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Post by ladybugkids on Nov 2, 2013 8:36:05 GMT -9
Want an easy way to highlight caches other cachers really enjoyed? One can use the number of favorite points awarded to a cache by Premium Members in any region to high grade the list of caches you load to your GPS in a few simple steps: These instruction are for GSAK version 8.3.0.1. 1. Set up a pocket query on geocaching.com for the area or route you will seeking caches in/along. 2. Upload the pocket query into GSAK (Geocaching Swiss Army Knife). 3. In GSAK, click on Geocaching.com Access > Refresh Cache Data > All in current filter, Light (quicker) > OK (choosing "light" lets you update 10,000 caches a day whereas "full details" limits you to 6000 caches per day) 4. The favorite points load into the column with the blue ribbon. 5. You can then use Search > Filter > "General" tab at bottom, Favorite points, Greater than or equal to > and change the number until you get a reasonable number of caches in your filter (in some regions, the cut off may be 20 favorites, in others, it could be as low as three or five...it just depends on the number of cacher visits a region receives and whether or not those cachers tend to award favorite points) I'll then filter on caches less than three to six months old with one or two favorite points to pick up the better new caches that haven't been around long enough to have many cacher visits.
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Post by akgh519 on Nov 2, 2013 11:34:50 GMT -9
Thanks for the tutorial Mike! Will definitely try it next time I am using GSAK
I use the geocaching website for a list of nearby favorites when I find myself in a spot not knowing what is around.
I hit the 'play' tab and then the 'hide and seek a cache' tab. I then input the city I am in or exact coordinates and a search radius and hit go. This gives you a list of caches within the radius you choose. Handle that list like a spreadsheet and hit the favorite tab ie the blue ribbon. This will sort the favorites with the cache with the highest quantity of favorites on the top of the list.
You can also use the advance search at the bottom of the 'hide and seek a cache' tab to do a more refined search.
Favorites are a great way to weed out the 'numbers' caches and find the truly great ones. This method will overlook some of the less frequently found caches ie like ET hides! I wonder if there is a way to filter using the favorite/visits percentage? Might have to see what I can figure out!!
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Post by ladybugkids on Nov 2, 2013 12:23:22 GMT -9
I oftentimes use the method described by for my very first screening of a new area. Once the caches are listed by number of favorites, I'll set up a pocket query centered around the cache with the most favorites and then proceed with the GSAK filtering. Using GSAK, I
1. Filter out all caches with two or more DNFs in the most recent four logs and caches with the "Needs Maintenance" attribute set. This can be done with a single filter using the "Logs" and "Attributes" tabs. This usually culls 5-10% of the caches from the original list.
2. Run the GSAK routine described two posts above to pull in the favorite points and filter again.
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Post by NeverSummer on Nov 4, 2013 9:29:52 GMT -9
Have any tips for non-GSAK users?
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Post by ladybugkids on Nov 4, 2013 9:59:05 GMT -9
Have any tips for non-GSAK users? Brute force and limited to twenty caches at a time: 1. Play > Hide and Seek a Cache > Seek a cache by State, coordintes, GC#, whatever 2. Click on the Blue Ribbon to sort by favorites 3. Check the box to the left of the caches you are interested in 4. Scroll down > Download waypoints 5 Repeat for each page of twenty. I don't have ownership in GSAK, nor do I even personally know the folks that have created the tool, but the $20 I spent for it with lifetime updates is the best geo-purchase I've ever made. After eight years of using it, I've still only scratched the surface of its capabilities.
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Post by NeverSummer on Nov 4, 2013 14:49:42 GMT -9
I asked because I don't have a Windows PC at home...
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Post by akgh519 on Nov 4, 2013 18:41:40 GMT -9
You should be able to sort the caches as I described as long as you can log on to geocaching.com. I don't think it would matter if you are on a PC or Mac or as long as you can do so. Give it a try!
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Post by NeverSummer on Nov 4, 2013 18:49:24 GMT -9
You should be able to sort the caches as I described as long as you can log on to geocaching.com. I don't think it would matter if you are on a PC or Mac or as long as you can do so. Give it a try! I've done it that way, too Ray. I just didn't know if there happened to be an Apple program that anyone used to do the same. It seems that there isn't a program like GSAK for Apple products. I use GPSBabel to manage GPX files, but it doesn't have the outputs, etc like I know that GSAK can provide.
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Post by ladybugkids on Nov 4, 2013 21:39:51 GMT -9
I've heard about a PC emulator that runs on Apple products that will run GSAK, but don't know anything about beyond it making the Mac simulate Windows 7 or something similar.
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Post by NeverSummer on Nov 4, 2013 22:50:53 GMT -9
I could run Boot Camp, but that would require purchase of an entire Window operating system. Not something I have a desire to work into my budget just so I can use GSAK... I'll continue living with my computing limitations for riding the Apple wagon since IIe
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Post by SSO JOAT on Nov 8, 2013 2:38:36 GMT -9
Did I ever tell you that I still have a fully functional Apple IIGS at my house? If you ran a IIe back in 1984, I'm surprised you haven't solved this puzzle yet... Start of a New Revolution
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Post by ftl-ak on May 7, 2014 17:19:19 GMT -9
I love going for caches with favorite points! It helps when your limited on time and want to find something amazing! I use this when I travel all the time! I would like to get some other hiders and see of we can get some nice ones downtown that we could help build up for tourist and others traveling threw town!
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Post by ftl-ak on May 7, 2014 18:37:36 GMT -9
I love going for caches with favorite points! It helps when your limited on time and want to find something amazing! I use this when I travel all the time! I would like to get some other hiders and see if we can get some nice ones downtown. So we could help build up for tourist and others traveling in town! Thank you California public education system.
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Post by NorthWes on May 15, 2014 5:46:12 GMT -9
Favorite points have been a 'favorite' guide for my trip planning!
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Post by TheFirefly on May 15, 2014 19:06:26 GMT -9
Searching on favorite points (and a tip from my cousin) led me to finding this awesome - and most favorited - cache in MN: The Sword In The Stone
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