I have just gotten my first PDA (Palm Zire 72) and want to make sure that I am getting everything I need to go paperless. I have the PDA (it has 20 MB of space available), I am in the process of getting premium membership at gc.com, I downloaded GSAK, Cachemate and the CMConvert for Cachemate. Is this everything that I need and do I need all of these? I am still trying to learn how to use the PDA and have tried using GSAK and Cachemate but am having some problems.

Thanks

I forgot to mention that I read the Geocacher-U page, the page on GGA about paperless and the Wikipedia article. I still don't quite understand but I will get there I hope.

I assume you installed the Palm desktop to enable the hotsync facility.

I'm not sure what I installed but I am able to hot sync the Palm with the computer. I was able to load cachemate into the PDA with no problems.

I began using GSAK to handle the data for a year now and it is fabulous. I also use Cachmate on my Palm PDA. GSAK talks to my Garmin and my PDA with absolutely no problem. There are two software programs required. GSAK for my PC and Cachmate for my PDA.

Here is my update sequence:
1. Get a pocket query sent to me as a zip file from GC.COM. - Receive it and save the zip attachment to a "Waypoints" folder on my PC
2. Start GSAK and "Load" the zip file into my database (GSAK will handle .gpx or zip files with a gpx enclosed.
3. Filter in GSAK for the caches I want to find.
4. Select file "Export" in Cachmate format and GSAK does it.
5. HotSync my Palm and the data is transferred to my Palm
6. Disable HotSync as it grabs COM1 and won't let go
7. Disconnect my Palm cable from COM1
8. Connect my Garmin Cable to COM1 and my Garmin
9. Select "GPS" in GSAK and "Send Waypoints" and it updates my Garmin on full automatic.
10. I run Cachmate on my Palm while I'm sending stuff to my Garmin and Cachmate takes the HotSync data file and merges the data into the Cachmate database on the Palm. Now, I'm ready to paperless geocache.

See you on the hunt,

Marietta Moose

So I am duplicating with CMConvert. I thought that it seemed like I was doing the same thing with that and GSAK. Thank you very much for your step by step. I think now I should be able to go paperless. I haven't even tried sending waypoints to the GPS with GSAK yet. I think with your information though that I shouldn't have any problems with either part. Thank you again.

What you have is a 3 step process.

1. Get the data into GSAK so you can select the caches you want to find with a filter. Use the "Load" option to accomplish that.

2. Export the data to Cachmate which automagically runs cmconvert "under the hood" and sends the stuff to your PDA at the next hotsync. You have to hotsync it to get it there, however.

3. Send the waypints to your GPS using the GPS pull down menu option to put the same set of waypoints on your GPS as you did on your PDA.

I'm assuming that GSAK has been configured for your GPS using setup and that you have setup your PDA for hotsync. The only fly in the ointment is the problem hotsync has if you are using COM1 for both the PDA and your GPS. You will need to disable hotsync to release COM1 or your GPS will not be able to use COM1 to send stuff to the GPS.

Marietta Moose

You can drag a GPX file on top of the GSAK window to load it. I do this directly from my email program. Saves a couple of steps.

The COM1 problem won't occur with the Z72, as it uses a USB connection.

Thanks for all y'all's help. Now if I can get my premium membership started up I can give all this a try. I am just having horrible luck trying to go paperless but I'm determined that I will succeed. Again thank you both for all your help. I look forward to trying all your suggestions.

***UPDATE***

First thank you again to KVOM and MariettaMoose for your help and advice.

Last night I got my premium membership up and running, Got cachemate purchased and running, got GSAK running (still working on understanding all the features), ran my first pocket query and I was able to download a geocache in GPX form and load it to the PDA. WOO HOO we're going paperless. This is going to be great.

OK ... I'll admit I'm a bit of a newbie when it comes not only to geocaching in general, but also the various software packages available. I am using GSAK for my PC, and am quite happy with it. I AM, however, considering getting a Z22 PDA and some type of software or other to cut down on the amounts of paper I need to haul around while caching. What I'm looking for is some ideas, suggestions, etc., for what to look for before getting too far down a given road and then finding what I've gotten is junk. Ideas, comments???

Thanks!

Buck, KC4GCK

We use a Dell Axim X5 and have both CacheMate and GPX View on it. They both have their benefits and pitfalls, IMO.

We also use MS Streets and Trips and have Pocket Streets on the pda, that I recommend highly. It has helped to get us unlost a couple of times.

I also use a Dell Axim 5. It works real well as long as I bring my bifocals.

It all depends on how much you want to do with it. I use a Palm Zire (the original one, before they started numbering them) for caching, and it works fine if I'm just using it for cachemate. It'll quite happily hold 500 caches with 5 logs for each.

If you want to add a mapping program (like mapopolis) so you have street maps you can look at as well, I'm not sure the 20MB you get to use on the Z22 would be sufficient. At that point, you may want to look at finding a PDA that has the ability to add a memory card for additional storage.

I used to use an Axim X5, but it now lies gathering dust. I upgraded to a T-Mobile MDA in order to combine my phone and PDA, so I now have a spare.

If you're looking for a geocaching PDA, I recommend the Axim. It ran all of the software I needed (Mapopolis, GPXSonar, etc.) without ever having any problems. I'm hanging on to mine right now as a backup for when I don't want to go in the field with my MDA and still want to be paperless. Still, there's deals to be found out there for these PDAs.

Give me a month or so and I may consider parting with my Axim. Right now I like the thought of having something to take in the field that I won't have to worry about ending up DOA if there's an accident.

S-4-C

I am one of the few that uses a Macintosh for this, but my Palm m130 with Cachemate works just fine for my needs. I don't have maps on it because I just use the included mapset on my Garmin Vista or map76S. I know it ain't as fancy and high-tech as some setups I've seen, but I've found plenty of caches with this setup, and have only printed out Puzzle caches for the last 3 years.
My son has been nagging me to upgrade my pda (so he can get my cast-off) but if it ain't broke, I see no sense in 'fixing' it.
2.5¢

I decided to get a latest version of Spinner because I liked the layout and added features. I registered and paid my $13.20 via paypal and have never received any activation code to rid the annoyances presented upon its usage. I've even sent a couple of emails to the developer about the purchase without reply.

Has anyone else run into this?

Joe

Right now Lil Devil is out of town on a caching trip. I am not sure when he will be back. I will see what I can find out from him. I might be able to get him in chat over the next couple of days. I am curious myself since I have been thinking about updating my version of GPXSpinner myself. I prefer it over cachemate.

I'll post in the topic what I find out.

EDIT TO ADD: Looking at his finds, he appears to be out of Oregon and in Northern California now. Again, I'll see what I can find out.

One of these days I am going to have clean up my "spinner" like program so that it can run on a regular PC instead my development PC.

It being summer and all, I thought that he might not be available, but I wasn't sure. Thought I'd get an auto reply from a Biz and all.

Thanks for the input Greg. I'll keep hanging a bit longer. But come Fall, I may need a Cache vacation myself.

quote:

Originally posted by mtn-man:
Right now Lil Devil is out of town on a caching trip. I am not sure when he will be back. I will see what I can find out from him. I might be able to get him in chat over the next couple of days. I am curious myself since I have been thinking about updating my version of GPXSpinner myself. I prefer it over cachemate.

I'll post in the topic what I find out.

EDIT TO ADD: Looking at his finds, he appears to be out of Oregon and in Northern California now. Again, I'll see what I can find out.