wildlifewriter

I gotta get me one of those.

Please Note: The above article does NOT mean that you can use anything other than WGS84, when hiding a cache and taking its co-ordinates.

GPS datum issues - a retraction Last week, I expressed an opinion in this topic (near the end) about the behaviour of consumer GPS units under the condition where a waypoint is entered using WGS84, and the unit is then switched to different map datum. I stated that this would cause the unit to display a slightly inaccurate grid reference - which is true. I also implied (an a reply to a post by Gerry) that the result might be an on-the-ground tracking error, when using the GPSr. I now acknowledge that this contention was NOT correct. By experiment, it has now been established that the GPSr (Garmin ones, anyway) will track to the originally entered position, while at the same time showing an incorrect position on its display. I apologise to Gerry, and anyone who may have been misled by the previous posting.

Did try to check but I missed that one. (It's a little before my time.) Anyway, my version's funnier...

I would ask them how the "accuracy" figure displayed on Garmin units is calculated, and what factors are used in that calculation. I'd ask Thales (Magellan) the same question - but I don't expect a sensible answer from either company. Not here. Not ever...

This is true. But I've seen the Canaletto collection, and she could spare a couple of those.

Hi there. Regarding your new cache which was submitted for approval on 18/1/05. Thanks for replying to my e-mail so promptly. I can now advise on the main points, as follows... 1)Initially, we were not aware that ALL the land in question is owned by you and your family. The question of permission therefore does not arise. 2)There is no guideline for the size of a “Large” cache box, other than what is reasonable. The container you have chosen seems suitable for the purpose, although you may find that the gilding wears off over time. 3) I fully understand that you do not wish to give out the co-ordinates of the final cache “for security reasons.” However, it's necessary that we have some means of listing it. It is possible to conceal the true co-ordinates by means of a puzzle or series of clues which the finder has to decipher. Perhaps this would be an acceptable compromise. 4)Within our guidelines, the swap items in the cache are entirely a matter for yourself, as the owner. It is true that some caches contain items of higher value, as 'prizes' for the first or second to find. However, your plan to “chuck in a few old Renoirs, and see how it goes” may be carrying this idea to an extreme. 5)As you will only be resident in the area for part of the year, we DO have to insist that you nominate a person who will maintain the cache in your absence, and be responsible for it. The suggestion of “getting one of the servants to do it” is not specific enough. 6) Corgis ARE acceptable as travel bugs – but not real ones. Once these issues are addressed, I will be able to approve the cache for listing, and I hope Your Majesty has great success with it. Regards, UK Approvers PS: Any chance of an O.B.E.? Cheers!!

One thing to check: make sure that you have the latest version of Mapsource for PC. Check 'Help > About' ... the latest update is v6.5 dated 10/1/05, so lots of boxes in the shops still have 6.3 This version has a number of features which make it a lot easier to use with the geocaching GPX file format. If you need the newer version, go HERE and follow the links. Hth,

If and when thy do reply please share the info. OK. Most of this info is on the Garmin website, but it's a bit difficult to filter, so I summarize here... Mapsource City Select Europe V7. If you have a registered copy of CSE V6, which was purchased AFTER 30/11/04, the update to V7 is free. Otherwise, a charge equivalent to USD 100.00 applies. The update comes on a CD, which can be ordered by sending an e-mail with your full name and postal addy, to: <upgradeoffer.europe@garmin.com> Once the CD arrives, you then log onto a payment web page (if applicable) and fork over your $100.00 for an unlock code. (There is no charge for the CD itself.) Garmin UK say that CDs are being sent out now, and they expect to have despatched all current requests before the end of this month. (Jan) Hth,

Small whinge... The new Disclaimer panel (with icon) overlaps the TB listing on the right of the page, OR whatever is at that position. Notes: This happens when screen res is set to 800x600 by old people with poor eyesight. (Like me.)

No, it's just the way you have your GPSr set up. The display format is right (dd mm.mmm) but the map datum setting is wrong. Set it to "WGS84" when homing in in the cache. You'll get it! More has been found with less...

The following motions will be placed before the meeting, on the day... 1) That Mr. Klaus23 be inducted into the Hall of Fame as of 1/1/05. If approved, this will bring the total number of inductees into the Hall of Fame to one. 2) That Mr. P. Lactodorum be invested an an Honorary Irish Cacher, in recognition of his services to the hobby, oustanding achievements etc, etc. If approved, he will henceforth be known as Mr. Lact O'Dorum. (A similar motion in respect of Mr. D. Eckington has been blocked by the DUP, who have requested "clarification" about which school he went to.) The normal Irish voting procedures will apply, i.e. - 108% of those present must cast a vote. The Hon Treasurer (L. Ambu) reports that the total available cash no longer in the Bank stands at £2,484,810.75. (Exchange rates may vary.) Draft Agenda 1) Consideration of the above motions. 2) Drink. 3) A.O.B. signed Gerry Mandering Hon. Sec.

... which brings us neatly to the real point: In any activity, if a person routinely breaks the the rules, then there's something wrong with that person. But if MANY people routinely break the rules, then there's something wrong with the rules. (Or guidelines. since we don't actually have any rules.) The relevant guideline says (among other things) this... 3. There should be one or more questions about an item at a location, something seen at that location, etc., that only the visitor to that physical location will be able to answer. The questions should be difficult enough that it cannot be answered through library or web research. Now, I suspect that this provision is fairly recent and that many virtuals - such as the one cited in the OP - were placed in a more innocent age. My question is:- has the time now come to start weeding these out?

or... "Why virtuals are a waste of web space." ============================= The sweet smell of success for Team BO, who managed to log this cache - despite ferry disruption caused by the current bad weather. Well done, lads... ...Come back soon.

Metroguide Europe V6 has been available for some time now. You can compare your version with V6 by using the "Mapsource Map Viewer" on this page. It's a bit slow and clunky, but gives you an idea of the detail changes (if any) in your area. Garmin have also (just) released an upgrade (V.7) to City Select Europe. (This is the one which works with self-autorouting units.) I have contacted Garmin UK to ask about availability, dates and prices but no reply has been received, as yet (Sunday 16th)

Was 19 the final total then? Well done, and a difficult mark to shoot at, from now on.

Nicely put. However - since this topic was barely relevant to Geocaching when I started it, and definitely isn't now - that's probably enough. Or 'enuff' - if you prefer....

No - but Jemima and Tarquin[1] were seen buying sweetie mice with 50-pound notes, the other day. It's a dead giveaway, is that. [1] - Not their real names.

It is possible. My iQue3600 shows this behaviour after a hard reset, even though Garmin say it didn't ought'a.

Brighton: N50º 49.700 W000º 08.067 Additional Hints (Decrypt ) Whfg gb gur evtug bs Jbeguvat

From our special correspondent The world of Geocaching was thrown into turmoil yesterday, after reports that a group of “rogue cachers” were performing the activity with no clothes on. The group held an impromptu press conference yesterday, led by their spokesman Mr. Luke O'Zade who claimed that the action was in protest at what he described as “recent events.” Mr O'Zade – who appeared dressed in navy slacks and a T-shirt bearing the slogan: “KA rules OK” said: “We object to the high-handed and dictatorial attitude what has been displayed by the moderators from them there Turks and Caicos Islands, just because there is more of them than us, They have no rights to say what we can and can't say whereas we can say whatever we want to say no matter what we say about anybody, as enshrined in the Shops, Offices and Railway Premises Act (1963)” Responding to a question, Mr. O'Zade denied that most of his comments had been made on Saturday night after leaving the pub. He then went on to say: “We are demonstrating our inaliena- ilanieb- fundamental human rights by getting our kit off while caching. So there.” Response from the wider Geocaching community was swift. Leading cacher “Lance Ambu” expressed concern at the development: “I am very concerned at the development,” he said “where am I supposed to carry my spare GPS batteries?” North of the border, Scotch cache expert Ullium McIrnbru told our reporter: “Awa'n bile yer heid, ye pesky gowk so y'are. Nae affence, by the way.” We contacted Mr. Jeffrey Leprechaun, whose Seattle company Caches 'R Us.com owns 79.28% of the entire world. In an emotional address, Mr Leprechaun said: “I don't really care if people want to cache in the nude – just as long as nobody else resigns...” He then broke down, sobbing uncontrollably and was unable to continue the interview. Another company executive, Ms. Helda Nipsoot said: “I am a respectable married woman. What are you implying?” Mrs. Nipsoot was recently voted “Miss July Centrefold” by the American readers of Co-ordinate Systems and Ammo magazine. Later that day, our reporter was blindfolded and taken to a secret location known only as “The Forest” to meet with the group's leader, known only as “The Forester.” After making a short speech lasting six hours, “The Forester” removed all his clothes and re-appeared holding what looked like a Garmin Vista GPS unit in one hand. On closer inspection however, this turned out to be his (That does it. You're banned - Admin)

OK. It appears that some things have been going on "up there" which could account for the effects reported "down here". A couple of satellites are in maintenance or test mode which means they are unavailable. These shenanigans seem to have started around the 6th/7th Jan and are ongoing. Also: a new one (PRN02) was launched late last year and is in the process of being commissioned. (I don't know what its exact status is at the time of writing this.) Such changes affect the almanac tables which your GPSr stores for repeat use. It could be that a given GPS unit (which has been off for a certain period) decides that it now needs to download the whole table again, before starting to use the signals. The effect is to give what looks like a longer-than-usual acquisition time - similar to that seen when a brand new unit is fired up for the first time. This may happen again around the 18th of this month. Or, it may not... [Edited just for the hell of it]

The problem with "simplifying" is that it means setting aside one of the greatest virtues of English - its wide and diverse vocabulary. Mark Twain (as quoted by LJ above) understood this; many crackpots (such as George Bernard Shaw) did not. The effect would be difficult to illustrate, but watch "Celebrity Big Brother" any night this week for a glimpse of one possible future...

Did you explain to Heidi about the, er... initiation ceremony? Perhaps she already knows about it but, if not, the whole business might come as a bit of a shock. Y'know - all that water and everything....

Q: What's the connection between this new cache, and this geocoin which I dropped off elsewhere today? Not a lot. Just one word, in fact. The word - and it has begun to trouble my sleep, recently - is "Cemetary." Now, I'm not much of a writer. Most of the stuff I write ends up in some editorial bin, followed by oaths and hollow laughter - but I did used to be able to spell. Not any more, it seems: do a keyword search for "Cemetary" and you get (count 'em) ninety-one cache listings. So... it's yet ANOTHER new Geocaching word which only I (and Patrick Hanks) don't seem to know about. "Old fool!" I hear you cry, "Wlw should get up to date, and use words like "Cemetary" in his own cache pages." Over my dead body...