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2009-07-01
, 04:44
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Posts: 397 |
Thanked: 99 times |
Joined on Jun 2008
@ Toronto, Ontario
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#2
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The Following User Says Thank You to Nelson L. Squeeko For This Useful Post: | ||
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2009-07-01
, 04:58
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Posts: 1,359 |
Thanked: 717 times |
Joined on May 2009
@ ...standing right behind you...
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#3
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GPXView will load the .gpx or .loc files for GeoCaching. I haven't used it (yet) for geocaching, but I entered in some coordinates and used the compass to navigate while driving.
A good combination would be Maemo Mapper to get a visual representation of where you need to go (with street view, satellite and topography maps if they are all still working) and GPX view for a more traditional geocaching experience.
One catch to get the compass to work correctly is you need to be moving so the GPS can tell which direction your heading in order to calculate which way you need to go. I think there is an option to lock the compass.
If you sign up to geocaching.com you can search and download geocaches in .loc format (.gpx with a subscription). These can then be imported to gpxview. There is an option to check all and download at the bottom of the page after you do a search.
As for the reliability of the GPS, if your really worried, you can get an external bluetooth, but I've never really had any problems with the GPS. Once you get a fix, it holds that fix pretty well. Unless you go somewhere that messes up the signal (blocked or reflected GPS signals) that you should be fine. The only place I've encountered unreliable GPS data is when driving in downtown areas of big cities.
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2009-07-01
, 05:29
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Posts: 2,669 |
Thanked: 2,555 times |
Joined on Apr 2007
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#4
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The Following User Says Thank You to zerojay For This Useful Post: | ||
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2009-07-01
, 06:16
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Posts: 1,359 |
Thanked: 717 times |
Joined on May 2009
@ ...standing right behind you...
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#5
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I just started doing geocaching maybe a week and a half ago. I thought it would be fun for the family... but I'm not too sure. My kid just got bored of the looking around... frustrated when we couldn't find a few caches because the N810 GPS isn't as good as I would like. It's great until you get under about 10-20m away and then it's anyone's guess.
My wife has really taken to it... and I'm enjoying it. If you're going with your family, I suggest a self-imposed time limit on each cache to avoid the kids getting frustrated... and perhaps a more accurate external GPS unit.
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2009-07-01
, 07:26
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Posts: 1 |
Thanked: 4 times |
Joined on Jul 2009
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#6
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The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to monch1962 For This Useful Post: | ||
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2009-07-01
, 08:15
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Posts: 38 |
Thanked: 5 times |
Joined on Feb 2008
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#7
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The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to new004lagmaster For This Useful Post: | ||
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2009-07-01
, 08:33
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Posts: 38 |
Thanked: 5 times |
Joined on Feb 2008
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#8
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- I download .gpx files from the geocaching.com site. To view them in Maemo Mapper, you need to first filter out all of the log entries in the .gpx file; if you don't do this, they won't load properly. Once you've done this, I start Maemo Mapper, and load in the .gpx file as a POI (Points Of Interest) file - the cache locations then show up as purple dots in Maemo Mapper
The Following User Says Thank You to new004lagmaster For This Useful Post: | ||
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2009-07-01
, 09:03
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Posts: 1,359 |
Thanked: 717 times |
Joined on May 2009
@ ...standing right behind you...
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#9
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- I use Google's maps. Before I go out, I fire up Maemo Mapper and just drag the screen over the area I want to visit; the maps get downloaded over my home WiFi link, and saved onto the MicroSD card in the N810. When I'm out, I can start up Maemo Mapper and all the maps are there. As you probably know, Google Maps come in a variety of resolutions, and you only want to download maps in 1 or 2 resolutions or you'll fill up your MicroSD card. Here in Australia, I'm using the "zoom=6" and "zoom=8" maps; one gets me to the general area, and the other lets me zoom in to get a greater level of detail. However, we're generally out caching in the bush here, where there may be only 1 road stretching for 30 miles between caches; it's probably different where you are, so you really need to use trial and error to see what works for you
- I download .gpx files from the geocaching.com site. To view them in Maemo Mapper, you need to first filter out all of the log entries in the .gpx file; if you don't do this, they won't load properly. Once you've done this, I start Maemo Mapper, and load in the .gpx file as a POI (Points Of Interest) file - the cache locations then show up as purple dots in Maemo Mapper
- I've found the N810's GPS to be extremely reliable (in fact, it does a better job than one of our dedicated Garmin units), but the battery life isn't great. I think I probably get about 4-5 hours before the batteries go flat, so I've got a Nokia charger set up in the car. When we finish a cache, I get into the car, hook the N810 to the charger, then go on to the next cache
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2009-07-01
, 09:13
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Posts: 1,359 |
Thanked: 717 times |
Joined on May 2009
@ ...standing right behind you...
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#10
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If you use GPXview to export the GPX to Maemo Mapper there will be no need to go and strip the logs out. And as an added bonus the cache type is the POI marker.
The girls are 8 and 9 years old and are pretty much constantly tethered to their DSi's and surprisingly tech-savvy (they figured out how to work my N810 the other weekend without me even telling them how...) so this might be something that will combine a bit of gadgetry, outdoors fun and a sense of adventure
I've read a bit about the application GPXView and that looks very tempting. I love the idea of having a directory of caches with directions/photos and hints. Wonderful!
Thing is, I've never used my N810 for anything GPS-related apart from turning it on and looking for it searching for a location fix
What do I need to start?
My assumption is:
1) I need to have Maemo Mapper installed and the maps for the area downloaded.
Q: Where do I get maps that are of a level of detail that is suitable for geocaching?
2) I need to get something called .gpx maps.
Q: Do I view those maps through the Maemo Mapper application?
3) I'm a little bit worried about the reliability of the GPS in the N810. I will obviously not drag the girls deep into the woods requiring a GPS to find my way out...I'm mostly thinking about disappointment in them if it fails us.
Anyway, any step-by-step for kick-starting my geocaching would be greatly appreciated as I'm hoping to do a trial-run on my own tomorrow afternoon if I can get all the necessary pieces together.
Thanks in advance.
.N810 experience: Since 6/2009
My Twenty Favorite OS2008 Applications:
AutoScan, Diablo5 Theme, Dialcentral, DragLock, EmelFM2, FlipClock, gPodder, Headphoned, Knots 2, Maemo Mapper, mPlayer, openNTPD, OpenSSH, Panucci, Personal Launcher, QuickNote, Seqretary, SlideLock, Telescope, YellowNotes