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I am wondering if anyone uses a different method other than to print out cache pages when mapping out a multi-cache hunt day or even just to go to any single cache? Laptop? …a new different gadget that I am unaware of? I find that it takes me longer to map out and print cache pages to plan a cache day than it seems to do the caching. Any suggestions?
I don’t know if this is much different from what you have been doing… BUT…
I pick the first cache I want to hit, then select “Nearby caches”, select them all, and download them all to my GPSR. Next… and here is the important part… I change the setting on my printer from normal or high quality to FAST ECONO PRINT. It really spits out the paper at this setting, it will print almost as fast as I can queue up the pages. I print out each cache page (printer friendly – no logs format), and a couple maps to cover the area. If the caches are fairly close together, I don’t print a map for each, I print a map for one, and them mark the others on that map. This doesn’t take long because I have set the Fast Econo Print mode. I will glance at the topo maps, but I usually don’t print them unless I see some interesting features, or if it looks like hilly terrain.
I use a basic (yellow) eTrex, so I assume most GPSRs out there will have similar features to mine. When I am done at the first cache, I go to the “tracks” screen that displays a graphical display of my trail. This screen also shows my other waypoints around me, and allows me to zoom in or out. I pick the nearest one from that screen, or from the “nearest waypoints” screen, which lists my waypoints by distance, and tells which direction each is in. I like to make sure I downloaded many more caches than I plan to visit, so that I can just set out in one direction from my first cache and move cache to cache without back-tracking too much.
Nothing fancy, no massive planning. I just like to get out and explore and hunt
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Originally posted by Thraxman:
I pick the first cache I want to hit, then select “Nearby caches”, select them all, and download them all to my GPSR.That does sound pretty close to what I do now except the downloading part to the GPSr. Do you download from your computer or do you have your GPS by the computer and plug in the coordinates by hand as you read the cache sites on the webpage?
I think my printer is just plain SLOW! It’s one of those printer/scanner/fax jobbers all in one. UGH! I plan the same way you do except that I print each one at a time as I see them. It does make sense to be able to compile them all somewhere and then just print them all at one time.I would also like to know how to save cache pages on my laptop.
there are times when I dont have internet access and would like to be able to view the cache pages.
Ideally, one should be able to pull the pages up while connected to the internet, then view them later while off line. When using Explorer, I am able to view certain parts of the web pages, but other “loaded” items like photos and maps dont appear.
I’ve tried saving the whole page, but then it saves each item on the screen in a folder, and doesnt connect them all into the web page format.
Does anyone have any ideas how to do this?
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Originally posted by Team Cachebarr:
Do you download from your computer or do you have your GPS by the computer and plug in the coordinates by hand as you read the cache sites on the webpage?
I download them… geocaching.com lets you select a waypoint or a whole batch of waypoints for download as a *.loc file. Then you use easygps or expert gps or whatever software you choose to open the file and send the waypoint to your gpsr. If I download a batch of 25 waypoints, it takes about 2 seconds to download them all to my eTrex via the pc cable.
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Originally posted by GrouseTales:
I’ve tried saving the whole page, but then it saves each item on the screen in a folder, and doesnt connect them all into the web page format.I know I’ve seen webpage grabbers over at cnet.com that claim to save an entire webpage, graphics files included, for offline viewing, but I haven’t tried any of them, so I can’t say how well they work.
BUT, I just tried this… If you have Microsoft Word you can actually save the whole page as one *.DOC file, which includes all the graphics. Just open the cache page you want to save in your browser. Then at the top of the browser, select EDIT>SELECT ALL, which will everything on the webpage automatically. Next, boogie yer pointer on down to the highlighted area, right-click, and select COPY. Open Microsoft Word, and PASTE this into a blank document. When you do the PASTE function, you MUST still be connected to this internet, as Word needs to grab all the graphics files from the origianl server. Once the whole page is in Word, FILE>SAVE AS to save the document onto your hard drive. And you’re done The resulting DOC file will have all images built in, and can be read offline or transferred to a laptop or whatever. The DOC file, when viewed with WORD looks more or less like the origianal page, but the formatting seems to be a little different. completely readable though, map and all.
I tried doing the Thraxman method and I keep getting an error message on “Word”.
It wont let me save the info.
Hmmm… worked for me. I am using Microsoft Word 2000 (9.0.2720). Versions before 2000 may not have the ability to do this. Also, this will not work on Wordpad, just in case that is what you tried.
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Originally posted by GrouseTales:
I would also like to know how to save cache pages on my laptop.I’ve tried saving the whole page, but then it saves each item on the screen in a folder, and doesnt connect them all into the web page format.
Does anyone have any ideas how to do this?
Brian, I’ve had good luck saving complete web pages using Internet Explorer “Web Archive” files.
Go to the page you want, then in the “File” menu choose “Save As”. In the “Save as type” combo box, choose “Web Archive, single file (*.mht)”.
The page will be saved as a single file which contains all graphics, logos, etc. The file produced is actually a multipart MIME text file, so it is somewhat portable (meaning it may open in applications other than Internet Explorer).
I believe this file format was added in Internet Explorer 5, but since I’m running version 6 on all my machines I couldn’t tell you for sure…
That works Jeremy!
Thats what I’m looking for.
Now I may try to save most of the caches in the State and burn them onto a CD-Rom.
It could also give us offline viewing at the campout and picnic.
Thanks
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Originally posted by jvechinski:
Brian, I’ve had good luck saving complete web pages using Internet Explorer “Web Archive” files.I’m also able to save files to my notbook computer. I have used the “web page,complete” form, but I just tried the “web archive, single file” that Jeremy suggested and that works too. I’m using Explorer and Windows XP.
My normal practice for multiple hunts is similar to Thraxman’s — find one cache I want to hunt and then look for others in the same area. I sometimes download the waypoints directly into my GPS, but not very often. I usually enter the coordinates as we’re driving — Robin at the wheel and me as GPS navigator.
Looks like I will be getting a PC cable and figuring out how to use the EasyGPS. Maybe that will help me speed things up. I never even realized my GPSr could be connected to the computer. I am glad I posted the question. Thanks for all the great comments.
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Originally posted by Team Cachebarr:
Looks like I will be getting a PC cable and figuring out how to use the EasyGPS.If you will be purchasing a data cable for a Garmin unit, check out the Pfranc site. They have e-Trex data cables for $15, Garmin list price is $38 (ouch!).
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