Keokas

Oh, there IS a Pocket Querys -button. Sorry about confusion, my bad! And merry Christmas :-)

Are we talking about the same app? The official app doesn't seem to have Pocket Queries - button. It would be great to transfer lists to iPhone though. So far it seems not possible...?

The park with the wildlife and nice people is amazing! It is good that there is also a nice attraction for geocachers. I had a great weekend in a park. So thanks for everyone who could offer this great time in Intervales Park, including all the people who maintain the cache! Good that everything about keeping the cache alive will be done. Thank you!

Since the FOX studios were no longer involved maintaining the APE-caches, this cache was already adopted from the original owner. It would be logical that this cache was owned by someone who is capable of maintaining it. Perhaps, but the guidelines don't require that a cache owner must be able to maintain it themselves, as long as a viable maintenance plan exists. As the cache has been found a few times in the last month it doesn't look to me that it's not being maintained. In fact, it looks like Mr_Gehringer has visited it a few times and has had concerns about the location being too visible, and someone else (who it appears has never visited the location) posted a NM because it's not in it's "original location". There is no current maintenance plan. The CO is totally dependent of the help of the locals. Many local (and not local, including me) geocachers are very concerned about the cache, the hide and the maintenance. Most people want that this cache would last long, well hidden and well maintained. At the moment, the cache is alive and well, in a good spot and fun to find. I sincerely hope it would stay this way. From what I have seen, a cache totally maintained by locals *is* considered a viable maintenance plan as long as there has been someone specifically identified that will take care of the cache if there are issues. In fact, there are many caches which are maintained by non-geocachers. I realize that there is a "no-precedent" clause in the guidelines, but as long as there is someone local that will step up and say "I will physically maintain the cache if there are any issues" I would hope that the local reviewer and Groundspeak will allow it to remain active. I know that there have been instances of vacation caches placed by someone that could not periodically visit the site and had someone local "watch over" the cache, then that person was no longer available, resulting in the cache not being maintained, but it doesn't sound like this is an issue in this case. A viable maintenance plan can and should be made. To get there, there should be some co-operation between the CO and the local geocachers. Why not co-operate with local geocachers who have been there 2-3 times, who speak English and care about the value of this geocache? The CO wants to send money to Brazil. As far I know, nobody has asked any money for maintaining the cache. I think that nobody needs any money involved at all. I just wonder, to who he wants to pay and for what? Geocaching is a hobby which is based on volunteerism and there is a growing community of Brazilian geocachers, who are willing to help maintaining the cache, for free of course.

Since the FOX studios were no longer involved maintaining the APE-caches, this cache was already adopted from the original owner. It would be logical that this cache was owned by someone who is capable of maintaining it. Perhaps, but the guidelines don't require that a cache owner must be able to maintain it themselves, as long as a viable maintenance plan exists. As the cache has been found a few times in the last month it doesn't look to me that it's not being maintained. In fact, it looks like Mr_Gehringer has visited it a few times and has had concerns about the location being too visible, and someone else (who it appears has never visited the location) posted a NM because it's not in it's "original location". There is no current maintenance plan. The CO is totally dependent of the help of the locals. Many local (and not local, including me) geocachers are very concerned about the cache, the hide and the maintenance. Most people want that this cache would last long, well hidden and well maintained. At the moment, the cache is alive and well, in a good spot and fun to find. I sincerely hope it would stay this way.

Maybe he didn't like the coordinates...?

Since the FOX studios were no longer involved maintaining the APE-caches, this cache was already adopted from the original owner. It would be logical that this cache was owned by someone who is capable of maintaining it.

I don't know how this could be done. But for sure it wouldn't be a bad idea that the owner could visit his cache every now and then and do the maintenance needed. Maybe the owner is not willing to give his cache to others, for whatever reasons. Let's see what will be the owner's wish for the next location, since he is not happy with the current location. Maybe he has a better idea.

As I have understood, nothing has been done without the request of the CO. Due to the difficulties for the CO for going to the cache every time needed, he has asked for the local geocachers to help. If there will be any changes of the location, I guess the CO will report about it and post the new coordinates. I am sure that the CO wants this cache to survive and if moving it is the action needed to avoid muggling, it will be done.

The cache is far from muggled. There is a group of local geocachers, who are dedicated to keep this cache alive and safe. We should be glad that the Brazilian geocachers are willing to do the maintenance as the CO lives far from the cache and can't do the maintenance himself. Every action that is done with this cache, is done only to keep it safe and not been archieved or muggled. Reading the older logs, can be realized that the location has been changed before, probably because of safety issues. As the logs tell, the new location was not the best possible and was set in a hurry. As this cache was not originally ment to be a 'park and grab', it would be good to find a spot which is more similar to the original spot. (if it is not possible to place it back to the original spot). The container is in a good shape and would last still another ten years in a jungle. The logbook was a bit humid but after maintenance it is also in a perfect shape. I don't see any reason, why this cache should be archieved.

I have a Mac and I haven't installed any software. You just need to drag and drop your pocket queries to the GPX folder of the etrex. For pocket queries you need to be a premium member.

The photo navigation I haven't used and probably will not. The photos seem not to be saved with the geocaches. That would be useful, although the screen is pretty small for images. I seem to be using my mobile for that also...

Hi! I recently got my 20 and I have been happy with it. So far I haven't added any maps, since they are not available in my current region. When in a need for map, I still use my computer or my mobile phone, which I always carry anyway. I am looking forward to do geocaching in Europe with some maps in my garmin also. But without a proper map, a colour display is pretty much useless. So is the sd-slot, I guess... So at least for me, here it could be as well etrex 10 but I chose 20 for future use. Etrex 20 has a compass as etrex 10 also. The etrex 30 compass is different, 3-D or so, but a compass is a compass, showing you your direction, north and so.... All new etrex models should be as accurate, all of them can use the new Russian Glonass satellites as the old gps ones.

Hello! I use iphone and also dedicated gps (Garmin eTrex 20) for geocaching. The iphone is perfect for most city caches. Multis, puzzles and mystery caches are possible to do with iphone and the Groundspeak official app adding waypoints: - choose the cache - choose 'navigate to geocache' - on the upper right corner there is a waypoint button, click it - add waypoint name + coordinates => done - you see your waypoint in the map, click it - set the waypoint as target Now you are navigating to the waypoint (next state of the multi). Repeat as many times as needed :-) The other issue, Premium caches, the app also shows. There are no such things over here yet (Brazil) but I changed the user (as described later on this topic) and yes, the Premium- tab has appeared! Maybe I should place some first Premium caches over here... when I figure out, why... :-)

I recently retrieved a travel bug that has been in the same cache for 6 months. I don't think it hurts too much to keep it for few weeks, until I find a good cache for it to continue travelling. The owner probably prefers that his bug continues its journey than lies in one cache forever, even if I don't drop it the next day. I want to be especially careful with this bug, since it started its journey already in 2003 and has travelled a lot around the world. It would be awful to see that the cache I place it, would be muggled or the bug disappears. So has to think carefully, where to drop it. I don't want to be the last cacher holding it! It is kind of funny, how we make pieces of plastic so valuable :-)

Hi! I also use the iPhone app and you are right. When you post a Log for the cache, it goes to the cache page logs for everybody to see. You can choose from different log types; Found, Did Not Find, Write Note etc. Notepad option is for personal use to write down details, for example, if you want to log the cache later. You can post Field Notes for your personal use to the website. So when you post a Log, it is public. (Log can be also a note for the cache, if you want to tell something else than just found, did not find etc) When you post a Field Note, it is for you only. (This is how I have understood it, although I have never posted any Field Notes, because the website plus the app keeps track of all your finds. Also if you are out of phone coverage, you can write and save a Log to the iPhone and send it later.) Check also this out: http://www.geocaching.com/iphone/tutorial/ Cheers :-)

So, I made up my mind and ordered an eTrex 20. In the future I will use it in locations where Garmin topo-maps are available. But meanwhile, what are the options excluding the rough base map? F.ex. Brazil, what kind of maps are possible to find / load into eTrex 20?

Definitely good point, DanOCan. One good device would probably be better than a compromise of two average devices. But considering that no dedicated GPS can do all that iPhone can, that I anyway always carry iPhone, that a best dedicated GPS-device (plus maps) would cost many times more than eTrex10 (which is as accurate than any), that in city areas iPhone is all I need, the only thing concerning me is the bad quality of the pre-loaded basemap. (Besides they say that eTrex10 supports paperless caching...) So I am still a bit between eTrex10 and 20. Somebody in this forum said, that he likes to cache with a GPS-unit without any map in it at all! (Well, I am old enough to have navigated with a paper map and a compass... and it is not so long time ago :-D ) So lots of different ways and opinions... And of course the terrain makes a big difference too. But thanks a lot for participating this discussion! (I am a bit more with eTrex10, but should see some screenshot of the basemap that Garmin puts in it.)

In city-caching I have realized that the Google Maps street-view can be very useful too. As I know, that feature don't offer any dedicated GPS so far, although the satellite images are already available.

The eTrex20 costs 90€ more than eTrex10. (Finland) That would be around 120 US$. After what I have read so far, I am with the eTrex10. In combination with my iPhone, the 10 looks like a very good solution. What else you really need, than rough guidelines in a map, if you can plan (or check details) with another device that you carry anyway? Convince me for eTrex20, or I will make an order for the cheaper eTrex10 ;-)

Thanks for the replys! I had the new eTrex in mind because of the Glonass-satellites feature. It should bring more accuracy, right? iPhone4 is very good in certain situations, and certainly 10 feet is enough. It is just that I am hoping that a dedicated (new) GPS unit would be better in tree-covered areas and maybe in bad weather. The maps... I had in mind that the maps in iPhone woul be enough for rough navigating and the accuracy of eTrex would bring me the rest (even without good maps)... But maybe I should consider that I need better maps in eTrex too? I am now in South-America and after 10 months I will probably move to Finland. Not sure if for ex. Brazil maps are available for eTrex20? Is the world base map in eTrex10 really that bad?

Hello everybody! I am new with geocaching (and this forum) and started this hobby after finding the Groundspeak app for iPhone. After few finds with iPhone, I have realized just few things I need more: a bit more accuracy and better battery life. So I will keep on caching with iPhone because there are several things I can do with it but can't with a GPS-device. I would like to buy an additional device just to fill those two holes in my setup, without paying too much. After reading similar topics from this forum, searching the manufacturer sites and comparing the specs of different models, it looks to me that Garmin eTrex-series would be a good choice. So, why not even the simple eTrex10 with a black and wite display? I will keep on logging, using Google maps, getting cache info, taking photos and many other things (like reading this forum) with iPhone. Just need a device for longer treks without possibility for charging and for better accuracy when not in open area. Also I would not like to pay for maps. Do you have experiences of the new eTrex10? Thanks for opinions in advance! :-) edit: sorry about the typo... can't edit the headline :-/