RangerRick

Not so fast Markwell. About 1.5 months ago, I detected an error on your site about GPSr accuracy. But I notice it is still incorrect. A 30' radius equals 2827 square feet. An easy way to calculate this is this formula: (.7854) x (diameter squared). [This message was edited by Ranger Rick on April 19, 2002 at 01:26 PM.]

Not so fast Markwell. About 1.5 months ago, I detected an error on your site about GPSr accuracy. But I notice it is still incorrect. A 30' radius equals 2827 square feet. An easy way to calculate this is this formula: (.7854) x (diameter squared). [This message was edited by Ranger Rick on April 19, 2002 at 01:26 PM.]

quote:Originally posted by Markwell: yea, yea, yea. When Mr. Gates decides to put spell check on the notepad text editor, then I'm OK. Same with the forums here. I am a hopeless speller. All is fixed. Markwell http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/marklent60544/myhomepage/Geocaching/markwellcachemain.htm

quote:Originally posted by Markwell: yea, yea, yea. When Mr. Gates decides to put spell check on the notepad text editor, then I'm OK. Same with the forums here. I am a hopeless speller. All is fixed. Markwell http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/marklent60544/myhomepage/Geocaching/markwellcachemain.htm

When I listed one of my caches about a month ago, I politely asked geocachers to refrain from putting "McToys" and items like them in the cache. So far, so good.

Hello Oz, What I do is enter my zip code in the box to show the area's closest cache sites. Then I pick out the cache sites that have ratings I like and the ones that sound interesting to me. I'll print the good ones and enter the coordinates for those that I will try to find. Usually I try for 3 or 4 on a given day depending on how far I have to travel and hike. If you don't want to enter the points manually, you can use EZGPS. Essentially, go to the Geocache home page, enter your zip code, put a check mark in the little box that is next to the cache you would like the coordinates for and then click the download button. Using your pc connector cable, the coordinates can be loaded to your gps all at once instead of one at a time. These instructions are not detailed but you can at least get the idea

Riff, consider yourself lucky. I have a Garmin GPS V and I can't remember any time I've seen less than 19' accuracy. (At least that is what is showing on the unit.) I don't think those accuracy numbers are very reliable. For instance, last week while I was seaching for a cache, my satelite acuracy was showing 19' and my GPS unit indicated I had 5' to the cache. I put my GPS V down to let it settle in and I put it right on top of the cache. Not even 1 inch off!!! Your unit will get you to the right area with no problem. If the gps units were accurate to the foot, I think a lot of the fun would be taken away from the sport and you would have no use for the "cheater hints" either. Have Fun.

A geocacher claims he forgot to set his gps III to daylight savings time and because of that, he couldn't find the cache. He says that the old time had his coordinates off by 25' to the west. My gps V adjusts for the time change automatically and even if it didn't, I didn't think it would matter. Any feedback on this topic?

You can use a compass and the distance on your map to get you in the area and then use a metal detector to locate the pins. You'll be surprised how fast you can locate them with the metal detector if you know the general area (within 30 to 40'). If you don't know anyone with a detector, I'm sure you can rent one at a rental store in your area. Good Luck

To see if your logs look like the others, just view them without logging in first. If you are logged in automatically, log out and then check your posts again.

To see if your logs look like the others, just view them without logging in first. If you are logged in automatically, log out and then check your posts again.

I'm a 48 kid and I like to go geocaching with or without my children. About a month ago, I got out of my car and was preparing to go on a cache hunt and an elderly couple approached me and asked what the thing was I was holding in my hand.(my GPSr). After explaining to them about geocaching, they said they would tag along if I didn't mind. As it turned out, they arrived at the cache site about 30 seconds before I did. And they were 84 years old!

I use Mapsource City Select because the software came with my Garmin V and I am happy with it. Some others on this site will knock it I'm sure but the only thing I wish I had sometimes would be a topo overlay. I know this software was made for the GPS V and I don't know if it will work on other units or not.

I would be interested in the Traveling Salesman Route Solver but I clicked on the posted link and could not find a program file to try.

quote:Originally posted by paul_stratton: I like it. Have you worked on the CR.EXE since the initial release? I'd like to try it with more waypoints... ...say, 250 or so. quote:Originally posted by philipTB: I've just thrown together a Travelling Salesman solver designed specifically for Geocaching and based upon genetic algorithms. It's still very buggy - especially the data entry part - but it solves a 30 cache route in about 15 seconds. The route is displayed graphically as it converges and can be printed out in its optimised order. If it's of interest I might be persuaded to polish it up a bit. Find it on http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/niknelb in the Software folder under CR.EXE

I think it would be wise to keep current on this topic. Banning all these areas would just about wipe out our sport. Seeing there are about 7-8000 active geocachers, we might have some say in what laws get passed before they get passed if we work together and write our congressman. Again, I would only suggest this if the threat is in fact real.

quote:Originally posted by Irvingdog: Rick, are you a state or national park Ranger by chance? If it is mandated that snowmobiles and atv's stay on the trails, I cannot see how it would be any different for cyclists. Bikes can cause erosion and rutting also. I hear this stuff all the time and it seems like "protectors of the forest" (AKA enemies of gas powered vehicles) all ride mountain bikes, and want to limit access for thier own sport. Stay on the path unless you're on foot. It seems fair to me!y Hello Irvingdog, You assumed incorrectly. If you check my profile, I am a swimming pool corp. owner. My post was strictly about considering memory limitations of gps units and the freedom of the bikers to ride where their intuition leads them. I think you read more into my post than what was intended although I am concerned about the protection of nature. Ranger Rick is just my chosen user name.

While I was talking to a Dell Computer rep, he told me that if a unit is returned to the warehouse for any reason, even if it was not opened, they could not sell it as new. If the box was opened, they would test the unit, repair it if it needed it and mark it reconditioned or refurbished and send it out. If the box was unopened, they would stamp it reconditioned and send it out at a discounted price. So my point is even if you buy a refurbished or reconditioned item, it may be brand new anyway. My two cents

The GPS V also has the boat anchor drag alarm.

Posting the Whole track route might not help too many people because of the memory restrictions on some of the gps units. Some gps units cannot store a long track route. Also, I think most bikers like autonomy of finding their own way to their destination, or at least some of the way. For the most part, marking waypoints along the way is the way to go. Waypoints could be marks for places you should turn off the trail, a watering hole, points of interest, etc. These waypoints use much less memory than complete routes

Hello Thekeep and welcome to geocaching. Because of your two strikes at bat, I would double check you gps unit and make sure you are using the same coordinate datum that everyone else is. (That is, WGS84) If you are using the wrong datum, you may never find a cache even if it is on top of the ground because your coordinates would be off. Hope this helps.

How about "Cache Nuggets" or "Cache Treasures"

My brother was given the Magellan GPS Companion for a Christmas present and I bought a Garmin GPS V. We went on 3 cache searches together and he bought a GPS V. Enough said. I consider the Companion a "wanna be". It was better than nothing but no more than that for geocaching. Just our opinion.

My brother was given the Magellan GPS Companion for a Christmas present and I bought a Garmin GPS V. We went on 3 cache searches together and he bought a GPS V. Enough said. I consider the Companion a "wanna be". It was better than nothing but no more than that for geocaching. Just our opinion.

I forgot to mention this on the above post, I always use Track Up while searching for caches. It makes it much easier to see which direction you are going in relationship to the target.