questsmith

It's all to do with datums ! I too recently got into geocaching and have had success in finding the caches but I did find the datum stuff confusing. Here is the thread I raised on the topic ... it may be some help ?! Alternatively, try searching for 'datum' there is loads of info here on the forums ! For my first cache, I tried to follow the pointer but was nowhere near. I found watching the coordinates converge on the site was the best way to get close, then it is a case of just having a look in the most/least obvious site around ! Happy hunting

I've never been to the Isle of Man and it would be cool to have a 'first to find' to my name ! I was on the top of Scafell Pike last October, but unfortunately at that time I didn't know that geocaching even existed let alone that there would be tupperware boxes up there to find !! I'll have to go back as that is the sort of cache challenge that appeals !

These sound interesting, but at the risk of sounding ignorant, what do the acronyms IOM and FTF stand for ?!

That sounds the right sort of challenge - the 11 hours not the 2 hours !!! I didn't realise that cache advertising wasn't allowed , so could you discreetly provide coordinates for me to search on ? Anymore for anymore ... got to get my find count up from its current 4 to challenge in the World Rankings !!

I'm a keen mountain walker and I see the world of geocaching as complimenting this hobby very nicely. With a year of potential routes ahead of me I thought that having some geocaches to aim for might focus me on attempting a particular hill or area of the country that I haven't been to before. This is where I seek your help ! Could any of you suggest caches in remote or inaccessable places, but staying within the UK and not requiring too much specialist gear ?! Cheers !

Might be a while before I make an impact on the World Rankings ... ... I've only got 4 !!

OK, my head is beginning to hurt but I think I have nearly got it ! Thanks for helping me to understand it !!

Thanks that has helped clarify things. So it looks like I will have to swap between the datums depending upon whether I am caching or navigating up Tryfan nothing is ever simple !

Thanks for the response ... OK, so WGS84 is the one to use for caching. I used this expression for effect - what I was getting at is whether the WGS84 datum will give coordinates that don't cross-reference accurately to an OS Map ?

Glad to hear you both made it out safe and sound. Also, as a keen mountain walker myself, it is reassuring to know that the technology can help the emergency services get to you without the need for a time-consuming search ... although as I am sure you can confirm, I hope I never have to call on their expertise !

Can I piggy-back this topic as I have more datum confusion ? I have read elsewhere that the GC coordinates use the US WGS84 datum - this was also the default for my Garmin unit - so far so good. As I also use my GPS for walking on the hills, I use it in conjunction with a compass and an OS Map. Having looked at the OS Map technical data it uses the OSGB (1936) datum. If I set my GPS to this datum will I be out of position trying to find the cache and conversely if I use the WGS84 datum, am I going to wander over a cliff in the fog ?! I don't really want to be switching datums backwards and forwards, so any suggestions on which is best ? Also, does the age of the datum impact on its accuracy ? Thanks ! Questsmith

Ah, I did notice that the coordinates yesterday were a little bit off and not as accurate as my previous finds, but I put it down to my inexperience ! Maybe I too was experiencing meteorological interference ... it certainly was mucky weather out there on Sunday !

I braved the wind and various other elements to find a cache in the Cotswolds on Sunday. Have a guess what I picked up ... ... a fan !!!