hydrashok407
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Posts posted by hydrashok407
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I have the Yaesu FT-530, and I have two of the large batteries, one small battery, and the 6 AA battery pack. It's a dual-bander that will xmit 2w on battery and 5w if you power it from the top. It's rated at 7.5v, but I hear (not tested or looked it up yet) there's a huge tolerance, so building a converter for 12v SHOULD work. If it does, I'm considering getting one of the 12v lead acid cells that fit in a waist band for events and such... easier than keeping up with/changing out batteries after a bit of use when the events last all day.
In the mean time, I have a 1000w dc/ac inverter in my van hooked to an isolated 12v 100amp hour battery that I use to rotate my batteries through the charger during such events. It's great if I have direct access to my van, otherwise, I use the batts until they're all dead, then I'm just out of the game...
-=Jerry A. Goodson=- W5BFF aka hydrashok407
"Real peace is not just the absence of conflict, it's the presence of justice" - http://www.hydrashok.com
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You didn't list your problem specifically... what's wrong?
I don't know if it's just me, but the site seems to be a little bogged down right about now....
-=Jerry A. Goodson=- W5BFF aka hydrashok407
"Real peace is not just the absence of conflict, it's the presence of justice" - http://www.hydrashok.com
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ok, let's see if THIS works??
-=Jerry A. Goodson=-
"Real peace is not just the absence of conflict, it's the presence of justice" - http://www.hydrashok.com
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testing again
-=Jerry A. Goodson=-
"Real peace is not just the absence of conflict, it's the presence of justice" - http://www.hydrashok.com
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testing my avatar
-=Jerry A. Goodson=-
"Real peace is not just the absence of conflict, it's the presence of justice" - http://www.hydrashok.com
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quote:
You're absolutely right. However, in this post you're quoting from, she was urging me to plead my case because she WANTED this cache to be re-reviewed and reconsidered.
Originally posted by kd4adc:quote:
Originally posted by hydee:We want cool caches that the geocaching community will enjoy.
I'm not trying to pick a fight, nor am I belittling the amount of effort that it takes to keep this site running smoothly. However, it seems that hydrashok's intentions are exactly what I've quoted.
I got an email from her yesterday (in response to the request I sent to contact@Groundspeak.com), and she said she was reconsidering, but had to bring it up with the "Groundspeak Guys". She didn't tell me she was definately approving it, or definately declining it, she simply said she was willing to reconsider.
So, here I sit, one day later, as I keep "refreshing" the forums and constantly checking my email to see what the answer is. If I ever offended her by any post, this is a great way for her to exact her revenge... I'm suffering here!
The suspense is definately killing me.-=Jerry A. Goodson=-
"Real peace is not just the absence of conflict, it's the presence of justice" - http://www.hydrashok.com
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quote:
Originally posted by hydee:If the cache you want to post may be perceived as commercial ask permission first. (What i meant to say last time
) If an admin archives your cache because it is 'commercial by nature' feel free to email Grounspeak and ask permission. Permission will be granted for some caches.
We want cool caches that the geocaching community will enjoy.
Ok, Hydee. I apologize for my slightly terse response, I thought you were showing up as "Miss Groundspeak", and basically telling me that since I didn't ask for permission first, I was being punished by Groundspeak.
I did send an email to the email address you provided a couple of days ago, and still haven't gotten a response. I did send it from a different email address than my registered email address, so maybe I should send it again (from my registered address).
Again, I apologize.
-=Jerry A. Goodson=-
"Real peace is not just the absence of conflict, it's the presence of justice" - http://www.hydrashok.com
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quote:
Originally posted by hydee:In this case, you should have asked permission first. The approver brought this cache to the attention of other approvers and Groundspeak. The decision made by Groundspeak was agreed upon by the other approvers.
Maybe I could relocate this cache to Benbrook Lake. It could read something like this:
You must be a certified SCUBA diver to get the coordinates.
The cache is hidden in Holiday Park at Benbrook Lake. The Army Corps of Engineers allows diving in this lake, although it's not generally recommended. The visibility is two feet, at best, and the boaters have no regard for dive bouys.
This is a public park and a public lake with no fees to park, hunt the cache, or dive. It's a shore dive, and some special gear is required. You need AT THE MINIMUM a dive bouy, cutting tool, dive light, slate, and a tether. You must be tethered to your buddy as the visibility is SO HORRIBLE that you can't really see him. There are many fishing lines, and the entanglement hazard is extremely high. I dived this lake, and I've been tangled before. Your two biggest risks are getting run over by a boat, and getting tangled. This is not a very safe dive site, but it can be done by experienced divers.
Once you find the coordinates, write them down on your slate, and swim back to shore (don't surface swim as boats are allowed on this public lake), then find the cache.
Dive Safe... I hope you don't die.
===
I'll bet THAT non-commercial SCUBA cache would get approved!
[This message was edited by hydrashok407 on September 04, 2003 at 01:11 AM.]
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Originally posted by Mopar:Still doesn't change the fact that under the current guidelines, caches located at for-profit locations (regardless of the actually profit they make) must be cleared by Groundspeak before being submitted. Indy's same reasoning can and has been used to argue for caches in theme parks and private nature preserves, unsucessfully.
If you feel that way, then you're not really looking at the argument, and you're just defending why a cache shouldn't be approved.
quote:
Do I really think someone is gonna fork over a wad of cash JUST to go find a cache in Disney? No, I don't, but since the rules of this site now say that it's not allowed, I never submitted the rather cool (I think) multi-virtual I spent two trips to FL working on. Besides, it would also be a vacation cache now. Big deal. Suck it up and go hide a cache they WILL allow, or go start commercialcaching.com, and post it there.If people took half the time they spend arguing to get the rules changed to allow their cache, and used it creating caches that met the guidelines, we would have a lot more quality caches out there, and a lot fewer gladware trashcaches.
First you say "guidelines", then you say "rules", but the website says "guidelines" which imply while they are posted, they are only "guides".
Second, I'm not promoting the park, I'm promoting SCUBA diving. I'm also trying to promote Geocaching. This cache is obviously not for everybody, it's for SCUBA divers, which the majority of admins I've run across so far not only seem uninterested in the sport, but seem like they don't care about the sport, as well.
Indy Diver made a lot of great points, but the fact that the cache is on private property where a dive fee is associated has been a source of tunnel vision for the admins. This isn't creating a very positive image for the admins posting here. The SCUBA park is a very outdoors setting where an outdoors activity that costs money (whether private or government) is expected. Instead of addressing all the great points Indy Diver provided, they were simply "blown off".
Now, you're simply refusing to look at the extrordinary circumstances that are present to make any special consideration for cache approval.
The more interesting thing I find is the statement in a post from the first thread you linked to (quoted by Markwell) stating:
quote:
The bad thing was, I couldn't get the link he posted to work.
The ban on commercial caches is not new. It was announced here over a year and a half ago.However, if the commercial ban was in place over a year and half ago, but it's only been one year since LATimer's "commercial" SCUBA cache has been approved (as well as another regular cache in the same SCUBA park), then why can't mine be approved? That just totally negated the approver's argument that "that cache was placed over a year ago" based on the NOT so new "commercial cache" rule.
I didn't place a cache like the person whose thread you provided a link to... I placed a cache like one that already exists, and people are still finding.
To enforce certain guidelines on one cache and not another that is identical in nature is setting a double standard. If you want to have the same type of caches placed everytime, then you shouldn't have guidelines that say caches "should not", but have rules that say caches "shall not". You could add further clarity that say "caches shall only be placed in an approved rubbermaid or ammo container with official geocaching.com stickers, and can only contain approved geocaching items as listed on the geocaching.com website". I know that's extreme, but it's on the exact opposite end of the scale as your argument.
-=Jerry A. Goodson=-
"Real peace is not just the absence of conflict, it's the presence of justice" - http://www.hydrashok.com
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quote:
Originally posted by Indy Diver:After reading this thread and having direct knowledge of the caches being discussed here I just want to point out a few things for consideration.
You're my hero! Your post was VERY well said.
-=Jerry A. Goodson=-
"Real peace is not just the absence of conflict, it's the presence of justice" - http://www.hydrashok.com
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Originally posted by mtn-man:One thing I have noticed on the cache page is that the archive note has been deleted. He may have told you the same things but since you deleted the archive note there is no easy way to tell.
...he wasn't THAT courteous. He just said "OOps".
-=Jerry A. Goodson=-
"Real peace is not just the absence of conflict, it's the presence of justice" - http://www.hydrashok.com
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Originally posted by southdeltan:I don't see how being strict equates to being unfair.
I understand the necessity of guidelines. In those guidelines, however, they imply that they are just guidelines and not hard set unbendable rules. If the approvers are going to treat the guidelines as hard fast strict rules, then we're going to limit the placing of caches so much that they will always be the same ammo containers placed at parks only. The same commercial guidelines that are posted state that there shouldn't be any entrance fees, yet caches are approved. The justification is "they are in public parks, so it isn't technically commercial". So, there is a bend in the rule when it suits them.
There is the "strict" vs. "fair" comparison. Why are they strictly following the guidelines (not rules) to the letter with my cache while bending them with others?
Let me state, again and very clearly, I'm not selling anything. A logged find on another "commercial" cache was just made yesterday, and the cachers didn't seem to report any disagreement with having to pay the entrance fee. It's in a different state, but not in a different country. Where I'm located, there's not a whole lot of selection, and when I placed this cache, I looked for quality, not whether a private company or the government gets the money.
The people that own the SCUBA park sure ain't getting rich off of the park, they just pour the little money they take in back into the park for improvements. That's more than what the government does with the money it brings in.
-=Jerry A. Goodson=-
"Real peace is not just the absence of conflict, it's the presence of justice" - http://www.hydrashok.com
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quote:
Originally posted by Mopar:I don't agree totally with the current commercial cache guidelines, but when I visit someone elses home I honor their rules. It seems to me the approver is applying the written guidelines pretty fairly to this cache.
It also says in the guidelines "There are always exceptions"... given the special nature of this cache (there's only 5 total caches when doing a keyword search on "SCUBA"), why can't this be one of them?.. especially since there's not a single SCUBA cache in a 100 mile radius of this area? How's that for standing on its own merit? I don't think the approver "fairly" followed the guidelines, I think he "strictly" followed the guidelines.
-=Jerry A. Goodson=-
"Real peace is not just the absence of conflict, it's the presence of justice" - http://www.hydrashok.com
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Ok, so from the approved Hidden Paradise SCUBA Cache where he said "You will need to drive to the camp office when you first arrive and sign in. There is a $10/day charge for diving. They also have air fill available for $5/tank" wasn't a solicitation?
If all I had to do was remove the "solicitation", would my cache have been approved?
If I were a diver, and didn't live around here, I would like to know that gear rental was available, as it's cumbersome to fly with gear (especially tanks). If that's considered solicitation, then I'd gladly remove itI could've removed any reference to having to pay anything, as some cache hiders have done, and let people just figure it out for themselves, but that wouldn't have made for happy geocachers.
My goal was to hide a SCUBA cache. There are limited areas to dive around here, and you have to pay to get into ALL of them. If I were to have hid this at Possum Kingdom, which is the only "public" (aka government) place to dive around here, there is a parking fee as well as an entrance fee, and it would've cost more to dive there. It's not as large, and not NEAR as nice as the closest feasable site I chose. But if the fact that the government gets the (more) money that it would cost is the deciding factor, then there seems to be a somewhat double standard. No commercial caches, except if the money goes to the government.
-=Jerry A. Goodson=-
"Real peace is not just the absence of conflict, it's the presence of justice" - http://www.hydrashok.com
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http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=5e08d6ed-70b6-40bd-9dd3-9bcf10616ac9
This is the Hidden Paradise SCUBA Cache. You have to be a certified diver to get this cache. It is on private property and there is an entrance fee.
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=fc2fba23-535b-436c-8df1-cdde8a20b289
This is the SCUBA Doo cache. You have to be a certified diver to get this cache as well. It is in a "government" lake, so the entry fee goes to the government.
In both places, if you plan to dive there, you generally have to show your dive card from a certifying agency (PADI, SSI, etc...)
If you compare my cache to the Hidden Paradise SCUBA cache, they both state you need to be a certified diver. If you read the FAQ on Geocaching under the "Where are caches found?" heading, you'll see that it contains the sentence "An underwater cache may only be accessed by scuba." Just because the approver can't get to the cache doesn't mean he shouldn't approve it. I'm starting to get the feeling that's why he's not approving my cache. I can't say for sure.
The fact is, I went through a lot of time to prepare this cache based on previously approved caches only to be "shot down" by someone who doesn't even seem interested in "working with me". He was very quick to fire back with excuses to not approve it. While the geocaching GUIDELINES state it shouldn't be commercial in nature, SCUBA is very commercial oriented, whether it's from the government or a private entity. If I owned a McDonald's and placed a cache in my playground, I could understand being denied. It also says in the GUIDELINES that "There are always exceptions".
Why is it that I'm being held to policies that others weren't? What do I have to do to be one of those "exceptions"?
-=Jerry A. Goodson=-
"Real peace is not just the absence of conflict, it's the presence of justice" - http://www.hydrashok.com
[This message was edited by hydrashok407 on September 01, 2003 at 10:13 PM.]
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I'm still not finding out if I can or how to appeal the disapproval.
If a cache is over a year old, and the rules are going to STRICTLY be enforced no matter what special circumstances may be presented, then cache hiders will be forever limited to hiding an ammo can in a gov't funded park or some place like that. I spent a LOT of time preparing this cache (from getting permission from the owners to creating a special logbook) based on what I saw in other caches.
The fact is, SCUBA divers (who this cache is limited) EXPECT to pay a fee to dive at their site. This is a SCUBA cache. There HAS to be some kind of allowances for such special caches. Otherwise, how can they justify spending money on special gear? I'm not doing this to make money. Why is OK to place a cache on gov't land where a fee is charged, but not OK to place a cache on private property where a fee is charged? I didn't hide this at an amusement park, I hid it at a SCUBA park. Whether it's gov't land or private land, divers would still have to pay to dive.
They should put a special note on "grandfathered" caches stating it's a grandfathered cache, and not to hide a cache based on what we see. The rules are the standards, not existing caches.
Sounds pretty anal to me...
-=Jerry A. Goodson=-
"Real peace is not just the absence of conflict, it's the presence of justice" - http://www.hydrashok.com
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I can respect that the approver is doing his job. What my issue is with is the double-standard that I'm being held to. My cache is a copy of another cache that has been approved. The fact that one is over a year old, and in another state doesn't mean we shouldn't have one down here.
What I'm after is maybe appealing his decision, and if there is such a process, what is it??
-=Jerry A. Goodson=-
"Real peace is not just the absence of conflict, it's the presence of justice" - http://www.hydrashok.com
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The cache is at:
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=89892
The only note I got was "oops", so I started with the asking questions. It seems that everytime I sent a point, he came back with another reason to not approve it.
Our basic exchanges were:
Me: Is this OK?
Him: It's commercial in nature.
Me: It's a special type of cache (SCUBA) and any park is going to charge a fee. Look at the SCUBA Doo cache, they charge a fee.
Him: How much is their fee?
Me: (I provided a link to get in to the park)
Him: Ah. It's only $5 and it is a state park and is non-profit.
Me: Look at the Hidden Paradise SCUBA cache, it's just like the Clear Springs SCUBA cache like I'm trying to hide.
Him: That cache is in another state and is over a year old.
No matter what argument I can bring up, he has an excuse to not approve it. I posted the fees and such, and that didn't matter to him. He said he was just adhering (strictly) to the rules and guidelines, regardless of the special circumstances and past approved caches.
-=Jerry A. Goodson=-
"Real peace is not just the absence of conflict, it's the presence of justice" - http://www.hydrashok.com
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I tried submitting a cache for approval. The kicker is, it's on private property and an entrance fee is required.
After a bout of emails, I concluded that no matter what case I presented, the particular person I was dealing with wasn't going to approve the cache.
Is there an appeals process, or am I just out of luck? It's an unusual cache, and there aren't that many (less than 10) in the US.
Thanks.
-=Jerry Goodson=- aka hydrashok
REQ: opt-out option for geocaching.com
in Website
Posted
I could understand being upset with Groundspeak, and I could even understand wanting to leave. I cannot, however, understand wanting to erase any evidence that you were ever here?
Personally, I'd be rather upset if I found a cache, made an exchange, and logged my visit only to find that it was simply deleted. I have a Bailey's can with everything I ever got from the caches I've found. I have a log sheet with the title of the cache, the date and time, and what I exchanged for each of those items. With the title of the cache, I always figured I could just "look it up".
I'm sorry your beef with gc.com is big enough to cause you to want to leave like that.
-=Jerry A. Goodson=- W5BFF aka hydrashok407
"Real peace is not just the absence of conflict, it's the presence of justice" - http://www.hydrashok.com