I wrote the first draft of this article nearly two years ago. I never published it, because I never felt it was done enough to publish. However, it can now show the differences between caching with and without Cache901 (once Cache901 has reached 0.6 status, anyway). Until then, maybe it can be useful as is to others.

Introductions

Before anything else, allow me to establish who I am:

I am a newbie to geocaching. As I write this, I have 6 finds. A friend of mine (Mykaen) introduced me to the sport, and I got hooked. He mentioned paperless caching, and I immediately realized that that was *exactly* what I wanted to do.

Now came the all important question: How do I make it happen? Well, for starters, I looked at what I had, and asked what I needed to get. Here's where I started, hardware and software wise:

• palmOne Tungsten T5
• TomTom Navigator 5 / GPS Receiver
• Windows 2000 machine
• Bluetooth adapter for the machine
• Linux based email server (that will matter towards the end)

Since this, I have spent about $300 to revamp my systems, and make it so automatic that I need do nothing anymore to make this work. What happens for me?

GeoCaching.com sends me my Pocket Queries once per week. My email server receives the pocket query files, turns them into pdb files, and copies the pdb files over to my Windows machine. In turn, the Windows machine adds the pdb files to the installation queue for the T5. The T5 automatically hotsyncs, installing the new Pocket Queries. I start up cachemate, and import all the new results. From here, I can connect the T5 to my GPS, and find the nearest caches, and go caching.

Basically, the work is non-existant for me at this point. Here, I'm going to detail everything in a part by part fashion. Go through a given part, and you're closer to my full setup. At each part of the way, you can stop, or continue on to the next part.

Part 1: Bare Minimums And Basics

Costs: Varies. If you choose to buy everything, then this can run up to $350. On the other hand, you might not need to buy a thing from this section.

GPS:

Recommended model is $140+shipping (including Garmin serial cable for connection to PC)

T5:

 Varies, depending on where you purchase. Unit found on EBay for $150

T5 Hard Case:

$40 at palmone.com

CacheMate:

$8 

This step is likely to be one of the more controversial. As a result, I'm going to explain my reasoning for each of the piece.

First, I had to stop trying to use the TomTom for the GPS. Why?

• Battery life. If I went on a two hour hike, the T5 would run out of battery power, leaving me without a good guide to get back.
• The first cache I tried to find was "Tiki Man Tree". I tried using a program called "GeoNiche" on the T5, and the data readout was fine (GeoNiche wasn't at fault), but we found out that the TomTom, at that location, was off by 0.25mi. Highly unacceptable.
• Finally, using the TomTom meant I would have to carry the T5 for the duration of the hike. Carrying it for two hours, especially in my hands, got annoying.

So, if not the TomTom, then what? I chose the Garmin ForeTrex 101. Relatively inexpensive (at $120), small, light, and uses real batteries, not rechargeables. Two AAA, in fact. This allows me to carry spares to be used in case of emergency.

So, why the controversy? Many people prefer the 201 because it uses rechargeables instead of batteries. And will also mention that I can get battery extenders, etc. Personally, I prefer being able to use regular batteries. In case of emergency, I've got a better chance of being able to just replace batteries, and be on my way again.

The ForeTrex has another advantage: It is worn, like a wristwatch. If I have to use battery extenders, then I reduce that advantage somewhat.

Next, you will need to choose your model of Palm. Many people will point out that older Palm III models can be had (and will work!) off of EBay for approximately $20. There is *nothing* wrong with using them. I already owned a T5, and so wanted to use that.

Finally, if you *are* going to use the T5, I would recommend getting the hardshell case for it. You're not going to have it out on the trail very much anyway, and you want to have this unit protected as best as possible in case of a fall or drop.

Finally, CacheMate itself. You don't need extra plug-ins, not at this point. Just the main program.

You will also want the Windows companion program, called "CMConvert". This program will allow you to download waypoint location files from geocaching.com, and import them into your Palm device. It is a relatively straightforward program, so I won't give much of a tutorial here. I will mention that there are many detailed tutorials at the SmittyWare website, though.

One thing I *will* say, though, is that waypoint location files have very little information in them. You've begun paperless caching, but could still use a lot more information.

Part 2: Getting More Information In Your Palm

Costs: $3/month or $30/yr

Monthly or Annual Subscription To GeoCaching.com:

$3/month, or $30/yr

At this stage, you've decided to take more information with you. If you've looked at the options in CMConvert, you have noticed that you can include a great deal of information. However, where do you get that information?

Sign up for a premium account at GeoCaching.com. Using that account, you can now download .gpx files. Furthermore, you can build Pocket Queries which will allow you to schedule up to 500  caches being sent to you by email.

So, what all is different? On the surface, not much. You now have information about difficulties, hints, logs, etc, all available in the palm of your hand.  You will receive .gpx files, and convert them using CMConvert. Install the resulting file into the Palm device, and you're done. In the field, though, that extra information comes in extremely handy. Believe me, the first time you're in the field, and need to pull up the hints for the next stage of the multi, you're going to be ecstatic to have this extra information at your fingertips.

Part 3: Connecting The Palm And The GPS

Costs: Up to $40

Cable to connect Palm Device to serial cable for GPS:

Up to $40

This stage might seem like the most useless stage. However, it is very useful. By connecting the Palm device and the GPS, CacheMate can query for your exact location, and show you the nearest caches. Furthermore, CacheMate can then upload those caches to the GPS, allowing you to turn off the Palm device entirely (oh, you can always go back and look at hints, etc, but I recommend putting it away, in case of accident).

The cable that I have that now works for me is this one: http://serialio.com/products/cables/PalmMulti_RS232.php

Using this, I can wire the two devices together. The one piece that is not totally obvious is the configuration of CacheMate. In CacheMate, go to "Option", then "Preferences" then "GPS Setup".

• Set "Baud Rate" to "9600"
• Set "Port" to "RS-232"
• Turn off both checkboxes
• Hit "OK"
  

Some minor gotchas that can occur:

• The GPS can (more or less) stop responding on the port. At the GPS end, disconnect and reconnect the mini plug.
• At the GPS end, the connection can look firm, but is not. Turn the ForeTrex over, and see if you can see any metal from the connection. If so, push the plug in further.

Might sound silly, but makes it a *lot* easier to cache on the go, believe me.

Some of you might be asking this question: Why on earth did I need to buy the cable in "Part 1", if I was just going to buy this cable instead? The answer: You're not buying this cable instead, you're buying this cable in addition.

The cable you bought in "Part 1" allows you to connect your GPS to a PC. The cable in this step allows your PalmOne device to act like your PC, so that you can connect the cable in "Part 1" to this cable.

If you have the same setup as myself, you might be tempted to go to http://pc-mobile.net/ and order up one of their cables. Don't. Per their own helpdesk, their cables are not compatible with the ForeTrex and the T5.

Part 4: Bluetooth Hotsync

Costs: $40

Linksys USBBT100:

$40

This part must sound silly. Why would I want to recommend using bluetooth to hotsync? Fewer device changes. In my case, I would have to remove my SD card, insert the wireless card, activate it, run a hotsync, deactivate the wireless, remove it, insert the SD card, and then I can go back to normal. 

That got old real quick. Using BlueTooth, it is possible to hotsync the Palm device to the Windows machine (and therefore get all your databases installed) very easily. This page discusses the exact steps to take: http://www.palmzone.net/content.php?pid=2

You will, very likely, have some minor differences between your setup and theirs, but it should be pretty easy to follow through. Make sure to follow their steps on how to connect using the "Network Access" profile. Using the "Serial" profile will give you much grief later, when you try to automate the hotsync process.

Some gotchas:

• Primary PC Name Changing On Palm
• Setting the right TCP/IP Setting In Hotsync Manager under Windows

Part 5: Automating Installation Of CacheMate Databases To Palm

Costs: $0

Syncer:

Freeware, and does the job

Syncer is a handy little program. It can tell the Palm device to automatically hotsync at a specified time each day. This means that you don't have to remember to hotsync anymore!

You can download it at http://www.freewarepalm.com/communication/syncer.shtml

Just remember to go into "Options", and tell it to use a Modem/Network hotsync. The Palm will handle the rest.

The only thing you have to do at this point is manually convert your .gpx files into .pdb files, and use QuickInstall to tell Hotsync to install them.

Why automate the hotsync? Why not just go ahead and hotsync manually? This step seems out of order, but it's not. You see, the automation of the creation and installation scheduling is very advanced, and I cover it in the next section. This part is not advanced, and I did promise to make things so that you could build at each step of the way. Putting the sections in this order keeps to that promise, and to the promise of letting you stop at the end of any section, without compromising what you have so far. This part is useful without the next. The next part is not so useful without this part.

Part 6: Automating Creation Of PDB Files, And Scheduling Those Files

Costs: $0

Scripts:

Available for free

AutoIt3:

 http://www.autoitscript.com/autoit3/ Also free

This part is a *very* advanced setup. For most people, I don't even recommend doing it. Not unless you are comofortable working in Linux already, don't mind modifying config files, compiling programs, etc. Even without this, you're still in better shape than most other paperless cachers in terms of automation and ease achieved.

If you choose to go through this part, I can only provide very basic information for you, plus the scripts that I used to make this work. You will have to be able to put the scripts together, and modify them appropriately, to complete the job.

To Do Items

• Part 1: Provide pictures of all parts
• Part 1: Provide "recommended" configuration (including screenshots) for CacheMate, and CMConvert
• Part 1: Provide links to tutorials for usage of CMConvert and CacheMate
  
• Part 2: Provide tutorial, or link to tutorial, for Pocket Queries
• Part 3: Add pictures of cables, to show connections
• Part 3: Provide instructions on download/usage of CacheMate Garmin Export plugin
• Part 4: Provide full details for the gotchas
• Part 5: Provide screenshots for the various configurations
• Part 6: Provide all scripts, and directions on how to compile AutoIt3 scripts
• Each Part: Provide description of the goal of each step at the top of the step. This is a short description, but longer than the title
• Add in another part, not sure where. This part discusses TTExport, and how to use with TomTom Navigator. Also mentions that Navigator 6 seems to be required, and does not work with T5