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How to Use an All in One PDA & GPS for Geocaching

Geocaching is a treasure hunting game played around the world using GPS technology. Treasure seekers search for hidden containers known as geocaches using their GPS equipment. You can find a large community of geocachers online, sharing their experiences and the coordinates to geocaches they've hidden for others to find. While geocachers have been using PDAs to reduce the use of paper for some time, newer, all-in-one PDA/GPS smartphones have streamlined the process for planning paperless hunts. You can enjoy paperless geocaching with your smart phone too, by following these instructions.

Things You'll Need

Smartphone PDA with GPS system
Trimble's Geocache Navigator software

Instructions

- 1
  Open an account at Geocaching.com. This is the website that contains information on geocache locations around the world and gives you access to the information you need to locate the nearest caches to your location.
- 2
  Download and install the Geocache Navigator software to your PDA/GPS smartphone. You will also be asked to select a personal identification number (PIN).
- 3
  Link your PDA/GPS smart phone to your Geocaching.com account. Open your profile on the Geocaching.com website, and click "Access My Field Notes." Look for the note about Trimble's Geocache Navigator software, and click the link labeled "click here."
- 4
  Fill in your phone identifier number. To find this number, launch the Navigator software on your PDA, scroll to settings, and select "Show My ID." Type this number in the "Phone Identifier" field on the Geocache.com site. Complete the form by typing in your PIN, the number you selected when you installed the Navigator software on your smartphone.
- 5
  Locate your nearest cache by launching the Geocache Navigator program and selecting "Quick Cache." The software will download a list of the closest geocaches sorted by distance. Select a cache from the list, and click "OK" to get more details and begin your hunt.

Geocaching