Andronicus

There are so many possibilities with a phone. What phone? Android, you need to use the correct settings. The wrong settings will result in less accuracy. Go to Setting>>Personal>>Location>>Mode>> select Device only These steps may very with your version of Android. I am using the CM12 build of Lollipop. And oh, I use an app called GPS Averaging to take coordinates. It's quite good, but tends to loose the results, so either take a screenshot, or write the numbers down.

Since he was talking about the eTrex 30 older 48, I've corrected this a bit to remove left in (and underlined) the references to things that the eTrex 30 has older 48 doesn't have. Fixed for you

GPS elevation accuracy is never very good. It is just a result of the triangulation calculations (try to think of the triganomatry of satillites at 20,000km up there; errors add up faster in the vertical direction than they do in the horizontal direction).

If you don't like that they are charging you twise, take your buisness elseware. There are lots of approved third party geocaching apps on Android. I like NeonGeo and CacheSence. They both have free tiral periods. Give them a try!

I have to say that problems like that are usualy more closely related to hardware, and OS options/settings than what App you are using. I had a LG Windows Phone 7 a few years ago, and I had a lot of the same problems. I usualy just used my older Windows Mobile HTC for caching at that time. I think, if you want some specific help, you need to give us more detials regarding phone model, sky view at the time of the problems, OS version etc. If you are thinking of buying a handheld, you can really spend anything from $35 (used) to close to $1000. Pick your price point, and start looking. If you want to buy new, consider the eTrex20. Fairly cheep, and has reasonably full feature set.

Thanks And as I mentioned in a different thread, it will give you a box to enter why you are deleting it. And I am still wondering why do this to just the image and not the log too. It would be a step saver to give your reason when you delete the log. Instead of also having to contact the cacher separately. I totaly agree with this! A box should appear to let you tell the 'finder' why you are deleting the log. Not only does this save the CO time, but it will likely save a lot of angst. Same thing with TB logs.

Waterproof matches/lighter Bag of swag Replacement log bood (you can download a neat one from geocaching university) My bag has a pouch for a hydration pack, I really like that for hiking.

to enter coordinates into google, there are several formats that will work eg. N51 12.423 W114 02.321 51.2071 -114.0387 N51° 12' 25" W114° 02' 19" There may be more formats that work, I just show these as examples This should give you 2 locations on the map. One for the acctual coordinates, and one for the closest address. Edit to add: you can put a comma between the NS and EW (eg. N51 12.423, W114 02.321).

Found cache in the middle of the path, so I moved it. I have used that one before. The CO was glad I had tried to hide it, and asked for some details on exactly where I had put it so s/he could re-set it as intended (which was not in the middle of the path).

You could turn it into a multi, so that finders had to visit the location anyway. The photo would still need to be optional, but if the finders are there anyway, they would likely follow the suggestion.

Sounds like fun. I don't see anything about the idea that wouldn't work. Just make srue that you meet the other guidlines (eg. permission, permanence, proximity to other caches etc.) My son has figured out (using the internet) how to solve a rubik's cube in about 2 min. I know of others that average less than 40 sec.

I say the exact opposite: FTF is a matter of opinion, so if you think you're FTF, don't worry about people with different opinions about it. Although this seems off topic since I don't see any argument over FTF honors in this case. The OP, in particular, hasn't found it yet, so I have no reason to think he was worried about any FTF claims. It's true you can write whatever you want in your cache's description, but it's also true that no one has to listen to you if they disagree with your opinion about whether they're FTF. These metaphysical discussions are why FTF should never be a Getting Started topic (especialy one with a title in all caps). While I agree with you that anyone can clame to be FTF (supporting your 'opinion' theory), FTF is actualy the First to Find. Others can think or claim whatever they like (as you indicated), but if they weren't first, they arn't first. FTF is an acronym for First To Find. It is not an acronym for: -First To Find After Publishing On Geocaching.com. -Cacher who REALY REALY REALY want to be First To Find. -Cacher who want to be first to find so badly that s/he convinces him/her self that s/he is first to find while all other cachers know s/he was actualy second, and are now snickering behind his/her back. -First to be with the hider when s/he hid the cache. (ok, this one is arguable. Personaly, I don't think you can FIND something when you already know where it is, otherwise all of us COs would be 'finding' our own caches)

Remember, FTF is a statment of fact and does not conform to your personal set of rules, and has nothing to do with the time a cache was published on geocaching.com. I have done similar things for events. For each of my 3 Halloween events, I put out a cache, got preliminary approval from my reviewer, then at 1200h on 31 October, posted the coordinates on my event page. FTF was around 1300h. When the cache was published a day or so later, the page stated that FTF was already taken, so don't bother trying for it. If anyone has a problem with that it is really too bad for them. It is my cache and I can do what ever I want with it withing the guidlines. Other ways this can happen is: -published earlyer on another cache listing site -found by blind luck -found by COs friend while 'testing' the coordinates There are other potental ways it could happen, and they are all OK. If the CO knows about FTF happening before publishing, it would be courteous of him/her to mention it on the cache page, but again, not required.

My first step would be to check that the location meets the saturation guidelines, that there isn't another cache within 528ft/161m of the location I want. For this check, I'd look at the traditional caches on the map, plus any puzzle caches or multi-caches in the area that I have coordinates for. Next, I'd work on securing permission. A lot of parks and open spaces around here have geocaching policies. As long as the cache meets the requirements of their geocaching policies, you have permission, and don't need to talk to a ranger or submit a form or anything. In those parks, I'd verify that my idea meets their geocaching policy. Otherwise, I'd talk to the land manager to get permission. Then, if my idea involved location-specific camouflage that couldn't be relocated easily, I'd double-check with a local reviewer that the location really is available, that there isn't some puzzle cache that I haven't solved that's blocking the location. Then I'd build the cache, place the cache, and submit the listing. Sadie, the funny thing is that everyone does stuff differently. Everyone will have a different answer. Just to add to niraD, I like to develop my listing on geocaching.com early on in the process, and leave a reviewer note saying that you are working on a cache for this spot. That way, if someone else attempts to put a cache there before your's is published, the reviewer will likely give precidents to your cache. You will likely get a email asking if you are indeed placing a cache there soon, giving you "first dibs" as it were.

Good link dodge20! On my phone (running lollipop; I think the M8, if stock, is running KitKat) the third option is "Device Only" which uses only the phones GPS, not wifi or mobile network triangulation. If you are trying to hide a cache, that is definatly the mode you must use. For finding, "High accruacy" is fine as well.

K13 is correct. Your phone will do just fine. In the future, if you are really getting into it, and think a handheld would be worth the investment (there are + and - of both phones and handhelds), you can indeed purchase one, but no need yet. The free intro app will get you going. Again, if you are really getting into the fun, consider paying for either the full app from geocaching.com, or one of the other approved apps (CacheSence, CacheMaid, NeonGeo etc.). The memberships you were asking about are for the Primium Membership (PM). There are benefites to it, but it is not needed, especialy for a beginner. Again, think about it if you are really starting to play alot. You will find that the apps will work better with the PM. I suspect the different prices you listed are just due to verious currencies.

Depends on how you set it up. A dedicated line that is available 24/7, and the coordinates are part of the greeting on the machine, probably OK (best to check with your local Reviewer to make sure). A scenario where someone has to leave a message with a return number and have to wait for you to call back with the coordinates, probably not likely to get Published. Yeah I have several lines where they would be available 24/7 and it would just be a automated message. I would hate calling people back, haha. That sounds like a fun cache.

If you give us a bit more information, we may be able to give you more spacific answers. What phone are you using? Which geocaching app are you using (beginner, full paid, other thirdparty app)?

Yeah its been too long. The misses just got a store management position at a pizza place so I thought HEY! Ive always liked business geocaches. Lets hide one in the store lobby. Fun for geocachers and hopefully some new business too haha. Ah, there is a guidline change you may have missed. The comercial content guidline will no longer allow a cache like that. You may be able to put a cache outside the store, but definatly not inside the store lobby.

If mobility is an issue, there should still be some caches around that are away from parking lots etc. In a park down a paved (or unpaved) trail. When you start on puzzles, some are very difficult, don't beat yourself up if you can't solve them all.

1.5 to 2.5 are too easy? Try a few more, try some higher difficulty, try some micro cache sizes. The next point will depend on what you personally like, but my advise would be to get out of urban settings, do some hiking based caches. Maybe even some back country caches. While urban caches are fine, for me they are just filler till I can find time to head for the wilderness. If you are using your phone rather than a hand held gps, don't worry too much. When you finaly do decide to place a cache, just make extra sure you know how to get high accuracy readings. There can be funny issues with phones when recording coordinates, not quite as dummy proof as a hand held....

That's cool. I have yet to be able to use my new GPSMap 64 in the filed since it will not stop snowing but I was amazed I had 15 foot est accuracy in the middle of my home. My Delorme needed a perfect sky and no tree cover to even get an initial fix. It is probably more related to the new GPS having a more modern GPS chipset than manufacturer. I would suspect a new Delorme would be better than your older one.

Hmm... While I have got a new phone, I am still using the original google account. My phone is online all the time. Well, maybe I will just need to wait for the new version. CacheMaid is still the only app that corretly imports this crazy gpx file. And it tracks found vs. unfound perfectly. So I will just be patient

Are you using the Demo version? Offline maps are only available in the paid version! Maybe this goes back to my earlyer question about the Licensing issue? I have paid for the app, back in Jan 2013. I installed the full version, but at first, it had a Licence warning...

The offline maps option is grayed out. What am I missing? Could it be a Lollipop compatibility issue?