Bean & Sprout
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Posts posted by Bean & Sprout
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my feedback - I opted out after eventually finding out how to do it!
When I search I don't want to go straight to a map, I sometimes want a list which I can then sort by the options I prefer (eg letterboxes, or size, or most favourites, or oldest caches). I then save my list to download to my phone and then when I am happy I look at the map.
For example this weekend I am going to the geolympix. So I want to search for everything within 3 miles, create a list of those and download that for offline use to my phone.
I will then have access to everything while I'm away and there is no phone signal.
I cannot find any way to quickly and obviously do this with the search option now, it simply takes me to a map which I can't seem to get to a list from.
Maybe if I had the time and inclination to help you with your testing I could find it. But I don't and I need to get the list I want today. So I had little choice but to opt out!
My recommendation, ask users what they want before you fiddle with things and don't assume we all use searching options it the way you think we do (ie only to get a map).
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The current week is cleared on Monday, but there used to be a drop down menu that you could change it to the previous week.
Useful for those of us who can't/don't log instantly (and would be useful to be able to see more than 1 week previously).
I've noticed when the page loads you briefly see it, before the adrenaline junkie info covers it.
Hopefully it'll get put back....please!
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5 minutes ago, Viajero Perdido said:
Cache with a phone.
(I keep banging this drum...)
Even if you buy a phone specifically for caching (say because you don't want to drop a $1000 fashion accessory in the mud), it'll out-perform and under-cost a dedicated GPS unit. (See AliExpress for cheap rugged phones that'll survive all sorts of abuse.) Whole 'nuther thread.
I do cache with an 'ancient' phone. It is highly unreliable (I live very remotely so often get no signal) and is woefully inaccurate putting me many feet away from where I need to be.
I much prefer my GPS which has a much higher rate of accuracy, doesn't mind getting wet or muddy and gets me to GZ every time.
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33 minutes ago, kunarion said:
+1
There are many threads around here about how The App doesn't even run on old phones, the kind that receive no OS updates anymore. Those phones are ancient, like four years old! Get with the program, people!
Posts like this are unhelpful and really don't encourage use of the forums IMO.
As a single parent who has been dealing with a cancer diagnosis I do not have spare money to buy the latest phone or GPS gadget on a whim.
I only got a smart phone a year ago which was a hand me down.
When that rapidly became obsolete I did at least have a few months notice to make a decision on replacing it.
I eventually opted to buy a newer one which incidentley was with money I had been saving towards a new GPS.
Sweeping statements about what you consider ancient, and the implication that we can all just get an up to date device are not realistic.
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On 8/31/2018 at 10:38 AM, AaronDodds said:
For anyone having big issues with older GPS systems such as mine, Legend H. Garmin express and the sort will not work. Download a program called EASYGPS. Download all your GPX files from geocaching into a folder. Open EasyGPS, click open and select all geocaches you want to trasnsfer. Hit transfer and then it will send it to the GPS.
I understand some older folk / less computer experienced might have a bit of an issue understanding some of the steps, so heres a quick video I made -
Upvote me if its been helpful/works (bottom right up arrow, click it)
Poor "update" from Groundspeak ... but nevermind, a bit of a heads up would have been nice. From a point of new starters, this is going to make the whole process much more complicating. So instead of a transfer button, you now have to find out how to transfer a GPX file before you even start geocaching!
Thanks Aaron. I have downloaded the EasyGPS and it has transferred a geocache to my 'ancient' Etrex Legend.
I feel much happier that I will be able to upload caches again and can continue saving up for a newer model in the meantime.
I only found your post after being pointed at it after emailed Groundspeak to voice my concern.
Why they didn't foresee this issue, and haven't officially updated on the options since realising it has affected a significant number of cachers, is beyond me.
To those saying there are load of posts about it, we don't all have time to read hundreds of forum threads on the subject, especially when they are peppered with post saying like it or lump it.
I rarely use the forums; mostly when I hit an issue and need help and inevitably have to hurdle through the unhelpful posters to find the helpful ones.
I would far rather be out caching or spending time writing up my logs and don't want to be buoyed down trying to get my head around techy stuff.
Thank you for taking the time to explain in an easy step by step way for those of us whose heads start to spin at anything remotely techy. Most appreciated!
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Sorry if this is obvious..
Before this weeks new adrenaline junkie souvenir thing you used to have an option to view the previous week's friend's list.
I can't seem to see that option now.
The place it was seems to be filled with info on the adrenaline junkie...
Can anyone tell me how to access it?
Or maybe I am just being blind and it has simply moved..!?
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I haven't read the whole thread but like many others my GPS is old and is not recognised by my (or anyone else's) PC (etrex legend HCx - for anyone who is interested).
The only workaround was for me to download caches one at a time using an old version of internet explorer.
Yes I asked some questions at the time and managed to find out which browser was required etc -and yes I got the help needed for the forum to do this!
I actually like this way of caching because it means I carefully research, read ahead, plan my trip and picked my caches to download.
I am very much a quality over quantity cacher.
I cannot afford a 'modern' one, and why should I when my GPS works/worked perfectly well for how I chose to cache.
Not only are you penalising us for choosing to cache this way, you are also pricing out those of us who can't afford a 'modern' device.
I just want to load up my GPS with the caches I want to find and go.
Please give us back the option or an alternative which works for older GPSs (and cachers!)
I will add that I am not of retirement age, being half the age of the of the parents a cacher above complained on behalf of his parents for.
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Anyone got any way around this please?
Don't log out.
I use my iPhone on wifi as you do, and download the cache lists for "offline use". They're in the "Lists" section, accessible without being online.
I'm not choosing to log out.
Usually it's fine but sometimes when I go to use it I have to log in.
Not sure what causes it.
If I don't realise until I am literally out in the field there is nothing I can do, the app is useless even offline.
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We have stored lists for offline use, but this is pointless when you have to log in to the app to use them.
The app is on my son's ipod so no phone connection.
We use it for checking up hints, descriptions, previous logs etc which my ancient GPS doesn't show.
I have had a couple of times now when I've gone out caching but there is no wifi signal to be able to log in so we can't access the app!
I really don't see what the point of having offline lists etc if you have to log in to access them but you can't always do so...?
Never had this issue with the classic app.
Anyone got any way around this please?
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I resorted to deleting and reloading the app as advised above. That worked for me.
On a different bug issue, when can we expect the message system to work in chrome?
Currently it only works for me if I link through from an email, which relies on someone sending me a message first.
If I try and open it from the front page of the website it hangs in the middle of the page. Has done for ages.
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I also had the problem of the app not opening, and yet still running in the background on the message page with an iPhone 5. I deleted the app from the phone and reinstalled it and the app worked again. I've done this twice in the last few months. Looking forward to the bug fix next time around.
Worked for me too. Many thanks.
Let's hope they fix it properly soon.
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After the Update the APP stops in the startframes, After the start the startframe is shown for arrounf 20sec and after that the Frame is closed again. I use a IPhone 5.
Best regards
ekko38
Yes this is basically what I am getting.
Only I can see the app is running in the background, (when you double press the start button),it just won't open, is stuck on the message page, and every time you swap to it or try to open I get the same as you - 20 odd seconds and then the frame closes.
Is anyone looking into this? Would be helpful to have a response like the first poster did. Not sure where else to post this to get a faster response....
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I can't get the app to open at all since the update. It seems to be stuck in the message window.
It starts to open then falls over. It is running in the background, but always on the message page.
I have an unread message so it keeps trying to go there first it seems
This is on an ipod 5, not sure if that matters.
Please can you fix this too!
Can't use the app at all and am meant to be going to an event today.
Luckily I still have the classic app so not totally up the creek.
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Is anyone else getting the same problems as me at all?
In IE if I go to geocaching.com it simply won't load and I can't log in.
Eventually it comes up with long running script.
I can get around it by copying and pasting a web link to a specific cache, but if I try and 'view larger map' it won't load the map either.
It's making it impossible to load caches from a new area as I HAVE to use IE for my garmin to allow me to download them.
Is anyone at GS looking into this please. I posted a few days ago and it is still broken.
I don't have a smart phone so it is making it impossibly difficult for me to load caches ahead of my trip to the Wales mega and I have no way of downloading caches once I've gone
Can anyone tell me how to report this to GS please.
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Got the long running script problem again. Is it just me?
I have to use IE to download to my GPS.
It's getting very frustrating as I'm trying to get ready for next weeks UK mega.
Should add that it's popping up when I try and log in or load a map of my local area.
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And it's working again this morning.
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It's fixed the cache pages for me now, but now if I try and send a message it hangs and won't load more than half the page. Not sure if it's related...
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You will see it on your profile once it has saved as an unpublished cache.
So you must have missed something on that last page - usually for me it's ticking the 2 boxes to say I hve read guidelines etc
If you don't complete it in a certain amount of time it resets though.
Don't worry about filling in the short and long descriptions for now, edit those once you get the draft cache page showing in your profile.
It won't be set for publishing until you tick the box saying it is and/or sumbit it for review.
So you can carry on editing it etc once you've got the draft saved.
If in doubt just add a reviewer note saying you are working on it still and not to publish yet.
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Have you ticked the 2 boxes saying yes you agree their terms and yes you've read the guidelines?
If so then sometimes if you scroll up you can see where it thinks you've missed something.
You also have to include a reviewer note before you can move on. I just usually include a '.' just to get beyond that box.
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I can see that it may be useful for the reviewer to know if my trail goes from start to finish via the shortest route or meanders for miles around urban areas or areas which might be SSSI etc.
In my case I thought it was pretty obvious to them where my trail would go knowing the start and final points. There are no potentail places on route which may be an issue as described above. It passes no buildings and I checked magic maps. But I could equally get there using several other footpaths on route, or on a huge circular walk around the village nearby. How could the reviewer know which route I have chosen to use unless I show it somehow? So maybe showing the route via waypoints is helpful for that, as well as ensuring any current or future night trails nearby won't conflict and cause confusion.
I just wish it had said in the guidelines as we'd have waypointed as we went and submitted the cache with the waypoints.
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Thanks for all the replies.
I have now been advised that the waypoints are required to ensure any future night trails in the area don't cross each other, and that the firetacks can be placed near an existing cache without needing to be 528ft away.
For those wondering, my cache is a letterbox.
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Just submitted a new cache and been asked to waypoint the firetacks as physical stages.
I can't see in the night cache guidelines where it says this.
I though firetacks didnt count as a physical stage. Has that changed perhaps?
Can anyone advise what the actual guidelines are regarding this please? I can't seem to find anything about it in night caches, only multis.
My trail starts near another cache, but the final is over 528ft away. Does each firetack have to also be 528ft from any other existing cache? Beacause they arent at the moment. If they are waypointed as physical then presumably my cache will be disallowed...
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We have been caching for around 3 years now I think. Since 2011 anyhow!
I would like to say (although probably get shouted at for it) that I have used the forums a couple of times before, but they are clunky, full of ancient posts and, imo, people telling to go read this that and the other, or lead to indepth discussions between regulars, rather than actually helping. Although I did get some nice help from some Floridian cachers when planning a trip there, thanks guys.
I have instead found several facebook groups in our area and in the UK where you get (again imo) much more helpful answers and no-one expects you to have trawled through years of ancient posts or to know everything. I also tend to know the people in my local groups so feel more comfortable asking questions there. Unfortunately I had to sign up to facebook to access this, after years of deliberately avoiding it..!
Discussion point #1:
Geocachers need to communicate with each other while playing the game. What are some reasons that users may want/need to interact with each other? Which reasons do you find most valuable?
I communicate with, and receive queries from other cachers for many reasons, (usually via either by GS email or via facebook on caching groups I belong too). Some of the more common reasons (I can't hope to remember them all) include:
1) Asking for help, additional hints or confirmation of answers to puzzle caches.
2) Asking COs if they could check if the cache is still there, or if an AWOL cache is likely to be replaced before we visit an area.
3) Advice on where to park/start a series (as not always clear and not everyone posts waypoints for these on the cache page).
4) General planning queries regarding the terrain, current state of the footpaths, distance/time involved (especially from people with small children and/or buggies) or who have limited time.
5) TBs generally - I regularly attempt to chase up unlogged TBs of mine by checking if recent finders have seen it in the cache it is meant to be in, and then contacting those who have logged the cache since the TB was logged into it and before it was reported missing. Have had some success doing this. Have also attempted to contacted local cachers when a cache is archived with a TB in it and no response from CO (one I brought to the UK from the states was retrieved from an archived cache after asking for local help on UK facebook group).
6) To thank people for a particularly great log and/or photos, or who have replaced wet log books or reported issues with my cache.
7) To ask COers if they want a log book back after I have replaced full/wet logs for them.
8) Asking for recommendations/advice on child friendly trails when taking my nephews with me (ie distance involved, if the caches are well maintained with good swaps to keep little ones interested, people's opinions on which of 2 or 3 options would be more suitable given distance/time/age of geokids on any given day)
9) Planning re attending events - Finding out if there are any published or planned events where we are going on holiday. For megas it is nice to know who else from our area is going, where people are staying (if overnight stay required). Also info on any events people recommend outside of our notification area that we may not know about otherwise. GAGB have recently produced a UK wide event list which is much more helpful than the weekly notification GS sends (which has events for the next couple of days only, and for some reason some are hundreds of miles away in other countries even). Have also seen offers of help at event (eg other local cachers offering to help with putting up tent for lone cacher who was worried they couldn't manage it, arranging lifts, or offers of help with the event itself).
10) Newbies asking for help re placing caches, and general etiquette re caching (particularly TBs seem to give rise to a lot of questions/concerns), cache page design, placement queries, and for help maintaining caches (I am usually happy to help maintain caches local to me if the CO is unable to visit the area/cache and I am going that way before they will be). These tend to be cachers I know so we email/text each other directly.
11) Offers of PAF by CO or friends who have completed a series already. On occasion I have given my mobile number to people who have contacted me in advance while planning their trip and are coming a long way to spend a weekend/week in the local area caching.
12) Advising of double logging and/or why I deleted a log.
13) Communicate further info to people attending events. Megas tend to have their own website, but not all smaller events do (so you have to request attendees email details to send them stuff because if you try and email them via GS it tells you tha you have reached your quota for today's emails! Plus you can't send attachments via GS).
14) I also try and send messages to newbies who log my caches (or those local ones I watch), both welcoming them and inviting them to contact me if they need help or have any queries about the hobby. Sometimes I also contact people whose logs indicate they are in the area on holiday. I met up with some holidaying cachers from Germany to go caching together after doing this, and was able to help with some translation issues, particularly on some 'clever' hints which were definitely lost in translation.
15) Contacting people I met at an event to send a friend request or pass on info they/I enquired about, or arrange to go caching together.
Discussion point #2:
Keeping in mind the possible interactions from discussion point #1, what obstacles arise in trying to communicate with each other on Geocaching.com today? What are some possible solutions that would help remove these obstacles?
1) Members with unvalidated emails are becoming a big issue! - I was unable to contact a newbie just this week who posted the tracking code of my TB in their log. As they picked up the TB I didn't feel deleting the log was an option, the only option I had was to encrypt the log. If they don't drop my TB off I have no way of contacting them to find out if/when/why they haven't.
I have had several instances of a found it log being posted 2,3 or more times now by newbies. I assume they are trying to get the app to work, but no with no email available to contact them explaining why I deleted the log I have no choice but to delete the duplicates and there's no way to pass on an explanation pr offer of assistance.
2) Not knowing if the person you have emailed got the email. At least on facebook I can see when someone has read the message.
Some COers use the app and never seem to come online, although they are logging caches. And some seem to be long gone for whatever reason. Would be nice to know if your request for help on a puzzle, or to enquire after a TB that has been held for 2+ years (I'm not bitter...) has just not been seen or if you are being ignored for whatever reason. Requiring accounts to be verified annually to ensure the current email is up to date would be good too (and mark an account as currently unverified if the cacher doesn't respond).
3) I have no smart phone so when we are away on holiday I can't see emails and usually come home to several enquiries for puzzle answer confirmations. These are scattered in with the several hundred email notifications of new caches, log notifications and the like.
4) Not being able to send photos with an email, or 'hide' them in a log is a problem - I couldn't get a container open once and didn't want to force it and possibly break it. So I took a photo to show the CO we had found it and explained the issue via email, but couldn't send the photo with it. I didn't want to include the photo on my log as there was no way to hide it from everyone else and that would have given the game away about the great container.
5) Most of the general/info communicating I do is via facebook groups as GS is limited in what it offers. IE one person at a time via email, or forum option which doesn't get used by the people I am trying to communicate with, or in the way I need.
6) Communication from GS should include useful info, like updates to policy and guidelines. EG many earthcaches still say that you can't log them until you receive confirmation from the CO. This is not as per current GS policy. I also think newbies should get am email early on explaining about trackable items and how to handle them, and we should all be reminded regularly about the swap guidelines (something of equal or greater value) which seems to be flouted by many ime.
Finally I would like to add (someone mentioned it above as un-necessary) that I like the anomymity of not having to send your email address. Most of the time I am happy to send my email address when I contact cachers. There was one exception though when someone I already knew contacted me, and I was grateful to have the option to remove my email address from being automatically displayed in my reply as I didn't want that person to have it.
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Well I haven't got to grips with pocket queries really. So asking me to do one just for cache maintenance isn't going to get me very far I'm afraid! But thanks for the suggestion
And in response to the person above who asked why I don't rush out and respond to maintenance right away... Unfortunately I have a life outside of geocaching, a full time job and a child to bring up on my own and limited resources in regards to petrol costs.
I own a lot of caches over a wide area, some pretty remote, some with unique containers, and many with unique letterbox stamps. I can't always rush out to replace it immediately, both time wise and financially (although I do try and keep a least one spare of different or unique cache container I own). I am also currently looking after caches for a CO who is abroad so I actually have well over 200 caches to maintain over quite a wide area.
Today I have set aside as a maintenance day and when making my list of caches to attend too I realised there were a couple I had forgotten all about (specifically a letterbox which I needed an ink pad for, and one in a remote location and I don't often drive that way). If these had jumped out at me on a CO quick link maintenance page I would have dealt with them before today.
I actually have ten caches to replace today. I also have 2 others to visit to retrieve stuck TBs (at TB owners request) and another to check a log which I believe has been signed by an armchair cacher but need to check before I delete the log. I will also randomly stop by other caches I own on route to check log books and that caches are on good order. So will probably vist some 30 ish caches today alone. Most days I stop to check on at least one or two of my caches if/as I pass them.
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Release Notes (Website: New Search Map) - April 25, 2019
in Geocaching HQ communications
Posted
Blurgh. I opted out of the trial as the new map is useless for me. Now, despite numerous calls not to change the default map, you’ve done it anyway! Great customer service, not!