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Mark+Karen

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Posts posted by Mark+Karen

  1. Regarding cache GC324QD

     

    I'm not the only person who went to the cache coordinates to then load up the description to find that I needed to go and get other information first elsewhere. There are notes in the logs saying that as the coordinates given are the coordinates of the cache location then it's a traditional.

     

    However I have to say I disagree, in my opinion a traditional cache is one which is self contained, go to the coordinates, find the cache, sign the log. Anything else is a puzzle cache or a multi-cache.

     

    There are other traditional caches (not this one) where the description is "Go to this location, turn East and walk 100 paces", which I'd consider to be a multi cache too.

     

    Is this being listed as a traditional as puzzle and multi caches attract less visits?

  2. Make sure you roll the log tightly and insert it in the top part.

     

    This is vital. If you put it into the bottom bit the log will unroll itself. You'll be unable to put the top on, and secondly it'll get caught on the threads so you won't be able to get it out either!

  3.  

    As well, does every interesting cache need to have swag? I have a lovely cache that will hold no swag but is extremely crafty and entertaining. Just because it doesn't have the ability to contain swag does that make it any less valid?

     

    I like many others don't care about swag at all. I don't think I've ever once done any swaps. I'm only interested in signing the log book and that's it. All the other stuff just gets in the way and stops me closing the lid again.

  4. To me a 5/5 difficulty should be either almost impossible to find or almost impossible to open. Maximum 1 of every 10 people should be able to find it and sign the log on the first try. But that's just my personal opinion.

  5. Thank you for your information on the kindle fire. I found out that I still would need 3G to collect GPS service. But your download information is very helpful.

     

     

    Nah, GPS signals can only be received from GPS satellites, mobile signals, 3G or otherwise won't help you. - At least not to the accuracy required for geocaching.

  6. Do iphones with 3G and dedicated hand held GPS units all use the same signal and satellites to work?

     

    Yes they do, the signals are beamed from the GPS sats and picked up by ground units including GPS receivers and iPhones.

     

    I've been geocaching for a couple of

    months now and just downloaded the iphone app and away I went,happy, but I've been to a few cache sites now and have had no 3G on my iphone or even phone signal but when I read the cache page back at home other cachers seem to have no problems finding the same caches with GPS units. If I need to purchase a GPS unit I'll do it but as long as I get signal at these caches where the iphone is useless.

     

    You don't need a phone signal for GPS to work, however this is a slight confusion in here, in that your phone will use a phone signal to get a first approximation of it's location, and it will use a phone signal to download the current satellite locations, knowing your rough location and current status of the satellites helps massively speed up the time it takes to get a 'first fix' on your position. You can get it without these, it'll just take a little longer. There is also the consideration that the iPhone app requires a phone connection to download cache descriptions, maps, etc, but you don't need the signal to be maintained all the way to the cache site.

     

    In my experience with caching with an iPhone 4 it's perfectly fine for the purpose of both finding and setting; however a new dedicated unit will likely always beat a new smartphone, I personally don't think it's necessary to have both; others will disagree.

  7. Well not always ... the latest Etrex GPS use GLONASS satellites as well as the original GPS satellites, and AFAIK the phones don't use GLONASS yet.

     

    Either way while certain phones and apps can be used for geocaching IMO it's not quite the same as having a dedicated GPS :)

     

    The specifications for my iPhone 4S say "Assisted GPS and GLONASS". Whereas the iPhone 4 is just listed as "Assisted GPS". I have no idea if this makes any difference in practice, however it couldn't hurt I guess :)

  8. Each stage in a series is still a valid cache and so should be treated as such. You can still find them without doing the others.

     

    Multis are useful as they allow non-physical stages, and this is all they should be used for IMO. I enjoyed doing multis when I started but it's too much like hard work.

     

    Myself I have a multi cache in Chester-le-Street and it's not very popular, one log every 4 months if I'm lucky which is a shame as more work went into setting that up than any of my other hides.

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