Frosty Jack

The guidelines apply to everyone who submits a cache for review. It wouldn't be right to show favouritism to one person or group over anyone else. All caches submitted are reviewed on their merits. Anyone who believes the guidelines as applied by a reviewer to their cache are not applied fairly or who think their particular cache is deserving of publication can of course appeal the decision of the reviewer to Groundspeak (who own geocaching.com). Chris Graculus Volunteer UK Reviewer for geocaching.com UK Geocaching Information & Resources website www.follow-the-arrow.co.uk Geocaching.com Knowledge Books Fair enough!

I'm posting this because a very well travelled Goldfish TB was sitting patiently in one of my caches on the North Wales coast, when the cache was muggled. Here lies: Go Goldfish! Owner: The Atkinsons Released: Thursday, 25 November 2004 Origin: Michigan, United States Distance Travelled: 36596 miles. Last seen: Cost of the Coast RIP Little Fishy -.-

Provided the iPhone is the model with a GPS antenna built in (iPhone 3G upwards I think), you don't have to worry about your data plan. You can then just find Wi-Fi networks in cafes and download your cache information for free, and use the GPS for free while you're looking for it.

Pretty sure the reviewers will allow the NT to create temporary caches - after all, they've done us huge favours by allowing caches on their land, least they could do as a thank you.

Thanks for your input! I think I'll try the lower end data usage first, and upgrade my contract if I think I do need some extra. I'm going to settle for the £13.50p/m O2 contract which gives 50mins, 250texts, and 100MB. O2 do say that they don't really like you dropping down to less expensive contracts, but I'm pretty sure they won't mind if I ring them up and say that I'd like to pay another £3 per month to them to upgrade to a 50/250/500 plan. Now to go and barter at the shop!

Thanks kwhart, that's good to know. I only ask about the maps because they're pretty much the only thing I'd be using on the 3G network. My job involves lots of driving to new places, so although I do prefer the traditional map-navigation, in emergencies it'll be nice to know I won't spike my limit on a one off 'getting lost'. Usually I do use a normal GPSr, and it's lasted nearly 3 years now, and still going strong, so I'm not going to depart from it any time soon. The phone would be used like you use yours, for quick spur of the moment caching. But good to know your usage is low. I'll probably go for the 100MB plan for now, and get one of those counter apps to check where I am on my limit. p Ta

Thanks for the responses. Tim: I hardly see myself going overboard using the 3G network at all. I hardly use my current phone (2G PAYG), and have had it for nearly 4 years, and pay on average £10 to £15 every two months. For that I get 300-500 free texts, and I've never reached the limit (the month time limit runs out before the quantity does). Basically I want a smartphone to streamline a few devices into one, and to have a nicer phone of course but without paying a huge deal more than I want to. As a result, I will be looking at usage similar to, if not less than ao318's daughter. So I'd be quite happy with a 50min/250text/100MB plan on a HTC Android phone. My main question is, however, how much data does Google Maps require? For instance, over a 2 hour journey, using just the basic road map overlay (not satellite imagery).

I'm on the cusp of getting a smartphone, but I'm holding off because I can't find a definite answer for data usage. I'll only be a light user of the 3G network, checking E-Mails when needed etc, and any main web browsing would be done either using my home wifi signal, or on my laptop. I'm looking at a 100MB a month contract, which would be fine, but what about Geocaching? I understand that the GPS itself won't eat 3G usage (giving me a 50m to go reading if the cache is already in the phone), but if I'm out and about and want to find a cache using Google Maps, will this rapidly deplete my data allowance? Also, how much data will downloading a few dozen caches onto an app use up? Any help greatly appreciated Many thanks FJ

Here's my take on the QR codes: Quick Quick! GC2MWMK People seem to have enjoyed it, once they'd figured out how to read it

Like others said, it's just a straight line to where the cache is: usually you have t find your own route around. Look on Google Maps or something to see nearby roads to get you closer to the cache. Mind you, sometimes when I've been in the "wild", I've had the next cache on my list half a mile from my current location, but walking there the conventional way would involve a 4 mile trip around various roads/paths. However, I could just climb my way up the 100m high overgrown nearly vertical hill, and then walk straight to the cache. Option 2 is often a lot more fun!!! (doesn't work in towns and cities though!)

I'm 23! Discovered Geocaching when I was introduced to it by my girlfriend who's family all did it. I was 20 then. I usually go out caching with my girlfriend, but on some of the more demanding trails (across Welsh Mountains) I tend to go on my own

Like Nubcackes said, the best stealthy disguise is paradoxically a very high-visibility jacket. I've not tried it yet, but I have thought about getting one to help with roadside caches and city caches. A dog would be a good excuse to be rummaging around bushes, as dog owners could be picking up dog mess, or retrieving a ball or something else.

Brookhouse Challenge in Denbigh, North Wales was pretty good fun. Was easy to spot, but took some real ingenuity (and in my case - an hour or so of work) to get the blasted thing! Well worth it!

The reason for turning mobile phones off is so the signals they give out don't interfere with the nav systems. Fair enough. But they still ask you to turn off all Music Players, Handheld Games Consoles and anything electronic for taxi, take off and landing: there's no real reason, just over cautious Health and Safety folk I guess. GPS signals are always floating past you, no matter where you are, and the plane will be using them anyway, so a GPS device won't interfere with anything, as it doesn't send out any signals.

Did you know you can stuff a whole kitchen sized trash bag in a film canister? You can. A friend of mine packs the film cans with the trash bag, puts a little CITO sticker on the lid and leaves them as swag. Whoever finds one now has something to use on the trail. Very enabling in my opinion. What a great idea! I wear contact lenses, so have to use a new cleaning case once a month. I'm going to start stuffing bin bags into the used lens cases and put them into caches! Great idea again!

I found a bottle of Becks Beer in a cache in North Wales a couple of years ago; was only put there that morning. Was tempted to drink it there and then, as it was a quite a hike up a steep mountainside, but decided to bag it and I enjoyed it when I got home! I did leave some meteorite stardust in one of my caches.

I'm in the process of creating a QR code based multi-cache. Each stage would be an encoded figure, each one adding up to the final location. I found a free program for Windows PCs that can generate and decode QR codes instantly. It can work by viewing the image through the program window, or it will link with a webcam. So if a cacher doesn't have a Smartphone, all they need is a camera and a computer. I tested it with a 2MP camera on my phone, viewed through a 0.5MP webcam, and it worked perfectly). So it may take two visits, but is still easy enough! The program is HERE.

I've been thinking of doing a QR code cache, and have one nearly ready to go. Whilst doing, I found a neat program that works well to read and generate QR codes. Go to www.QuickMark.com.tw and download the relevant program there for FREE! It also offers apps for various platforms. The Windows program will either read an image through a hole in its own window, or will link to your webcam so you can hold it up. Translation from QR code to usable text is instant. Would be great to see some more of these types of caches, as I've not done any yet. FJ