GeoCaching Beginner Questions - Page 2 - maemo.org

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rtrudel	2009-07-01 , 12:46
Posts: 29 \| Thanked: 7 times \| Joined on Dec 2007 @ Greater Boston	#11

Originally Posted by silvermountain

Nice, thanks!

We use a two-pronged approach with the n810 and an eXplorist 500. GPXview has much more information than is stored in our gps unit. I've made this ridonkulous gauntlet affair to hold the n810 on my arm and my partner in crime uses the GPS. The n810 is best to get us into the area, but once there, having read the logs and the hint, the "real" gps is used to get us right to the cache.

We've found a few with the n810 alone, but it's not accurate enough in rocky terrain or forest.

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Nelson L. Squeeko	2009-07-01 , 15:26
Posts: 397 \| Thanked: 99 times \| Joined on Jun 2008 @ Toronto, Ontario	#12

Originally Posted by silvermountain

I'm just having a heck of a time getting a fix/lock. Then suddenly it happens..maybe 10-15 mins later. I'm hoping I'll have a better luck tomorrow when I'm outdoors with it.

If you haven't already, install A-GPS and make sure the cache data is valid. When you start up Maemo Mapper, instead of seeing 0 of 0 satellites, it should say something like seeing 0 of 9-12 satellites. A-GPS will let Maemo Mapper know what to look for, which generally results in getting a faster lock.

For the quickest fix time, make sure you have a clear view of the sky (preferably towards the equator)

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new004lagmaster	2009-07-01 , 16:49
Posts: 38 \| Thanked: 5 times \| Joined on Feb 2008	#13

Originally Posted by silvermountain

Trying to download a map at say, level 12, results in an error saying 'Failed downloading 12 maps'. I keep getting that error message when trying to download maps.
Seems to happen mostly with Google maps...but not consistently...weird.... Oh well, I got SOME maps down.

EDIT: I just was able to download a lvl 8 Yahoo Satellite map. Looks good but will absolutely need something..closer to the ground..

Yes, I can see how I would benefit from a more detailed map but it also appears that any map at zoom level 5 or more granular will be enormous!

Thanks again!

Google Maps and Maemo Mapper have not been getting along as of late. here is a link to a thread with more info: http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php...750#post271750

Mainly i use Google Street for my caching adventures, the only reason i would pull out satellite view is to scope out an large open area with lots of muggles or find the best dirt road to get to the cache. Getting much lower this level 5 is a getting bit too close unless you are only trying to use Maemo Mapper as your primary cache hunting tool. Even then all you are trying to do is match up the blue dot with the cache POI.

If you love having sat images i would suggest hybrid maps. It is the best of both worlds and would not take up as much space as having both. The idea of having to Download the entire area at level 5 is rediscussed, just get a good level that will get you around like 7-9 (POI markes are removed at level 10) and drill down in and around the cache site. Also, remember that Sat images are older then you think and you should not only rely on them.

The way i get around having to pre download the maps is i do it on the fly with a celllphone tethered to my N800. it allows me to go almost seamlessly between street and sat and allows me almost 100% zoom.

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	silvermountain	2009-07-01 , 18:22
	Posts: 1,359 \| Thanked: 717 times \| Joined on May 2009 @ ...standing right behind you...	#14

Originally Posted by new004lagmaster

6. Export to maemo mapper
- menu
- export
- Meamo Mapper POI
7. Find and select the nearest small, full sized or large cache (best size for first timers) with a max of a 2/2 rating. Use the Maemo mapper symbol in the Goto tab of GPXview to center maemo mapper on that cache.
8. Switch to Maemo Mapper to drive to withing a reasonable walking distance of a cache (no more then 100-200 yards with small kids). Use the compass in the goto TAB of GPXview to get from your parking spot to the cache. If you are looking for a larger cache, like an ammo can, you should see it or its hiding spot from about 10-50 feet.

I exported the loaded LOC file from GPXVIew to Maemo Mapper...but when IN Maemo Mapper I can't seem to find the POI that I thought now was added. It's as if it's not there

If I go to where I saved the exported file and try to import it to Maemo Mapper it says it can't parse the file.

__________________
.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

Last edited by silvermountain; 2009-07-01 at 18:27.

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new004lagmaster	2009-07-01 , 22:15
Posts: 38 \| Thanked: 5 times \| Joined on Feb 2008	#15

Apparently somewhere between June of last year and today they broke loc export. Sorry.

Edit:
Ok i just tested it. loading a single loc files take a the same amount of time to load as 100 cache GPX file. Trying to load a set of 90 loc caches was about crashing the n810. Do the export with maemo mapper off to save cpu power and the export will auto launch Maemo Mapper. I will try to load a multi cache loc file later.

Edit 2:
If you create a loc file with 20 caches in it (i will go throuth how to further down) it loads really fast.

Create large count loc files:
1. go to the page with the caches in your area.
2. scroll down to the bottom part of the page
3. click 'check all' then click 'download waypoints'
4. Load like i described (treat as a file)
5. have fun Hopefully

Last edited by new004lagmaster; 2009-07-01 at 22:47.

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	silvermountain	2009-07-01 , 23:22
	Posts: 1,359 \| Thanked: 717 times \| Joined on May 2009 @ ...standing right behind you...	#16

hey and thanks.
we (gf and one niece) just 'finished'. im actually at a library right next to it typing this on the N810 courtesy of the free wifi here.

Since i was not able to import a POI into maemo mapper (after exporting the loc file from gpxview) we ended up just using gpxview for general directions to the place - which was in a park about 1-2 miles away.
when we got to the park gpxview guided us to within approx 50 feet of where the cache was supposed to be.
all was great and both niece and gf were having a great time.
but this is where it kinda went south.
the gps in the n810 were not able to guide us any more precise than that. even standing still the co-ords and distance to cache kept changing with up to 50-60 feet in any direction.
we spent a good 30 mins trying to poke around the area but were unable to find anything.

it does make me question how well the N810 can work on caches as the lone gps device - but im going to see if i can get a poi placed on maemo mapper and the comnination of that and gpxview may work.

the rating od this cache was 1/1

question: so if the auto import for loc files exported from gpx viewe isnt working anymore what editor could i use to manually edit these files? normal Notes didnt want to pick up the files.

thanks again...

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Nelson L. Squeeko	2009-07-01 , 23:37
Posts: 397 \| Thanked: 99 times \| Joined on Jun 2008 @ Toronto, Ontario	#17

If you manually enter the GPS coordinates (copy/paste from gpx view or type manually) you should be able to place the POI in Maemo Mapper. Kind of roundabout, but if the auto export to Maemo Mapper isn't working...

There is also the chance that geocache is no longer there, for whatever reason. I guess that's the chance you take when looking for things in public areas.

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new004lagmaster	2009-07-01 , 23:57
Posts: 38 \| Thanked: 5 times \| Joined on Feb 2008	#18

Originally Posted by silvermountain

all was great and both niece and gf were having a great time.
but this is where it kinda went south.
the gps in the n810 were not able to guide us any more precise than that. even standing still the co-ords and distance to cache kept changing with up to 50-60 feet in any direction.
we spent a good 30 mins trying to poke around the area but were unable to find anything.

the rating od this cache was 1/1

thanks again...

Like i said last night do not get discouraged by DNFs, they happen. You may have to try 2 or 3 caches before you get the eye for the game. Also Public Area Urban caches get muggled quite often. If you are having trouble getting to within 20 or so (20 feet is close enough to hunt the container but the closer the better) feet try holding the n810 away from your body to allow for a better signal. Also make sure you did not lock the compass by tapping on it inside of GPXviewer. A 1/1 micro has even outsmarted me before. Also do not forget to read the cache page there is almost always some useful info on there.

You will get a smiley some day soon

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	silvermountain	2009-07-02 , 06:14
	Posts: 1,359 \| Thanked: 717 times \| Joined on May 2009 @ ...standing right behind you...	#19

Originally Posted by new004lagmaster

Like i said last night do not get discouraged by DNFs, they happen. You may have to try 2 or 3 caches before you get the eye for the game. Also Public Area Urban caches get muggled quite often. If you are having trouble getting to within 20 or so (20 feet is close enough to hunt the container but the closer the better) feet try holding the n810 away from your body to allow for a better signal. Also make sure you did not lock the compass by tapping on it inside of GPXviewer. A 1/1 micro has even outsmarted me before. Also do not forget to read the cache page there is almost always some useful info on there.

You will get a smiley some day soon

Lol thanks yeah, I'm downloading some loc files tonight.

Speaking of loc-files. I am still unable to get them loaded into maemo mapper.

So far I've tried;
a) Exporting the loc file from GPXView (to maemo mapper) - but when trying to import the POI from the created db-file I get an error saying that the file can not be parsed,

b) Using geoPOI to read in the loc file and generate a db file. When trying to import that file into maemo mapper..same error message.

ANY help on how to load/convert a loc file so that it can be read by maemo mapper would be greatly appreciated

Quote & Reply |

new004lagmaster	2009-07-02 , 17:14
Posts: 38 \| Thanked: 5 times \| Joined on Feb 2008	#20

Originally Posted by silvermountain

Lol thanks yeah, I'm downloading some loc files tonight.

Speaking of loc-files. I am still unable to get them loaded into maemo mapper.

So far I've tried;
a) Exporting the loc file from GPXView (to maemo mapper) - but when trying to import the POI from the created db-file I get an error saying that the file can not be parsed,

b) Using geoPOI to read in the loc file and generate a db file. When trying to import that file into maemo mapper..same error message.

ANY help on how to load/convert a loc file so that it can be read by maemo mapper would be greatly appreciated

That sounds like a problem with your maemo mappers install. If you are using default folders for maeme mappers poi (where GPX view dumps the database: docs/maps/gpxview_poi) then the process should be everything should be almost automatic. Try a full uninstall and reinstall to see if it gets fixed.