Team Steamrunner

The number of visits is no reflection of the quality of the cache. It bears little, if any, relation. So it's wrong to say that one cache is "better" than another because it's more popular. In my opinion, you should hide a cache that you're inspired to hide and that's that. Of course, one thing you might be inspired by is the notion that you'll get loads of cache logs! If so, don't hide the cache high on a remote Scottish hillside... I'd much prefer to recieve a single good report for a cache I've placed than loads of mediocre logs. Granted, I haven't found billions of caches like lots of you guys but I've found enough to know the kind of cache I like and in the locations I like to find them. I tailor my searching and hiding accordingly. To be subjected to some arbitrary embargo because of the length (or lack) of my chain is simply ridiculous. There's a mountain biking expression which, if you stretch your imagination a bit, applies here: It's not the speed you go. It's the size of your smile. Hide and seek the caches you like, place them when you feel like it, and where you think people will enjoy them. It's simple really. Experience is gained by DOING, not by not doing.

N95 is great for caching with, I now have a 5800 which I love but BEWARE! With the 5800 you do not have the facitilty to manually enter co ordinates using the geocache navigator software. However the inbuilt GPS works just fine.

I've only had to writeone negative review, and it wasn't really the owner's fault. The cache was in an area that had be "reclaimed" by teenagers and GZ was covered in litter, beer cans, condoms and needles. When the owner read it he said he'd move the cache to somewhere more appropriate.

I think we're more finders than hiders. We've only placed 2 caches so far, but there's more in the pipeline for when we next get a weekend off. Mrs P has certainly gotten the bug for being a hider rather than a seeker and has earmarked a good half dozen potential sites to give a proper recce though. Neither of us are what we call "FTF whores" and the only ones we have are because we noticed them within half a mile of our house when we about to set off for a walk anyway. Team Psychotrapper - Him: finder. Her: hider. Not a bad team, all in all.

I liked my N95, it served me well except in the trees when it was as much use for finding a cache as a quarter pound of mince, but as a starter tool that got me into caching it can't really be knocked. I had an upgrade forced upon me when my mrs was out solo and dropped the phone and smashed the screen. I've installed the Trimble software onto the replacement a 5800 XpressMusic and so far it's working great (bearing in mind we've only done one cache since recieving it). I've installed a trial of Viewranger but haven't had time to sit and have a proper play with it yet, but if you have any other software hints or tips I'd be very appreciative.

Thanks for the helps and advices. I think for the time being I'll stick with my phone and see how I get along.

In my short geocaching career so far I've used my phones (Nokia N95 and now 5800Xpress) together with the excellent Geocache Navigator program for all my caching needs. I'm considering buying a dedicated GPS unit now though, but I'm unsure of just what advantages it would have over my phone based system. I'm guessing that signal strength would be improved, but what else? I love that I can be anywhere and use my phone software to find caches close to me, and that I can access logs, and clues and whatnots right from the geocaching website. With a dedicated unit, such as a Garmin etrex vista HCx, what infomation could I expect on-screen from downloaded waypoints?