Geo-Kate

I can see where this is going I don't know what you mean, stora To the OP, I think the vast majority of cachers use their common sense when looking hunting for tupperware. Most of the time, common sense is enough. There just seems to be a small minority who don't have any, or don't use it that could give geocaching a bad name. Keeping up the good CITO work and other bits and peices should keep the sport in good light.

Could one of you 'tekkie' people explain why differing air pressure should affect the GRSr's ability to function correctly, please. Being a little technologically challenged myself, I don't see a connection. I know my satellite television reception is affected and goes pixillated sometimes if there is heavy rain in the area so I could understand if that caused a problem with GPS satellite transmissions. Thanks in advance. I the best I can come up with is this: As the radio waves beeing sent from the satellites travels through the atmosphere, varying pressures will distort the waves by deviating them and slowing down the time codes slightly differently for each satellite. This would make the signals and therefore the 'accuracy' less reliable. I noticed a problem the same day, too. Trying to find a cache, the indicated position for it jumped about 40-50' as we were looking for it. Just a bad day I guess.

Just found out this morning that a cache that has one of our TBs in it has been archived. A note says something about it being found twice by muggles and it has been found and removed my some boy scouts. The owner has not mentioned anything about our TB, but I don't hold too much hope. I have sent the owner an e0mail, and am awaiting a reply. On a similar theme, we picked up a Bug from Staffordshire and bought it back with us, and plaaced it in a cache. On my log I said I was worried about the security of the cache, but left the Bug in there anyway A few days later, the cache was archived and needless to say the bug never re-appeared. I feel so guilty that I was the last cacher to have it, and sent a message to the owner to let them know what has happened. One or our caches was muggled last year, a cacher found the contents scattered all over the area, and the ammo box laying open right in the middle of a clearing. They very kindly spent considerably time scouring the area for it's contents and rehid the cache nearby but in a different spot. When we returned to retrieve the cache, the spot where it was originally hidden was littered with cans of Tennant's and Foster's, and some funny looking cigeratte ends I guess it's all part and parcel or caching, and just makes you search for even more devious hiding places!

I will stick my nose where it truly does not belong, as I have had no part in the earlier topic or this one. My personal view of the mods is the same of most of you out there, they do a wonderful job and are an extremely valuable assett to the UK caching community. The ONLY criticism (or is it awe?) is that they let a certain few on here attack, make snide remarks and always seem to be at the source of the vast majority of 'heated discussions' a.k.a. needless arguments on ths forum, without ever getting heated themselves. Some people seem to thrive on winding others up, and seeing how far they can push people for their own enjoyment. The fact they manage and tolerate this behavior means they deserve a medal in my eyes. This is not an attack at anybody, or any people, this is just an observation I have made in the few months I have been on this forum. /rant

I have encounted this problem several times out caching. I try not to correct people co-ords, as I am conscious about offending people or it being taken a negative criticism. I recently found a cache where the statded co-ords were over 100' off, and when I finally located the cache, it was completely empty axcept a sandwich bag and a rubber band, I think. My log did state that the cor-ords are off and I was dissaponted in the condition of the cache. Strangly, the next finder said it was in a dangerous position, and had to be accessed by reachoung over a large drop, which I know I didn't encounter!

Sounds good, but I'm not sure how feasible it really is. Most PDAs will shut off automatically after jsut a few minutes of inactivity. I dont know if you will be able to overide the auto power off. Also, it will have to withstand not only wind and rain, but the extremes of temperatures. I don't know how or if PDAs work in sub-zero conditions. And then there's ensuring the charge it recieves during the day will be be sufficient to keep the machine on throughout the night. Especially on a cloudy short day in winter when it returns. Remeber, Bluetooth really saps power of any device. If these problems can be addressed or ruled out, it sounds like a great idea. I hope it gets off the ground, so to speak.

I just use the free version, as I am satisfied with what I get from it. TBH, I don't even know what benefits come from upgrading it. I use it just as an interesting application, that lets you fly around the globe and zoom in to any point. The high definition photos that cover many parts of the UK are facinating, and I use it to see where caches are when planning trips. It's great, and as a free tool, it is superb.

This is a shot in the dark, as I see nobody else has an ideas... Witha a Garmin unit, you can change the format in Map Source to OSGB and happily type in the numbers, and then send them to the receiver. Does Magellan have a similar program for running on your computer to upload way points, maps and routes? That's all I can think of, hopefully another Magellan user will be able to help better.

Don't get me wrong, I do use a PDA, but it is safely in my rucksack, unless I need to use cachemate on it to read recent logs or the hint if I am having trouble finding a cache. The point I tried to make is that it may be unwise to use a PDA to navigate you to the cache, but is a usefull tool if you are careful with it. About the GE comment, the arial photos are awesome, and apart from the fact that some are a little out of date, they are very accurate.

No, the knot in the string that holds the plastc clip on either came undone or the string snapped, I'm not sure! I have the Geocaching lanyard from Groundspeak, not the one that came with the GPS. Have re-tied the knot now, but I am always expecting it to fall off again! That's got me thinking, should I have just stuck with the one out of the box?

My advice would be to use a dedicated GPS unit like an Etrex or something similar, rather than a PDA. The reason in my opinion is, PDAs are not robust enough for caching! The amount of rain storms I have found myself in where my GPS gets soaking wetm or the inevitable banging of unit against rees or rocks as you are scrambling around would at the very least, coasu ugluy cosmetic damage to a PDA, if not breaking it. A good example happened last week. I was walking along when my GPS broke free of it's lanyard and fell directly onto a pile of rocks, in the mud, in the pouring rain. It turned itself off, but came straight back to life when I turned it back on. It scuffed the case and the screen slightly, but it still works perfectly.

If you feel the unit may be malfunctioning, rather than than just poor satellite reception, I'd try updating, or if you have the latest software already, just re-installing the unit software from Garmin. Obviously you'll need a pc cable, but I assume you have one with a legend. If this doesn't help, drop Garmin a line, the have good phone and e-mail service. Many cachers have had faulty units replaced for free here, even ones which were beyond their warranty. I hope you get it sorted...

Further to the last post I have just been caching to/from and in Cornwall when I visited my parents MapSource download for Devon/Cornwall/Somerset/Bristol and the M4 corridor west of Swindon (ie 1 tile north and south) was less than 8 mb It really does depend where you go - there is more detail in cities I have not found it to be a limitation; however, if you intend UK wide caching on a regular basis as you travel around (like many do) you'll need more memory (or a laptop to download to the GPS!) Which maps are they? Is that with the Topo GB maps or road maps like Metro Guide or City Select? The road only maps take up far less memory. I highlighted a similar area and ended up with a file over 60mb! Really, really sorry for the thread kind of losing it's OP

Just a quick reply to the toughs... In a city area, 8mb will only let you dowload one 'tile'. An example is london, the tile was 10X17mi, and was just under 8mb. In less densly populated areas with fewer roads and data, you can get 4 tiles on, just. Most out of town areas will let you dowload 2 or 3 before the 8mb limit is crossed. You can decrese the file size by about a third by not getting routing data sent over, if the space is more important. In response to the OP, I would strongley recommend an Etrex yellow standard thingy if that is all you need, i.e. no maps. They are rugged, water proof and perfectly adequate for hunting down a cache if you use seperate paper maps or maps on a PDA. As said, you can pay more and get colour screens, more memory for loading maps, and ones with better receivers to get a more accurate fix under challenging conditions.

I have just had a quick look on GE and I can see 5 trads and a multi near City Airport (3 near Excel) and there are 6 caches in Regents park excluding the Jehangir cache. One cache is a mystery cache, one a letterbox hybrid and one a multi. The other 3 are trads. I believe Hyde park has a good number in it it if you can make the short journey there. Good luck

Similar story to some others her, I use a right mix of measurements! When driving, it's always miles. It makes sense, signs use it, the speedo does, everything does. When walking or caching, again miles and feet. I would struggle to visualise what a distance given to me in m would be. With feet or miles I am fine. When it comes to smaller measurements, I am ambidexterous! I prefere mm, not cm. Inches are OK, but would be my second choice. For volumes it has to be ml or l, except for fuel. Weights of things have to be in kilograms, although I measure the weight of myself in stone! I'm 24, so was bought up and taught in school to use metric. I had to learn to think and talk fluent in imperial measuremnts when I worked at a builders' merchant. 95% or builders would stare blankly at you if you tried to give them any measuremnts in metric, even though all the stock would be labeled in metric (mm only, unless talking about a long peice of timber or something). It's a funny place we live in here, one day, everything will be metric, gone will be mph, miles, feet inches, all of it. I gues we are the last generation who will be using alot of these measuremnts, as the kids that come out of school will have no idea what an inch is or how many to a foot!

That was an old one that I had. For those that don't know what it means, it is quite simply don't rely totally on your GPS, before hunters had rifles, they never totally relied on arrows, but it was the prefered weapon of choice. I must say, I do like the duck tape one, although it does not have much at all to do with caching I wanted to ask a question here (sorry for hijacking the thread, but it saves a new one cgetting in the way of more important threads). I want a signature line now. I have been thinking, and have a couple of ideas; To cache or not to cache... OR I think, therefore i cache. Or are they both a bit pants? Be honest. Any suggestions welcome

Does that mean every single cache, no matter where it is, needs permission to hide it? Yes Oh OK, thanks

Does that mean every single cache, no matter where it is, needs permission to hide it?

Does it have to be in an Asian run miscellaneous emporium shop? Or do other non ethnic shops sell them? Bit of a racist comment when you read into it, don't you think? Not to pick any sides, but I do see HH's point. I think what HH saw in this is the fact that Asians run the "miscellaneous emporium " was besides the point and didn't need mentioning. Althought here was nothing racists in the comment, why was it even bought up? Now I will duck for cover and retreat to a safe distance before another discussion gets out of hand!

Ours is simple, Geoff and Kate - Geo-Kate. Nothins famcy or amusing there... I do sometimes wonder where SP got his name. I recall hearing on the radio the band Simply Red was supposed to be called 'Red'. When the singer was asked what his band was called, his reply was 'red, simply Red.' And the rest is history. I wonder if Paul's name is like a tribute to this? Some of you may already have asked and know the answer..

Do all caches placed need permission, or just those on private land etc.? I always thought caches placed on public or common ground, like a park or field or woodlands managed by the local council, with no particualr ownership to any organisation, is fair game just to pace and publish. However, a few threads or comments I have read recently seems to indicate that all cached, no matter where they are, need permission from somebody. Is this so? I know there have been other topics touching on this, but I would kinda like an easy answer. Sorry if it seems I am starting pointless threads Thanks! Edited for typo

That just shows who is logged in, these forums can be browsed without signing in. We would never know about the casual browsers who look around here for a while and then go again! Unless the server logged IPs of everybody who popped in for a look, we cannot know how many people read things on here!

Congratulations on get some good publicity It sounds interesting, I'm sure the pupils also find it fun. It has given me an idea for TBs though. Remember when you were at school, and a load of kids wrote their names and addresses on peices of paper and tied them to helieum balloons, in a contest to see who's travelled furthest? What you have done is very similar! Set a time limit of say a month, release a load of bugs on the same day at the same (rather large, coming to think of it) cache, and see who's travelled the furthest in miles, and who's got the greatest distance from the original cache! After the month is up, the race would be to get all bugs back to home base

Mine takes AA