting "78" in by itself? Seems like that'd be the correct way to input that if the "GC" is automatically added.

 

sd

[Jeremy]

It isn't checking for lowercase letters. I'll get this fixed pronto.

[+Hemlock]

Oh sure, that works fine. But since the prompt says "Enter a Waypoint (e.g. GCHWA6):" then it should work correctly when I just enter GC78. Omitting the leading GC should be optional.

 

Suggestion: If 4 chars or less are entered, add the GC except if the input already starts with GC.

[+Hemlock]

It isn't checking for lowercase letters.

Ah yes. I did enter "gc78". I now see its works correctly if I enter "GC78".

I'll get this fixed pronto.

Thanks! Edited September 15, 2004 by Hemlock

[bootron]

The problem likely happened as a result of Hemlock typing "gc" in lowercase letters rather than "GC". It was an oversight (bug) that we've now fixed. Now you should be able to type "GC78", "gc78" or "78" to view that cache. Same thing for the travel bug look-up.

[+jeff35080]

Hmmmm.... bootron.... a new member of the Groundspeak staff? Welcome aboard!

[Team Morris]

Works great! I have an lg xv6000 on verizon. WHat is the format for entering coords?

[+B3Fiend]

On my Sanyo 4920 using SprintPCS, I got to the main http://wap.geocaching.com page just fine and was able to login, but the cache search page link results in "No plugin present to open file".

 

The phone suggests downloading the plugin, but I have no idea what it is looking for. I think it is probably confused with the javascript or the .aspx URL extension in those links.

 

-B3Fiend

[+bunkerdave]

I get an error on my Verizon Motorola V710.

 

"System.formatException

 

Invalid Length for a Base-64 char array

 

Method: FromBase64String"

 

That's what I get....any hints?