kevinseise

Originally Posted by MrFocker

Wow great info, thanks... I just downloaded a sample version of Outdoor navigator, let's see what it will do. Any geocacher's here from NJ?

Yup, BMSquared here. Just moved from Mahwah to Jefferson.

schill

Originally Posted by MrFocker

Wow great info, thanks... I just downloaded a sample version of Outdoor navigator, let's see what it will do. Any geocacher's here from NJ?

Not from NJ (anymore), but I did find 6 caches in NJ with my sister's family when I was on vacation.

cwsoots

I use GPSTuner for my caching needs (www.gpstuner.com). That combined with GPXSonar give me everything thing I need for paperless geocaching. I also backpack/hike with GPSTuner, as it converts any Pocket PC/Phone into a fully functional GPSr with many more added capabilities (including TerraServer map downloading, and on-the-fly imported map calibration).

MrFocker

OK, now GPS tuner looks pretty good. Can any compare/ contrast GPS tuner verse Outdoor Navigator?

MrFocker

Now I downloaded GPX Sonar, I went to geocaching.com, found a cache near me, then tried to download the waypoint into GPX sonar but when I try to open the file and it says "Empty gpx file" Am I missing something? What exactly does this waypoint that I loaded do for me when I load it into a program like GPX SONAR?

biohzrd

My geocaching.com handle is biohzrddd. Someone already took biohzrd (ugh). Anyways, I'm from Ohio, but been living in North Dakoooooota for the past 3+ years in the military.

The other program I was trying to figure out (that is freeware) is VisualGPSce. It works pretty good and gives you a LOT of info about your fix that other programs dont seem to show. It's free and has a Panel with analog looking gauges that show Speed, altitude, vertical speed and bearing. I guess that isn't much help for pointing you in the right direction.

For maps : the absolute BEST and FREE site to get them from is USDA:NRCS: Geospatial Data Gateway. EVERY map is free, and MAN O MAN do they have a lotta maps. I only use the 24k maps, and they are free as well.

Can anyone say how far programs can zoom in? As far as how many feet across they can show at one time (less is better). Ideally, if it only showed a hundred feet across on one screen, it would be pretty good. From what I have and use (these are all on my 480x640 screen) :

Mapopolis : 1000+Ft across the display
Memory-Map navigator : 1800+Ft across
OziexplorerCE : ~120ft


Gonna try out that GPS Tuner, just wonder what kinda maps it can take.

*edit*
GPS Tuner seems to be around 500+ Ft, and I cant seem to find a way to load pre-calibrated maps, only custom maps hmm

Ivan Awfulitch

I'm currently using Vito NavigatorII and find it to be a great piece of software for caching. Using the guidance compass it gets me right to the cache every time. I use it along side of Outdoor Navigator (and Backcountry Navigator), and PocketMap Navigator for street level (as they have PMNCacher which allow conversion of a .loc file to a Pocketmap favorite). Simply import the .loc files from geocaching.com and your're off. Backcountry also allows you to load .gpx files which is a plus.

matthewp

Originally Posted by MrFocker

Now I downloaded GPX Sonar, I went to geocaching.com, found a cache near me, then tried to download the waypoint into GPX sonar but when I try to open the file and it says "Empty gpx file" Am I missing something? What exactly does this waypoint that I loaded do for me when I load it into a program like GPX SONAR?

GPXSonar is a spectacular tool when used with a geocaching.com query, which was mentioned by someone earlier. As the earlier post said, you have to be a premium member at the site. You can't see the option to create queries until you become a premium member.

A query will allow you to receive a single .gpx file that is customized along variables that you select. For example, you can create a query of the 300 closest caches to your zip code or the coordinates that you input (i.e., your house). You can set it to return only micros, or exclude micros, or return only regular caches, or exclude them. You can include/exclude any type of cache. You can filter on difficulty and/or terrain settings. You can ask for the 200 closest caches. You can ask for all caches within a certain radius. Let's just say it has a lot of options.

When you copy that .gpx file over to your handheld and load it into GPXSonar, it will list out all of the results returned by the query. For example, if you asked for the 300 closest caches to your house coordinates, there will be a list of 300 caches when you load the file. And, it gives the vital statistics for the caches. It has icons to differentiate between regular caches, virtuals, puzzles, etc. It shows the waypoint name. It shows whether or not there are travel bugs. It indicates whether or not you've logged the cache as a find. It shows difficulty, terrain, distance from the search coordinates you used, the cache owner, and a few other things. The program can sort on all of these attributes so you can sort from easiest terrain to most difficult if you wanted to, or you can choose a single cache as the "center" and it will list all the other caches around it in order of distance.

If you double-click a cache, it will automatically open PIE with the cache's web page -- this is awesome and an invaluable tool when in the field. It also carries over hints. I think you tap and hold the cache to see the hints, but I forget exactly how to do it. It will allow you to log the cache in the field, bringing up a pop-up where you can indicate found, did not find, etc. and add notes. This does not sync to geocaching.com, but you can cut and paste when you get back home.

This program works exceptionally well when you are doing something like vacationing. You can load all the caches around the vacation area and take them with you. No internet connection necessary.

And it's free, Man!!!!

You can't directly load a waypoint into GPXSonar as you described. If you're not a member, geocaching will allow you to download a .loc file. If you're a member, that becomes an option to download either a .loc file or a .gpx file. If you load a .gpx file for a single cache, you'll get just that -- a single cache in the list. It might be okay if you've maybe selected five caches to do for the day and you download the .gpx for each of the five. It would also reduce memory usage as a 300 cache query will turn into something like a 700k-800k .gpx file.

I did find a way to use EasyGPS, a PC program, to convert a .loc to a .gpx, but it isn't worth the effort.

I think GPXSonar's real power is demonstrated when you load in a query.

MrFocker

Great posting, lots of info Mat, thanks... I have to look into becoming a Premium member!

MrFocker

OK, I checked out the premium deal, not to shabby. BUt I have never been geocaching before so I'll try it once without the membership and then get it if it works out...

matthewp

Originally Posted by MrFocker

OK, I checked out the premium deal, not to shabby. BUt I have never been geocaching before so I'll try it once without the membership and then get it if it works out...

Yes, a very good course of action. Pick an ammo can or medium size container in a local park and go get it. You'll be hooked from then on.

Here's a few little edits to what I posted earlier, as I looked at the programs a bit more:

- Outdoor Navigator actually does allow you to import .gpx waypoints. GPX Sonar has an option to export waypoints into a MapTech MPX file. Then you can use ON to import the .mpx file. I was on the fence about buying ON, but this just sealed the deal. The only 'problem' is that ON imports the waypoints one at a time with a prompt for each one. Takes a while for a 350 waypoint .gpx file.

- GPXSonar also has its own internal filters, which I failed to mention. From within GPXSonar, you can filter out miros as an example.

- My 350 cache .gpx file is actually 2.3MB, which is much larger than I originally indicated.

schill

Previously, I said I had a problem with GPXSonar:

Originally Posted by schill

As far as GPXSonar goes, is it still compatible with the GPX files from www.geocaching.com? I get errors when I try to load a recent GPX file. Did the specifications for the file change?

I uninstalled and reinstalled GPXSonar and everything works fine (with the same GPX file). I don't know what the problem was, but it looks good now.