Tools Used

With a new hobby came a new set of tools and from Sue the inevitable database - GEOTrack. Not happy with the tracking of our own cache and tb hides and finds a whole set of tools were written to help monitor and track potential next finds.

So what is our process.....

Preparation

1 Set up a whole series of pocket queries covering the whole of the UK and Ireland (includes Isle of Man) and run them over a period of a week.

2 Parse the resultant xml file with php and load this into the MS Access database - GEOTrack written for tracking caches and TBs and now expanded to review all caches and prepare relevant output files

3 Review cache selections based on area and select those targetted for a find - to a maximum selection of 400

4 Export selected caches in a variety of formats for
a Memory Map - to review location on a map
b Mappoint - to support reviewing in the US which is not covered by Memory Map
c ExportGPS - as a transfer route to the GPS and again to view US caches against the backdrop of a map
d Cachemate / GPXSonar - similar format as for Export GPS but to include more details for in the field cache reviewing
e Mapsource - just another mapping software and the one associated with the Garmin GPS

5 Load the waypoints to the GPS

6 If using a Palm convert the file format c above using cmconvert and synchronise. If using Pocket PC copy the file to the PDA and load into GPX Sonar

7 From the maps get a vague idea of the order of caches and plan the route

In the Field

1 Select next cache to find on GPS - go find it
2 Use the descriptions in Cachemate/GPXSonar to help find the hidden cache
3 If no luck try reviewing the old logs
4 Still no luck finally reort to hint
5 Once found take GPS reading and name the waypoint, changing the symbol to found
6 Do the cache bit - exchange items and sign log
7 Mark cache as found in the PDA
8 Take lots of photos

Back home

1 Download the waypoints as we found them
2 Load into the database to analyse how far out and to associate a cache with a waypoint
3 Log the found caches / TBs on Geocaching.com
4 Update the found logs in the database and associate with the relevant waypoint
5 Download the photos and add the relevant ones to the web site
6 Resynch Access Database used for searching with the MySQL database for the website of the relevant new data

Summary of tools

PC Tools	Sony Clie	HP iPAQ	GPS	Paper
MS Access GeoTrack	CacheMate	GPX Sonar	Garmin GPS V - US base map	Printouts of relevant maps to help route
Apache/php	Photo viewer (ACDSee)	MapSource	Garmin GPS V - UK base map	Printouts of multis to aid solving puzzles
Memory Map		Memory Map	Garmin Street Pilot
MS Mappoint Europe		Photo viewer (ACDSee)	Garmin cf iQUE 1620 for the iPAQ
MS Mappoint US
Expert GPS
MapSource
cmconvert
GSAK
Photo viewer (ACDSee)