Rabbit 282

Hi folks, Last weekend the monument that served as the puzzle key for the Sulphor Springs Soldier multi-cache was destroyed. The cache is near Nilwood, IL- an hour south of Springfield- in the Sulphor Springs cemetery. The cache was placed in 2003 and has been visited over 130 times in its life. I’ve had to archive the listing, but the cache still contains a number of trackable items that should be kept in circulation. Unfortunately I’m away from the area indefinitely and will not be able to retrieve the cache box to re-circulate the trackers. I’m looking for a volunteer to visit the site and retrieve the cache box then either re-open the cache as their own or take the trackers and place them in new caches. If you’re interested in taking on this task, please contact me (via PM/cache contact link). I can describe the hiding place of the cache box to help you quickly locate it. (Archived) Cache Page: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=5862c931-a2e0-4b17-8ffd-c41f345b41f9 News article: http://www.thejournal-news.net/articles/2011/05/03/breaking_news/news.txt Thanks, Benjamin “Rabbit 282” Doyle

Hmm... I think this may be the issue. Hadn't even considered that the datum could have been changed- not sure how that happened. I'll give it a test today and see if this clears things up. Thanks!

The short question: My GPSr seems to be "off" by about a half mile. There seems to be a significant difference between my readings and what I've cross-checked on maps and benchmarks. The unit worked absolutely fine when I used it frequently a few years ago, but since I've started operating it again recently the readings are screwy. Magellan GPS 315 (firmware v3.15) The long version: I took about a two year break from geocaching but just this weekend finally got to get back to it. I dusted off my old Magellan GPS 315 and initialized it for use in new region (I've moved across the country since last I cached). The unit appeared to operate as well as it ever had aside from a battery terminal that had corroded and had to be cleaned. The unit received strong satellite signals and all systems were green (or rather monochrome in the case of this unit ). Once in the wilderness I entered a few cache waypoints and off we went to find them. I found it bizarre that the cache locations were in such remote, difficult to access locations even though their difficulty rating was very low. Of the two we hunted, we found neither cache and had to give up. The clues and descriptions of the cache sites seemed completely irrelevant to the areas I hiked to. I've been unable to locate a cache or two in my day, but this was a bit frustrating. When I returned home I decided to cross check my readings with online mapping systems. Sure enough, my readings/waypoints and the maps' indicators were way off. For example: My GPSr reading in a nearby parking lot (excellent reception): 45.51082 -122.64593 Versus the coordinates by address results: 45.514863 -122.641213 Obviously these don't agree. About .37mi difference. Looking back at the caches on virtual maps, the area of the cache and the area I was looking seem to be consistently offset by the same amount/direction. Calculations for speed and direction seem to be operating just fine, but everything is just about a half mile from where it should be. I tried re-initializing the unit several times (including a few tries after powering down/removing batteries, etc.) using the coordinates provided by the online map, but every time the unit received signal again it would jump back to the wrong coordinates. So... any idea why it would be so inaccurate? And so stubborn to refuse suggested coordinates? Is there some sort of setting that causes this sort of offset? It's an old unit that I should probably replace (Magellan no longer supports it), but I'd like to try to fix it before I go that route. Thanks!

That's exactly what I needed (and had somehow not done...)! Thanks! oh, and on a side note- does the GPSr recieve time from the satellites or is it based on user input? I just figured if cell phones could do it, why not GPS? /Rabbit 282

So I just broke out my GPSr after a few months on the shelf and found that it had not updated its clock for daylight-saving time (set back an hour for the winter). I played with it for about 30 minutes trying to find a way to set the clock to proper time- no luck. Unit: Magellan 315 (latest firmware upgrade) Things tried: Initializing, clock format, all setup functions Any ideas how/why? (sorry if this topic has been discussed, didn't find anything about it when I searched old posts)

Living (and doing most of my traveling) in the midwest (flat country), I've come to rely on my GPS as an accurate indication of car's speed... for a couple reasons: a) it makes sense in my head and my car's an old pile of crap. Actually, my brother owned my car before me and always blamed his speeding tickets on the car's faulty speedometer. Knowing he was full of crap, I decided to prove him wrong. GPS seemed like a great way to do it. Indeed, he was right, the GPS told us the car speedometer read slower than the actual speed. By about 3mph. That is, until you get over 80mph when this poorly designed speedometer starts reading 5-10mph slower. There are other factors in your car's speed sensing capabilities: wheel size, cable adjustments, etc. can throw a car- or at least an older car- off. My GPS, however, seems to always be consistent. And really, in my mind, I can't see why it wouldn't be. GPS works on averaging the difference between signals received. We GeoCachers use things for the wrong purpose all together- they're not made to move slowly and in small circles. It's the same reason the compass doesn't point north when you're sitting still- the GPSr isn't receiving enough difference to figure out what's what and what's where. When the GPSr can notice a huge difference (say speeding down a highway), however, it can better average the change in signal reception over a period of time and gauge it with fairly accurate consistence. Then again, I drive a $200 car so I'm obviously not a brilliant physicist. /Benjamin

quote:Originally posted by robertlipe:Actually, Magellan DID give you a choice of power, data, or both. They make https://www.magellangps.com/en/store/productListDetail.asp?segment=Cables of cables. Yeah, the problem I was fixing was the lack of 12vDC cigarette lighters in my home, let alone near my computer. Not to mention, now I can light up without going to find the lighter in my jacket- very helpful in the middle of an all night edit session. Why did no one tell me my computer was 12vDC before? So many possibilities! USB info and power on the same cable seems only logical. Unfortunately, Magellan hasn't even figured out the common sense of using USB yet. And don't remind me of their overpriced serial to USB converter cable. I REALLY enjoy the Southern Illinois area for this sport- so many great places you had to grow up with! /Benjamin

This may have already made its way through the forums. If so, I appologize. I found this a few days ago and was pretty ecstatic. I've always been frustrated that I can external power my GPSr in the car OR hook it to my PC (why did Magellan designed the adapter this way...?). I didn't want to buy a separate AC120 to DC12 converter just to power my GPS when downloading waypoints. This thing inspired me to fix that problem. Of course I'm sure this comercial model works great and looks fancy, but a) I didn't have an open slot in the front of my machine and I don't care about asthetics. Not to mention $20 is a hefty price for such a simple toy. I built one of my own for about 3 bucks and less than an hour of work. It's not pretty, but it works great! Enjoy!

My dad is a private pilot. Recently he has been playing with my GPS and is pretty keen on getting one for himself. There are two things he'd probably use it for: biking and flying. I've been happy with my Magellan 315- it does everything I need it for and I'm sure he'd be happy with it for biking. What about flying, though? Are there any pilots out there that have or wish they had a feature they're happy with? What units or software should I look for? Even if I don't get the software, will I limit his future expandability/usability if I get him a 315? I've found the 315 with FAA 2003 USA 50 State Aviation Database- is it worth the extra cost? Thanks! /Benjamin

quote:Originally posted by Renegade Knight:Buried and food? Oh my talk about a guy living on the edge! How dare he take hidden treasure to the internet era without following the rules that would come to be! I bet the next day someone made made a micro code cache. And then they all celebrated that night by finding the first "Beer Keg on Private Property" cache. Shame shame... /Benjamin

I hate when all hints say the same thing. Here's another example. Also getting really sick of tupperware- especially the abundance of wet tupperware. Really dislike when I can't find a 2 and nearly bust my neck on a 2.5. Caches placed "just to place a cache" have to be my biggest peeve, though. /Benjamin

quote: They are made out of the same material as climbing gym holds I know where I'm hiding mine! MUAHAHAHAaaa... /Benjamin

quote:Originally posted by Markwell:His answer was that when he talked to reporters, he used hiders and seekers. My experience sometimes more closely resembles cops and robbers. /Benjamin

quote:Here's a stupid question: How come GPS work on regular batteries, instead of on a battery like a cellphone? Sarah Lately I've been wondering why cell phones don't run on AA's I think it's just a matter of appliance compatability- many people carry AA's for flashlight, portable clocks, etc. but a cell phone battery can only be used for that phone and most cell users I know only have that one battery. If you're worried about burning through batteries, though, try rechargables- I'm glad I asked (in this thread) because it looks like they may be the way to go. I just bought a charger and batteries and I'm hoping to test them this weekend. As they've said above- definitely print the cache sheets for reference. I have a stack of local caches in my car. When I come close to a cache I grab the coresponding sheet and take it with me. I leave the hint encrypted too- it keeps my girlfriend busy decrypting while I move ahead and dig through the bushes in peace. Your kids might enjoy the decryption process. /Benjamin [This message was edited by Rabbit 282 on June 04, 2003 at 04:27 PM.]

I once spent a good five minutes in the men's, then another 5 in the women's, outhouse at a local park before finally going back to the men's side and finding the multicache coordinates scrawled in pencil in a dark area near the roof of the room. Not only was it difficult, smelly, and embarasing (I couldn't avoid being seen emerging from the women's side and going into the men's), it was very cleverly hidden. /Benjamin

No need to warn about poison ivy in my area- you can't have a cache without it. Some places worse than others, but all places infected. If we talked about all the problems, no one would ever come to Southern Illinois. To list a few: Poison Ivy Ticks West Nile Virus (in dogs) Copperheads Cottonmouth rattlesnakes (two types) Rednecks College Students Hill Kittys I could go on, but I want visitors. /Benjamin Carbondale, IL Caching Newbie

I like that my Magellan looks like a cell phone. When I get funny looks I hold it up to my ear. /Benjamin Carbondale, IL Caching Newbie

quote:Originally posted by Huntnlady:No, I wouldn't buy it just for the only cache of its kind. I wouldn't have any other use for it, so that cache would just go unfound by me. Spend $6.00 for a gadget for a single use- forget it. But what you're missing is that blacklights are so COOL! I mean they have so many uses outside of finding caches! When I think of one I'll let you know... I think the cache would be a lot of fun- if done correctly you may even make it a night cache So there are those who wont do it- it's their loss. Just don't make it a coded micro UV cache- THEN you'll have problems! /Benjamin Carbondale, IL Caching Newbie

quote:Originally posted by TMAN264:And it continues.......we have lost access to all of the game areas in the State of Michigan lately as well. Those areas have been deemed for hunting only. I just see that as a good excuse to wear orange and carry a shotgun when I'm caching No, I think that's horrible- both cases. Especially since part of geocaching- for many of us- is environmental awarness. I suppose, though, that some are just in it for the sport of the hunt and don't mind crossing the line. Such a shame. /Benjamin Carbondale, IL Caching Newbie

Is there a rule against making virtuals with an added bonus micro code cache? A cache in my areais a virtual, but in the description he says "to receive your certificate of accomplishment, you have to answer this question. Who said " Every man's life belongs to his country, and no man has the right to refuse when his country calls for it". The answer is in all caps and there is a (dot) after the middle initial." Of course I logged the visit without actually answering the question (although I know the answer, I just chose not to e-mail him). I'd say if you want to continue to make code micros, do it. Just submit it as a virtual and make the code optional for those of us who love turning over rocks and spending hours tromping around in 60ft circles /Benjamin Carbondale, IL Caching Newbie

I plan to find all the caches before I make one. Read: ALL* I think my first cache will be in my front yard. I'll hide it in the mailbox to make it a little bit trickier. (*based on 99999999999 mile search from home location... didn't turn out the results I wanted) /Benjamin Carbondale, IL Caching Newbie

quote: Magnetic/true north setting Methinks my Magellan 315 doesn't do this. Doesn't magnet/true north mean it points north at all times? I know with the 315 I have to be moving else my directions are inacurate (something I really hate when I'm within a few feet of a cache). I think your cache should find some way to incorporate the SPEEDometer /Benjamin Carbondale, IL Caching Newbie

quote: While you're at it, toss in some porn, bury it on NPS land, making sure the only route there trespasses on private property, and goes through delicate habitat and tramples endangered plants Don't forget the drugs and fireworks. Always a neccessity. quote: Wow! I didn't expect this much of a response. I kinda figured that the MRE idea wasn't so hot after the first day of this post. Like we'd let this die! Ha! /Benjamin Carbondale, IL Caching Newbie

quote: I envision some cacher seeing the MRE and opening it to see exactly what is inside - deciding not to take it and putting it back into the cache. That's exactly what the infantry does MRE's are nicely labeled as well as all the individual components inside so you know what you're opening. Only problem is, they often don't tell you what kind of candy, crackers, etc. is inside. Once the pack is open, there's a bidding war for M&M's and Snickers. quote: If you justify your MRE, then someone else is going to try to justify their can of beans and the next person, their pack of gum and so on. I agree with that point... quote: Do it, if you get grief, do it and don't say nuthin. But I agree with that one more too /Benjamin Carbondale, IL Caching Newbie