Geo-Valley.com

At our first powercaching session in Darmstadt (read about it here) we learned that we can’t keep everything in mind we wanted to note in the logs. Writing the logs afterwards took nearly as long as the session itself. Even when I began to write notes on my paper notebook, it still didn’t help other then to save the information. I am not a fan of doing a job twice.

As time is our most valuable asset and we definitely did not enjoy transferring all the logs we accepted it and began on thinking of options.

snabbitsocker, a fellow cacher of the powercaching session in Darmstadt used a PDA and a GPS unit for caching. He took notes on the PDA for the finds.

Investigating this further I found software that allows to write the log on location and logs the finds on its own when connected to the Internet. Wahooooo, that’s what I want.

Now I am up for the hard part, selecting the PDA (Windows Mobile driven, a Palm or an IPod Touch (don’t mention the IPhone)) first. I fast learned I need a GPS built in that works properly or a GPS unit. A GPS unit requires Bluetooth. WiFi would be great for connecting to the Internet and the network at home easily.

Used or new? Okay, that’s easy. Who wants to bring out his brand new, shiny device to into the dirt? Uhhhm, wrong question. Let’s delay that.

Which software to use? What CPU and RAM does the software needs to run properly? What else is needed?

How long does the battery survive? Is there a replacement battery with higher capacity?

And when I get a PDA, why can’t I use it as organizer as well? Will it sync with my Outlook?

You get the picture. Maybe I’ll find the device I desire for a price I am willing to pay. Maybe.

Fortunately I am not into the smartphones yet. There are some great looking offering all features I want, but the battery. Shockingly short running. No wonder with all the make-it-smaller-hype.

Another option would be the new Garmin devices, the Oregons. The offer a lot, but I am missing some features like connecting the spoiler pictures to the cache description or some comfort features when solving multis.

Anyway, I keep looking and maybe I will split this up into three devices: mobile phone, PDA and GPS unit for caching and PDA as organizer. Though I think two PDAs is a bit too much. So two devices. And with the PDA and the GPS in my pocket I can hunt this or that cache on my way to and from work. No, stefmaus should not read that or I will not be allowed to do this.

Oh, and on the GPS device: are there any with a built-in compass?

If you have a paperless caching solution, feel free to write a comment. You’ll be most welcome.