Can I create a POI file by using MS TerraServe to get the Long & Lat?

That should work. You can also use GPS Visualizer for geocoding.

As suggested by MM.

You could, if you like, pick a few of those coords at random. Then copy and paste into something like Google Earth (it's a free download) and visually check the location of those coords.

If they are too far off, you will notice when you actually visit the location. Also, if you post the file, you will know when others visit a location and the coords are way off. Someone will let you know.

If you are really curious, use your own house address into TerraServ or gps visualizer or any other converter. Then look at those coords on Google Earth.

I personally trust what I can see, Google Earth. I have used it to pinpoint intersections, and businesses around my neighborhood to experiment with different type of files and when testing mp3's and bmps. It is consistantly more accurate than an address converter program. No offense to anyone who prefers using batch/address converters etc, the above is just my observations. Batch converters are definitely a time saver when cranking out larger files.

The problem I've seen with GPS Visualizer, using Yahoo as the source, is when it can't find the address it gives you [the coordinates of] the street; if it can't find the street, it gives you the city; and if it can't find the city, it gives you the state. If the addresses are entered individually it tells you the 'Result precision'; but when it's batch converted, the precision is unknown which can result in huge coordinate errors.

RT

What I've done is use their batch geocoder and run it locally on my machine, using the directions from the bottom of the page - http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/geocoder/ using my own Google API key. Works great.

The problem is most use the webpage geocoder, which induces the errors mentioned above. And if it can't find anything, it enters 0 longitude and 0 latitude, (which, incidentally, is in the ocean approximately 300 miles off the coast of Africa.)

RT

My intent in the original post was to state my distrust in the accuracy of batch converters, whilst not wanting to offend the proponents of batch converter users. (To each, his own)
I personally do not use them. However, I know many people do. I
just didn't word my phrases as eloquently as RT.

Thanks for all the info. I will create 1-2 locations, put them in a spread sheet and download them to my GPS. I may try some locations in my neighborhood first. When I know that I am doing everything correctly then I'll do the locations for the restaurants in the states surrounding my home.

My location happens to fall in an area of Iowa where the Google Earth image is fairly high resolution - one stripe in the NC part of the state - a few miles East or West, and using Google Earth's image is no more accurate than using a geocoder, IMNSHO...

I have run into those areas as well.

In those cases one must do what one must do. In your case you don't have many options.

I often use www.batchgeocode.com to create my csv file. While I find that it is pretty good there are of course errors. But with this site the first 100 points that you enter are plottd on a Yahoo map at the bottom of the page. If you want to ensure complete accuracy just go to each of the points plotted on the map and see if it is correct. I find that the ones that are not correct can usually be found by checking the individual address rather than as part of a batch file. Ideally I would like the batch geocoder to return a blank record so I can check without having to look at each location on the map. But checking against the map makes for close to 100% accuracy.

Hope this helps.

Stan