Geocache Filter Setup

In response GPS devices like the Lowrance Endura and Magellan eXplorist GC which support geocache filtering, Garmin released beta software yesterday which adds this feature to the Dakota and Oregon.  Geocache filters allow you to view the geocaches loaded on your GPS which match the criteria of a filter that you create, especially useful with the newer units like the Oregon x50 and GPSMAP 78 which support up to 5,000 geocaches.  For example, if you want to view only traditional caches which are micros that have a difficulty between 3 and 5 you can now create a filter on your GPS to do this.

Filters can be based on any combination of the following geocache parameters:

  • Type:  Any combination of Traditional, Multi, Puzzle, Letterbox, Event, Mega-Event, CITO Event, EarthCache, Wherigo, Virtual, WebCam.
  • Size: Any combination of Micro, Small, Regular, Large, Other, Not Chosen.
  • Difficulty: Range between 1 and 5
  • Terrain: Range between 1 and 5
  • Status: Any combination of Found, Unattempted, Did Not Find.

There are two types of filters.  The “Quick Filter” is available under Main Menu>Geocaches>Quick Filter.  Simply specify the parameters above, select “Search” and you will see a list of caches matching the filter.  Quick Filters are erased if the GPS is rebooted.

Geocaches Menu Showing Quick Filter and Saved Filters

Filter by Geocache Type

Saved Filters can be created under Main Menu>Setup>Geocaches>Filter Setup in exactly the same way. However, these filters can be named, saved and will show up under Main Menu>Geocaches>[Saved Filter].  Use a Saved Filter if you need to run a filter frequently and you want to have it available after your reboot your GPS.

Setup>Geocaches

Saved Filter List

Editing Saved Filters

Filter by Cache Size

The new betas also fix a few bugs, most notably the hang caused by selecting “All POIs” on the Oregon x50. I have encountered a few issues with the geocache filters.  The first time I created a saved filter and was switching between a quick filter and a saved filter I started to see partial results or no results.  When I inspected the quick filter the Difficulty, Terrain and Status fields were set incorrectly. Manually setting them seemed to clear the issue and I have not been able to reproduce the problem since.

Regardless of these minor glitches its nice to see that Garmin is listening to requests from the user community and not falling behind the competition.  A few enhancements like the ability to “Select All” or “Select None” would be helpful and now that GPX 1.0.1 is available wouldn’t it be nice to filter by attribute! I’d love to be able to create “Dog Friendly” or “Significant Hike” filters for example.

Full release notes and links are below.  As usual, to get quick notifications of these new releases follow GPSFix on twitter.

Oregon x00 3.82

  • Added Geocache filtering. Select Setup > Geocaches to add custom filters.
  • Fixed issue syncing with BaseCamp.

Oregon x50 3.52

  • Added geocache filtering. Select Setup > Geocaches to add custom filters.
  • Improved keyboard responsiveness.
  • Fix hang searching for POI.

Dakota 3.12

  • Added Geocache filtering. Select Setup > Geocaches to add custom filters.
  • Improved keyboard responsiveness.

Related posts:

  1. Garmin Adds Multicache Support in Latest Beta
  2. Garmin Oregon Beta Adds Dashboards, Improves Track Nav
  3. Garmin chirp Review
  4. Garmin Oregon 450/550 and Dakota Beta Fixes Bugs
  5. Garmin Seeks to Improve WAAS for Oregon and Dakota