etrex20 and geocaching

[+billedm]

I have a new etrex20 and am having trouble loading my backup GPX file of "Solved Puzzles". Specifically, all the geocaches on the "Solved" file are loaded fine, but they're considered Waypoints, not Geocaches. This means that I can't use the etrex20 features related to Geocaches; e.g. Logging when found. How can I convert these Waypoints to Geocaches?

 

Also is there any way to delete "Found" geocaches from an etrex20? "Deleting all", running a new PQ and reloading all, seems like a "make work" project.

 

My original etrex LengendH was a lot easier to use!

Edited January 28, 2015 by billedm

[+T.D.M.22]

As a premium ,ember you can change the co-ords by visiting the cache page, and clicking co-ords. This is only available to you, and not others. I do think this also changes the co-ords when you download the cache.

[+Red90]

Basically, your GPX file does not have them in the correct format. Probably the only easy way would be to import into GSAK and then export.

 

For teh new caches, just add the new pocket query replacing the old one. The old caches will disappear.

[+Gitchee-Gummee]

Also is there any way to delete "Found" geocaches from an etrex20? "Deleting all", running a new PQ and reloading all, seems like a "make work" project.

If you were to upload your "Found" geocaches (as field notes) to geocaching.com, the system allows for deletion from the unit at that time.

No need to download new PQ data just to overwrite the old data.

[+Chrysalides]

I have a new etrex20 and am having trouble loading my backup GPX file of "Solved Puzzles". Specifically, all the geocaches on the "Solved" file are loaded fine, but they're considered Waypoints, not Geocaches. This means that I can't use the etrex20 features related to Geocaches; e.g. Logging when found. How can I convert these Waypoints to Geocaches?

1. What format is the "solved" file in? If you can, please post a short segment as example. Mask out any GC code with GCXXXX and replace coordinates with "0.0"

 

2. Are you using any additional software to manage your solved puzzles?

 

I'm going to assume that each entry looks something like :

 

	<wpt lat="0.0" lon="0.0">
	<name>GCXXXX</name>
</wpt>

 

That's a waypoint format, without the Groundspeak extension that marks it as a geocache, and the Garmin would import it as a waypoint. There may be utilities that can save that as GPX, if you don't care about details, hints, log, etc.

 

Also is there any way to delete "Found" geocaches from an etrex20? "Deleting all", running a new PQ and reloading all, seems like a "make work" project.

 

You want to do that periodically anyway, or you would not have the latest information. Once you mark it as found, it will not show up in a search anymore.

 

My original etrex Lengend H was a lot easier to use!

Because you've been using it for years Can you load caches into it without software? No. Can you load maps onto it without software? No. Does it support paperless caching? No. Hang in there. There's a learning curve, but you'll be up and running in no time.

Edited January 29, 2015 by Chrysalides

[+billedm]

As a premium ,ember you can change the co-ords by visiting the cache page, and clicking co-ords. This is only available to you, and not others. I do think this also changes the co-ords when you download the cache.

Thanx for the reply and the idea. I've done as you suggested and changed the coords on the cache pages for the puzzles that I've solved and downloaded to the etrex20. I'll see how that works when I next go searching.

[+billedm]

Basically, your GPX file does not have them in the correct format. Probably the only easy way would be to import into GSAK and then export.

 

For teh new caches, just add the new pocket query replacing the old one. The old caches will disappear.

Thanx for the reply. The GPX file seems to be in the correct format, but all the entries are now considered as Waypoints, not Geocaches. I'm now updating the Puzzle cache pages with the correct coords and uploading them that way.

 

I have learned the new process to create PQs and then transfer them directly to the etrex20 as an external drive. It works quite well.

[+billedm]

Also is there any way to delete "Found" geocaches from an etrex20? "Deleting all", running a new PQ and reloading all, seems like a "make work" project.

If you were to upload your "Found" geocaches (as field notes) to geocaching.com, the system allows for deletion from the unit at that time.

No need to download new PQ data just to overwrite the old data.

I am using the "new for me" Field Notes facility to load Found caches. It works very nicely and does save time for log entry. I didn't see an obvious way to delete the Found caches from the etrex20, but it doesn't seem to be a necessity in any case.

I'll run a new PQ periodically to keep the etrex20 up to date.

Thanx for the help.

[+billedm]

I have a new etrex20 and am having trouble loading my backup GPX file of "Solved Puzzles". Specifically, all the geocaches on the "Solved" file are loaded fine, but they're considered Waypoints, not Geocaches. This means that I can't use the etrex20 features related to Geocaches; e.g. Logging when found. How can I convert these Waypoints to Geocaches?

1. What format is the "solved" file in? If you can, please post a short segment as example. Mask out any GC code with GCXXXX and replace coordinates with "0.0"

 

The Solved file is a GPX format. I've been maintaining it with EasyGPS or MapSource. I add waypoints of new puzzle solutions and then upload the GPX file to my etrex Legend.

On this older model, the waypoints were handled as geocaches, so I could find them as Geocaches.

 

2. Are you using any additional software to manage your solved puzzles?

EasyGPS or MapSource

 

I'm going to assume that each entry looks something like :

 

	<wpt lat="0.0" lon="0.0">
	<name>GCXXXX</name>
</wpt>

 

Here's what the entries look like. Looks valid to me.

===================================

<wpt lat="26.000000" lon="-80.000000">

<time>2012-12-21T23:37:22Z</time>

<name>++13 Baktun</name>

<sym>Geocache</sym>

<extensions>

<label xmlns="http://www.topografix.com/GPX/gpx_overlay/0/3">

<label_text>++13 Baktun</label_text>

</label>

</extensions>

</wpt>

=============================================

 

That's a waypoint format, without the Groundspeak extension that marks it as a geocache, and the Garmin would import it as a waypoint. There may be utilities that can save that as GPX, if you don't care about details, hints, log, etc.

 

Also is there any way to delete "Found" geocaches from an etrex20? "Deleting all", running a new PQ and reloading all, seems like a "make work" project.

 

You want to do that periodically anyway, or you would not have the latest information. Once you mark it as found, it will not show up in a search anymore.

 

I do run periodic PQs; hopefully the Solved Puzzle caches will upload properly.

 

My original etrex Lengend H was a lot easier to use!

Because you've been using it for years Can you load caches into it without software? No. Can you load maps onto it without software? No. Does it support paperless caching? No. Hang in there. There's a learning curve, but you'll be up and running in no time.

I'm getting the hang of it. Enjoying the new features. But I still wish that Garmin would do a better job with their manuals!

Thanx for your help.

[+Chrysalides]

But I still wish that Garmin would do a better job with their manuals!

If they'd just do a better job with their firmware I'd be grateful (I have all 3 generations of the Oregon, so I'm either an optimist or a masochist). I've given up on their manuals long ago.

 

You have me curious about what Garmin considers a geocache, and what it considers a waypoint. Time for some experimenting...

 

Oh, slight clarification on one of your points. On the older eTrex models (no paperless geocaching) geocaches are special waypoints marked as geocaches. In the models with paperless caching, waypoints and geocaches are handled very differently.

Edited January 29, 2015 by Chrysalides

[+Red90]

Thanx for the reply. The GPX file seems to be in the correct format, but all the entries are now considered as Waypoints, not Geocaches. I'm now updating the Puzzle cache pages with the correct coords and uploading them that way.

 

I have learned the new process to create PQs and then transfer them directly to the etrex20 as an external drive. It works quite well.

 

In order for the GPS to treat them as a geocache, they need special information in the GPX file. Like I said, the only simple way with an existing file is to import into GSAK and export. It will add the information.