kbootb

My first unit was an old Garmin 12 (very rugged and good unit for geocaching). That model had the 'position averaging' feature which displays a value that reflects the estimated accuracy of the averaged position. Now with my Magellan Meridian Platinum I have most display screens customised to show the 'estimated position error' (EPE) which helps in judging the error and current GPS signal quality, but I am not sure if this is the same as the garmins position averaging feature. Not the same thing. All units give an estimate of the current accuracy. This is based on number of satellites visible, signal strength (and quality). It's not on the standard navigation page on Garmins, you have to cycle through to the first page you see on startup that gives sat details. The waypoint averaging is a different feature, taking a reading of you position every few seconds and then performing a mathematical average. Without that feature, try looking at the co-ords of a stationary GPSr every few minutes for about an hour. I usually find that there is a great variation in the first few minutes as it settles into the signal but still changes a bit every time I look at it. This is not a fault. Completely normal. Satellites wander a few feet and have to be corrected about once a week. Signals bounce off hills, buildings etc. Anything within view adds extra reflections to the signal that the algorithms have to weed out, but all adds to the 'errors' inherent in the system. So the 'averaging' does a good job of ironing these out. But back to the thread. For a person starting in the sport, not a significant feature, depending on whether they want to enter at the low end of the price range, or are looking to buy something more towards the mid range. I only added this as they might read it in the product description and wonder what it was and whether it was significant. For me electronic compass is more important than waypoint averaging, but then I spend more time looking for caches than hiding them.

Keep an eye on prices at www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk They gave me good advice and service. I've only had a GPS for about 3 months, but most people use Garmin or Magellan. Points I looked for. 1) Ability to hold up to 500 waupoints. 2) Link to PC for uploading waypoints 3) Tracking feature - keeps a track of where you have been so you can retrace your steps. 4) Electronic compass - GPS can only point to the waypoint when you are moving. If you stand still and turn around the arrow will not change and will be pointing in the wrong direction until you move again. Youcan always spot a cacher without the compass. They have to walk around in small circles as they get near the target What I wasn't bothered about. Mapping facility. Already have a GPS nav system for this on a PDA Barometric altimeter - but I ended up getting a Garmin Etrex summit as it had electronic compass and it did have altimeter. Only use this facility for fun, drove over the alps and could see a profile of the mountain range. Garmin has proved to be very rugged, survived a full canoe capsize and 100 metre trip down rapids while switched on and on a lanyard around my neck. Downside. It does mysteriously switch off every now and then. I have also heard that the glue holding the rubber edge strip fails if it gets hot on a dashboard etc. Feature I would like that seems to be on Magellan (I've not got one but have heard about them) - waypoint averaging. If setting a cache the co-ordinates vary a little depending on local tree cover, exact position of satellite etc. Using my Garmin if I return to the same spot every day fora week I will get a reading that varies by about 70 ft. But if I average these out I get a useable answer. The magellan will do the averaging for you. Hope that helps a bit.

Got mine ok this week (that's Thursday, Friday and Saturday). But these have been active and unchanged for months. Is it only newly created or recently edited that are playing up? Also, I only have a maximum of one on a day. Perhaps people with more than one on a day are affected?

This sounds very much like "lack of maintenance" and the cache should be looked at with a view to getting it archived. You could post a "Should be archived" note which will eventually find its way to me. Alternatively just send me the details and I'll check it out. E-mail on its way.

I think they said that they didn't want them appearing in the search of caches yet to be found. I have a similar problem. I have been searching for caches working in order starting with nearest to home. I have now got to a cache that has been removed by vandals. It seems that the owner will not relace it. Others have claimed it as a virtual as they have in their opinion got to the required location. So what should I do? Claim it as a virtual so it gets cleared off my list or just live with the knowledge that everytime I do a search for not found, this will come up top of the list?

from the jeep.geocaching.com website <quote> ELIGIBILITY: Contest is open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, who are at least 16 years of age who have internet access as of June 1, 2004. </quote> No idea why the jeep TBs are in UK then.... unless it's people in US increasing their chances in the sweepstake.... get them out of US so fewer US residents can find them. Still, they do come up as a separate item in the profile, like geocoins.

I've just found one. In fact it was in the first ever cache that I found. I was just looking to see if anyone else had been there since. The only other visit in about 3 months was today, someone dropping off a jeep TB. So I downed toolsand shot out to pick it up. I'll be dropping it off in another cache very soon!

Yes, Just tried to upload my profile/avatar image. Same error.

That's funny. I was toying with a similar idea. I was thinking along the lines of gps co-ords linked to walks published in books, guides, leaflets etc. Partlcularly as some of these are not often clear. The idea was that anybody who actually completed the walk could upload waypoints for significant turns, views etc.

Missed ozzyuk by about 2 minutes at Deer Stalking judging by the log book. I'm sure we met some fellow cachers in France. Just as we were coming back to the car from a well hidden location are car drew up and asked us if we knew of an old chapel nearby. The cache is at the chapel, which is visible from miles away but not from close up as it is at the top of a wooded hill. We drove all the way around the hill before spotting a path up. We pointed out the pathway and the passenger grabbed what looked like a GPS and sprinted off up the path leaving the driver to thank us and park up. Have been watching the log ever since but nothing, perhaps they failed to find. Made the wife's day though, being chatted up by 2 young French guys!

MemoryMap as requested Thanks for all that posted the link. It's my birthday in a few days and I was already looking at this mapping product from Fugawi Fugawi OS maps Has anybody seen it/used it? It does look fairly similar to Memory Map but cheaper. I've never seen anyone here mention the Fugawi, but many have come up with MM. Was this an informed choice? i.e. is there something that MM does that the Fugawi doesn't?

I certainly do. I took all the caches in France and Italy on holiday recently. Worked a treat. Not seen the 'memory map' that people mentioned in other posts. Can anyone provide a link please?

So, her looks matched her voice?? (I'm always a sucker for a French accent) Looking at the map Alsace itself is a bit thin on caches, but I see the ones you have placed. However there is good caching just to the south and across the border. Don't know Alsace area. We have passed through Besancon and through the Jura a few times. I saw that GPS units were on sale in a few Hypermarkets this year. Also the Internet has begun to get a foothold in France. It was a bit of a slow start due to Minitel and high telecom costs. I always thought that this was a major factor in the slow uptake of Geocaching. Part of my job is creating school partnerships and I have visited on a number of occassions to try and get e-mail and video confrence projects going. This was the first year that a good proportion of the schools I went to had an Internet connection. Two years ago only about 1 in 10 were connected and none of the teachers had Internet at home. This year they all did.

Hey well done. Short and sweet but got the message across. Give us more details! Where in France, which station, how did this happen, how many people were likely to hear this? We have just come back from holiday in France. 3 traditional, 1 virtual and 1 DNF. People often moan about that lack of caches in France, but what they lack in quantity they made up for in quality of location. Sad to say not in quality of contents, same old christmas cracker leftovers!

Congrats. But just like all caches, the contents will get damp from time to time. And no matter how much good quality stuff you put in, next time you look it will be full of C**P.

I've had one for about 3 months. Survived a recent full capsize in a kayak and subsequent swim down the rapids. It does switch itself off from time to time, mostly when using rechargable batteries. As stated in other reply, the barometric altimeter is not of great use to me, but we recently drove over the alps into Italy and it was fun to see just how high we had been. I really like the compass when I give control to the kids. Without it they stop, turn round to talk and then follow the arrow whichever way it is pointing. With the compass they now stop, wait for it to say compass, and then head off in the right direction. The reception under trees has been pretty good. I've been getting readings when other logs say that the GPS wouldn't get a signal. I'm really happy with it, the only thing I would have liked is a waypoint averaging function as this would give more accurate results when marking a waypoint.

It's not 100% intuitive. You go the the page with 'mark' in the menu. Press the enter button. This marks your current location (or if indoors the last fix that it had) you can then scroll up to the name (probably says 001 or similar) press enter and change the name. Click OK to return to details. You can now scroll down to the co-ords and press enter to edit these. Editing the numbers is a bit of a pain as you have to move across, press enter, scroll, enter again and again. I bought a serial cable from e-bay, about £10 and then use a program such as GSAK click here or easygps to type the co-ords in on a computer and upload them. The software is free and easy to use.

In one of my duller moments I have looked at the original contents of a cache and followed through a log of what was taken/left and can't find anybody admitting to taking a high value item and leaving the contents of a cheap christmas cracker. But somehow the contents do seem to mutate. I got to only taking items worth a few quid with me, but one day found a fairly new cache and was amazed at the quality, and did not actually trade as I could not match the worth of any one item. We have been delighted to find books we would never have bought and a DVD which we will watch and the pass on to another cache. What's the best item you have ever taken from a cache then?

OK, just for you, (first time I've tried links so I hope it works) Templar's Secret Cache Way down in the south, River Ardeche. Head for Vallon Pont D'arc. To do this you need to take a 'long descent' as the river is in a gorge and there is no road acces for about 15 miles. If you are going to do it, e-mail me through the geocache web site and I will give you more details on the location.

I know a number of people have reported their Garmins switch off from time to time. Just gathering data: has anyone noticed that it is worse with rechargables? I noticed that whenever mine switched off the rechargables that I was using were very hot. Either there is a temp sensor (doubt it) or the hot batteries were delivering lower than required voltage. Rechargables do tend to run hotter and quickly dip to below 1.5 volts. Something like 1.3 and remain there for most of the time.

I just tried a 5 star cache in the South of France, hoping to be ftf after seeing a number of fails. The cache involved a 15 mile Kayak in nearly 40 deg heat, then a rock scramble then a trek through really spiny bush (dressed in kayak gear, i.e. swimming trunks and sandals). In the end failed to find it. The co-ords did not match up to the description. However, tribute must be paid to the Garmin Etrex summit. We had a full capsize in one of the rapids, both myself and daughter parting company with the kayak and being carried 100 metres downstream to recover paddles etc. The GPS was on a lanyard round my neck and tucked into the bouyancy aid for the rapids. Seeing daughter was OK I pulled the GPS out and it just read 'need clear view of sky'. Not the only one. Then noticed that wedding ring was missing from finger. But somehow my geocaching.com hat was still on and just about totally dry!

Caching in central London today I was having trouble as I had looked up the wrong clue on the pda and was reading the description for the wrong bridge. This meant I was looking for the wrong type of container and in the wrong place. While hunting a passer-by said a phrase to me quite distinctly but I didn't make any sense of it until I got home. I read the hint for the correct bridge to see that the passer-by had said the encrypted hint to me. So it must have been a fellow cacher trying to be helpful. I wish he had given me a bit more as I never did find it.

How about cds full of MP3 files? (Probably illegal downloads) Copies of copyright software? Found both of these recently Also found a DVD rated 15, some fairly strong horror books (which you could have bought in any branch of WH Smiths) but you would (probably) not want an 8 year old finding and reading/watching these. I'm not trying to be funny. Genuinely want to know where people think the boundaries lie here. I was going to leave a stapler and staples. I know that kids just love things like this, but a kid finding the cache by accident? (But on the other hand I hate the over-protective world that we are becoming, sounds like a real old ****, never had all these health and safety things when I was a kid and I made it through)

Works in the same way on Garmin. Go into way point menu and click mark. You will then get an entry with a speech bubble asking ok? Use the buttons on the left to scroll down to the co-ordinate box and enter there. This will allow you to edit the co-ords. It's a bit tricky, scroll using the top left buttons to the digit you want to edit. Click the bottom left enter button, then use the top two buttons again to find the number you want. A bit like entering your name on the high score table on an arcade game. When you have done all you scroll down to OK button and enter to confirm. You are then back at the details screen. You can scroll to the top entry and use the same technique to edit the name. The gps automatically generated them in numeric order e.g. 001 002 etc

I found a geocoin today that had a standard travel bug tag as well. The instructions on the TB page also asked for it to be logged on a Canadian travel coin page. I see that some people have geocoins in their stats page. There is no such entry in my stats, not that I'm trying to claim a double find as I did get the credit for the TB but I can't see a separate way of logging coins on the geocache.com site. Are they only logged on a separate site? How come some people get them in their stats?