RacecarBarbies Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 I have been using my Samsung s5 for all my geocaching. I love that I can pull up geocaches where ever I happen to be. I am starting to find the gps is really unreliable lately. Are there any gps devices that I can just turn on and pull up the caches? With out having to download them first. Quote Link to comment
+ubermick Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 Not really. The current "go to" GPS units like the Oregon and the 64st have caches already in there, but 250,000 of the available 2+ million or so. I just picked up a 64st, and seems like it's cache database is well over a year old. It would be awesome if Groundspeak and Garmin got together on something that would autoupdate anytime the unit was connected to a computer, but that's likely a complete pipe dream. Quote Link to comment
+Team CowboyPapa Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 I put the Groundspeak app on my Samsung SII (free for premium members). It will download pocket queries, automagically via WiFi, I think. However, it will pull up local caches wherever I am via cell. Quote Link to comment
+kunarion Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 (edited) I have been using my Samsung s5 for all my geocaching. I love that I can pull up geocaches where ever I happen to be. I am starting to find the gps is really unreliable lately. Are there any gps devices that I can just turn on and pull up the caches? With out having to download them first. There are a few possibilities, depending on your technical ability, and what you're willing to pay. Probably the simplest idea is to get a better phone. If you can set up your existing phone as a wifi "tether" (allowing other devices to connect to the 'net), you could get a Garmin Monterra. It runs Android Apps: http://sites.garmin.com/en-US/monterra/geocacher/ Most any modern handheld GPSr is more rugged for outdoor use, and well-suited to Geocaching. With a Premium Membership, you can run Pocket Queries and have thousands of caches available offline: http://support.Groundspeak.com/index.php?pg=kb.page&id=117 If you still have a phone data subscription (I sure wish I was rich enough to have a data plan ), you can still make live logs, and get updated cache info. Also, with a tethered phone, you can send data to a portable wifi USB router, a special device that you can plug the GPSr into. Save GPX files from Geocaching.com in a similar way to how you do it with a PC, only portable. So there are some options. Edited July 14, 2015 by kunarion Quote Link to comment
+JohnCNA Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 I have been using my Samsung s5 for all my geocaching. I love that I can pull up geocaches where ever I happen to be. I am starting to find the gps is really unreliable lately. Are there any gps devices that I can just turn on and pull up the caches? With out having to download them first. Garmin's Monterra could do that if you have WiFi available or carry a hotspot to allow an internet connection in the field. Kinda pricey, for sure. A cheaper way is to use the phone that you already have, for searching, sat maps and field logging. And doing your navigating with a GPS. That's exactly how we do it. I don't believe Groundspeak's Geocaching app supports output of GPX files, but some other apps do. I use CacheSense on Android, and I can share GPX files from the computer (GSAK or BaseCamp) to my Garmin, to CacheSense on my phone. And vice-versa. I can search on the fly with my phone, and upload a GPX search to Dropbox, or using an OTG tether cable, copy a GPX file from CacheSense directly to my Garmin. I had a Samsung S3 and just upgraded to the S6. Plugging either of those into my eTrex 30 or GPSMAP 64s automatically puts the Garmins in mass storage mode and opens the Android File Manager which shows both the Garmin's internal memory and SD card as separate drives. I'm sure an S5 will behave the same. Although I usually prepare my devices (and my wife's) before an outing, I have occasionally done this 'in the field' when needed. Pretty cool stuff, with no more cost involved than a compatible phone app and the OTG cable. Quote Link to comment
+on4bam Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 I don't believe Groundspeak's Geocaching app supports output of GPX files, but some other apps do. GDAK can also export to GPS. Although I normally don't need to, I have exported caches from my tablet to my Oregon 600 via USB. Quote Link to comment
+Mineral2 Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 I don't see why you'd need to access online cache listings on the spot. Today's GPSs have no limit on the number of caches you can load. Just a few pocket queries and you'll have every cache in your region loaded on your GPS in minutes including the description, hint, and recent logs. When you cache out of cell phone signal, you have to download them for offline viewing anyway. You're just doing this for all caches with a GPS. Yes, it takes a little pre-planning when you travel but as long as you know where you'll be, you can make PQs for the area and be prepared. Quote Link to comment
+BlackRose67 Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 I don't see why you'd need to access online cache listings on the spot. Today's GPSs have no limit on the number of caches you can load. Just a few pocket queries and you'll have every cache in your region loaded on your GPS in minutes including the description, hint, and recent logs. When you cache out of cell phone signal, you have to download them for offline viewing anyway. You're just doing this for all caches with a GPS. Yes, it takes a little pre-planning when you travel but as long as you know where you'll be, you can make PQs for the area and be prepared. I can see doing that if a new cache has just been published near the area I am currently located at (after I've loaded up at home and am out for the day). I normally log my finds via GSAK after importing the finds from my GPS. I've also used it at a MEGA event last year where a cache I had found was not loaded onto my GPS, so I exported the GPX from my tablet to my GPS so I could log it in proper order. Quote Link to comment
+Mineral2 Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 I don't see why you'd need to access online cache listings on the spot. Today's GPSs have no limit on the number of caches you can load. Just a few pocket queries and you'll have every cache in your region loaded on your GPS in minutes including the description, hint, and recent logs. When you cache out of cell phone signal, you have to download them for offline viewing anyway. You're just doing this for all caches with a GPS. Yes, it takes a little pre-planning when you travel but as long as you know where you'll be, you can make PQs for the area and be prepared. I can see doing that if a new cache has just been published near the area I am currently located at (after I've loaded up at home and am out for the day). I normally log my finds via GSAK after importing the finds from my GPS. I've also used it at a MEGA event last year where a cache I had found was not loaded onto my GPS, so I exported the GPX from my tablet to my GPS so I could log it in proper order. Yeah, but when that happens, I either just use my phone, or grab the coordinates using my phone and enter them manually into the GPS. I did the latter the other day. And sometimes a new cache will publish, I'll run into a coffee shop with my computer and load the cache onto my GPS. But around here, it's not often that more than one cache posts in my town at a time. I suppose if there are multiple daily new submissions, then it would be more convenient to have on-demand downloading access. But that's why most GPS users supplement with their phone. Quote Link to comment
+BlackRose67 Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 I had a Samsung S3 and just upgraded to the S6. Plugging either of those into my eTrex 30 or GPSMAP 64s automatically puts the Garmins in mass storage mode and opens the Android File Manager which shows both the Garmin's internal memory and SD card as separate drives. I'm sure an S5 will behave the same. Although I usually prepare my devices (and my wife's) before an outing, I have occasionally done this 'in the field' when needed. Pretty cool stuff, with no more cost involved than a compatible phone app and the OTG cable. I received my standard OTG cables today, and they do not put either of GPSs into mass storage mode with my Sony Xperia Z3. I had already ordered some powereed OTG cables from a different supplier, so I'll have to wait for those to arrive to see if they work with the GPSs. Quote Link to comment
RacecarBarbies Posted July 16, 2015 Author Share Posted July 16, 2015 Thank you everyone for your advice. I will look into all of them to see what will work the best. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment
+ecanderson Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 I don't see why you'd need to access online cache listings on the spot. Today's GPSs have no limit on the number of caches you can load. Just a few pocket queries and you'll have every cache in your region loaded on your GPS in minutes...Not in the OPs area, he won't. Couple or three days worth of PQs to the max 5K limit would probably do it, though. He's in a VERY dense cache environment. Opening up the range to 30 miles from the center of Denver brings up about 10,000 caches, and that doesn't even begin to touch the major cities north or south along the Front Range (e.g., Colorado Springs, Longmont, Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, etc.) where many of us travel regularly as a matter of course. Quote Link to comment
+JohnCNA Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 I had a Samsung S3 and just upgraded to the S6. Plugging either of those into my eTrex 30 or GPSMAP 64s automatically puts the Garmins in mass storage mode and opens the Android File Manager which shows both the Garmin's internal memory and SD card as separate drives. I'm sure an S5 will behave the same. Although I usually prepare my devices (and my wife's) before an outing, I have occasionally done this 'in the field' when needed. Pretty cool stuff, with no more cost involved than a compatible phone app and the OTG cable. I received my standard OTG cables today, and they do not put either of GPSs into mass storage mode with my Sony Xperia Z3. I had already ordered some powereed OTG cables from a different supplier, so I'll have to wait for those to arrive to see if they work with the GPSs. You may have to download a utility or even root your phone to get it to 'see' your Garmin. Not all Android phones (even with the same OS version) have the same features. I learned this the hard way with a Nexus tablet. Same OS level as my Samsung phone, but I could never get the same functionality from the tablet as my phone. Quote Link to comment
+BlackRose67 Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 I had a Samsung S3 and just upgraded to the S6. Plugging either of those into my eTrex 30 or GPSMAP 64s automatically puts the Garmins in mass storage mode and opens the Android File Manager which shows both the Garmin's internal memory and SD card as separate drives. I'm sure an S5 will behave the same. Although I usually prepare my devices (and my wife's) before an outing, I have occasionally done this 'in the field' when needed. Pretty cool stuff, with no more cost involved than a compatible phone app and the OTG cable. I received my standard OTG cables today, and they do not put either of GPSs into mass storage mode with my Sony Xperia Z3. I had already ordered some powereed OTG cables from a different supplier, so I'll have to wait for those to arrive to see if they work with the GPSs. You may have to download a utility or even root your phone to get it to 'see' your Garmin. Not all Android phones (even with the same OS version) have the same features. I learned this the hard way with a Nexus tablet. Same OS level as my Samsung phone, but I could never get the same functionality from the tablet as my phone. Phone is less than a month old, so rooting is definitely not an option. I am able to mount and see regular USB memory sticks, so I know that the cable is working. Quote Link to comment
+JohnCNA Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 I had a Samsung S3 and just upgraded to the S6. Plugging either of those into my eTrex 30 or GPSMAP 64s automatically puts the Garmins in mass storage mode and opens the Android File Manager which shows both the Garmin's internal memory and SD card as separate drives. I'm sure an S5 will behave the same. Although I usually prepare my devices (and my wife's) before an outing, I have occasionally done this 'in the field' when needed. Pretty cool stuff, with no more cost involved than a compatible phone app and the OTG cable. I received my standard OTG cables today, and they do not put either of GPSs into mass storage mode with my Sony Xperia Z3. I had already ordered some powereed OTG cables from a different supplier, so I'll have to wait for those to arrive to see if they work with the GPSs. You may have to download a utility or even root your phone to get it to 'see' your Garmin. Not all Android phones (even with the same OS version) have the same features. I learned this the hard way with a Nexus tablet. Same OS level as my Samsung phone, but I could never get the same functionality from the tablet as my phone. Phone is less than a month old, so rooting is definitely not an option. I am able to mount and see regular USB memory sticks, so I know that the cable is working. Yeah, rooting isn't an option for me, either. What GPS do you have? My results were with an eTrex 30 and GPSMAP 64s. I seem to recall fiddling with the Garmin's serial port settings a little. I'm pretty sure it's set to 'Garmin Serial' mode. 'Garmin Spanner' mode worked, too, but would ask me first if I wanted to enter Mass Storage mode when plugging in. 'Garmin Serial' just goes right to Mass Storage mode without asking. Quote Link to comment
+BlackRose67 Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 I had a Samsung S3 and just upgraded to the S6. Plugging either of those into my eTrex 30 or GPSMAP 64s automatically puts the Garmins in mass storage mode and opens the Android File Manager which shows both the Garmin's internal memory and SD card as separate drives. I'm sure an S5 will behave the same. Although I usually prepare my devices (and my wife's) before an outing, I have occasionally done this 'in the field' when needed. Pretty cool stuff, with no more cost involved than a compatible phone app and the OTG cable. I received my standard OTG cables today, and they do not put either of GPSs into mass storage mode with my Sony Xperia Z3. I had already ordered some powereed OTG cables from a different supplier, so I'll have to wait for those to arrive to see if they work with the GPSs. You may have to download a utility or even root your phone to get it to 'see' your Garmin. Not all Android phones (even with the same OS version) have the same features. I learned this the hard way with a Nexus tablet. Same OS level as my Samsung phone, but I could never get the same functionality from the tablet as my phone. Phone is less than a month old, so rooting is definitely not an option. I am able to mount and see regular USB memory sticks, so I know that the cable is working. Yeah, rooting isn't an option for me, either. What GPS do you have? My results were with an eTrex 30 and GPSMAP 64s. I seem to recall fiddling with the Garmin's serial port settings a little. I'm pretty sure it's set to 'Garmin Serial' mode. 'Garmin Spanner' mode worked, too, but would ask me first if I wanted to enter Mass Storage mode when plugging in. 'Garmin Serial' just goes right to Mass Storage mode without asking. I have an eTrex 20 and a GPSMAP 62s. I did some experimenting this evening and had a bit of success. I plugged my GPS into a powered USB hub. I then plugged the hub into my OTG cable and it did mount the internal memory of my GPS. Unfortunately it didn't mount the external microSD card as another drive. Quote Link to comment
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