MnGCA

jaywc7 · Geocacher Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Posts: 360

I recently purchased a Gateway Centrino Laptop. Along with my Sony Clie` Palm Pilot, and some excellent software I've found new meaning to the book I read, "In the Wild in a Wired Age"... (In the true story, two men are airlifted to the Horton River in Northern Canada. They spend two weeks paddling down the river. One brings a SAT Phone, GPS, and Palm Pilot - the other brings a paper map & a good sense of adventure!) Technology is certainly amazing, especially with the right software! I also treated myself to the newest Microsoft Streets & Trips with the GPS locator module which plugs into the USB Port. This is really neato stuff! I seem to find two things. #1 - When it comes right down to it, I still use my good ole Magellan for the last mile or so right to the dirt. #2 - Sometimes,,, I gotta just shut all the crap off, pack it in the tent, heat some apple cider, and stare in amazement at a flickering campfire... Cool

King Boreas · Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 7:27 am Post subject:

Kitch · Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 8:22 am Post subject:

One brings a SAT Phone

Hmmm...is this updated or outdated?

Marsha and Silent Bob · Past MnGCA President Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 6261

I cache with my hiptop, my GPS, some old tennis shoes (usually), and a LED flashlight... Personally I have found that the technology has made me lazy. Most of the time I don't even have my GPS loaded with waypoints. I'm either fumbling around adding them while I am driving (try loading the cache pages and the waypoint information while driving -- it's a trip Wink

) or I am just following someone else in the group and their limited directions about where the cache may be.

The past couple of trips I have been prepared using Streets and Trips to optimize a route, print a list of the caches in order for me, and tell me how many caches there are in a given loop of X miles. I convert the text list into a HTML file of the caches so that I can easily load the cache pages on my hiptop. I determine if a particular loop is too large/small for the number of caches we are doing and then I resize/change depending on that.

It's not a bad deal overall if you have GPRS service and Streets and Trips. Having someone else with autorouting so you don't have to print turn by turn directions or follow the arrow on the GPS is really nice Smile

Thanks Moe Smile

Buzzygirl · Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 9:22 am Post subject:

I usually go caching with as little technology along as possible. I use a Magellan eXplorist GPSr, which has no computer interface; I input waypoints by hand. This works OK for me because I usually do just a few at a time. If I were as active as some cachers, I'd absolutely need a GPSr with a computer interface.

I just picked up a cell phone about a month ago, mostly because my son and boyfriend implored me to have one while I'm out caching or on the road, in case of emergencies. I've been very resistant to getting a cell phone, mostly because I just haven't needed one and certainly don't need the expense. I ended up with a T-Mobile "Go" phone, which is a pay-as-you-go, no lengthy contracts required option.

I have an old Palm Pilot VIIx, which I do not use for caching at all.

I'm no luddite-- I love cool gadgetry as much as the next cacher-- I just have to be careful to not buy stuff where I cannot justify the initial purchase price or upkeep costs.

RINO SHAWN · Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 12:29 pm Post subject:

Wow!!! This sport/ hobby/ illness/? is addicting!! The more I learn, the more technology I crave!!

1st GPS
2nd Digital Camera
3rd New Picture/Video cell phone with bluetooth
4th Palm Pilot with bluetooth so my phone can link to it.....Also with Camera/Video
5th After learning about Geocache Swiss Army Knife...Setting up my Palm to have all MN caches "paperless"...I am now so impressed with that program that I want to have a laptop with the same setup as my desktop.....and an extra cable for my GPS so I can load waypoints while in my vehicle........which wants me to purchase an AC power invertor for my vehicle........

What next????? Pretty soon I will want to own my own set of satellites to send into space to give me a stronger signal. Wink

Marsha and Silent Bob · Past MnGCA President Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 6261

That is the big problem with geocaching.

Too many toys and too little money. Geocaching is the main reason I take so many pictures, why I have a photo gallery on my website like I do, why I have wireless Internet, why I put 1500 miles on my car a month, and why I just bought a color GPS with autorouting when I just bought a "new" GPS 6 months ago.

It's also the reason that I enjoy being outside as much as I do.

Stupid Geocaching... Making me go outside instead of staying warm inside w/all my toys!
_________________
Sad state of affairs.

Moe the Sleaze · Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 1:33 pm Post subject:

Marsha and Silent Bob · Past MnGCA President Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 6261

I was just helping you hone your caching skills! Yeah, that's it!
_________________
Sad state of affairs.

sui generis · Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 2:31 pm Post subject:

some people get lost if they don't leave a trail of items to find their way back to the car. It is kind of a primitive autorouting.
_________________
I am amazed by how many people harp on the need to speak and write English in this country while exhibiting a fundamental lack of skills in the areas of spelling and sentence composition. Would this be irony, hypocrisy, or both?

RINO SHAWN · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 2:40 pm Post subject:

RINO SHAWN WROTE:

RINO SHAWN · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2005 11:19 am Post subject:

jaywc7 · Geocacher Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Posts: 360

I haven't done much geocaching lately, but as far as technology goes, I've found some great uses for my laptop! I spent some time traveling down from MN to AZ, and ran my laptop the whole darn way. I'm sure having it running for so long was not good for it, especially with all the bumps and such. Oh well. I tracked my trip down with Microsoft Streets and Trips, and it was a blast! I then loaded all the photos and such from each day of my journey onto my website so my friends and family could keep up with my journey! I just set my wireless to auto-pickup signals wherever I go. As I drove through Boulder, Colorado, at one point, I had like 36 unsecure wireless connections to select from! Hey, I wouldn't go running bank numbers and such unsecure, but for the website, who cares!

www.swissperpetual.com/jddpj7.html

P.S. - My GeoFiance` is in Costa Rica right now student teaching, and has little say over my Geoneeds... (unfortunately,, I have no Geomoney to spend... Crying or Very sad

)

RINO SHAWN · Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 5:17 pm Post subject:

miles58 · Geocacher Joined: 07 Mar 2005 Posts: 196

Shawn,

Write down all your important questions. Tomorrow ask them and I will answer.