Topic: Geocaching (Read 5354 times)

Socrates · « **on:** August 11, 2009, 10:13:38 AM »

The subject pretty much says it all. A friend just took me along on a geocache hunt and since I do a lot of hiking anyway it seemed pretty fun to me.

Details on what it is can be found here http://www.geocaching.com/ but basically you check the website for a cache then use a GPS device to find the cache, maybe take something or leave something, and sign the log.

I have a vague memory of someone saying they did this, maybe BizB?, and was wondering if any of the regulars does some geocaching. Well does anyone? if so what GPS units do you use? any advice on geocaching?

BizB · « **Reply #1 on:** August 11, 2009, 10:59:23 AM »

Yup, twas moi.

I have 76 finds under my belt and I'm itching to get back into it.
http://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=8354a03f-8273-45b6-bb42-81f7135fef3e

I lost my GPS while kiteboarding in Lake Erie back in the fall of 2008 and I haven't bought a new one, yet. When I do, I'll be buying a Garmin Etrex Legend. I think that's at the top of my birthday wish list... if y'all are itching to buy me something.

Socrates · « **Reply #2 on:** August 11, 2009, 11:10:05 AM »

Quote from: BizB on August 11, 2009, 10:59:23 AM

Yup, twas moi.

I have 76 finds under my belt and I'm itching to get back into it.
http://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=8354a03f-8273-45b6-bb42-81f7135fef3e

I lost my GPS while kiteboarding in Lake Erie back in the fall of 2008 and I haven't bought a new one, yet. When I do, I'll be buying a Garmin Etrex Legend. I think that's at the top of my birthday wish list... if y'all are itching to buy me something.

Glad my memory isn't going bad yet.

Now that with that Garmin you'd have to load the coordinates for the cache and find it that way. It doesn't sink up with the website or anything. I was looking at a Geomate Jr. just to get started and it comes preloaded with 250,000 caches and you can update with more. The jr. there is quite a bit cheaper than most GPS units.

BizB · « **Reply #3 on:** August 11, 2009, 11:32:07 AM »

I'd never heard of that unit. I like it... mostly. Having to pay $24.95 for the "update kit" seems hokey. By the time you add that to the $70 you pay for the unit, you've spent the same as you would spend for a basic Garmin unit.

I personally need something that's water resistant because I take mine out on the lake. That's why I like the eTrex. This is the one I've been lookening at...
http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Legend-Handheld-GPS-Navigator/dp/B001OMGVJW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1250007996&sr=8-2

As far as the cache information goes, I have an old Palm Zire that I use to hold all of the cache info. Plus, I take my laptop with me. So long as we're not in rural areas with no wireless (and lots of farm houses have unsecured wireless networks) I've been able to get to the info that I need. My X-girlfriend liked to have printed copies of the cache pages. That does help sometimes, too.

Socrates · « **Reply #4 on:** August 11, 2009, 11:56:50 AM »

My only problem with buying a more full-featured GPS unit is that I've never really had a need for one. I do a fair amount of hiking but only on blazed trails, and I greatly prefer using a map for driving directions. So if I'm only going to get it for caching only why not get something focused in that direction... Well that's my thinking at the moment anyway. I can see that having the information on the Palm could be pretty handy.

The friend I was with used his iPhone, so it was neat to be able to look up the cache information on the fly as it was but it certainly wasn't very accurate when it came to pinpointing the cache location relative to the phone. I'm certainly not buying an iPhone just for geo-caching.

Well off to do more research. Thanks for the conversation.

BizB · « **Reply #5 on:** August 11, 2009, 12:10:28 PM »

Make sure whatever model you get is WAAS enabled.

Socrates · « **Reply #6 on:** August 11, 2009, 12:48:01 PM »

Quote from: BizB on August 11, 2009, 12:10:28 PM

Make sure whatever model you get is WAAS enabled.

Weeping Angry Annoyed Sunbather?

12AX7 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 13, 2009, 06:09:45 PM »

Quote from: Socrates on August 11, 2009, 12:48:01 PM

Weeping Angry Annoyed Sunbather?

Wearing An Androgenous Swimsuit?

Demosthenes · « **Reply #8 on:** August 14, 2009, 03:38:14 PM »

Whispering Anything At Socrates

12AX7 · « **Reply #9 on:** August 14, 2009, 08:50:44 PM »

With an audible sigh.

dcrog · « **Reply #10 on:** August 15, 2009, 08:01:44 PM »

Without an annoying stutter.

12AX7 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 15, 2009, 09:01:35 PM »

While adamantly avoiding sunscreen.

Socrates · « **Reply #12 on:** August 27, 2009, 07:12:33 AM »

I'm always jealous at how others do at coming up with their own interpretation of acronyms.

I bought the GeoMate Jr. with the intention of donating to my many nieces and nephews if/when we upgrade to a more powerful device. Haven't had a chance to take it out for a spin yet but setup was a snap and we took it along while walking the dogs and at one point were within 900 feet of a cache. Too many muggles around running a 5k through the woods to check it out further.

So far I suspect my only real complaint will be the lack of puzzle caches, it can only handle traditional caches since you can't input coordinates. It seems perfect for us in that you can take it anywhere, turn it on and find something. Without having to do the research beforehand for ones in the area you're traveling in.

I think Sunday we are going to try and find a few with it. I'll let you know how it goes.

jeee · « **Reply #13 on:** August 27, 2009, 08:57:18 AM »

I buried a 6-pack for you !!!

52.170392,5.278383

Good Luck!

Socrates · « **Reply #14 on:** August 31, 2009, 11:59:28 AM »

Quote from: Socrates on August 27, 2009, 07:12:33 AM

I'm always jealous at how others do at coming up with their own interpretation of acronyms.

I bought the GeoMate Jr. with the intention of donating to my many nieces and nephews if/when we upgrade to a more powerful device. Haven't had a chance to take it out for a spin yet but setup was a snap and we took it along while walking the dogs and at one point were within 900 feet of a cache. Too many muggles around running a 5k through the woods to check it out further.

So far I suspect my only real complaint will be the lack of puzzle caches, it can only handle traditional caches since you can't input coordinates. It seems perfect for us in that you can take it anywhere, turn it on and find something. Without having to do the research beforehand for ones in the area you're traveling in.

I think Sunday we are going to try and find a few with it. I'll let you know how it goes.

So we got a chance to try it this past weekend.

Very easy to use, very lightweight. Turn it on and it takes a minute or two to check in with the satellites and then it pulls up the 20 closest traditional caches. Worked well under the trees, does lose signal under dense tree cover.

We found two caches and were unable to find the third, come to find out the third had been archived right after the device was loaded.

Overall I like the unit, it would be nice if it had an internal compass and didn't need you to be moving to point the direction to the target. It would be great if the device has cache descriptions and/or clues. I can easily see where you would no idea what you were looking for, besides the size, and knowing even just that it's a nalgene bottle would be helpful.

We're taking a short cruise up the new england coast in a couple of weeks and are looking forward to trying it out on the various stops.

Thanks Jee! If I'm ever at Sweelinckstraat 2, 3766 Soest, The Netherlands I will claim the six-pack.

Demosthenes · « **Reply #15 on:** August 31, 2009, 12:05:35 PM »

Heh heh. You said "unit".

Socrates · « **Reply #16 on:** August 31, 2009, 01:37:47 PM »

Quote from: Demosthenes on August 31, 2009, 12:05:35 PM

Heh heh. You said "unit".

Shut up Beavis

Demosthenes · « **Reply #17 on:** August 31, 2009, 02:13:57 PM »

Are you... threatening me?

Socrates · « **Reply #18 on:** August 31, 2009, 02:28:33 PM »

Hey who gave me a negative point! I've managed to avoid one for years

Of course now I'm going to get smite hammered since I said something

Demosthenes · « **Reply #19 on:** August 31, 2009, 03:40:30 PM »

Would you like to see my portfolio?

Quote from: Socrates on August 31, 2009, 02:28:33 PM

Hey who gave me a negative point! I've managed to avoid one for years

Of course now I'm going to get smite hammered since I said something

Not I. I wouldn't do that. As a rule, I give out far more +1's. I only give out -1's when they're really deserved.

xolik · « **Reply #20 on:** August 31, 2009, 04:08:11 PM »

B-O-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-N-G!

Demosthenes · « **Reply #21 on:** August 31, 2009, 04:13:45 PM »

Socrates · « **Reply #22 on:** September 01, 2009, 07:49:16 AM »

Use this for your bunghole

Demosthenes · « **Reply #23 on:** September 01, 2009, 09:39:40 AM »

Socrates · « **Reply #24 on:** September 01, 2009, 12:05:22 PM »

the chick from dusk till dawn

makes you want to do the bee dance

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Author Topic: Geocaching (Read 5354 times)

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