Ben0w

Hab' reingeschaut aber nix zum Thema "PokemonGo/Geocachen" gefunden. Hast Du bitte einen Direktlink auf das, was Du meinst? Danke! Heute wurde ich übrigens an Stage 2 eines Multis freudig als "Pikachu" bezeichnet, den es zu fangen gälte, während die Mutter ihrem Kind beibrachte, mit einem Smartphone auf mich zu zielen. Irgendwie ein komisches Gefühl, von Muggles (Puggles? Pokels?) auf diese Art gezielt ignoriert zu werden...

Ich erkenne Ironie. Aber das ist hier ein Newbie-Forum und ich denke, diese Fragen sollten nicht offen stehen bleiben, auch wenn es schon etwas länger her ist. "Fotolog" hat tatsächlich keine Relevanz, wenn man die Guidelines korrekt auslegt. Es wird dennoch benutzt, wenn man aus irgendeinem Grund nicht das gefundene Logbuch beschreiben kann aber trotzdem nachweisen will, dass man es in den Händen hielt. Gründe kann z.B. ein derart vermatschtes Logbuch sein, dass kein Stift mehr schreibt. Ob der Owner das akzeptiert, ist eine andere Frage. Bei korrekter Auslegung der Guidelines dürfte er es nicht und müsste das Online-Found-Log löschen. Dass man heutzutage eher ein (Smartphone)Fotogerät dabei hat als einen simplen Stift, ist für die ältere Generation, die kaum das Wunder des mobilen Telefonierens begriffen hat (so wie ich) auch eine interessante Beobachtung. Was der Owner als Logproof akzeptiert, bleibt in der Realität ihm überlassen (abgesehen von der mehrfach erwähnten 100%-Auslegung der Regel, deren Einhaltung aber keiner kontrolliert). Er darf jedoch keine vom physischen Logeintrag abweichende Logbedingung fordern. Das heisst, sowohl Fotolog als auch Abzeichnen des Logbuches oder Seitenzählen ist optional. Genauso wie QR-Code scannen, das ist ein anderes Spiel. Finden - Swag ggf. mind. gleichwertig tauschen - Trackables discovern oder weiterhelfen - ins Logbuch eintragen - Behälter zurücklegen - online loggen: Schön, dass Geocachen so einfach ist. Erstaunlich, wie kompliziert man selbst diese Einfachheit machen kann.

Als Owner bekommst Du doch zeitnah eine Mail, welche die Uhrzeit des Logvorgangs verrät. LG Mati hb9dif möchte aber die Zeit des tatsächlichen Fundes haben, die nicht mit der Zeit, die beim Onlineloggen eingetragen wird, übereinstimmen muss. Wie ausgeführt, ist das mit Groundspeak-Bordmitteln bzw. prinzipbedingt nicht automatisiert möglich und das ist je nach Ansicht entweder gut so oder öffnet Tür und Tor für allerlei verdächtige Handlungsweisen. Oder gar beides. Handmade Lösung wäre, für jeden interessanten Zeitabschnitt (jede Stunde? Jeden Tag?) das physische Logbuch auf Neueinträge zu prüfen und diese entsprechend zuzuordnen. Man könnte sich natürlich auch sonstigen technischen Überwachungsschnickschnack ausdenken. DAS fände ich dann aber auch höchst verdächtig.

Es sind zwei unterschiedliche Spiele, die man unter dem Sammelbegriff "location based game" subsummieren kann, mehr aber auch nicht. Grundlegendes Spieldesign und Spielweise weichen völlig voneinander ab. PokemonGo bedient eine andere Zielgruppe bzw. einen anderen Markt. Wenn man beiden Zielgruppen angehört, dann kann man beides sogar verbinden und auf der 5km Geocaching-Runde nebenher ein 5km-Pokemon-Ei brüten. Immerhin ist das ziellose herumirren mit dem Smartphone in der Hand nun nicht mehr Alleinstellungsmerkmal des Geocachens und befreit es etwas vom Ruch des Verdächtigen. Weitere positive Einflüsse aufs Geocachen sehe ich darin, dass die echten Punktejäger nun was besseres zu spielen haben. Vielleicht eine Chance, um beim Geocachen wieder den Fokus von Quantität auf die Qualität zu bringen. Negative Einflüsse aufs Geocaching könnte man konstruieren, ja. Wobei ich denke, dass Medienberichte über schändliche PokemonGo-Einflüsse dem Verkaufswert von "Bad News" geschuldet sind und eine Art natürliche Reaktion auf den Anfangshype sind. Der Hype wird sich legen, dann regt sich da keiner mehr so schnell auf. PokemonGo muss sich auch erstmal wirklich etablieren, Geocachen ist demgegenüber ja schon ziemlich gefestigt. Wobei ich schon auch einen Markt für Konkurrenzprodukte im AR-Spielebereich sehe und mich wundere, dass noch kein anderer auf den Marketing-Zug aufgesprungen ist (Ingress gilt nicht, ist ja die gleiche Firma und kann man im Nachhinein als Testballon sehen). Das Pokemon-Universum als potentes Zugpferd ist aber einfach genial, das hat Niantic schon richtig gemacht. Dass die Welt da draussen nicht allein den Geocachern gehört, sollte uns aber längst klar sein. Nochmal: das sind zwei völlig verschiedene Spiele, die sich kaum gegenseitig beeinflussen, ausser, dass das GC nicht mehr so im öffentlichen/Medien-Fokus steht. Meine Meinung: gut so - eher eine Chance fürs Geocachen zur Konsolidierung und zur Richtungskorrektur bzw. Besinnen auf die eigenen Stärken (direkter Einfluss der Community, echtes Outdoor-Erlebnis, "gute Dosen an netten Plätzen" etc.).

Just as a closing statement: the cache was published on August, 1st, 2016. Case closed...

All (as usual) great tips, but I would enhance the usual search radius to about 15 meters. So, when within ~15 meters of GZ I put away the device and start using my geocaching senses. Within the woods or other covered areas (city back courts, ...) signal could be even worse and generally depend on the cache owners skills, then maybe totally off. Another thing is, only traditional caches usually are located at the given coordinates. Multis just start there and will have several stages leading to the final coordinates, mysteries provide some kind of puzzle to solve for obtaining the final. That confused me sometimes as a beginner. Other tips (container size, difficulty/terrain level) are mentioned in previous post. Your geocaching senses have to be trained, young Jedi... Good luck!

"GPS Averaging" is the App for iOS I use. It's designed exactly for that: averaging multiple GPS readings. If you're unsure about accuracy try using more than one device and take GPS data on different days. That was the way I used to get coordinates before using "GPSAveraging" (I'm not in contact with the developer, just find the App cool and go geocaching with his other App "Looking4Cache", which perfectly meets my needs).

Then again, depending on what the containers are... Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Beside that, the original was a mikro, not much downgrading possible from that.

Could be your found logs were deleted, either by accident or intentionally. People who can do this are: you, the cache owners and Groundspeak staff. If a cache owner deletes your log, you should have received a notification by email. Maybe check your spam folder.

So someone has already gifted you six new containers? Great!

The basic task in geocaching is finding the container and physically sign the logbook (plus putting it back where it was). If you can't achieve all of that, you shouldn't log a find. Reaching unreachable caches is part of the fun. Some consider ladders and climbing gears as their usual caching equipment. The Terrain rating is an indicator, if the cache owner intended the cache to be hidden where you can't access it easily or might use a tool. If the cache hide doesn't match the terrain rating in any way, then there might be a problem and you should contact the cache owner (either by mail or indicating by a "needs maintenance" log, depends a bit on circumstances). There is no shame to log a "Did not find!" (please explain why you didn't find it: it's fun to read and may give the cache owner information if there's something wrong). It's part of the experience and you can come back later and log a legal find without hesitation. Cachers without any "DNF" in their history even may appear a bit shady to me. Exceptions to the "physical sign the logbook" are some grandfathered virtuals, experimental lab caches, earth caches and event caches (allthough there mostly is a logbook present). There may be some discussable technical exception, if there is another cause you can't get to the logbook: logbook soggy, logbook missing, container rusted shut or something like that. This requires some deeper insight and has to be treated individually. Real hardcore guideline cachers would log a DNF anyway, others may decide to put a backup log sheet in (after doing basic maintenance, i.e. drying the box) or providing a photo log. But be warned: You have to be very certain to having found the real cache then and not just a piece of random crap. Asking the cache owner for guidance is always a good choice, because he/she is empowered to delete online logs without physical logbook entries (that is part of the guidelines). Putting out a backup container without explicit consent of the cache owner would be a very bad idea, that is called "throwdown" and leads to further problems - so please just don't do that. If unsure, be pride to log a DNF. Some of my best cache experiences were DNFs. Have fun!

BTW: Prepare (your geokid) for the TB to get lost. Unfortunately, that happens a lot. Just be very happy if this isn't the case! Good luck.

In my opinion: As all the other sizes are defined by the content volume of the container, "Other" should be used when there is no content volume. Examples are magnetic foil or a flat plate, where the "logbook" is a flat piece of paper attached to the thing or the logs have to be written onto the foils back or something like that. However, you may find others (pun intended): • looking "other" than usual containers (tube or rectangular shape) • so-called "nano" (which according to the definition should be clearly a "micro" sized container, but people tend to ignore this) • people just making up a random choice • ...

We often plan family trips around geocaching. So for me geocaching still is "getting to interesting places that we would have rarely targeted without a cache". PokemonGo is a total other game, which is not bad, but AFAIK it won't get you to new places much. It more or less forces you to repeatedly going to the same places again and again. This is good when you're trying to play it daily within your usual locations (home, office). For me, Geocaching and PokemonGo are two totally seperate gameplays, as well in gaming style as in basic design. They both can be summarized under the topic "location based games", but that's it. The smartphone is just a common tool (and for geocaching you don't need a smartphone, not even GPS, simple map coordinates would do it as well). However, they both can be combined: just breed your eggs when doing the Geocaching walk or occasionally find new spots for hunting Pokemons or collecting things when on your way to a new Geocache site. That's enough for me - I don't want to make Geocaching more attractive, it's perfect when now the point collectors and more action loving people have their own game. So maybe Geocaching consolidates (sp?) a bit back to quality instead of quantity. PokemonGo has it's own and seperate market segment. Please don't try to mix them up. Improve Geocaching by placing and maintaining good sized quality containers in beautiful sites worth to visit. Thanks!

iPhone App "Looking4Cache" (official Groundspeak partner) allows online and offline logging for multiple accounts.

Happened here: a person was killed and left in the woods. Some weeks after the incident, police still hadn't a clue and called out for help to the local geocacher community, because there was a geocache in the wood, however in some distance. As far as I know, without success up to date.

From the orriginal posting starting this thread: Plastic parts in the forest, no logbook (since 2012): that's not a geocache anymore, that's geotrash. Plus Needs Maintenance logs since 2012 and no reaction: that's a perfect reason for an NA. A throwdown is not a geocache...(the cacher doing throwdowns should assume full responsibility for further maintaining but almost always won't and really can't since he doesn't own the listing). Could be removed as well. At least that's not the property of the original cache owner but of the throwdowner, who most probably won't claim a filmcan a valuable item (as would any court do). If he really wants it back there would be no problem. The original cache is long gone. So no issue with a possible other listing site here. Their double listed cache would be in the same condition: no logbook, but trash. We don't talk about a working cache in original condition here! • Log a Needs Archived. • Remove geotrash, inform about that what you removed in your NA log and that you're willing to send the remainings to the cache owner within a reasonable timeframe. • Log your find as you like - technically it's a DNF if your sign isn't in the logbook but since you found the cache leftovers pretty certain, it would be more or less acceptable. But that's totally up to you. That's my 2 cents for the specific (!) situation of the original poster in this thread. There could be more situations, real life, probable or totally constructed, with other preferable solutions. As always, communication is the key. Examples from my experience: I once found the logbook in the open near GZ, no container. Logged it, took it home with me, logged a find and a NM, offered the cache owner to send him the logbook (PET preform size). Never heard a word from him, the cache soon got archived (had a history of issues anyway), IIRC by local cacher's NA. Another day I was out for a cache who was deactiveted (including a statement about archival soon) just before I planned to go there. Asked the cache owner if he's OK with my hunt for it. He agreed and in turn asked me to retrieve the container. So it was a Find for me, container rescued, got a beer at the next event (and watched the cache box beeing passed around with several other cachers signing the logbook and logging a find, but that's a whole other story).

Hm...my interest is geocaching. All my caches are based on this, more or less.

Did anyone else notice the cat in the sandbox? Yeah, I did, but I'm cutting the newbie some slack. Cat? Sandbox? Oh oh! Geocaches are never buried, even in sandboxes. Cats are...

I'd recommend a trip to the Olympic Parc & Stadium in Munich, nice tourist site to visit anyway: it's a famous architectural landmark as well as a recreational park in the busy city, easy to reach by public transport (subway station "Olympiapark" nearby). Not only host for the Olympic Summer Games 1972 (including the tragic terrorist attack on the Israeli team) but also host to first GIGA event in 2014 (GC4K089) and some very nice caches: • GC2405P "Olympiaberg Earthcache": easy, essentially just a measurement at the bottom and one at the top of the artificial hill (made of rubbish from World War 2) with a beautiful view over the city and a very special traditional cache • GC54CNW "1. Munich Geodatic Reference Point" at the top of Olympiaberg. There is an easy field puzzle involved, unfortunately the listing is not in english but the key information is: ".North + 1234 / .East + 5678" (followed by the words "After logging please N to N, E to E and all numbers to zero"). Very cool! And officially approved. • GCFX4YC "Memoriale First GIGA Tower", Munich highest cache at the top of the Olympic Tower. Perfect view over the city! There is a fee for taking the escalator to the top (no other way), but it's worth it. Free ride if you can prove you have your birthday on this date or have a reservation at the restaurant (which I would recommend, high class food and a fantastic view in the moving room!). There are some other traditionals around there. In the city center Marienplatz there are (beside the touristic attraction city hall with the clock bells playing music and figurines dancing at the tower at 11:00, 12:00 and 17:00 hrs) • GCHNBF "The Heart of Munich", a webcam cache; • GC5NB80 "Adneter Marmor", an earth cache and several multis, puzzles and wherigos nearby. However, since your time constraints are too tight I won't recommend • GC1FPN1 "Munich / Venedig", a multi involving a foot walk from Munich center to Venice (Italy), just ~560km, estimated 28 days. For travelling in Munich I'd recommend public transport with a day ticket ("24 hour ticket"). Public transport gets you everywhere, including subway, busses and streetcar ("Tram"). Plus, every subway station is covered by a geocache... If you come in by plane to MUC airport, maybe you can help some travelling trackables from • GC1PQE6 "TB Hotel -=First Class=- Munich Airport", at the upmost level of the parking deck, accessible by foot from the center part of the airport gates. Easy hide, no special equipment needed, business suit acceptable, airport authorities are informed, muggle impact rather low (most of them park at lower levels), cool view over the airport. Be warned: Hofbräuhaus is a total touristic place, not really recommended. Take a view if you want (the hall in the upper floor is interesting, however, not always accessible), but don't eat there. You can get better Bavarian meals at other places (in the center I'd recommend "Ratskeller" in the basement of the city hall at Marienplatz, but there are a lot of others). Have a nice stay!

Just to add a reference: a wood geocoin costs about 0.20 a 0.50 EUR. This said, the real "value" of a specific WGC (Wood Geo Coin, they are not only Czech) depends on look and coolness factor and is entirely subjective. I usually trade them as 1 EUR articles, and give 1-3 EUR valued swag back to add them to my collection. Additionally I drop a set of my own personal wooden coins as a signature item.

Sag' ich ja: nicht reinschauen!

It could get rather messy. What if there is a found archived cache near or at the exact location of an unfound cache? At least it should be selectable by a filter... That said, from time to time I enjoy looking at the map of all my finds (and a lot of them are archived meanwhile). But I use an external tool for that purpose which serves me well.

That's the only thing I'd do. With a very strong emphasis on "you know". If in doubt, even slightly, let it in it's actual (maybe wrong) place. It's the owner responsibility for maintenance and put it back where he/she really intended the cache to be in the first place. I will give a set of my estimated coordinates or a projection, but I surely won't walk through the whole process of taking new reliable coordinates - this would include averaging multiple readings on several days. And it's not my responsibility to repost them. A "needs maintanance" log with "obviously far off here: x/y" should be enough to activate a responsible owner and warn other cachers. If the owner has a problem finding it again, a former finder can be contacted. If only in slightest doubt about the original place of the cache I would let it there where I found it. At least it's findable there. Often I'm in doubt if it is the right place. But then my hiding experiences may be other than of the owner, my GPSr may have a real bad day, I miscalculated the final coordinates and unknowingly had just luck or the owner intentionally put it in the off (bad habit in my book, but known). The probability for me to find the intended hiding spot is almost zero. So it's clearly the owner's responsibility to (ASAP) take care of the correction of a misplaced cache. Not that of the latest finder, other than a little help as stated above. Is that really for others? Where does that new set of coordinates appear then? I always had the impression that's only for my own purposes (like saving the final coordinates for a puzzle) and not shown to others. I never used it anyway since I have an independent tool for managing my caches. I'd rather encourage to use a "needs maintenance" log for this purpose. This alerts the owner, warns other cachers and could easily be deleted when the owner feels things are right.

I see. Would have the same problem with my wife... Plus it would include convincing U.S. cachers to the metric system. Not very probable to get happen. But "medium" instead of "regular" could be a working solution, at least the first (and a rather easy) step.