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Post by Malcore on Apr 11, 2009 12:37:15 GMT -9
Hi everyone. I am thinking of upgrading to a new device to use for paperless caching. The one I have now is a Palm Z20 and it only has 24MB of memory. With what I have in it right now the memory is full. So I need to think of getting something better.
Being that Palm doesn't make pda's any more thats out. Which manly leaves Ipods or a few off brand devices.
I am hoping other people will post what they are using and how they like it, Also the software they are using to manage it.
Any advice would be appreciated.
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FLYRFN
Silver Cacher
Posts: 180
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Post by FLYRFN on Apr 11, 2009 18:01:28 GMT -9
I used an Ipod nano, the letters are very small. I went to an Ipod touch which is much better, the process to get it to the Ipod Touch is a bit difficult the first time, but it works great!
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stoweak
Bronze Cacher
Mr. & Mrs.
Posts: 90 
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Post by stoweak on Apr 13, 2009 12:13:03 GMT -9
wow! we are the proud owners (2 yrs. ago) of an iPod 30GB and have never used, only have had it out of the box once  . can we load cache information on this? Perhaps someone could steer us in the starting direction for instructions?? thanks |
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Post by Forum Admin on Apr 14, 2009 11:17:56 GMT -9
wow! we are the proud owners (2 yrs. ago) of an iPod 30GB and have never used, only have had it out of the box once . can we load cache information on this? Perhaps someone could steer us in the starting direction for instructions?? thanks Do you use GSAK? |
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stoweak
Bronze Cacher
Mr. & Mrs.
Posts: 90
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Post by stoweak on Apr 14, 2009 14:20:45 GMT -9
haven't, but guess I had better look into it. FLYRFN asked me the same question. Since I am such a casual cacher and always looking as to where and how far off the road the hide is... I do everything manually - look up the cache, read the page, load the coordinates, print out a scrunched down copy of the first page with a few logs - then go out wandering about. I probably should have PM'd you on this, as I think I've probably just embarrassed myself.
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Post by ladybugkids on Apr 14, 2009 20:49:39 GMT -9
wow! we are the proud owners (2 yrs. ago) of an iPod 30GB and have never used, only have had it out of the box once . can we load cache information on this? Perhaps someone could steer us in the starting direction for instructions?? thanks There are several threads in the geocaching.com forums that you can search for using "iPods" and "paperless caching." A quick check turned up this thread that starts out talking about iPod Touch, but contains links to several other resources. Good luck! |
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Post by ladybugkids on Apr 14, 2009 20:52:39 GMT -9
Hi everyone. I am thinking of upgrading to a new device to use for paperless caching. The one I have now is a Palm Z20 and it only has 24MB of memory. With what I have in it right now the memory is full. So I need to think of getting something better. Being that Palm doesn't make pda's any more thats out. Which manly leaves Ipods or a few off brand devices. I am hoping other people will post what they are using and how they like it, Also the software they are using to manage it. Any advice would be appreciated. I'm still using a Palm 550m (or something like that) which accepts an SD memory card. I've been using a 128MB SD card that came with a digital camera and have yet to fill it up after three years of loading pocket queries for way too many business trips. So, if the Z20 accepts a memory card, that may be the cheapest way to go. |
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Post by ladybugkids on Apr 14, 2009 20:57:06 GMT -9
haven't, but guess I had better look into it. FLYRFN asked me the same question. Since I am such a casual cacher and always looking as to where and how far off the road the hide is... I do everything manually - look up the cache, read the page, load the coordinates, print out a scrunched down copy of the first page with a few logs - then go out wandering about. I probably should have PM'd you on this, as I think I've probably just embarrassed myself. I can't recommend Geocaching Swiss Army Knife (GSAK) highly enough! It lets me keep separate databases for Valdez, MatSu, Interior, and Anchorage so when I get ready to travel to one of those locations I just upload the latest regional pocket query to GSAK, sort on unfound active caches not needing maintenance, and download those caches to the GPS and my Palm. The only time I print a cache page anymore is if it's a puzzle or a complex multicache. The whole process of updating takes less than ten minutes. You'd most likely want GSAK to use as a means of sorting caches and keeping the data in your iPod fresh with all the traveling you do between Anchorage and Valdez. |
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Post by Malcore on Apr 14, 2009 22:19:25 GMT -9
Unfortunately the Z22 (I mis-typed before) has a set amount of memory, no card slots at all.
Right now I have a couple thousand caches in it, and the whole Alaska database of benchmarks for a total of 8923 records. That about fills the memory. I do like to keep all caches in it, even the ones I have already found just in case I go caching with someone that hasn't found them.
As for programs for the iPod or iPod nano it looks like the main ones are CacheMagnet (free) or GSAK (pay). I have no experience with ether so can't say how good they work, but I would like info from anyone who has.
As for the iPhone or iTouch theres 'Groundspeak's Geocaching iPhone App' (pay) Which can be found at the Apple iTunes store. Again I have no info on how they work or how good they are.
So far looking at prices I think the iPhone is out because of the cost and even the 16GB iTouch. So that leaves the iPod classic, iPod nano or the 8GB iTouch. A lot well have to do with the visibility (my eyes are getting bad) and the amount of caches/ benchmarks that can be loaded it it at once.
I'm hoping people using any of these will give us more info.
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FLYRFN
Silver Cacher
Posts: 180
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Post by FLYRFN on Apr 15, 2009 4:16:11 GMT -9
With the Ipod touch you need GSAK, WIFI, and an application for the touch called "Air sharing". Through air sharing it beams the caches to your touch, this works with any doccument not just cache pages. Or you can get the application, Igeocache, it's more for the Iphone but will work with the touch, that app is around $15 and may be easier than using Air share. If your choice is between the Nano (very small letters), Classic (don't know anything about it), or the Itouch, get the Itouch you will be much happier with it. The Itouch can make the cache page letters as big as you want them with the touch of two fingers on the screen. Tony, send me an EM if you want to take a look at an Itouch.
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Post by Valerieseaker on Apr 15, 2009 13:25:37 GMT -9
What? I could cache with an ipod?! (You're not alone, stoweak.) I need to check out those links.
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Post by FrostG1anT on Apr 15, 2009 16:07:35 GMT -9
The application Groundspeak made for the iPhone is pretty cool. I saw MissJenn publish (approve) a cache from it at the Holiday event and got to meet some of the designers at the Lily Pad. Currently the iPhone application is one of the best geocaching applications out there. Other than true accuracy of the GPSr it is better than some GPSrs on the market. For urban hides and rural areas with good cellular coverage it is the way to go. The drawback is you have to be an AT&T customer, own an iPhone and have a good data plan. You could go with a Garmin Oregon and get most features with the unit itself. It will not hold the entire benchmark database though. But you could get an iPod and add the cache pages to the iPod and then make POIs for all caches and benchmarks on the GPSr. Also, any Windows Mobile 6.0 or better device can get true web browsing and can use both the wap site and the standard Groundspeak site for browsing. The 3G network is not in Anchorage yet (it is scheduled for end of August) and so cellular data is a bit slow (even with the "fastest" network of ACS). If you have a cellular phone with a data plan you can use the wap site and even log your finds in the field (this does not alway work so well, even in good coverage areas like Seattle. I tried to log a cache called "Ooops" and ended up logging it 6 times due to the cellular network handing my call off to another tower and then chattering. I only discovered this as when I logged in I had found more than the one cache that I had logged that day in my profile stats). I personally use my GPSr, my BlackBerry and laptop for paperless caching. I have never been a paper cacher and am only recently embracing GSAK. I wish they made a GSAK application for the BlackBerry. You can use Google Earth as well, but that requires a laptop to drag around, but there are some great micro laptops on the market now that will fit in your hip pocket. I don't own an iPhone,  I don't work for Apple, Microsoft, Google, Garmin, Magellan, Groundspeak, ACS or AT&T.  I wish Trimble would improve the BlackBerry application or Groundspeak would design one of those...  |
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FLYRFN
Silver Cacher
Posts: 180
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Post by FLYRFN on Apr 15, 2009 21:26:38 GMT -9
If you just want something for paperless caching get an Ipod.
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Post by Malcore on Apr 17, 2009 21:47:55 GMT -9
Well I went ahead and bought an iTouch.  Now I have to figure out what App is the best one to use. There a few out there and none are free so no since in waisting money on ones that don't work good. |
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FLYRFN
Silver Cacher
Posts: 180
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Post by FLYRFN on Apr 18, 2009 20:27:01 GMT -9
Get AIR SHARE, you can transfer the files to the Itouch
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Post by Malcore on May 1, 2009 14:49:13 GMT -9
Well I finally got everything working on the iTouch. I did get the 'Air Sharing' App. But it took a lot of trial and error to get the caches to format correctly and work. My first try I just used the same query that I had on my Palm but It kept crashing the App. So I had to set up all new query's so I could get all the caches in a 500 mile area, then re-grabbed the files for the benchmarks. I kept them separate for easier searching because 'air sharing' doesn't have a search option. But it works. Now to get out there and find some of these.  |
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FLYRFN
Silver Cacher
Posts: 180
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Post by FLYRFN on May 10, 2009 18:30:07 GMT -9
A new App showed up on Itunes that works GREAT! Its called "Geosphere", if you have an Iphone this app has a GPS included, if you use a Itouch you can get the pocket queries from your email and save it to the app. Or you can export from GSAK to your email and get the caches by that route.
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Post by tzipora on Jun 7, 2009 22:00:29 GMT -9
They're supposed to be adding pocket query functionality to the Groundspeak iPhone/iTouch app. It will make life much easier, I imagine. I've been using the iPhone app all summer, and it's very handy. You can save cache pages to access offline, which is going to be important for those using iTouches. I'm happy with it. Then again, I just got an Oregon, so I really only use it in the field when I'm looking for a cache that was placed after my last PQ or when I want to look at more than just the last 5 logs.
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Post by CanOpener on Jun 23, 2009 11:30:44 GMT -9
I've been paperless with an iPhone for some time now and I've used a couple of different programs with my iPhone. However, an iTouch will be just fine for paperless caching. The aGPS in the iPhone still has something to be desired, and while if may be sufficient enough to get you from point A to point B via google maps, it's performance for geocaching is abysmal at best. There are some that claim decent success with the iPhone, and I've even been able to claim 1 or 2 caches with the device, however caching is much more fun with a GPS in hand.
That having been said, the apps I use most on the iPhone are iGeocacher and the official app from Groundspeak. Both are great pieces of software and the each have they're pros and cons. I've not yet tried FLYRFAN's advice with Air Sharing. While I do have this app, I did not consider it for geocaching, but may in the future. I've also not tried geosphere, but with it's ability to load Pocket Queries directly from an email, I may have to try this app out.
I use iGeocacher more for when I don't have a 3G or wireless signal available. With the ability to load Pocket Queries for offline use, it's been an amazing tool and fun to use and see it develop. I must warn though, that there is a very steep learning curve for using this software, as it does require you to use additional software on your computer or a web service that the author has set up.
The official app is wonderful to use in town in conjunction with a standalone GPSr as I'm able to pull up all the information I need on the fly without having to first prep my Queries and then upload them. Also version 2.1 of the app added the ability to download active Queries, but I've yet to have much success with this feature. It seems to cause the program to freeze and crash more often than it used to.
I hope this helps you out a little. I know that this topic was created some time ago, however I wanted to let other know what my paperless experience included.
On a final note, if you purchase no other software, at least purchase GSAK. This is a very valuable tool, and while it may take some time to set up and use, it will make your caching experience much more enjoyable. I used the software a great deal when I had a PC, but recently switched to a Mac. It is unfortunate that GSAK is not available for Mac, but with a little clever/free workaround, I continue to use the software to this day.
Don't hesitate to email me if you've got any questions about my setup or the software I use. I'd be glad to help any new or experienced cacher with the tools that I use.
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Post by Malcore on Jun 23, 2009 14:01:51 GMT -9
Just a quick update about what I'm using. I have the iTouch 16GB and the App I'm using is Geosphere. Goesphere is nice because it will accept pocket queries threw email. There WAS a couple flaws in the program though, it would truncate cache searches to 2000 so when you put, say ALL the caches in Alaska in it it would only show 2000 not the 3000 there are. Also you couldn't send the pocket queries in the zip format. BUT a few days ago they had an update that upped the total caches to 4000 and now it will accept the zip files. The program works great now. I recommend it over the ground speak App. doesn't crash and is very smooth. Now I have all 3000 AK caches and 3950 benchmarks in it. I'm loving it.  |
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FLYRFN
Silver Cacher
Posts: 180
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Post by FLYRFN on Jun 23, 2009 19:15:48 GMT -9
Forget about Airshare! Go with Geosphere, and open a Yahoo email account because it seems to work best with Geosphere. As Malcore stated, the flaws have been cleared up and it works GREAT!
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Post by li1gray on Jun 24, 2009 9:41:08 GMT -9
Wow sounds a lot better then the "notes" on my ipod but that means I have to convince the mrs to let me get a new toy. guess it will be a wait a while toy for me, for now.
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.
Now I have to figure out what App is the best one to use. There a few out there and none are free so no since in waisting money on ones that don't work good.
