Software

In order to use most of the software for geocaching, one needs access to data in a GPX format.  By purchasing a premium membership [$ 30 a year or $ 10 for 3 months (USD)] from Groundspeak, one can create Pocket Queries (PQ’s) in a GPX format.

When one creates a PQ, one can specifiy the types of caches to include in the results.  For example, a novice cacher might request 100 caches nearest their zip or postal code, with a difficulty less than 1.5, a terrain less than 1.5, and only include traditional caches.  The results are emailed from Groundspeak to the user’s email address.   These files contain most of the information found on a cache page, including the last five cache logs.

The software listed below runs on a Windows platform.

GSAK [Geocaching Swiss Army Knife] ($25 USD) – Database application for managing waypoints.  One can use it to upload and download waypoints (caches) from GPS units and export waypoints for use with a number of mapping programs.  If you use CacheMate, you can use this program to filter the waypoints that you’d like to upload to your Personal Digital Assistant (PDA).  These are only a few of the features – if you don’t use it, download a copy and try it out.  We’ve been using it for 5 years or so.

CacheMate ($10 USD) – Rather than print paper copies of the cache pages, one can use a PDA to store an offline copy of the cache pages, including the abililty to decrypt the hints.  Supported devices include the following operating systems:   Palm OS, Pocket PC, and Windows Smartphone.  If you use GSAK, you can integrate it with CacheMate and use GSAK as a front-end to load the information into CacheMate.  We bought a “palm pilot” in January 2004 and still use it today for paperless caching.

CacheStats (free) – Analyze your geocaching statistics, using your “My Finds” pocket query.  Many cacher’s use the “Export to HTML” option, so they can incorporate the statistics on their Groundspeak profile.

EasyGPS (free) – Transfer waypoints, tracks, and routes between your computer and a Magellan, Garmin, and several other brands of GPSr’s.  We use GSAK to manage our geocaching activities and EasyGPS to keep track of other waypoints and/or Points Of Interest (POI‘s).  For what it does, EasyGPS is easy to use and is less intimidating than GSAK.

GPSBabel (free) – Conversion utility for transferring waypoints, tracks, and routes between GPS units and mapping applications.  If, for example, you had some POI’s in a Magellan format and wanted to use them on a Garmin, you could use this utility to do the conversion between the file formats.