Thot
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Posts posted by Thot
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Do I need to hide it and then wait for it to get approved, or can I go ahead and get it started now and hide it tomorrow or this weekend?
I dont know the coordinates yet, but I do know the location.
I'm working on my first cache approval now, so I don't completely understand how it works.
But, on the submission form there's a check box that says “Yes, this cache is currently active.” If you fail to check the box saying it’s ready to go it also says, “The reviewers will not see this listing until you [check the box].”
This says to me the cache must be in place to get approval. If you say it is when it isn’t and it gets approved before you place it you may tick off some FTF (first to find) eager beavers who'll dash out to find it as soon as it's approved.
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This game is like checkers. It’s very easy to learn the basic moves and start playing, but there’s a lot to learn after that.
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You might need to adjust the contrast if you have trouble reading the screen.
Another discovery. I didn't realize you could change the contrast. That made mine much easier to read.
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The best you can do on the spot is to pick a time when satellite geometry is best, . . .
Is there a way (such as a website) to tell when the sacred orbs are in the best alignment (It is the age of aquarius, uh querr re us)
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If you come from the newsgroup world you probably come expecting to get flamed regularly. It isn't that way here. In this the Getting Started forum it's rare to see someone have a shot put on them. There are other forums on this site where you are a little more likely to see that sort of thing, but there's a general agreement here that folks want to welcome new people to the game and all questions should be answered politely and thoughtfully. I can assure you Compucache was not intentionally flaming you.
If your reaction wasn't just an understandable knee-jerk response to a life in newsgroups, I assume it goes without saying if you continue remarks like "Yanks make me puke" you probably won't get a lot of support here.
The answer to your question is, after 10 posts in these forums it changes from tadpole to geocacher, but if you become a premium/paying member you can change it to anything you want immediately.
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I just downloaded the example cache note. It says in part, "There are hundreds of sites all over the world."
Probably written a while ago. Might need updating to say "There are thousands of sites all over the world."
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Mine came with the latest version of Firmware available so I don't know what the menus used to be like, but I did notice the extensive number of options in the menu. (Kind of scarry at first )
I've edited my post to say "I really like the generous way you can customize the screens" I wish you could customize the menus. Maybe I could make them logical to me in the field. As it is if something goes wrong with the displays in the field I have to go home and struggle to figure out how to correct it, like I had to do yesterday.
It isn't obvious from the menus but you can customize virtually every screen. For example, I use the map screen when going for a cache, and I like the bearing and distance from the cache displayed at the bottom. This lets me see where it is relative to me and how far I am from it. Occasionally, due to obstructions, I use the bearing to point me to the cache when I can't move fast enough for the unit to point me to it. I also customize the map screen display itself so the arrow always points in the direction I'm moving -- the default where it follows North is confusing for me. I also turn off other distracting stuff and set it to provide a line pointing directly to the cache. Just to make thing easy and obvious these last changes are done on a different menu in and different area reached in a different way.
BTW, whoever said the resolution of the screen is poor is right. The contrast is also too low, making it hard for my old eyes to read unless held in just the right position in good light. Again, I've never used a Garmin, and I suspect I could pick at them too if I used one.
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Garmin seems to have easier menues and that is a general concencus though some Magellan owners (not Thot though) will say otherwise.
Regarding the menus. I find the menu changes in the latest SporTrack Pro firmware update to be a significant step backward. I thought the original menus were bad but, in my opinion, the newest menus are even less intuitive and much clumsier. They added unnecessary new levels so you have to go deeper into the menus to get where you’re going and they added new menus that force you to do more toggling to reach the menu you’re after. If I could change back to the previous firmware I would. Please don’t flame me, it’s just my opinion.
Easier or not you can customize and do anything you want to do with that Magellan.I do really like the generous way you can customize the screens. After the pain of figuring out how you can make the screens show just what’s useful for your personality. I don’t know if the Garmins provide for this rather extensive tailoring.
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On the advice of a trusted friend and charter boat captain, I bought a Magellan SporTrak Map which came with the MapSend Topo CD, carrying case, PC cord, wrist strap, and belt clip for $199.00. Since I've been reading the posts, I have seen a lot of negative things beeing said about the SporTrak. Was this a good buy?
You’ve stepped into an area of controversy. From what I’ve seen brand loyalty is much like a religion or choice of spouse to many. People lose perspective.
I have a SporTrack Pro. It’s the only unit I’ve ever owned so I have nothing to compare it to. Other than the fact that the menus are anti-intuitive and the manual is terrible, I’ve been satisfied with the performance.
On tests I’ve done it is very accurate, but you have to give it time to settle in after you arrive at the target location – maybe as much as 5 minutes. I don’t know if Garmen units have this settling time or not. Tree cover creates a problem for GPSrs. I chose the SporTrack after reading many articles. On balance they suggested the SporTrack does a better job in such adverse conditions. But, all in all modern units all perform about the same -- after that it’s bells and whistles that make the difference in price.
Here's a geocaching forum devoted to GPS gadgets http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showforum=11
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Good question. I'd wondered the same thing.
As long as we're asking about travel bugs I have another question.
Is there distance etiquette? That is, is there any feeling you shouldn't pick up a travel bug and move it to another cache a mile away?
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My other purpose for posting was to encourage Thot to get in touch with 9Key, one of the volunteer cache reviewers for Texas. See if you can work something out with him regarding a "hold" on this location temporarily.
Thanks, I had no idea who approved caches in my area.
Note that, if you make up a cache page but un-check the "This cache is active" box, the cache will still show up in a proximity search if the reviewer is looking at another new cache submission in the same area.That was all I wanted. The note makes it seem like if the box is unchecked the submission it completely invisible to reviewers. Thanks again.
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you have no idea when you cache will be approved and listed. If you aren't sitting at the computer waiting for the next 2-3 days to catch it and disable the cache that instant, you will probably be sending all your local FTF crazies out looking for a cache that isn't there.
That was exactly my thinking too. I'm sure the FTF hounds will see the cache become active/approved before I do and make wasted trips. A sure way to win friends and influence people.
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If you are worried about it washing away in the rain, why not tether the cache to a tree?
I've considered that. There's no way to do it without creating a high risk muggles will see the tether and wondering why it's there.
There are other potential problems with this location that only leaving the container in place for a couple of weeks will answer.
The location I'm focusing on is a better location, but if things don't work out there's a less desirable location not real far away.
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Kai Team
Did you see my edit to my previous post?
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The best way to try to contact the approver for your area is to look in the lower left corner of the page for a recently placed cache in your area and click on the link after "Approved by".
Excellent tip. I'd never noticed that. Thanks.
Edit:
I hate to be dense, but where is that Approved by link again?
In the lower left of a cache page I find this:
There are more logs. View them all on one page
Current time: 9/8/2004 1:16:55 AM
Last Updated: 8/29/2004 11:38:19 PM
Rendered: From Memory
Coordinates are in the WGS84 datum
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The edit option gives the owner the ability to edit the cache page, within limits. You can edit the description and hints any way you want. You cannot edit the cache type (e.g. from physical to virtual) nor can you move it more than a certain distance (0.1 miles - about 500 feet, I think) without resubmitting it for approval. The idea is that you can edit/update your cache page as long as you don't change the essential character of the cache.
If I understand what you are saying. You must keep the same defined cache type(regular, micro, virtual, etc.), and stay within .1 mile. Other than that you can change anything you want on the page.
This includes changing the entire description, the clue, the contents, changing to a HTML page from a text only page -- changing any and everything except those two things. Have I got this correct?
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I meant talk to the person who placeS the cache. (should someone take it over)
I see now.
In reply to another of your comments:
I have no idea who approves caches in my area, and no idea how to contact them. I had seen statements by an approver in this forum urging people to let him know if they didn't want a cache approved immediately so he could hold it. This comment made me believe you could delay approval for a short time. On the other hand the new cache form says the approver doesn't even see the cache until it's placed and ready to be approved. This conflict is what prompted my question.
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Incidentally, I was serious when asking where it’s explained what can be changed after the cache is approved.
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I think they meant that you should submit the cache, have it approved, then imediately disable it. Then you can enable it as soon as you're ready go.
Actually I was responding to the comment recommending I "post the cache with the initial coordinates and then edit the cache page to improve the accuracy of the posted coordinates. That's precisely why geocaching.com allows owners to edit their cache pages (within limits)."
There is another location in the same park I intend to use if this one washes away in a heavy rain. His recommendation may work if I can change the coordinates 300-400 feet.
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Perhaps I should clarify something. I'm not trying to have the micro the other person placed removed. It's far enough away to not violate the .1 mile rule. This park had had no cache previously, his micro made me realize if he'd put it nearer the place I'd found it would have ruled out me placing a regular cache.
I'm not trying to hold this area indefinitely. I’ve gone on probably 10 scouting expeditions trying to find a reasonable location for my first cache. On the other hand if people have to throw up “something” in order to avoid losing a location, it seems like it encourages the kind of hastily done, poorly worked out "lame" caches I see criticized here regularly.
PS Someone said do it now and change it later. Where is it explained what I can change later?
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I just submitted a new cache listing to “stake-out” my claim to a location. I’ve been studying this location for about a month and somebody just placed a micro in the same park. I placed the container about a week ago, and I don’t want somebody else to take this location before I’m ready to go public.
So far there are no contents other than a note explaining it’s a cache test, what geocaching is and how to contact me. I want to test this location for a while before I feel comfortable it’s going to work. I want to see the effects of a hard rain and collect coordinates on a better couple of days.
I can’t check the block that says the cache is “currently active” because it’s not yet. When I submit the listing there’s a note saying “Approvers will not see this listing unless box is checked” Also, the note to approvers explaining what I'm doing comes up blank every time I readd it.
How do I stake my claim to this location I’ve spent considerable time and effort on?
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I'm still new to this but and i have placed 3 caches. when i checked them today (online) i noticed that one of them is being watched by 4 people and another by 3.
I scanned the thread, and must have missed what I’d guess is the most common reason people watch caches -- they failed to find it and want to be sure it’s still there. Plus, as someone did mention, maybe pick up some hints from new finders how to find it.
The cache I had the hardest time finding has 8 people watching it.
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Sounds like you should be in business then. Clear the track, get a lock, and try another walk. I'm not sure what happened on your first few efforts, but now that you've got a bit more information about how your SporTrak is creating backtrack routes, you may be better able to make sense out of it.
If it still doesn't seem to be showing a route retracing your steps, try to describe specifically what steps you took and what is or isn't happening for you.
I’m sure it got lost in all the exchanges. But, on my last test all the conditions you've discussed were satisfied. To recap:
Position-destination mode was on
Auto detailed was selected
At the furthest point from my house I selected “Menu/Routes/Backtrack/Activate Backtrack”
The device responded, “Backtrack Could Not Be Created. OK”
The odd cluster of waypoints surrounding my home appeared on the map display, but there was no track or trail to follow.
After I returned home I turned on track lines and saw a dotted path that appeared to be my trip down the street and back.
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. . . try making sure that your position-destination line is toggled on so you can see where you are supposed to go on your map screen:
(from map screen): Menu/map setup/display/ position-destination (toggle on).
The position-destination line is turned on, and has been. It’s one of my primary tools for locating caches.
Tracking is turned on from the map screen:For hiking, auto detailed is the best.
Auto detailed is on.
If you *have* any existing track points, they can display on the map screen:Menu/map setup/display/track lines (toggle on)
When I returned from my last (failed) test I turned on track lines and saw a dotted path that appeared to be my trip down the block and back.
Is It Me Or Am I Missing The Point?
in How do I...?
Posted
Man, I love that BIG avatar.