emb021

Anyone know when/if they will include the Motorola Q (which uses MS Mobile)? I have a Q 9c on Spring, and don't see any Q listed for any carrier. AFAIK, it should have a GPS chip in it.

Most of the threads about geocaching and scouting (both boy scouts and girl scouts) are over in the "Organized Geocaching" forum. Some points. Not going to repeat some that others have already pointed out. Scouting is not ignorant of geocaching. The BSA included geocaching at the 2005 National Jamboree, and has been doing scouting/geocaching training at Philmont and incorporated geocaching in its new youth leader training. I would expect them to do the same at the 2010 Jamboree. Some have talking about getting the BSA to do a geocaching award (like Snorkeling BSA, etc) or a merit badge. We'll see what happens. There are many scouters who cache. There are many scouting-related caches out there. Many scouters have done geocaching info sessions/training at camporees, scout shows, merit badge colleges, university of scouting events and more. I've done this, and know of other scouters who do the same. There are troops and packs who cache, and I am aware of atleast one Venturing Crew who specialized in caching (they put out a geocoin). There are a few scouting-related geocoins.

Most of the threads about geocaching and scouting (both boy scouts and girl scouts) are over in the "Organized Geocaching" forum. Some points. Not going to repeat some that others have already pointed out. Scouting is not ignorant of geocaching. The BSA included geocaching at the 2005 National Jamboree, and has been doing scouting/geocaching training at Philmont and incorporated geocaching in its new youth leader training. I would expect them to do the same at the 2010 Jamboree. Some have talking about getting the BSA to do a geocaching award (like Snorkeling BSA, etc) or a merit badge. We'll see what happens. There are many scouters who cache. There are many scouting-related caches out there. Many scouters have done geocaching info sessions/training at camporees, scout shows, merit badge colleges, university of scouting events and more. I've done this, and know of other scouters who do the same. There are troops and packs who cache, and I am aware of atleast one Venturing Crew who specialized in caching (they put out a geocoin). There are a few scouting-related geocoins.

It helps if you know how to spell Jacksonville...

As noted, the first note has to do with the accuracy between the placers GPSr and yours. To be honest, I will use my GPS right up until I am about 2-3 feet from the local, per my GPSr, then take it from there in terms of searching. The second point has little to do with using your GPSr, and a LOT to do with your visual vantage point at finding/seeing the cache. There have been MANY caches that I have been able to find because I came at their hiding place from a different direction, such as they were quite visible to me.

So long as "ziggy" doesn't start logging finds, go for it...

ok. Hope you put it back, and didn't try to trade out the stamp. Unless its a geocache/letterbox hybrid, no. You'd have to log it at either the letterboxing north america site and/or Atlas Quest. (for some reason, some letter boxes are list on one of the other, and some on both). Letterboxing NA: http://www.letterboxing.org/ AtlastQuest: http://www.atlasquest.com/ Pros- it can be as much fun as geocaching, and you can combine the 2. (see if there are LB and GC in the same general local, and go for them. Cons- less so the cons about the activity, but about other things. There are not nearly as many LBs. The above 2 websites are much more primitive then geocaching.com. At best can only record that you found or didn't find it. No logs or the like. I think the reason that AQ was created was the slowless of improvements on the LBing site. LBers seem a bit anti-tech in this. They are also (as another pointed out) big on hand made stamps. They turn their noses up at store bought. And some seem anti-GC for poor reasons.

Ditto. Got the free shipping, cause I wasn't in a rush to get it. Recommend you get the case for it. I didn't, and wound up getting it locally for more. (I scratched the screen a little in my car, so wanted to get one before I did more damage) Also get a 2GB MicroSD card, either from Amazon or locally (I got a Sans from Costco for about $20, so was good to go).

In addition to the other suggestions, I would add: * geocaching brochures or the like (can get these from geocaching-u). Nice to have to give to people if they ask what you're doing. * small cache repair kit (extra plastic bags of various sizes, extra logs of various sizes- nano, micro, etc, tape, and the like)

I carry copies of the trifold brochure from geocaching-U. I've also handed these out at scouting events. As for books, I did pick up the Complete Idiot's Guide to Geocaching when I first got involved. What I liked about the book was where it shows you can do more with geocaching then just finding some ammo can in the woods (fun as that is).

Oh? I had the coords of some caches that wheren't yet published. I was the FTF on some, but felt I had an unfair advantage, so purposely did NOT claim FTF. (I did log on-line with the date I found it, FWIW). Same for a recent cache that I helping the owner hide. I was the first to log it, but felt that since I help hide it, claiming FTF wouldn't be right.

Oh? I had the coords of some caches that wheren't yet published. I was the FTF, but fealt I had an unfair advantage, so purposely did NOT claim FTF. (I did log on-line with the date I found it, FWIW).

I also agree with briansnat's assesment. The issue of 'microspew' can be a problem. I know in my area there are several series of caches placed on end of the road guardrails, at big box stores. Most are simple MKH or 35mm film canisters, tho every so often, someone does something a little interesting here. But if you don't like those kinds of hides, you can always ignore them. There are STILL good caches being placed. Even in my area, I'm still seeing interesting hides. For me, its one of 2 factors that make a cache interesting: * an interesting location. This doesn't need to be a location deep in the woods. Even a small neighborhood park can be interesting, as you've brought people to a place they never knew existed. * an interesting hide. This can be anything from a neat camo job, interesting place to hide a cache, a puzzle, or series that got you to the hide, etc. I'm seeing more puzzles caches in my area. Someone recently did a night cache that you need flashlights to see the little reflectors that lead you to the final. I still like to think there are still neat places to place a hide and neat ways to hide a cache.

I recently upgraded from an eTrex Venture to the Legend HCx and love it. I pretty much only use it for geocaching. I didn't think the color screen was important, but have to admit I like it. I had been thinking for some time to get a newer GPS, and was seriously looking at the GPSMAP 60CX, and was just put off by the high price. The eTrex Legend HCx was a close second, and was only put off from getting it because I figured the quad-helix antenna would get better reception then just a 'better chip set' of the H-series. But people on-line said the reception was about the same, some claiming the H was a little better. As I could get the Legend HCx for a little under a two hundred from Amazon, I went for it. (problems with the rocker button that recently developed on my Venture was getting worse, so that also pushed it). Overall, I've liked it, and like some of the added features that make it even nicer (IMO) to use it for geocaching. Shop around and get a cheap Micro-SD card (believe 2G is the max you can use). I picked up a Sans one at costco for about $20.

(Am putting this in getting started. If the PTB think this should go elsewhere, please move it). While I've been finding caches for several years, I am only now starting to get into setting up caches. I have seen, usually in the forums here, 'articles' by others that gave detailed step by step info on how they camoed various containers. Sadly, I don't see them, and don't know if anyone has archived them on-line. I'm not that knowledgable about some of this sort of 'handyman' stuff, so info on how best to camo lock n locks (paint? if so what kind. any prep work on the container. Is camo tape better, etc) and ammo cans would be great. I got one ammo can recently and want to get it preped. Here is some rust on it, so I'd like to sand that off, prime it and paint it, at least to get rid of the yellow lettering, then either use a stencil or large geocaching sticker to prep it. So. Any kind of sand paper will do. What do I seal/prime it with. What is the best paint to use? (obviously I need spray paint intended for medal. Rustoleum is probably a good bet.) Any pointers on line for stuff like this?

I picked up a 2G Sans MicroSD card at Costco for about $20, fwiw.

The guidelines others have stated for when they log DNFs is what I follow. I'll add the following. Logging DNFs are good for two reasons: * you now have a record of your attempts, and can more easily revisit the cache info before you try again. * you attempts may help other people, including the owner. A cache with a lot of failures and no find is a good signal there's a problem. A good owner will check. If you are considering looking for a cache and there have been NO finds in quite a while, and maybe several failures, that's a warning that you may be wasting your time looking as well until someone DOES find it, or the owner verifies that everything is fine.

As noted, TB tags and geocoins are something you will HAVE to purchase on-line. Most other things you CAN get at local stores. GPS, swag items, etc. You might get them cheaper on-line. If you get into placing caches, again, most of your supplies (cache containers, logs, ziplocs, swag items, etc) you can get at local stores. There are a few items you will probably only find on-line (nano caches and a few items like that), and some you will probably only easily find on-line (bison tubes, etc), and many times you might find CHEAPER on-line (containers, etc). Hope that helps.

Now, if someone was smart, they'd contact the maker of that tool and see if they could it made with a green handle and something stamped on it like 'geocaching nano log roller' or the like, and sell it thru the various on-line geostores... As I thought of it first, its patented, and whoever does this must pay me royalties!

There are many sources for log templates you can download and print out. Heck, even cachebox has that. When I think of any logs for micros and nanos, that what I think of.

There is a group you might want to get involved in: Florida Geocaching Association: http://www.floridacaching.com/ Might be able to hook you up with people in your area better.

Oh, a couple of other things. On the sheets I print out, I always decode the hint first. Previously you had the option to get the last 5 logs (which are usually useful). The new version only does this if your get the PDF, which I don't bother.

Ok. My method is a mixture of paperless and paper caching. It's what works for me. I am mainly dealing with urban and suburban caches (generally 'park and grab', or atleast park, looking and find, and leave for the next cache) and caches in city/county parks (find park, park as close as possible to cache, find, and leave for next cache). I have, in general, 3-4 general areas I keep an eye out for caches. I use GSAK. ALL caches I am interested in I download into GSAK. I get the weekly updates from Groundspeak about new caches, and I check to see if any are in my area, and then download them. All get uploaded to my GPSr. I also print out the page for each cache. I make sure that the map that prints out in usually at city level, so I knew where to find the cache in terms of driving. I put these pages into one of several folders based on which area they are in. When I decide I'm going to spend the weekend caching, I usually decide which area I will hit, and pull out the appropriate folder. I'll use the 'map it' feature to get an overview of the general area. This way I can see if there are any new caches I didn't know about, and weed out any caches that have now been archived (permanent archived, I throw out the page I had, temporary are set aside). I pull together all the pages of the caches I plan to hit. I use the maps on the sheets (remember I said I printed them out at city level), I then organize them into the order of the general route I will drive to get to the caches. As I go along my right, I will mark on the sheet stuff like that I found it (and what order), dnf, any trackables I found/pickedup/dropped off, etc. Afterwards, I will then log F/DNF/trackables on geocaching.com, mark found in GSAK, and add finds to my logbook. Hope this helps.

Even better is this series of caches in my local area called.... Puzzle Solving 101: http://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/view.a...ef-901807ba9c98 Each of the 9 caches in the series is designed to teach a different puzzle solving methodology. The clues you find in each cache are another puzzle leading to the final.

This is what I do also. What I want to figure out how to do is avoid uploading Found Geocaches from GSAK (I always make in GSAK my found caches. Other cachers don't do this, prefering to delete these from the GSAK db).