Offline geocaching using the iPhone: can it be done?

[Urs Beeli]

Hi, this is my first post to this newsgroup. We've been geocaching since
last fall (though we knew about it for longer we only started the hunt when
I bought myself an iPhone) and are enjoying it as a family activity.

I/we are using my iPhone4 and the Geocaching app. This has worked flawlessly
so far. We are planning holidays abroad this year and would of course like
to search for some caches during our trip. However, as the Geocaching app is
loading its data (cache descriptions and maps) online, a data connection is
needed. As my mobile plan doesn't cover data roaming (or rather only offers
it at horrendous prices) I have disabled it. We are now wondering if that
will stop us from caching abroad.

I have a premium account at groundspeak, so I know I can export caches from
a bookmark list and export it to my iPhone for offline usage, so I guess
getting the cache descriptions could be solved this way. What about maps?
Can they be downloaded beforehand and stored for offline usage using the
Geocaching app?

Has anyone tried this who could give me some hints on what to look out for?

Cheers
/urs "sbeelis"

[Dan]

Hi,
I can't answer your questions - not having an iPhone, but it you don't get
answers here try the forum on Groundspeake
Cheers,
Dan
"Urs Beeli" <urs....@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:slrniomrv4.f...@stinky-local.trash.net...

[Skipfromla]

On 24 Mar 2011 16:23:00 GMT, Urs Beeli <urs....@invalid.invalid>
wrote:

Here it is:

http://www.geocaching.com/iphone/tutorial/default.aspx

Skip

[sbeelis]

On Fri, 25 Mar 2011 22:08:08 +1100, Chris Baird wrote:
> >> I/we are using my iPhone4 and the Geocaching app. This has worked
> >> flawlessly so far. We are planning holidays abroad this year and
> >> would of course like to search for some caches during our trip.
> >> However, as the Geocaching app is loading its data (cache
> >> descriptions and maps) online, a data connection is needed. As my
> >> mobile plan doesn't cover data roaming (or rather only offers it at
> >> horrendous prices) I have disabled it. We are now wondering if that
> >> will stop us from caching abroad.
>

> There's always Good Old PDF page saves, if you know what areas you can
> do a cache search ahead of time.
>
> I recently did an around-Australia trip, and the whole "Geocaching.com
> Owning Geocaching and making it Online-only" thing had me sticking to
> doing the Geocaching.com.au caches instead, where I *could* download and
> offline their whole "GA" cache database.

Thanks for your feedback. I'm actually not so much worried about the cache
descriptions, I can get those offline using pocket queries, I think. The
bigger problem will be the maps. Sure, I could just use the GPS to see the
location of the cache relative to my position, but seeing it on a map makes
things much easier.

Anyway, I got an answer on the german geocaching newsgroup and apparently
using the "Save Maps & Pictures" feature works offline. I'll do some trials
using this to see how well it works.

Cheers
/urs "sbeelis"

[sbeelis]

> Here it is:
>
> http://www.geocaching.com/iphone/tutorial/default.aspx

That just is the manual to the iPhone Geocaching app. I already knew that
and have succesfully been using the app for the last half year, though only
in online mode. Unless I'm missing something, the tutorial doesn't cover
offline use.

Still, thanks for your answer.

Cheers
/urs "sbeelis"

[sbeelis]

> I can't answer your questions - not having an iPhone, but it you don't get

> answers here try the forum on Groundspeake

I might do that, thanks.

Cheers
/urs "sbeelis"

[Anthony Guzzi]

When you have a cache listing up, you can choose "Save Maps & Photos"
and it gives you some options.

[sbeelis]

> When you have a cache listing up, you can choose "Save Maps & Photos"
> and it gives you some options.

Thanks. I had seen that but wasn't sure if it saved everything I needed.
I'll have a look if using Pocket Queries and "Save Maps & Photos" covers all
the data I need.

Cheers
/urs "sbeelis"