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I was correct... the hint is the key... like we didn't know! I do seem to be a bit out of practice though... Good luck again, let us know when you find it or not! Doug VE7RXC PS I did not find the cache itself, just a solution!

Hi There! I did read the response to this, but this seemed the better to quote... My Question... Are there any exclusions to characters in use... By this I mean, only zeroes never OHs, only ones, never "I"s, etc. That is one approach to 'uniqueness'. Another would be something to make the character unmistakable... 7s with horizontal bar across stem, zero with a line, slash or dot etc... Just wondering... I normally check any alphanumeric for variants by habit... and still get occasional burns! Doug 7RXC

Perhaps the problem (if there really was one, this was Canada) is in the way many caches get approved and published... I know that there are many requirements that are supposed to be met in order to achieve that. It may be that (as you point out) that one step would be a quick eyeball via Google Earth or even Google Maps... That should only take a second and would clearly identify major structures or possible critical ones... That might trigger a closer look by someone, if in doubt. I know that there isn't enough time for a few persons to personally visit every cache proposed... but I suspect that there are enough people other than the reviewers that might be pressed into service to examine a few sites... even a quick email to the FTF might work as a second opinion in the normal method. Of course, there are no restrictions as to where non-GC approved caches end up, including the distance rules. Just as there is nothing stopping people getting coordinates for caches that GC requires registering onto the Site to get. Several sites publish these 'protected' locations... But I'm just a newbie Doug VE7RXC

Hi There! How would you feel about the, probably rare, case where a person was for example a quadaplegic or similar, but was a whiz at puzzles... would you deny them the right to participate to their ability level as part of a team (with remote) as long as the TEAM logged the find, not the individual... I can think of quite a few who would welcome the opportunity to engage in such a diversion... and would never consider it otherwise. I don`t think that anyone should do it... but there could be reasonable limits set for those that need it. On a different off-topic... what is that crawl your picture shows... I`m a caver from years ago! Doug VE7RXC

I'd say it was Dead End Cache - it matches the log by the last finder and the hider as reported by the article. It's location matches the article. And it was archived at the right time. There is a website in Ottawa that states that it WAS... and that it might have been avoided.... ``While the hiding spot probably wasn’t the best choice (on a bridge over the Transitway), this incident probably could have been avoided if the container had been transparent. `` As for Paranoia... picture that same scenario in D.C. or any other Major Centre in the USA. It`s not really paranoia... and apparently the reason you shouldn`t place on or near critical bridges or other infrastructure... at least to close to them... certainly not ON them. Doug 7RXC

Hi there...you'll see it said many times on these threads... there are some basics to the setup... First of all the DATUM... everything here is recorded using the WGS84 Datum... so check that your GPS is set for that... it is usually the default setting. The other thing is to make sure that the Format setting is for Degrees Minutes to decimal places expressed as DD MM.mmm or something like that... It doesn't effect the location to use others.. but Geocaching uses that format on the cache pages... What you don't want is to be set for... say Degrees to decimal places, DD.ddd and mis read the numbers... that can put you way off. Set it for DD MM.nnn and use that. Going back to the Datum again... I'm not sure about NZ maps, but the whole world redefined the datum to WGS84, but there are lots of maps that were created to older Datums... in North America we used NAD27 prior to the change... In my area of British Columbia the difference is about 212 M N/S and 10 M E/w between the two Datums (Data?)... I really don't know if that was the reason for you since I don't know what you were using... There are also other settings that might help you get oriented, but without knowing what you have for a GPS it's pretty hard to guess. GPS units have similar but often different 'layouts' and features. Then there is the NZ business... I don`t really know what effect that has on settings with GPS vs maps... they may be nil or significant... I do remember that many years ago one of your neighbouring Air Forces had planes that got lost when following Inertial Navigation Systems... seems someone neglected to flip the switch from Northern Hemisphere to Southern... with dire results. At least your system is not worth Millions of dollars... Doug 7RXC

Keep it up! Me, I'm just approaching 60 next Spring... Just started cacheing this summer, but I've been around the BUSH bush for quite a while... This gives me something to do between Searches and Rescues.. By the Way... does locating a lost Geocacher count as a loggable "FIND" ??? or do they have to be wearing a TB Dog Tag for that??? Doug VE7RXC.

From reading... it seems you want to have 'in hand' tide calculations... I can't help with that, but you can get tide information (calculated) for almost anywhere in US/Can at http://www.almanac.com/astronomy/ I came across this looking for something else... I assume they publish a paper version perhaps... You used to be able to get published tables at almost any marine outlet, or as a last resort, check the local docks in your hunt area... tides used to be posted on chalkboards for all sailors to see... Doug VE7RXC

Thanks.... The hint published says volumes about the "solve: ....." line. How to apply it is up to you. Doug VE7RXC I haven't figured it all myself... but I know where to fiddle.

I checked that out... talk about DNFs... Make sure you guys find that before the lynching! IF I ever get down that way I'll have to try at least once... That one of mine, isn't that hard to find... it just seems that way to some folks. I was more interested in seeing what the Helo would pick up there... did you look at all? I think the metal detector might find something... for sure Doug VE7RXC

I have to go look at the symbology involved... As in most of our computer software, I take the ? symbol to be that meaning INFORMATION... Something more involved than normal. I don't take it as meaning a puzzle, quest or any type of cache in particular. Just something you should read more about if you care to... or not. Perhaps those 'technical gear' / extreme type caches should get the ? symbol as well... or perhaps an ! ... as in "oh wow!" I do agree that 'traditional' should be the realm of 'normal' cachers. but I like puzzles and mysteries and even would welcome the odd physical challenge as well... They are all caches. Doug 7RXC

What the others have said is correct... all the same more or less... The coodinate choice is up to you... GC.com uses the DD MM.mmm form. The Datum of choice (again GC.com) is WGS 84 a world standard datum. NAD 27 is an OLD datum that is what was used to make a topo map in North America prior to the advent of NAD 83. If you use an NAD 27 map you should change your GPS to that Datum to automatically correct WGS 84 or NAD 83 so that you can find the correct location on the map... There is a difference of several hundred metres between the two north and east. In my location it's about 10 m for E and 212 m for North on the UTM coordinates... The UTM and Lat/Long grids haven't changed, they simply recalculated how the lines representing the ground features were positioned on it. Basically they found that the 1927 idea of how the world was shaped was a little inaccurate... the new model matches how they calculate the GPS satellite orbits. Everything works the same way, some things just moved on the map. Doug VE7RXC Elkford BC

Try that with GC1261V... in Sparwood BC... Let us know how you make out! Doug VE7RXC

I was just kidding... about the quad thing... I did a little more reading of mail here... IF you were right about the sometimes clear and sometimes garbled results, I'd say that the presence of a membrane on the mic isn't in itself the problem... It would probably be either all good or always poor. Unless the membrane comes and goes... in sync with the quality. It might be as simple as something loose inside... mics are small and can roll around (away from the talk spot grill - some are just a single small hole). I remember poorly, but there was a radio that was poorly finished for it's cost... it was always muffled in some cases (examples ) that were bought. That was just a piece of plastic left over from moulding the case that moved around and often blocked the single 2.5 mm hole. Once removed it was fine. As for my comments on the costs... I did go to Garmin and look at the product notes... Have you any idea what level the GPS portion corresponds to... does it match another model without a radio... I suspect still that the FRS/GPS radio portion is likely comparable in quality to stand alone radios... The interconnection software/ hardware wouldn't be horribly expensive in itself... Hams have used GPS with APRS for years without excessive costs... and that was when you had to buy radio, GPS and radio modem separately. plus a computer to view the results. I still wish you luck on finding the problem. Those look like good radio sets and GPS by themselves as far as when they are working well. Doug VE7RXC

Official report in quadruplicate! Very official... Any way, since you have checked things out, and found nothing out of order... They could be subject to some sort of frequency drift... being FM the transmission is spread out... being a few kilohertz up or down from the other radio and it sounds increasingly garbled... if both radios are randomly drifting slightly it could cause the intermittent clear / garbled... most radios can still be read when 10 khz off, but with difficulty. I think that during such a transmission the range would be much reduced since much of the signal would be missed. Only a guess... I suspect that they don't really put much into the radio technology for these things... at least compared with Ham or Commercial radio equipment. I was looking at some GMRS units that were a pair with charger and batteries for under $90 Cdn. Not Rinos, just ht's... since most of that was the charger and batteries I think... you can't expect too much... Garmin has a product reputation, but I don't see that some compromise to quality can be expected... I really have to have a closer look at them. You might look for someone who can test for frequency or something like that... it should remain the same and not move around... you need someone with a counter or service monitor to do that... look for the local Ham radio guy... for example. Doug VE7RXC

Hi There... I've read thru the thread so far... I agree wholeheartedly with those who recommend NOT letting it bother you... Fact is you probably don't keep count of the NICE cachers... you enjoy them... but one always notices the thorns, and feels the pain. My one suggestion as a newbie to an old pro like yourself (I'm still under 20 finds by a long shot) would be to plan next year to come up to the Kootenay's West or East (we're up east). There are lots of caches this way, most are pleasant locals and finds... a few can be annoying, but solveable... I've had many retries on a few, but got them all eventually. Even a few that evade high count cachers... but I got them... Good scenery and pleasant experiences and some real challenges too. Winter is coming on so its probably late for this year. We're still caching but have to travel a bit further and the snow is coming down the mountains a bit further each week... but the valleys are only getting periodic dustings... But 09 is probably the best time... There are even a few cache events now and then... I missed this year, and the Cranbrook get together is next week and I can't get there (car trouble). Look forward to seeing you listed in some of the local caches! Doug VE7RXC

Does the dog get to log the find? Even as part of a team? My other half Lynne lets her DOUG do the hard part! Doug VE7RXC

I'm not the one with the problem, but for my notes... These units have scramble?? I've never seen one out of a display case... Is this an audio scramble or something deeper... and more inscrutable... I think that you may have something if they indeed do... Fingers can be a big problem with anything electronic for sure... along with either not or mis- reading the manual. Doug VE7RXC

Same from me! Except that I recommend NOT FINDING ANY! Doug VE7RXC

Sounds like a vaguely familiar situation... in the cache log and no idea who they are or where ... I'll take a look at this for practice researching... Doug VE7RXC

I'll contact you, but I don't think it will do much to help on the missing TB... since the log out in question is only on a piece of paper in the cache log book. I've done most of what can be, still haven't had a reply from the cache / TB owner (same)... I guess they are waiting a while, although I'd feel better if they would do the inventory deletion so people don't expect to find it there, but the logs show a few disappointed seekers. As for my first attempt at moving one on... It has recently found a good home and is touring caches in the desired goal for it's out trip... and contemplating it's return home when finished... I'm much relieved! I'm doing the locale with the new one... and once I can get out again (vehicle problems) it will move on. Doug VE7RXC btw... thanks for the advice again.

Sorry I can't speak from experience re the Rino's, BUT... on of the most common errors made by people using new radios in general is SHOUTING... I say that in humour of course, but it is true... overmodulation caused by being overly loud speaking into the microphone causes distortion and can cause clipping as well. Clipping is when the tops and bottoms of audio signal (sine wave form) are flattened out... in fact you lose part of the voice. Distortion is just that, the signal gets warped out of shape and sounds like it... I'm sure there are many other possible causes, but not many cheaper to fix... Reduce the level of your voice and speak clearly... In FM radio, the quieter your voice, the less signal deviation and the more concentrated the signal (stronger) it becomes. Loudness equates to spreading out the frequency, quiet focuses it more. You should also check that you are on the same frequency. Sometimes if you are in canyons or near cliffs you can have reflections (multiple signal paths) that result in distortion caused by several almost identical signals being received at nearly the same time, nearly that is... you can hear them almost simultaneously. This tends to garble them. Solution to that is just move a bit until you find the clearest spot. It also helps to shut off loud machinery like a quad or truck, or find a quieter spot... Don't know if this will help, but it doesn't cost anything to try either... Doug VE7RXC

There is the http://www.geocaching.com/find/ option. It will do a “match anything like” type search but will only provide 21 returns. If the account hasn’t been or is no longer validated you won’t be able to view the account profile. I typically do most of my searching/investigation via the cache logs and associated profile. It can be very tedious work sometimes. Thanks... I think I did try that 'find' method... I was more looking for a browse mode in hopes of supplementing my poor memory for detail on inconsequential matters... like spelling and spacing etc. I still suspect that it isn't all that evil... just a person who needs enlightenment... as don't we all at some point or other. Doug VE7RXC

Hi there... I can track the bug / coin OK as I said... My concern was trying to find the person who picked it up... and logged that fact... In the one case in mind the TB is still in inventory on the cache but not IN the cache... it was logged out. I posted my find and the date of the pickup from the log on the cache page and notified the CO of the details... I am just doing a little local research trying to ID the retriever on my own. I got the note about the 'find' method and it works... What I was looking for was BROWSE capability since my memory is real bad and apparently my writing... so I can come close but not exact to what's there. I'm trying to get a ride back to read it again... (car is sick right now). This time I'll get pic of the log... unless it shows up... I'm not really worried, but people have missed the bug for a while now... I have to check to see if the cache owner has 'removed' it from inventory... I'm more concerned about the TB I picked up recently... it's big and I'm hoping to move it East before winter sets in... I don't want it snowbound here and most of the local caches are U/S. IF it gets delayed, I'll email the owner and advise... at least its safe here. The closest caches are often muggled and this is a nice traveller. That's a bit off topic, but I care a bit... certainly it won't fit in the micros that are mostly nearby. Doug VE7RXC

Hi there... I hope it works for you... it was a re suggestion of a fix to a common problem as expounded in other threads in the forums... I've found that I was correct in that early NAD83 datum information was tweaked again to conform better to WGS84... but only about a metre and a bit in total... Recently as a result of both Geocaching and teaching a map and compass course that got me going into think mode... That one setting I had NOT made on my GPS was to correct the declination... It does not have a compass as such, but you can select different norths for the bearings given on the GOTO page... In my case I wanted my NEW orienteering compass to match the bearings coming out of the GPS for sighting on caches. I use the Magnetic North option but since I have declination set on the compass (suunto), I had some differences on bearings... I had MISSED the option to offset magnetic north by x degrees E or W. The term was different, but it is declination... Now my bearings match what comes out of the GPS and are of use for triangulating from outside of poor coverage areas... I've also found a whole bunch of items that are not for here, but do explain a lot of the confusion I see in many budding 'Navigators'... I'm trying to get that straightened out as well... but it's hard to get people who have been practising 'being wrong' for years to change... Good Luck Caching, Lots of good fun caches here in the Kootenays of BC. Doug VE7RXC