Quickly find stages of a multi?

[+Image Maker]

I own a Garmin 62s. Normally to find the next stage of a multi I just look for nearby waypoints with a similar code to the multi code and the last one or two characters of the code make it pretty clear which stage I am looking at.

 

However, we have several multi's nearby that overlap each other, and even some with stages deliberately many miles/kilometers apart so there are many other waypoints from other caches in between. I find it increasingly difficult to figure out which stage is next. Is there a simpler way to correlate Waypoints and the parent Geocaches?

 

Thanks

 

P.S. In case it is relevant, I load my cache data onto the GPS via GSAK using an Export macro.

Edited October 8, 2014 by Image Maker

[+Timpat]

If I follow you, when I seek a multi I create a new waypoint for each stage as I progress along. If the multi is named "Mondo Multi" for example, I will name the stages MONDO2, MONDO3, .... I also use a 62s© which has the function to go to Next Stage (or similar) but I create my own as stated. This way I always have those points- the unit function does not save them.

[+New Jersey TJ]

I don't understand what you mean by "Normally to find the next stage of a multi I just look for nearby waypoints with a similar code to the multi code and the last one or two characters of the code make it pretty clear which stage I am looking at."

 

When you find a stage of a multi, you are given the coordinates of the next stage. You can either enter those coordinates as a new waypoint which you name, as Timpat suggested, or depending on your GPS, you may have a "Enter Next Stage" function. Either way, you are entering the next set of coordinates you are going to, so I'm not understanding your looking for other nearby waypoints.

[+Image Maker]

No, I am taking about multis where the stages and their coordinates are already provided by the cache owner.

 

For example GC5172E. Stage 1 is at N 48° 37.121 E 008° 53.920, Stage 2 is at N 48° 36.754 E 008° 54.094 and so on.

 

GSAK adds these stages as Waypoints on the Garmin.

 

=> Is there any easy way on the Garmin to find the Waypoints (predefined stages) that belong to a multi? The example I have provided is a 41km/25mile tour and the stages are so far apart that finding the next point in the long list of all nearby waypoints is almost impossible.

Edited October 9, 2014 by Image Maker

[+dprovan]

The one time I ran into something as complicated as that was at Disney Land (not with multis, but with virtuals with heck a bunch of waypoints). Before I left home, I edited the GPX file to add fake caches representing each waypoint, including the location as well as any relevant text in the description such as what questions needed to be answered at each one. Depending on your GPSr, there are some gotchas to watch out for. For example, I gave each a unique name and a unique GC code. It was a lot of work, but it was invaluable in the field. My GPSr just displayed them as if they were caches, allowing all the normal mechanisms to come into play, including listing them in the cache list along with any other caches in the area instead of them being in a list I'd have to looked at separately.

[+Image Maker]

Thanks. An interesting partial solution. It sounds like a lot of work and prone to typos so if I go this way I will look at automating this within GSAK, probably creating virtual caches as they are rare in my area and therefore will hopefully be easier to find on the map afterwards.

 

The original question remains so I will reword it ...

Does Garmin (e.g. on my 62s) provide any *direct* support to logically connect related caches or waypoints?

Edited October 9, 2014 by Image Maker

[+Timpat]

The original question remains so I will reword it ...

Does Garmin (e.g. on my 62s) provide any *direct* support to logically connect related caches or waypoints?

No, not that I'm aware.

 

Here's a simpler solution when using GSAK. When loading your PQ(s)- in the Load GPX/LOC/ZIP File box, I have the "As child waypoint" checked for the "How to handle the 'additional' GC.com waypoints". Once loaded find the multi in question and Right-click/Edit.

 

This opens the Edit Current Waypoint window. At the bottom click Children. Here you will see all the stages of that multi. Edit each one (Code or Name) depending on how like your caches to be ID'd. (I use Code). If the multi is named "Mondo Multi" for example, maybe change the Code to "MONDO1, MONDO2", etc. Now when you load your GSAK caches these waypoints will be named in a way you directed and makes sense to you.

[+HHL]

I would load all children as Pois and just the children of the next planned tour as an extra waypoint export (and waypoints only).

With the help of the macro "CustomNameEditor" you may name the children in way for finding them with ease.

 

Name Editor:

 

Send Only Waypoints (Caution: Radio Button has to be set to "Geocaches")

 

 

Frohes Jagen

Hans

 

Btw: Why are asking here (where a lot of people even don't understand your question) and not at the GSAK forum?

[+dprovan]

Thanks. An interesting partial solution. It sounds like a lot of work and prone to typos so if I go this way I will look at automating this within GSAK, probably creating virtual caches as they are rare in my area and therefore will hopefully be easier to find on the map afterwards.

You have a point, and if one uses GSAK, it would make sense to do it in GSAK. I don't use GSAK much, and I happen to be good with an editor and have a lot of experience editing XML files, so it wasn't much of a problem for me. I also have some emacs macros that help editing GPX files.

 

Funny you should mention the cache type choice: I made the same decision for the same reason, but in reverse: there are no traditionals anywhere in Disneyland, only virtuals, so I made all the waypoints traditionals to make them stand out in exactly the way you suggest.

[+Image Maker]

I would load all children as Pois and just the children of the next planned tour as an extra waypoint export (and waypoints only).

With the help of the macro "CustomNameEditor" you may name the children in way for finding them with ease.

...

Btw: Why are asking here (where a lot of people even don't understand your question) and not at the GSAK forum?

 

Hans,

Thanks for the GSAK tip which I will certainly try out. I don't use the built in Send Waypoints (b.t.w. the layout for the Garmin 62s is a bit different) I use the GarminExport. I will look.

...

My question was about Garmin usage/support, which now appears to be answered.

 

Cheers

Chris