Paperless Caching with only a GPSr
Many folks think that you need a PDA, an iPod, a laptop, a blackberry, or some fancy new fangled GPSr like the Colorado to go paperless caching. Well, this just isn't true. In fact, for most GPS receivers it is possible to paperless geocache with only the GPSr.
While it is true that not all cache page info can be transfered to the GPSr, a good portion of the info can be stored in the comments. Enough info to find 90% of those urban traditionals.
Even if you are paperless caching with a PDA, iPod, laptop, blackberry, or even paper, we suggest using this method to load your GPSr with the maximum amount of info. At certain caches you will not need to dig out the other device if you have the basic info already stored into your GPSr.
We have chosen to load the difficulty rating, the terrian rating, the type of cache, the size of cache, the name and hidder in the waypoint comment field. All this info can come in really handy when hunting a cache, plus it doesn't take up that many characters when dealing with a limited amount of space.
Here is how we do it:
Load your pocket query results (GPX file) from geocaching.com to GSAK (I used Version 7.2.2.23).
When you are ready to send the way points to your GPSr, go to the top menu bar and click on "GPS" then "Send Waypoints ..."
Then under "Waypoint description" put the following:
D:%Dif/T:%Ter/Typ:%typ1/Size:%con1 %Name by %By%Dif - the difficulty rating
%Ter- the terrian rating
%typ1 - type of cache represented by a single character
T - Traditional%con1 - type of container represented by a single character
M - Multi
B - letterbox hybrid
C - CITO
E - event
L - locationless
V - virtual
W - webcam
O - Other
G - Benchmark
R - Earth
I - Wherigo
U - mystery/Unknown
R - regular
L - large
M - micro
S - Small
V - Virtual
U - unknown
%Name - the name of the cache (often the name can be a good hint to where you may need to look)
%By - who placed the cache (if looking for a cache by a cacher you are familiar with knowing who hind it can also be helpful, cause you may have learned the way they think.)
More GSAK special tags can be found here.
Happy Paperless Hunting
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