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Question	Answer
I Can't Install BasicGPS on my PDA!	There are currently more than 50000 users of BasicGPS worldwide. Very few report installation issues. These Errors are normally caused by one of the following: 1) You don't have the Microsoft .Net Compact Framework Installed on you Phone. 2) The .CAB file has been corrupted when you downloaded it into your PDA. 3) The PDA doesn't have enough internal memory to run BasicGPS. 4) You're trying to install BasicGPS on a phone with no Touchscreen. (ie.'Smartphone' not 'PocketPC' version of Windows Mobile.) 5) You're PDA is not setup for English Language. Tips: - Install the application on to your Phone via your PC. (Download the .CAB file from the website into the PC. Then move the file into your phone.) - Always try to install BasicGPS into your storage card rather than the phones main memory. - Never try on Open a .CAB File with Winzip. You must put the entire .CAB on to your PDA. Not the files inside it!
I've got a built-in GPS but how do I setup the Intermediate GPS Driver?	Read the Setup Manual, or look at this Document
I can't seem to get a heading value on the main screen - What's Wrong?	The heading value is calculated by the Microsoft Intermediate GPS driver in your Phone. Sometimes, some GPS chipsets report this value to the driver in a strange format it cannot use. This is the meaning of the 'Invalid' label you may see. Ensure that you are outdoors and have a good GPS signal. Walk over open ground for around 30-60 seconds. The GPS module in your PDA should then start to provide BasicGPS with an accurate heading value in degrees. If not, your handsets GPS module may have a compatibility issue with the microsoft driver. (Email us with you're phone manufacturer and model info, and we'll try to get you up and running fast.)
Help - I have a 'Smartphone' not 'PocketPC' version of Windows Mobile - Will BasicGPS work on my phone ?	I'm afraid not. PocketPC devices generally are required to run BasicGPS. As a rule of thumb, If your Phone doesn't have a touchscreen, BasicGPS will not work on it.
Screen Resolution Issues	BasicGPS was originally designed to run on 320x240 size screens, But will also operate on 640x480 handsets. Some users of 320x320 resolution phones report that the application operates correctly, but some of the controls are now located at the bottom of the screen. These is a config setting for 320x320 users in version 2.62.1 to 'fix' this issue. As for the more modern 400x800 display handsets, we cannot be sure that the application screens will display correctly. We are currently working to resolve these issues in a later version of BasicGPS.
HELP ! - I can't seem to Import GPX or LOC Files with BasicGPS	This is usually reported by users with the old free version of the application. Old BasicGPS (Free version) had a limit of 10 caches storage. This means 10 'GCXXXX' type files. If your caches are not loading, you're probably trying to load a pocket query file (gpx or loc) which contains more that 10 caches. Hence you get the 10 cache limit warning. If you're going to load pocket query files into the free version of BasicGPS, ensure the file contains less than 10 caches (ie. 'waypoints'). The current version of the application (v2.59 onward) has no cache limitations. So you should have no issues loading even very large cache files. If you are having problems importing a loc or gpx file, it could be corrupt. (Email the file to us and we'll check it for you!) This error is also sometimes reported by NON-ENGLISH users and is caused by the DECIMAL POINT SYMBOL setup in Windows Mobile. Go Start >> Settings >> System >> Regional Settings >> 'Number' Tab. Set your DECIMAL SYMBOL to DOT (.) Restart BasicGPS. A few users report that the import screen does not show the GPX or LOC files installed on the PDA. This is usually caused by the files not being installed in a directory or folder which the application can access. Move the files into another folder, and ensure you have the correct settings on the 'Map' and 'Type' droplist controls. Also, some GPX files floating around the internet are not to the Geocaching.com standard. - They are simply a collection of waypoints. BasicGPS will interpret these files 'Additional Waypoints' - not cache data files, and will list them as such.
When I pick a cache from the List on the Cache Locations Screen, I go back the main screen and its not there!	When you select a cache from the List on the Cache Locations screen, you MUST press the 'Select' button to tell the application that this is the cache you wish to target. To un-target a cache, go to the Cache Locations screen and press 'Cancel'. The best way to select and target a cache from the main screen is: 1) MENU >> All Caches View 2) Highlight the Cache in the list. 3) 'List Options' MENU >> 'Target Selected Cache'. This returns you to the main navigation page with the cache Selected.
On the All Caches Screen, It's not showing a distance to the caches in the list - whats wrong?	You don't have a currently valid GPS Fix - BasicGPS can't show you how far you are from a cache, if it doesn't know where you are now! You must have a position before the range can be calculated.
Help! - I can't enter or save a cache position, or make a new position.	Is your Mobile setup for non-english ?: If so, you must set the Decimal Symbol in Windows to be a DOT(.), not a COMMA(,) as it is in French, Spanish, etc. Go Start >> Settings >> System >> Regional Settings >> 'Number' Tab. Set your DECIMAL SYMBOL to DOT (.) Restart BasicGPS.
I've never read anything about BasicGPS on the Groundspeak forums -Why?	There used to be many posts about the application on the geocaching forum, but groundspeak removed them all and informed many of our users they would be banned from the forum if they even mentioned BasicGPS For Geocaching again! It seems evident that the groundspeak forums are run under to control of the owners of Geocaching.com. - And if they don't like or agree with something posted, they just have it erased from the forum immediately and scare users into silence about it. (Think of soviet russia in the 1950's and you're not far away...) We currently know of 3 software applications which they have 'banned' in this way.
Where do I configure the COM Port for the GPS in BasicGPS ?	You Don't ! BasicGPS uses Microsofts 'Intermediate GPS Driver' Technology. This is a kind of software multiplexor which allows many applications to share parsed GPS data at the same time. Go to Microsoft (or Google) and read about the Intermediate GPS Driver Setup. Also read the User Manual for BasicGPS - It covers this subject too. Or look at the full set of instructions for Intermediate GPS Driver use given Here.
How can I use My Bluetooth GPS Unit With BasicGPS?	This is setup using an application in Windows Mobile called 'External GPS'. (you'll find it in Start >> Settings >> External GPS ) Here are the steps involved... 1) Pair your GPS Module to the Phone as a Serial Port, and take note of the port number. (eg. COM 5 etc) 2) Go the Settings >> External GPS and set the GPS Hardware port to number you just set up. 3) Set the Software port number to a free port on you're device. 4) Remember to check the 'Manage GPS Automatically' box on the Access Tab. Or have a look at this Document
Help! - I'm using Windows Mobile 5 and the GPS position seems to be wrong ?	Ah! - Some older GPS chipsets in WM5 PDAs report the lat/long data to the intermediate driver in a funny format. To get around this we have included the 'DIV100' Option on the Options Screen of BasicGPS. Try switching this option ON, Press 'Update' and then restart BasicGPS. - How your Position now ?
My Phone doesn't have a touch screen. Will BasicGPS still work ?	Sorry - A Touch Screen Interface is a must for BasicGPS. Your PDA isn't going to run the application properly without it.
The voice keeps saying that theres no GPS data, but my other GPS programs work ok. -What's Wrong?	Sounds like your Phone isn't setup to use the 'Microsoft Intermediate GPS Driver'. - It's using the old COM ports method of connecting. Go and Google the 'Intermediate GPS Driver', and you'll find out how to set it up. Or look in this FAQ under 'Microsoft Intermediate GPS Driver'.
On the Main Screen, the Compass is obscured by the Altitude Reading !	This is because your handset has a 320x320, square format screen. BasicGPS was originally designed for 320x240 format phones. In version 2.60 or higher, the options screen has a 'Move Altitude' option. Selecting this will display the compass correctly on 320x320 screens.
Theres no altitude shown on my screen - What's Wrong?	Some GPS modules (for some unknown reason) do not report height data to the MS Intermediate GPS Driver software. Even we are still trying to get a answer on this from Microsoft.
BasicGPS used to be a donationware program.	In a single word - Donations! In the first 5 days the fully free application was available on the internet, almost 1000 people downloaded it. Only 7 individuals made a $1 donation to the development project costs. It takes a great deal of work (and time) to keep updating and improving the application with every release. We had to cover our costs some way. The application is still free to use for as long as you wish. But is restricted by the 10 caches storage limitation. Those who enjoy using the application for geocaching, generally upgrade to the full version after a few months to escape the limitations and store all thier caches in the application. UPDATE: 18/02/2009 - We have reached our development/hosting fund goal of $200. The application is now entirely free to download and has no restrictions.
When I exit the program, I can't start it again without rebooting my phone! - Whats wrong?	A few users have reported this one. It's simple! In Windows Mobile, a program is not TERMINATED if you press the cross (x) symbol at the top of the screen. It's just running in the background! You can't start it again because ITS ALREADY RUNNING... To TERMINATE BasicGPS, press the 'END' menu button item at the bottom right of the Main Screen. BasicGPS can sometimes take a few seconds to stop after you press the 'END' menu item. This is the master program thread shuting down your GPS interface in a controlled way.
I want to use a Bluetooth GPS with my Windows Mobile Phone. How do I get them to work together?	Read the Setup Manual, or look at the full set of instructions given Here.
Why doesn't BasicGPS use the standard geocache symbols anymore?	We're not allowed to use them I'm afraid... Groundspeak Inc, (the owners of geocaching.com) own the copyright to these symbols and formally requested that we stop using them immediately. - Which we did. Although, we are still a little confused as to why many other software applications seem to be able to use these symbols without issue. This includes other commercial applications. - In our view this smacks a little of double standards.
After Importing a large cache list, BasicGPS is running very slowly - What's wrong?	BasicGPS takes all imported cache data and generates a single data file. If you have imported hundreds of caches into the application, this file becomes very large and time consuming for the application to process. In general, never have more that 100 caches in the application at any one time. -Unless of course you have a powerful PDA with lots of memory :-)
I'm using BasicGPS at Night or in the car. But the phones backlight keeps going out and I can't see the screen anymore !	BasicGPS has an option on the main screen menu allowing your to run the PDAs backlight all the time. Try: 1) Press 'MENU' >> 'Backlight ON till Exit' You can also switch the screen light back to normal operation using this method. (Please remember that running you phones' backlight all the time will greatly reduce you battery time!)
I'm using BasicGPS on my Boat/Glider. How Do I get Distance in Nautical Miles and Speed in Knots?	Please Note: Using a Windows Mobile Driven Handset for 'serious' (ie. life/death) navigation is NOT a good idea. Although BasicGPS and Most Phone Handset GPS units can be very accurate, we still don't think it's a good idea to trust your life to it! That said..... 1)From the Main Menu hit 'Options'. 2) Tick the 'Distances in Miles' and 'Display Nautical Miles' option at the bottom of the screen. 3) Now press 'Update'. All Distances are now in NMs, and Speed is shown in Knots.
Does BasicGPS come with Warranty or Promises ?	NO... BasicGPS, when combined with a highly accurate GPS module can be extremely accurate. But the software is intended for use in Geocaching Only. We give no promises, warranties, or guarantees of any kind to its accuracy, or fitness for purpose. You use the software at your own risk. The developers will not be held responsible for its use or misuse by anyone, for any purpose.

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