Author Topic: What is a PQ?  (Read 611 times)

Offline Griff Grof

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What is a PQ?
« on: August 09, 2012, 06:13:03 pm »
Okay... this may sound silly coming from me; and you'd think I know what they are or how to use them; I've tried but I don't see the big deal - I just nod along when people talk about them to be honest :D

Can you all help me and say why they're useful? They're meant to save time planning (which I need right now to plan Spain caches) but I don't see how/ why to even bother.

Feeling like a newbie again; please help, explain and in brief what is a Pocket Query?  ???
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Offline foraging 5

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Re: What is a PQ?
« Reply #1 on: August 09, 2012, 09:41:17 pm »
We use this facility a lot. Its a very simple way of selecting caches (up to 500) and loading them all to your gps, and it only takes a few minutes to complete.

the easiest thing to do is read through the form first, there are numerous combinations that you can set to load. E.G you may be off to Spain for a week, and only want to find caches with a terrain greater than 3, all you have to do is select that category. You may only want to look for multi caches within a 10 mile radius of where you are staying, again just select those parameters. Like we said read through first.

Once you have selected your requirements, at the bottom of the page -make sure the output box has your email address in, and gpx format selected for saving.

then submit information.

This will create either straight away/or after a period of time a gpx file to download. This file can be uploaded and saved to your gps. you will then have all the cache info/hints/logs etc for all the caches found that matched your requirements.

we hope this helps.. it is quite hard to explain... but it is we promise very easy to use.
Once mastered, you can then look at caches on route... this is good if you are planning a walk/cycle ride/drive, it will search for selected requirements caches along your route.

 

Offline Griff Grof

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Re: What is a PQ?
« Reply #2 on: August 09, 2012, 09:45:46 pm »
Thank you  ;D It did help  :)
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Offline tarmacjohn

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Re: What is a PQ?
« Reply #3 on: August 09, 2012, 10:15:17 pm »
Just to elaborate a little from Simon's post. It is actually a 1000 limit (Just change where it says 500 to 1000).

Also to add my favourite part, when you are on the Geocaching map if you scroll all the way down on the left hand side of the map you will see where it says 'Save as Pocket Query'. If you click on this it will go to the pocket query page, just select the day you want (don't forget we are 8 hours behind) scroll down to the bottom and hit submit and hey presto you will get a query for all the caches shown on the map (Again up to 1000). Useful for example if you are going to the Lake District for a couple of days, I centered on the Mega event put a radius in of 50 miles and this gives the closest 1000 caches (Should keep me busy for a while)  ::)

Offline Griff Grof

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Re: What is a PQ?
« Reply #4 on: August 09, 2012, 10:24:06 pm »
You had to use the Mega as an example, didn't you?  :'( :D

That is indeed a great feature, thanks also for telling me about it.  :)
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Offline tarmacjohn

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Re: What is a PQ?
« Reply #5 on: August 09, 2012, 10:27:31 pm »
If you need any help with getting the PQ's into your Oregon then SHOUT.

The only down side I have found so far is that you only get the last 5 logs on the cache instead of the usual 10 when you send it directly to the GPS

Offline tarmacjohn

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Offline Bear and Ragged

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Re: What is a PQ?
« Reply #7 on: August 09, 2012, 11:20:28 pm »
If you also use GSAK, PQ's can be further manipulated before sending to your GPS.
You can also get more caches than the 5-a-day PQ's will get you.
GSAK will also allow more than the 5 logs with a PQ, if you run regular PQ's for caches, or you can use GSAK to get more previous logs...
I have a Geocaching problem...
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Offline tarmacjohn

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Re: What is a PQ?
« Reply #8 on: August 09, 2012, 11:25:00 pm »
Ahhh GSAK, now there's a whole load of a program that I don't understand. I use it to create my public profile but that is about it.

Offline Bear and Ragged

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Re: What is a PQ?
« Reply #9 on: August 09, 2012, 11:31:59 pm »
Stats.
Sending caches to the satnav. (Big Wolf macro)
Sending Little Quest caches to the GPS.
Corrected Coordinates for solved Unknown/Puzzle caches and solved Multis.
Keeping caches up to date, for caches that are not part of a set PQ.
Sorting out Caches Along a Route (Much easier, and more caches, than the Groundspeak CAaR method!)
And many more! (As they say in the adverts  :D)
I have a Geocaching problem...
Work gets in the way!

Offline walktall

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Re: What is a PQ?
« Reply #10 on: August 14, 2012, 02:56:07 pm »
You can put multiple PQ's into a GSAK database to get good overlaping without getting cache duplicates (as it just updates any caches already in that database), select your centre point (home or a certain cache) and distance (if you have more caches than your GPS can take in the database) and once you are happy, send them to your GPS ;D

I know with my Oregon, I can use POI (Points Of Interest) and get loads of caches onto my GPS from GSAK but these are handled outside the Geocaching function (effectively Waypoints with information) but is great if you are travelling and need more than the max. 2000 caches (on an Oregon 300).
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