> Is it intended for Atlas Quest to replace LBNA eventually or just be
> another source for letterboxes?

It's intended just to be another source for letterboxes. LbNA, I have
little doubt, will always have clues not found on AQ just like AQ will
always have clues not found on LbNA.

> I don't want to have to keep 2 sets of clues if I can help it

Either site can link to clues on the other site, so you shouldn't have
to keep two separate set of clues. The boxes would be listed twice,
but they would use only one set of clues.

-- Ryan

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Silver Eagle"
wrote:
> I have noticed several people posting clues to Atlas
> Quest but not to LBNA. Is it intended for Atlas Quest
> to replace LBNA eventually or just be another source
> for letterboxes? I have only used Atlas for my non-US
> boxes and Hitchhikers, since LBNA does not handle them
> well, but will add all my other boxes if that is where
> most people are gravitating. I don't want to have to
> keep 2 sets of clues if I can help it and I would prefer
> to have one site that is the main source for clues.
> Wes, are you still going to make the changes to LBNA
> you proposed last year or let it fade away?
>
> Silver Eagle

While Gwen & I have had some of the same concerns, we have linked
our clue sheets that are hosted on LBNA to Atlas Quest. The foreign
letterboxes are also at both locations, but AQ allows easier access
to those. With the linking from LBNA to AQ we only have one set of
clues hosted and they are at LBNA. We still prefer the "Contact the
Placer" function at LBNA to the notification process at AQ, but that
may be due to our usage of that function. The only other set of
clues we keep is a backup set in our Word program and a hard copy.

Don

I think most people that post on the list assume that
everyone looks at LbNA, so don't mention it. I list all of
my letterboxes on LbNA and link some of them from Atlas
Quest. Although LbNA has less "features" than AQ, I still
prefer it for several reasons:
1) LbNA has a simple, comfortable look and feel,
2) LbNA has many more boxes listed than AQ (13,000
compared to 500?),
3) LbNA does not have advertising, it's low costs are met
by patrons.

The feature that I miss the most on LbNA is the AQ city
search. I would love to be able to see all of the boxes in
nearby cities.

Choi

On Mon, 03 Jan 2005 15:35:24 -0000
"Silver Eagle" wrote:
>
>
> I have noticed several people posting clues to Atlas
> Quest but not to LBNA. Is it intended for Atlas Quest
> to replace LBNA eventually or just be another source
> for letterboxes? I have only used Atlas for my non-US
> boxes and Hitchhikers, since LBNA does not handle them
> well, but will add all my other boxes if that is where
> most people are gravitating. I don't want to have to
> keep 2 sets of clues if I can help it and I would prefer
> to have one site that is the main source for clues.
> Wes, are you still going to make the changes to LBNA
> you proposed last year or let it fade away?
>
> Silver Eagle

I too prefer LbNAm and for the same reasons. I haven't felt the need for
a city search but I suppose it might be a nice feature to have.
R'nR
------------------------------------------------------------------------

john@johnsblog.com wrote:

>I think most people that post on the list assume that
>everyone looks at LbNA, so don't mention it. I list all of
>my letterboxes on LbNA and link some of them from Atlas
>Quest. Although LbNA has less "features" than AQ, I still
>prefer it for several reasons:
>1) LbNA has a simple, comfortable look and feel,
>2) LbNA has many more boxes listed than AQ (13,000
>compared to 500?),
>3) LbNA does not have advertising, it's low costs are met
>by patrons.
>
>The feature that I miss the most on LbNA is the AQ city
>search. I would love to be able to see all of the boxes in
>nearby cities.
>
>Choi
>
>On Mon, 03 Jan 2005 15:35:24 -0000
> "Silver Eagle" wrote:
>
>
>>I have noticed several people posting clues to Atlas
>>Quest but not to LBNA. Is it intended for Atlas Quest
>>to replace LBNA eventually or just be another source
>>for letterboxes? I have only used Atlas for my non-US
>>boxes and Hitchhikers, since LBNA does not handle them
>>well, but will add all my other boxes if that is where
>>most people are gravitating. I don't want to have to
>>keep 2 sets of clues if I can help it and I would prefer
>>to have one site that is the main source for clues.
>>Wes, are you still going to make the changes to LBNA
>>you proposed last year or let it fade away?
>>
>>Silver Eagle
>>
>>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I have my own web site for all my clues and link to both sites. I
use LbNA just cause it is the original source and I hold my
loyalties them. Although AQ has all the bells and whistles that
LbNA doesn't and if it doesn't Ryan will add or change if it
benefits the group in whole. Since Jay was able to help us get our
clues to appear I added the clues that were on AQ only. As for
advertisements on AQ I didn't notice them till someone commented on
them. I commend the Turtle for all his hard work and believe he
deserves a few kick backs, I tip my top hat to you bro.

Boxdn

I have to agree that the ads are minimal impact. They are
much easier on the eyes that flashing banners and popups!

Choi

On Mon, 03 Jan 2005 22:11:42 -0000
"Steve" wrote:
[snip]
> As for
> advertisements on AQ I didn't notice them till someone
>commented on
> them. I commend the Turtle for all his hard work and
>believe he
> deserves a few kick backs, I tip my top hat to you bro.
>
> Boxdn

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, wrote:
> I have to agree that the ads are minimal impact. They are
> much easier on the eyes that flashing banners and popups!
>
> Choi


Not only are they much easier on the eyes, but the ads are relative
to our hobby in one way or another, mainly art supplies, etc.
Artdog

In a message dated 1/3/2005 2:14:44 PM Pacific Standard Time, boxdn@yahoo.com
writes:
I commend the Turtle for all his hard work and believe he
deserves a few kick backs, I tip my top hat to you bro.

We totally agree. Ryan is a master! He also make posting finds and plants on
his site fun! You get blue ribbons and loving cups and stars if you take the
time to enter them. Nothing like a little instant gratification. And where else
can you read the hilarious rantings of the most infamous letterboxers but in
the personal profiles posted on Atlas Quest!

~~Doublesaj & Old Blue~~
P50 F 327 X72 V18 A18 HH 28


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Just to set the record straight, AQ currently has over 3,000 letterboxes listed. Plus,
those who really object to the advertising there can pay an annual subscription fee
and have them wiped from their view. I only wish we could do that with the awful ads
on this Talk List!

I, too, have my loyalities with LbNA, since I really love Der Mad Stamper's original web
design. However, there are features at AQ that I like a lot, too. I really like being able
to add photos to my clues that are hosted there. Regardless, I have my few AQ hosted
clues linked on LbNA and vice versa. If I felt that it was an "LbNA vs. Atlas Quest"
situation I'd surely stay with LbNA but I think the two sites complement each other
very nicely. Funhog

> 1) LbNA has a simple, comfortable look and feel,
> 2) LbNA has many more boxes listed than AQ (13,000
> compared to 500?),
> 3) LbNA does not have advertising, it's low costs are met
> by patrons.
>

I think both sites work well together and doubt it will ever become a
competition because each is so different. LbNA.org will always be
the mother site, I cannot imagine it being anything less. I use both
sites and link to my website where my clues reside, it takes just a
few extra minutes to do the AQ listing and it's well worth it because
of the search by city option, not to mention the other great features.

When I emailed Ryan about some things regarding AQ, he was very
helpful and I appreciated his well thought out logical approach which
I wound up adopting.

Cheers,
catbead

Hope that Atlas Quest will not be only source as I can not get it to work on
my old machine.
:-(
Dancin' Feet

I have trouble with Atlas Quest because, altho having all the different
categories is nice in the respect that it helps define for the potential searcher
whether or not it's a good box for *them*, I'm not always sure of the
categories.

Whether the box clues require a compass or not, that's an easy one. So is
whether or not it's a drive-by or not. But for most of my boxes, I have
absolutely no idea how long the hike is in miles. And for most of my boxes, I could
tell a person whether or not there's a rather extreme elevation change, but no
way could I tell what the elevation change might be for *most* of my boxes,
and even for the ones with an extreme elevation change, I wouldn't have a
number to put on it.

And the question about whether it's suitable or not for children always
throws me. The category for children says, IIRC, that if the children box is
checked, that means the box is suitable for children ages 6 to 12. Well, there's a
world of difference between the abilities of a 6 year old and those of a 12
year old. And even between two 6 year olds, there can be a world of
difference.

So I stopped using Atlas Quest to list my boxes because I really don't want
to mislead any searchers, and I'm just not good enough at deciding what boxes I
should check and what number I should put in.

Plus I kind of like there being more mystery to it. I kind of like figuring
I have to be prepared for anything and everything. I realized that, for
ourselves, Keith & I don't really *want* to know what the hike length is or what
the elevation change might be, or if we need a compass or not, etc. It's always
kind of been my opinion that no self-respecting boxer should be caught dead
*or* alive without their compass anyway. :-) So each time I'd be trying to
figure out what boxes to check off, I'd start thinking "Hey! Let the boxer go
out there and find out for themself!" :-)

The site is nice for keeping track of numbers, but we're likely to only check
our numbers once every 5 or 6 years anyway. When we have visitors, I never
use numbers. I'd much rather drag out all the scrapbooks of finds and plants
and bore guests to death *that* way. :-) And if Keith & I want to empty the
house to turn in early for the evening? Dragging out the scrapbooks does the
job famously every. single. time.

Pippi


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> I'm not always sure of the categories.

The categories are optional. If you don't want to include the
attributes or the hike length or elevation gain, just leave it blank.
It's only for people who wish to provide such extra information.

Thanks for the kind words from most of you. It means a lot! I don't
expect AQ will ever make EVERYONE happy, so that's not really my goal,
but I do try to make it as useful to as many people as possible and
it's nice to know my efforts are appreciated. =)

Happy trails!

-- Ryan

We are receiving the posts for this message at The Record in error.
Is there something wrong with the message board?

Perhaps you would like to unsubscribe? Someone signed up for the list
using that e-mail...

Choi

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "nwsrecord"
wrote:
>
> We are receiving the posts for this message at The Record in error.
> Is there something wrong with the message board?

Yes, we did subscribe, but the messages that are being sent to us are
in response to another message posting.

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Choi" wrote:
>
> Perhaps you would like to unsubscribe? Someone signed up for the
list
> using that e-mail...
>
> Choi
>
> --- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "nwsrecord"
> wrote:
> >
> > We are receiving the posts for this message at The Record in
error.
> > Is there something wrong with the message board?

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, wrote:
> The feature that I miss the most on LbNA is the AQ city
> search. I would love to be able to see all of the boxes in
> nearby cities.
>
> Choi

I tend to check both sites. However, I agree that the AQ city search
feature is great...and I love the feature of being able to keep track
of your finds and/or plants. Of the 5 boxes I've found (I'm really
new to this), I've only been able to count 1 of them on AQ as a find
since the clues to the other ones are only on LbNA. I have been able
to count 1 as a hitchker as the hitchhiker itself was on AQ, but the
box it was found in was not.

Obviously, I am quite capable of keeping track manually in my
logbook, but it's just a fun feature to use to add to your "profile".

Letterbug