Mom-n-Andy

Here is my perspective as a fellow geek. I'm curious how you intend to clue the finders about pinging IP addresses. If you give them explicit instructions the puzzle will be tedious, not challenging. If you don't, I wonder how many people will figure out that's what they need to do. Also, I pinged the IP address you gave and got only timeout errors. Might be my OS (Snow Leopard). The majority of geocachers will not be comfortable using the command line. In the worst case they might inadvertently do something to mess their computers up. The RFID idea is interesting and I've thought about doing something with RFID myself. The main problem I see is that you will need to supply a reader since no one will have one. This means that the cacher will need to pick it up somewhere, carry it along, and bring it back to its starting point when done. If they don't return it the cache is dead. And if two cachers start a few minutes apart, the second cacher will have no way of knowing whether someone is using the reader or whether it is just gone. I don't want to pooh-pooh the idea though. I really enjoy caches that are unique in some way. I am working on a microcontroller-based cache myself. My total cost will be under $20, so it isn't much of an investment if something goes wrong. BTW, I am requiring that cachers bring their own batteries, which gets around the battery maintenance issue.

This one has some cool tools too: http://www.cryptool-online.org/

Given that it is a high muggle area, the FTF has over 800 finds, and nearly a month elapsed between FTF and 2TF, it is much more likely that it was damaged by a muggle or animal.

Sounds kind of like orienteering. but with gps.

Awwwwwwww... My husband dislikes geocaching and my son hates it, so my usual caching partner is the dog. We were able to sneak out for a cache this morning after the guys left for work and school. Two things I've learned after many years of wedded bliss is that you and your sweetie don't need to share all the same interests, and it's important to allow each other the freedom to pursue their own interests. "You'd rather read than geocache? Fine, I'll be home in two hours and we'll go see a movie."

Cool idea. Here's the link for it: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ethercache/id411286630 One the one hand, I see this as being handy for puzzles, multis, virtuals, earthcaches, etc. On the other, I picture folks griping that it requires special equipment, promotes a specific vendor, etc... in other words, all the same sort of noise we heard about the Chirp (even if the complaints were valid or not). Should be interesting to see if Ethercaching takes off. I believe that Ethercache is also available for Android. Most of the cachers that have done this one teamed up with someone who had an iPhone or a Droid, and there have been a few groups go out together to do it.

There is an application called Ethercache that allows someone to identify geographic locations. Other users of the app can get information about that location when they are there. A geocache in this area uses Ethercache to mark "virtual" waypoints for a multicache. (The final is a physical container.) If anyone is using Ethercache in your area that might be a fun app to have.

You should definitely contact the existing cache owners. And be sure to include something like "hidden by xxxxx" in your list so they're credited.

Ethics.

This one sure isn't overrated: http://coord.info/GC2B17Y What was so hard about this cache? Difficult puzzles. Insanely difficult hides. Terrain that could kill you.

This one sure isn't overrated: http://coord.info/GC2B17Y

I don't have a kindle but I've thought about getting one. I believe that you can download a pdf to kindle. MacOS will let you create a pdf of anything that can be printed. If you have a PC perhaps there is something similar. The nice thing about a pdf is that it captures the images, as opposed to a text file.

It really is a matter of what's important to you. Some people like a physical or mental challenge and some just want to get outside. Fortunately geocaching provides a lot of variety and people can do what they like. I enjoy learning and trying new things. I also enjoy hiking. So I usually go for geocaches that have an interesting puzzle or a unique container and/or are in a park with nice trails. I have one caching friend who likes quick grabs, and a couple of other friends who like extreme terrains. If you want to really get into the D/T numbers game, go to http://www.mygeocachingprofile.com/cacherrankings.aspx You can sort on Average Difficulty, Average Terrain, and a bunch of other things. This is the web site that Groundspeak acquired for the new Statistics feature. You will need to upload your myfinds pocket query to update the cacher rankings. Be warned, if you get into this a couple of things will happen. You'll be tempted to bypass otherwise worthy geocaches that would lower your average. And you'll be irked when someone moves ahead of you in the list.

Well, since you were not actually with the CO when the cache was placed, you could climb back up there, find the cache, and log it. Then you could legitimately favorite it.

I seem to recall reading that you are not permitted to transmit Morse code continuously under part 15. I could be mistaken though, does anyone know for sure?

That's not true, at least not at FCC part 15 (no license required) power levels. You might find my puzzle cache of interest: http://coord.info/GC28FRC It uses an MP3 player connected to an FM Transmitter that I bought on eBay from a vendor in Hong Kong. Be careful, though... the transmitter I bought is barely legal in the US. If I connect a better antenna to it, it will broadcast at levels that make it illegal. They sell more powerful versions on eBay, too. All of them are illegal in the US, unless you have a broadcast license. But a lot of people use them for things like musical Christmas light displays with no problem. Thanks for the clarification. AM radio waves can travel great distances under some circumstances. I remember as a child being fascinated by AM radio broadcasts from Chicago and New York (we lived in Podunk, Tennessee.) But this does not make unlicensed transmission legal as you pointed out.

Just curious, why would you want to use AM? I'm writing a puzzle with instructions that suggest a location and also "630 AM". I'm shooting to exploit the ambiguity between time of day and radio band. (It's not a puzzle that would be listed on this site, but after the event is over I would likely repurpose the equipment for a geocache rather than have it go to waste.) I realized I did not answer your question. At a given power output AM signals can travel further than FM. AM transmission equipment is also cheaper. There are a few downsides of AM though, including the need for a much longer antenna.

Just curious, why would you want to use AM? I looked at both AM and FM and in my area the AM frequencies were clogged with radio preachers, conservative commentators and other obnoxious content. I could not find an open frequency. There is a great tool for finding an open FM frequency at http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/vacant You are still responsible for making sure your transmission doesn't step on any licensed transmissions so you need to listen at a frequency before transmitting on it.

www.part15.us is a good site to help you understand the FCC regulations for unlicensed radio transmissions. The issue is the transmitter power output, not specifically the distance, but I think you will have problems finding a legal FM transmitter that will transmit 700 feet. I have attempted something similar using the Canakit transmitter suggested by BBWolf and couldn't get it to work to my satisfaction. The two big problems I encountered were frequency drift and hum. To avoid frequency drift you need a phase-locked loop transmitter, and to avoid hum you need a transmitter with a really good power supply. My setup used the Canakit and a discarded iPod playing a message on loop. I built a capacitive filter circuit that reduced the hum quite a bit, but never got rid of it. And in several days of testing the frequency drifted onto licensed frequencies, which is not good. I know BBWolf has had very good luck with his Canakit, but I didn't, so YMMV. In any case you could certainly get one to prototype your cache and play with. DO NOT waste your time and money on a "Talking House" transmitter. A caching friend used one and it requires almost daily maintenance to keep it running. I bought one too and had similar issues. If the caching budget would cover it I would get the type of transmitter used with Christmas lights displays. One example would be the FM25B transmitter from ramseyelectronics.com. You do have to build this kit, but I think there are some electronics repair shops that sell assembled versions. I didn't do a thorough search for transmitters, but anything that the Christmas light aficionados have good luck with would work.

If I were a relatively new geocache hider, and someone rated my cache "lame", I'd probably pull the cache and not hide any more. There's no need to be mean to anyone. The accepted way to deal with a lame cache is just to log "TFTC."

The best thing to do is to ask the cache owner for help. If the cache has already been found, most COs will provide a hint (or two or three.)

And keep notes. I've taken up a habit of keeping copious notes on any puzzle I attempt to solve, so that I can come back to it later to finish and to use as reference material later. I keep a bookmark list of all the puzzle caches I've solved. For each one I list the actual coordinates, the cipher involved if applicable, any needed websites, etc.

This is not a good idea but it might trigger a better idea. You could hide a relatively large container at the coordinates and fill it with film cans or the like. One of the film cans would hold the log and would be painted with glow in the dark paint. It would be a pain to find during the day but would be easier at night.

Awesome! I imagine that the servo unlocks the key so it can be removed when the box is taken to a certain location? How does the key get locked in place again?

I am guessing that you turn the GPS LED on while you're getting a satellite fix to indicate that the box is "doing something?" Then either display the numbers in the nixies if you get a fix, or turn the Error LED on if you can't get a fix?