Groundspeak Portal

the blue quasar:

Finally returned to this... on a whim.

That is so wickedly cool.  I see the "bursts" and another great thing is being able to click on a Way-Ball and see the default image and short description... then links to more!  LOVE IT!!!

Can I use this to view OTHER people's Waymarks?  Or do we have to share files?  I would really like to check out the imagery of some of my Way-Pals.

BQ

This is also one of my favorite things to play around with on the site.  Unfortunately it doesn't look like you can do it for others.  It would be also nice if you could do it for a category.

You can. On the right hand side, look for the Google Earth button, to download the KML file.Or download them all, and I mean all from the home page.

team farkle 7:

You can. On the right hand side, look for the Google Earth button, to download the KML file.Or download them all, and I mean all from the home page.

I guess I didn't even notice the google earth button there... now just to get same for a person   Would want it without the limit though.... would not get out of St. Louis City limits if you viewed mine with the limits.

Ahh... I see it.  You have to click on the icon to see the peacock.  But today, it's the turkey.  Pretty cool.  I'll bet it easier to keep all those coordinates right when they are all the same .  Sorry Harvey, I couldn't resist.

I haven't played with that for a while.  Thanks BQ for bringing this one back up.

I agree with BruceS, it would be great if you could download a category or a person's waymarks.

You can download a category, it's just under view gallery.

Haven't you got a flat tire to fix, s5280ft?

Just checked and it doesn't appear to let you download a kml for someone else.

But it did look like BruceS had fun at the Scandinavian Heritage Park.

One question though... 

which one is the troll? FOFLMAO!

Sorry, I couldn't resist, either.

To remove all doubt I almost labeled the photo "Two trolls discussing life"

This is a fun little tool...

 

opinionate:

We're really excited about the latest feature for Premium Members: Google Earth Network KML!

Those of you who have already had the chance to check out Google's free application know what a powerful tool it can be. It offers a wealth of geographic information and satellite imagery at your fingertips, and makes for some seriously cool entertainment. Adding waymarks to the mix makes it that much more fun and useful.

To begin, download and install the latest version of Google Earth and sign in to your Premium Member account at Waymarking.com. Keep an eye out for the Google Earth icon in the right sidebar of various search pages on the website, and click it to open the Waymarking Network KML in your Google Earth application.

You can also check the box next to each waymark in your search results to download a static KML of specific waymarks to save on your local machine. In addition, each waymark page has its very own KML file available for download.

That's it! We hope you have as much fun zooming around the globe searching for waymarks as we have!

Note: Be sure your computer meets the recommended configuration specs or you may experience sluggish performance. This information can be found on the download page linked above.

The Dynamic KML in Google Earth is is by far THE MOST USEFUL tool to visually see an area and determine which waymarks and geocaches are there. The searching on Waymarking is getting better and the mapping is basic at best, but together they fail to achieve the same depth of information as the network KML files through Google Earth. Once I found out about this feature I use it exclusively when looking at new areas since it packs a more powerful punch than the WMing & GCing maps could ever do.  I use this feature DAILY and was wondering HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE FIND THIS FEATURE USEFUL? How many others use both the WM and GC overlays? Does anyone else live and breath through Google Earth?

OpinioNate just released notes on the Geocaching site that they are ELIMIATING this feature on the geocaching side. (Which means WMing is likely not far behind)  http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=219908&st=0 I can't imagine out of the hundreds of thousands of users, that only 200 of them use the Google Earth network KML file. 

Where else can you plan your route to see the terrain, parks & food, POI's, waymarks, and geocaches? With the GC maps limiting you to 500 caches in a view (including ones you've found even though you uncheck it) how else do you get an overview of an area? When you can only see 20 waymarks to a page on WM.com, using Google Earth to find things is a far superior method.  For waymarking, it's so easy to look at an area and see the categories listed at the left with the ability to check/uncheck cats to get a great plan of attack. Plus it shows the default WM photo when you hover over it.  Those are just a few benefits off the top of my head.

I just can't believe Groundspeak is doing away with the Dynamic KML. Please tell me I've misunderstood - Please say it aint so!

We have no plans to remove Google Earth KML from Waymarking.com. It's a incredibly useful feature that has no parallel on the site, so you can lay those concerns to rest! In the future we may even expand the use of KML for waymarking.

Geocaching.com and Waymarking.com are two very different sites, with different needs and different uses. Even down to the codebase the two sites are unique.

So that's great for WMing. But really a HUGE blow to integrating the 2 Groundspeak games.  I guess I'll have to create integrated maps using a macro in GSAK. Unless someone has another idea on how to see both WM's & GC's.

I think you're going to have more of an uproar on the GC side - there HAS to be more than 200 users.  However, I'm really curious to see how many of us waymarkers utilize both layers in GE.

opinionate:

We have no plans to remove Google Earth KML from Waymarking.com. It's a incredibly useful feature that has no parallel on the site, so you can lay those concerns to rest! In the future we may even expand the use of KML for waymarking.

Geocaching.com and Waymarking.com are two very different sites, with different needs and different uses. Even down to the codebase the two sites are unique.

And you brought the favicon back! Yay!

Nothing to see on GE!!!

I am a premium member and got the message :

Google Earth KML Files are available to Groundspeak Premium Members only.

 

ALbert

 

 

aladdin:

Nothing to see on GE!!!

I am a premium member and got the message :

Google Earth KML Files are available to Groundspeak Premium Members only.

 

ALbert

Seems to be working for me.  You might email  contact@waymarking.com and explain your problem

dopeyduck:

So that's great for WMing. But really a HUGE blow to integrating the 2 Groundspeak games.  I guess I'll have to create integrated maps using a macro in GSAK. Unless someone has another idea on how to see both WM's & GC's.

I think you're going to have more of an uproar on the GC side - there HAS to be more than 200 users.  However, I'm really curious to see how many of us waymarkers utilize both layers in GE.

I never use the GC.com KML for Google Earth. Honestly, the bouncy thing was lame and it was tedious getting the listing open.

I LOVE the WM.com KML for Google Earth. Getting that listing image, seeing the different icons and saturations... wicked!

Cross-Site integration holds no interest to me. I prefer to make my own maps.

BQ

If I were visiting an area for a geocaching trip and wanted to see the waymarks in the area too, wouldn't I have obtained a pocket query or two for the caches in the area?  It's simple enough to import that GPX file of cache data into Google Earth and then activate the waymarking KML, isn't it?  Or am I missing something?

I only used Google Earth for viewing pocket queries, after having filtered out caches I'd already found and those types which I don't wish to hunt.  So, the change doesn't affect me at all, I think.

That method definitely works when you know where you're going. Like a trip for work or a convention when you're going to a specific location and hotel, or when visiting relatives. But when we go on a multi-day road trip, Google Earth is invaluable to see what is in each small town so we can plan which roads to even take, and which cities to book the hotel. We will go off the beaten path to see something cool, and often the good ol' virtual caches weed out the junk and have the wow factor.

We used Google Earth exclusively to plan our 5-day trip to GeoWoodstock. We wanted to focus on Earthcaches, Virtuals, Puzzles, and Waymark categories we didn't have yet. To appease everyone in our vehicle, Geocaches that were also Waymarks almost always made the list. When you add the GC & WM KML Layers along with the Panorimo photo layer, you clearly get an idea of the good stuff to visit. Then we'd figure out our hotels, Costco gas stations, Starbucks, etc based on using GE. Only THEN we would start running PQ's along a route once we figured out what route we were taking and what we wanted to see.

I would love to know how other people do their planning since I'm always looking for ways to streamline the process.

OpinioNate: Could the GC KML file be updated once a day and used static, instead of continuously updated and slowing down the servers?

yes, i would like to be able to go to a category, or someones profile and check out the GE file...and the foot print as well.....can we get different footprints? onf for historic markers, NRHP, RUSBM, Parks, etc....   

aladdin:

Nothing to see on GE!!!

I am a premium member and got the message :

Google Earth KML Files are available to Groundspeak Premium Members only.

 

ALbert

I had this same problem, but logging out and relogging back in fixed it.

regards,

dcrep

aladdin:

Nothing to see on GE!!!

I am a premium member and got the message :

Google Earth KML Files are available to Groundspeak Premium Members only.

ALbert

Today I tried to generate a KML for the Ancient Roman Civilization category and I received the same message.  I did try logging out and back in and this did not resolve the problem.

dcrep and rakeinthecache:

If you're on Windows, login to waymarking.com using Internet Explorer and be sure to check the remember me checkbox.

You can then close IE if you want to and you don't have to open it again unless you see the problem again.

If you're on Mac OS X, you'll want to do this with Safari.

Note that about once a month, or anytime they update the site, it seems that the login 'cookie' expires and one has to login again...

O.k., the Waymarking error has gone away with time (although I didn't do anything differently) but now I get an error in Google Earth as follows "Network KML Error
There has been an error in the Network KML File."  Any idea why I get this message.

yes, i really am enjoying laying new track on my kml--i also checked the map on some TBs.

peacock...thats good...

it would be nice to see others--so we have to save/email our file huh....

id like to see it in the categories too: from the Georgia Historic Marker page click 'see KML'.....it could be used to see what sections havent had any posted, see the clusters, etc....

and, yes, a 'master kml' from the home page....

waymarks along a route? with a loc file download?

lo and behold, just after i posted that i looked, on whatever category i was in, and there was a link for it...

hint: it looks different that the one on your profile....

so then, as i was writing this, i clicked to open the GHM GE kml.
i typed as GE opened and my file was being read. for a while the file was processed. then i got a 'network kml error'.

i am currently getting directions to the error so i can come and get it....

looks like the trip takes me on the interstate from florida to washington state. take a right on broad st is the last direction. im zooming in now.....

it looks to be a big tree across the street from the space needle. i know some of you live up that direction.....if you would be so kind as to inform the tree at 47,37'11.83"N 122,20'54.50W that i have it out for him and will be along directly to settle our score.

so then, i am glad the function is there. if only it worked...

THANK YOU OpinioNate and everyone else at Groundspeak for bringing back the Geocaching KML layer!!

opinionate:

Geocaching.com and Waymarking.com are two very different sites, with different needs and different uses. Even down to the codebase the two sites are unique.

Yes the sites are different, but they also go hand in hand. For those of us who utilize more than one Groundpeak site, using both WM and GC layers is INCREDIBLY useful.  I have been able to convince a few geocachers into looking at the waymarking site based purely on the fact that you could view both layers at the same time (that, and now GSAK has waymarking support, which helps a ton with converting cachers). It's just plain easier to pan along highways to see where there's both a cache and a WM on Google Earth.

Again, many, many thanks to TPTB - I'm doing the happy dance now!
Whoooooo Hooooooooooooo!

i have some issues with the GE kml....as, you can slightly adjust the zoom/pan and several marks will appear/disappear.....shouldnt there be a bias towards only displaying 1 icon for a crossposted mark? one icon is all it takes to get someone there. might also save some opersating room without having to render so many points. what would you want the focus to be--oldest mark, largest category, smallest category, or whatever....