Paperless geocaching - Palm, GSAK and Cachemate

From NzGpsWiki

Papa_Bear Left (Ian) has been the inspiration for me to change to almost total paper free caching (exception listed below) and for this I thank him for his help and advice.

However, there is another method that is similar but is easier (and slightly cheaper - always a bonus) to use than PBL's technique using iSiloX (PC program) and iSilo (PDA program). This method also uses the well-known and increasingly useful GSAK (Geocaching Swiss Army Knife) but this time with a Palm PDA program called Cachemate.

Cachemate registration costs US$7 (or NZ11.29) from http://www.smittyware.com/ . There is a demo version of Cachemate available from the above address, but this will only permit records of 10 caches to be kept and manipulated. By all means go and try it. Once the registration fee has been paid and your registration code has been entered into the program the restriction is removed. Cachemate displays all the important text information that is available on the geocaching.com web pages, including cache description, hints, and past logs together with provision for you to append details of the date & time of your visit, your swaps and personal notes.

GSAK (Version 4) has a Cachemate export button that creates the database file ready for hot synching to your Palm. This makes the transfer of cache details very, very simple - just push the hot-synch button! Recommendation before hot synching delete any existing cache records stored in the PDA. Whilst in the Export Cachemate PDB file dialog page for Waypoint Name insert '%smart=6' and Maximum characters '6' if your gpsr can only handle 6 character cache names. This will enable you to easily see/sort your alpha list of caches in Cachemate. You can also set the number of log reports you want transferred to the PDA.

The cache exceptions for which paper printouts of caches are required are those caches containing photo clues. Photos cannot be transferred to the PDA.

So to sum up to go almost completely paperless:

  • Become a premium member of http://www.geocaching.com/ so that you can obtain pocket queries in GPX format (US$30 per annum).
  • Get a Palm PDA. It doesn't need to be an expensive model - but do make sure to get a model with at least 8 Mb of memory. You won't need all of the memory for caching so you have room to add some of your favourite programs and games. Cachemate with 409 (as at 23/07/2004) South Island caches takes up approx 1.2 Mb. Double that if you want to store the, then current, North Island caches as well. An old black 'n white(!) Palm m105 is a very suitable model and can be obtained for about $110 new from http://www.trademe.co.nz/
  • Purchase Cachemate registration (NZ11.29) from http://www.smittyware.com/
  • Obtain GSAK from http://www.gsak.net/. Whilst GSAK can be obtained free please be sure to register your copy (US$15) with Clyde in recognition of this great work he has created. He will thus be encouraged to keep improving this absolutely first class program.
  • Keep a spare set of AAA batteries for your PDA in your caching bag.
  • Get the appropriate GPS to PDA serial cable for your equipment and keep this in your caching bag so you can transfer data out in the field using GPilotS. (Leave your hot synch cradle at home permanently coupled to your PC - it's too big and heavy to cart around!).

Other freeware PDA programs that you may wish to add to help you caching ranked, IMHO, in order of importance:

  • GPilotS: Manages, retrieves and sends waypoints, routes, and tracklogs to/from Garmin GPSr's. If you are getting near the limit of your gpsr's tracklog memory (eg my Garmin 12XL can only store 1024 tracklog points before overwriting the first points) whilst out caching, mountain biking, tramping etc you can download your tracklog to the PDA, clear the gpsr's tracklog and start afresh. You can do this any number of times Ð just remember to give each download a different name. These can be uploaded later back into your gpsr and stored in your PC's mapping program when you get home to display where you went. You can also view your tracks, waypoints and routes in greater detail on the PDA than is possible on either your gps screen or the PC's mapping program by using the zoom function. Want to see where you did a U turn and travelled on different sides of the same road? You will need the Garmin to PDA serial cable appropriate for your GPS and PDA to use this out in the field. These can be obtained from various sources.
  • Calcul-8!: Scientific calculator. Very necessary for those math caches!
  • CacheLog Cache logbook program: I've never used this as Cachemate has this facility.


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