mathogre

Thank you, everyone! I went back out this morning, and had a DNF. What I did in advance was what you folks suggested. I looked at hints, photos, and log entries. When navigating, once I was near I went to the compass instead of the map. I was in the right area yesterday, based on everything I learned. I spent time looking for the cache in both immediate and surrounding areas. While I'd already become familiar with the types of containers, I do need to familiarize myself with the greater range of containers. Finally, I need to look at additional videos. Ultimately I need to get a few more finds to get a sense of how people hide geocaches. One remark in the log was that when the person looked from a different direction, it was obvious where it was located. "Obvious" translates to experience. I was all over the area and didn't have a sense of where it might be, though I looked, prodded, used a light, et al. I'll come back to that geocache eventually. I want to get more experience so that I know better how and where to look.

Hi! I'm going after my second geocache. My first was easy, and it was done with my iPhone. Today I went out with both my iPhone and my new Garmin eTrex 30x. (I last used GPS during Selective Availability. I knew what I was getting into when getting a new GPSr.) The cache is identified with Difficulty 2. Once close, my position and thus the direction to the cache with both devices was sufficiently random as to wonder if clowns had taken over both my so-called smart phone and my GPSr. Well, my GPSr has an ability to lay down a waypoint and average its location, albeit with accuracy if I wait 90 minutes with multiple readings. I didn't have that amount of time today. Still, I thought it would be a way to identify "my" location and navigate to the cache location accurately. This assumes of course that the cache location is accurate. Do people do that? I would imagine there are some geocaches that are sufficiently challenging that it's worth the time and effort to get close to a cache, survey a known position, and do dead reckoning from there to the cache. Fwiw, this cache is small with lots of interesting nearby locations to hide it. It is also located in a bit of a valley, inviting the virtual navigational clowns to the party. I've since returned to the web page for the cache to get some additional information, and I now think I know where to look. I'll return tomorrow, a bit humbled.

Hi! I'm new to geocaching, but not to GPS. I just received my new eTrex 30x today! After working with it for awhile, I was ready to throw it against a wall. Seeing what satellites were "in view" told me to just chill. If you're driving on the streets and are in the range of cell towers and wifi sites, an iPhone or an Android will be hard to beat in comparison to a GPSr. Garmin et al really ought to pay attention. Moreso, Apple and Google (the architects of the Android OS) should pay even more attention. With a bit of added technology, they could send Garmin and brethren to a special Chapter 7 [Bankruptcy] Geocache. Nevertheless, a GPSr will work in the mountains where you're headed, even if there is no cell or wifi connectivity around. The satellites transmit their information (location and time) and your GPS triangulates your position accurately based on that information, assuming you've got 4+ satellites in view. The base map with the 30x is useless, so I'm currently in the process of upgrading. I'll assume that in the Touch 25 is equally as useless. Upgrade your maps, whether from open source maps or through a Garmin purchase. When you're really in the middle of nowhere with no apparent connection to the outside world, your GPS device might suddenly look quite appealing.

I know this thread has been quiet for awhile, and I'm a noob here. No matter, I have opinions on cameras. I recently started here and found my first cache a few days ago. My camera of choice to bring with me was my little Elph, the ELPH 330 HS. It is a great little camera! Why that? I have a few cameras, including a couple full frame Canons with high end lenses. Little Elph however wanted to join me, so she came along. On a more practical level, I could bring a DSLR with a good lens, and likely I will sometimes. I've used my pro gear to do lots of high end photography. It's great for that. It's also great for simple snapshots. And yet the little ELPH 330 has an effective focal length range of 24-240mm, does pretty well in semi-low light conditions (ISO 3200 is its practical limit), is tiny, is macro capable, and it doesn't get in my way. It is impressive in its own right.

My name, mathogre, is part of a complete anagram (Evil Math Ogre Kgh Ra) of my Real Life Name. I'm also a mathematician, er, that's really Mathemagician. I sling equations and craft epic algorithms. Years ago I belonged to the Institute of Navigation, and remember reading a paper about the relativistic effects regarding the clocks on the GPS satellites. (It was actually very interesting!)

Hello! I'd heard of geocaching in the past, but never knew what it was. Last evening I started to look into it, and was intrigued. I'd used GPS in the selective availability days, primarily for house hunting, so the concept of navigating the unknown or unfamiliar wasn't new. Yes, I use my iPhone for navigating on the street where necessary, but mostly for finding known things and checking traffic. Anyway, this morning I signed up on geocaching.com and saw there was a cache nearby, within 500 feet or so of my home. I grabbed what I needed and went hunting for it. I found it rather quickly. It was fun! That was a 30 minute mini adventure for me! I wonder what I'll find next. Looking forward to meeting folks here and having more adventures!