RTExplorer

Sorry. It does not. The GPS error circle is not a hard circle giving you the exact radius of your error; it is a probability bound within which your GPS is likely to be accurate 95% (usually) of the time. These errors do not add coherently, as anybody who has done first-year statistics will know. As a result, the expected radius of error for 2 5-meter errors is about 5 * sqrt(2) = 7 meters, not 10, for a normal distribution of errors. No, they won't, since they probably know how to do math. Actually, they might be very annoyed by being misquoted like this. Thanks for turning me around, really. Having worked DOD projects with NGLS, I know they can do math and that is all you have correct concerning Civilian GPS accuracy. Even the really smart guys dont know it all but generally have humility, which unfortunately is not covered in Statistics 101. Thanks for reminding me why I don't do forums very often.

Yes it does, Consult Northrup Grumman and the finest Engineers in the world. They will tell you the same as it relates to civilian GPS use.

Its the tiny ones (Nanos) placed by a poor GPS operator and hider that just cant wait for the Error Margin to minimize before throwing a Peanut M&M sized conatainer into a bush, then feeling like someone crafty all the way to submitting the cache to be registered. I like finding them. However, I don't like looking for the cache placed by an incompetent GPS user. Again, Error Margin and Circular Error Probable comes to mind. The fact is, there is no IQ requirement to place and publish a Cache. Unfortunately, all searchers fall fall victim to this fact. If ignorance in hiding and recording is truly the source of mystery in finding an item, it will ruin all who consider searching for Micros in the future. Remember, the Hiders Error Margin is added to the Finders Error Margin and that makes a larger circle of search. I have found some to be more than 20 meters off. Thats 60+ feet. Is Hider ignorance the challenge, or is it the size? The whole idea is to find it, not make it unfound. RTExplorer

Folks, I, and what others are becoming tired of, is searching for a Micro that was hidden by a GPS owner that has no idea what error margin is. Unfortunatley there are GPS owners that have a 101 knowledge in the Geocache world but have no idea how location firm/software works. Circular Error Probable (CEP) is a formula used to do what we enjoy when we Geocache. It is so simple with pencil and paper it is scary and not necessary to discuss because the device does it for us. However, when someone hides something (Micro) the size of a Peanut M&M in a forest or bushy area, and they do not understand Error Margin of the GPS they are using, they elude people that they have hidden a cache that is worthy of search. I see an ever increasing number of people that are swearing off Micros beacause of this, "The hider was incompetent." The search for these Cache's when the area is narrowed to 3 meters is difficult naturally, and draws appreciation toward "craft of hide when found;" but when that 3 meter circle cant be determined or relied upon it brings doubt within our ranks. Yes, a Micro hider (Nano Size) can get a hide approved without knowing how to use a GPS, create error margins that make it impossible to find, snicker for their work, and continue to deter people to find them or bring respect to Micro existance. My suggestion to the validators, Groundspeak, and whoever writes the rules on "Hiding a Cache" is this: When Micros are hidden, you must publish the Error Margin information on your GPS when placing it. If the Error Margin is greater than 5 meters the following must be done for the Hide to be published: Wait until conditions improve to gain less than 5 meter Error Margin, Find a different location, Utilize a device that is capable of gaining less than 5 meters of Error Margin. Why? Because my 5 meters of error added to the Hiders 5 meters makes a 10 meter circle (30+feet) to find something the size of a Peanut M&M. The whole idea is to find it, not to make it unfound... RTExplorer

I am wondering how you even get the special invite. Also, what is the Original STash and Mission 9? Is the Original Stash a cache? I think and I'm pretty sure the Mission 9 is a cache but don't know about the Original Stash.