Games - Paperless Geocaching

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	Games - Paperless Geocaching

Paperless Geocaching is the process of using PDAs or other electronic devices to geocache without having to print out geocache pages. It also gives cachers the capability of doing some ad-hoc caching if they have some free time and already have cache data on hand for a particular area.

Cachers can obtain geocache information (also known as waypoints) from various websites in various formats and load the data into their PDAs to take along with them.

Data is generally formatted for use as filetype GPX, which uses XML and contains information describing the geocache and also information about recent visitors to the cache. Other formats exist for storage on various devices, but GPX is the most popular. A variety of programs can translate between the various formats if data is obtained in another program's format.

Obtaining Data

Cachers can build their own GPX files with different client software tools, but this task could be very time consuming and prone to data entry error.

Many geocachers pay a fee for with Geocaching.com. This allows geocachers the capability to build queries (called Pocket Queries by Geocaching.com) for caches they wish to hunt. They can obtain caches where they want to hunt based on criteria such as Zip Code or coordinates and have it emailed to them as an attachment on a schedule.

Other geocachers using can download GPX files directly.

By using Geocaching Software, geocachers can combine and filter cache listings from many sites.

Converting/Filtering Data

Some cachers convert GPX files to other formats that can be read by their PDA. Others run their GPX files through Geocaching Software to change the data for special icons on their GPSr or to filter out caches based on certain criteria.

If a cacher owns a based PDA, they can just sync the data to their handheld without converting any data. This is due to developers creating applications that read GPX files directly.

If a cacher has a based or other PDA, then there are quite a few programs to convert GPX files for use on a PDA.

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Getting started in Paperless Geocaching can be challenging, especially for those who are not computer savvy. But with the help of some fellow geocachers and some well written software, you can get onboard and experience another level of geocaching.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Paperless Geocaching ]

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