Latentk

Having been to a cache location, following only my GPS, then comparing that location to the location marked on the Google Maps, they were MAYBE less than 2 or 3 meters apart. So though it may be an approximation, it is fairly accurate.

Well I'd assume the coordinates provided to plot that waypoint on Google Maps utilize the exact set of coords on each cache page, though I have not individially confirmed that. I use Google Maps to look into a cache I seem to have difficulty finding a cache to try and zero in a little better. So I would say yes, it is doable, just not preferred .

Koh, I do know that most GPS software, as well as GPSr, can be set to lock onto the road, which is the case in your example. You can set Topo 08 to do the same thing.

As I have mentioned to a couple other cachers, in my opinion, a refurbed Garmin unit is a great first time GPSr. I hear the majority of folks on here mention the 60CSx and though it seems to be the most popular, it is certainly not the cheapest. For someone on a budget you may want to consider even lower then one of the highly recommended H series. I am a college student and budgets are more of a lifestyle for me . The refurbed Garmin Etrex Vista Cx I bought was only 140 with free shipping, and so far I am thoroughly impressed. Amazon has tons of deals, make sure you look deep into individual retailers on Amazon for the best deal!

Wow that is the first time I have seen Cache Along a Route! That is amazing!!!! I cant wait to go on a trip somewhere and turn a 2 hour drive into a 4 hour cache and drive!!! Seriously looking forward to it! Anyways, you already ordered your GPSr so my advice may go unheeded. But myself being a poor somewhat disadvantaged college student I was unable to afford the Garmin 60csx. I instead focused on buying a refurbed Garmin Etrex Vista Cx, and so far am impressed. It may not be entirely as accurate as the Garmin 60csx, but it gets me close enough, and was extremely affordable. Perhaps eventually I can upgrade, until then this is a great first unit!

Really!? I am fairly certain the owner explicitly said come and visit, assuming it is on his property. Suppose I will go back and look a little closer. My GPSr was off by a good 6 or 7m, I found this by comparing on Google Earth. So I will go back and grab it. Thanks for the info guys! Getting ready to place my first cache!!!

Well thanks for both of your responses. I am sure as I find more and more and get more accustomed to both my GPSr and the many different styles of caches this will be less and less of an actual issue. And thanks for the response about the deactivated cache. I will wait to see if it gets archived and until then hide elsewhere. PS: Koh, your sig is hilarious.

I really am in need of an answer to this question, if any experienced cacher, or mod knows a quick answer for this please do mention so. I am looking to hide my first and the decision as to whether a deacted cache is off limits or otherwise is important! Thanks!

So far I have a mere 7 under my belt, but I must say I am already becoming rather accustomed to certain styles. For one, if the hide is truly clever, or something truly unique, it makes it all the more fun finding it and writing your name in that log. It is honestly ok to make it challenging, save it for the folks who've had the experience necessary to facilitate the find. Or find a place you'd see most cachers missing, or a place you'd take a total stranger were you trying to really show them your area. I have seen many many new areas thanks to caching, and thats only at 7!!!! Make it fun, and for some, challenging is that fun. YOu can even camo your container to the point where it is indistinguishable from its surroundings. Or make it so tiny it'd take an equally small writing utensil to write in it. I am actually in the process of scoping a location for my first hide as well, also trying to learn from my local cachers.

Haha on the first day I ever went caching I found 2 out of my 3, but came back and found the third the next day. The next day I went out and got something like 4 or 5 in a row with my girlfriend, who I unfortunately ran a bit thin in all of my excitement. Great stories always to be had, is a lesson I am learning each time I go out caching. With that said, from some of the logs on the cache I was looking for they mentioned speaking to the owner of the house. Anyways, I am starting to learn in specific regards to my GPSr's innaccuracy. I do have a new question, does anyone know if you are allowed to place a cache closer than the 161m guideline if the cache you would be placing near is deactivated? As far as I know the owner of the deactivated cache has been out for some time. Is that allowed?

The only reason I was uncomfortable stemmed from my lack of knowledge concerning that situation . With your advice though I may go back in and look one more time. I am going to try a couple caches I have previously found to see just how close my GPSr gets me. Also, I used the Send to GPS feature on gc.com to add these coords to my GPS, I doubt they could be substantially off. Just didn't know whether the error of + or - 1m on my sat screen meant I was literally + or - 1m from the cache coords.

Howdy! Just received my GPS earlier this week and was itching to get out and try it. I went out caching for about 2 hours today, and started with a urban cache. My GPS took me to an alleyway next to a house and a firestation. My first question is just how polite or just how much should I respect someones privacy? I was worried the cache was near the house close to their air conditioning unit or something right on the side of their house. Is that something you usually find on urban cahces? Is it normal to hunt around peoples houses? If so how close is to close? I am pretty sure the fire station doesn't care, but was worried the folks would. Second, my new GPS (which is actually a refurbed Garmin Etrex Vista Cx) is taking me to within about 10m of my caches, is it normal to get coords around but not ON a cache? I was kind of curious about this and have yet to confirm it on caches I already found. I knew the Vista Cx was not entirely 100% as accurate as the new H's, but I couldn't afford those! More interesting is I found a cache today that was maybe 10 or 11m from where my GPSr zeroed. When I checked on my Sat screen it gave me a error correction of + or - 1m which is highly accurate. Does that mean the owner specifically gave coords just a bit off? Just curious as to whether this is the norm. These are just the two main questions I had while caching today, and was rather curious towards it. If I have more I may add to this post or add a new post. Thanks for helping out a fellow newbie!!

Do a forum search for NW Trails. There is a neat mappack someone has developed, with which you can both make your own hybrid, or overlay the trails on NWTrails on top of any map you'd like! I used this for my little part of Idaho to great success!!

I have not had time to put adequete research into this but I am not entirely sure of Google Earth's map datum. Please do a wikipedia search for information concerning specific map datums. If you use one map and coordinates from one datum, and transfer either the map or the coordinates to another datum, you will be off by fairly large amounts. I am almost positive there is a likely descrepency between GE and your GPS'. You more often then not change map datums on your GPS to fit whatever datum GE is in! Hope that helps!!!!

Very intersting read, learned a lot of information from your posts! I took a GPS course that introed me to Geocaching and the intricate workings of a GPS. I love this stuff!!!!

This looks awesome! THis is a huge bump for a good looking great sounding piece of software!

This is interesting, but does anyone have a tutorial for a PPC based device? And also, I thought the Geocaching mode on my Garmin Etrex Vista Cx allowed it to use GPX files to get the loc and hint etv. Am I wrong to assume that?

Great find! And thanks for the absolutely invaluable resources!

I have yet to FTF anything, but the whole idea behind prizes is great! I think that extra nudge to those FTF'ers out there adds to the game. Just my personal opinion reward those who put that extra bit into the game!

I hope I am not to late, as I said in another post, check out the Garmin Etrex Vista Cx, it has the compass and color screen plus decent maps. You can get them on amazon or Ebay refurbed for only 20 or 30 more! Def an upgrade! Consider looking into it! http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00...3605&sr=8-1 For amazon!

I bought a refurbed Garmin Etrex Vista Cx which is the precursor to the Vista HCx. The HCx may have a slightly more accurate chipset, but for the price cut I got on it, I wont mind! I read many reviews and found the Vista Cx to have both the compass and great accurate GPS. If your interested check out http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00...3605&sr=8-1 And find yourself a good deal!

What exactly does routing mean? It cannot "guide" you to a destination? Is this something you load onto the MicroSD? And hwo much space does it take up? Problem with the Etrex's is you can only load up a single map at a time, so I'd be switching between topo and this map all the time LOL. Probably NOT a huge deal, but just curious. THanks!!!!

Hey everyone, first time posting since I started caching not to long ago. I just ordered a refurbed Garmin Etrex LEgend Vista Cx for a great price and am awaiting its arrival. I do have a question that I thought would've been answered on Garmin or elsewheres site. I know it is loaded with a satisfactory basemap. Is it possible to download firmware or system updates that update the basemap? I know that Garmin has system updates and was REALLY hoping they give the option to flash the basemap to a more recent iteration. Any help would be appreciated, thanks!!