ruralseeker

Thanks, both of you. Incredibly helpful. Ranger Fox, you are amazing! Your response was perfect!

I have a Windows Phone. As of yet, Wherigo is in the beginning stages on Windows Phone. My better half, though not a geocacher, has an iPhone 4. When she upgrades, I will likely get her an iPhone 5. Would I be able to take her iPhone 4, once deactivated, and use it for Wherigos, or does it need an active data connection?

Has anyone successfully completed a Wherigo from start to finish on a tablet? I know some tablets, if connected to wifi, are able to be located via GPS. Can that GPS location technology be harnessed to do Wherigo? Would they tablet have to have a working data connection? I guess I kind of need a place to start. Anybody have any experiences and advice? I plan to purchase a tablet soon and that will be a portion of my purchasing decision.

I just recently moved to a location with a Wegmans grocery store (Yay!) I was wandering around and taking in the Wegmans experience when I discovered they have a large array of Sistema containers, both cutesy lunch and snack containers and legitimate plastic storage containers. They all seem to have a clip action similar to the idea of a Lock & Lock, but definitely their own style. Some have four clips. See link: Container #1. Some have two clips. See link: Container #2. Has anyone ever tried these for a cache container long term out in the elements? If so, how did they hold up to moisture, cold, heat, etc? Also, can I assume that four clips is better than two, or are the two clip containers just as good? I'm a die-hard Lock & Lock fan. How do they compare to genuine Lock & Lock containers? It's possible I may never get any, but in the event I feel like giving one a try if they run a good sale on them, I'd like to hear what folks have to say. Feedback from people in wet and cold climates is definitely a plus.

I've been doing kind of a local C&D (cache and dash) series for a few of my friends who have running streaks/calendars for rainy/snowy days where they just need to fill a slot. (Don't worry -- zero of them are under LP skirts or inside guard rail ends. That was my one major rule. They're all at least a little unique and fun.) Unfortunately, because I'm not incredibly creative, to pull most of them off, they had to be 1.5 terrain or higher. While doing said series, it came to my attention that one of the local cachers, who I've met and conversed with a few times at events and by email, has a handicapped son that does C&Ds with him sometimes. Said kid cacher is in a wheelchair, meaning that his terrain level is limited to 1. I read a log post on one of my recent C&Ds where said cacher moved my magnetic cache temporarily from its hiding place in order for his son to "find" it. I have NO problem with that. In fact, I am thinking the opposite. Our area has a glaring lack of terrain 1 caches, and the ones that are terrain 1 are almost exclusively LPCs. (Yuck!) Anyway, since I am not the most inventive person in the world, I am looking to borrow ideas. I would like to make some of those C&Ds terrain 1 level caches for the handicapped cachers amongst us, especially this young fellow I mentioned. I would like some contributions from the community at large for some ideas for creative terrain 1/urban caches. Rules: They CAN'T be under light post skirts as I just refuse to place any, and I would like to make them either really creative or slightly difficult. I would also like to find a way to have a swag sized cache hiding in plain sight. I imagine handicapped folks don't get many swag swapping opportunities. tl;dr: Any help would be appreciated. Can I have examples of caches you all either own or found that can be done in an urban or terrain 1 setting?

I actually made two of those and am going to deploy them soon. Not only have I found a few, placed really well, but the Podcacher podcast did a video about it and I made one from their instructions. A little epoxy and some spray paint and you have a homemade container! Thanks for the input everyone! Keep them coming! Most of what you are mentioning are containers I hate to find. I am actually going to be using these for a number of good ideas I have. I not only plan to make a "parody" series of caches, using watertight, creative, humorous plays on the stereotypical containers, but I plan to create a "do" and "do not" list off of the lists you all are giving me.

Good point here. Yes, bison tube also includes pill fobs and such clones, as nano/blinker even refers to the LED original types. Thanks for your input, folks. Keep them coming. Anyone remember any other magnetic containers they've found?

I'm making a list of all the micro geocache containers I've seen in use. (Note: This list does not reflect which ones I condone. It's just what I have found.) So far, I have some of the obvious: nano, bison tube, film container, key hider, Altoid/Skoal can (yuck), pill bottle, match container, lip balm tube, soda bottle preform.... I know I'm missing some. Can anyone list for me some containers they have often found under lamp post skirts and on guardrails that I've missed?

Not a problem fish. That's all I needed. I can undoubtedly figure out the rest. Thank you! You are all gentlemen (and women) and scholars, and your honest and helpful feedback has been appreciated.

That's probably it! I'm not averaging anything! I'm just selecting a waypoint. Perfect advice! I might consider setting it on the ground next to the cache to average while I set the cache up how I want it to appear. Good call! Thanks a million!

Good responses folks! Yeah, I guess you're right, T.D.M. It would be nice to have access to Chirp, but when it really comes down to it, it's not a necessity. I love my GC. I don't want to switch. Just now I need to figure out what I am doing wrong capturing coordinates for caches I place.... Any ideas on how to make my GC more accurate capturing coordinates?

Hi, I currently have a Magellan GC Explorist. I found a cache that had a Garmin Chirp associated with it. I had to find the cache sans Chirp because apparently it isn't Chirp compatible. Is there a way to upgrade it to make it Chirp enabled? If not, is there an affordable Magellan that can be compatible with Chirp? On top of it, I fear that my GC Explorist is a little loose when capturing coordinates under cover. With that in mind, is there a more accurate, affordable Magellan that I can buy that is capable of Chirp compatibility, OR is there a way to fix both concerns with my GC? Thanks!

$5 each for plastic ammo cans? You must share who your supplier is. I can't find a plastic ammo can for less than $10, and due to the humid weather here, I like that idea over replacing a rusted out metal one every five years. Is it a durable, reinforced plastic?

I am jealous I didn't think of that joke. In all seriousness, as far as deer antler keychains, I would definitely trade for one! I love the idea! Count me a yes vote.

Meaning without cell service in that particular phone, you are doomed to poor accuracy no matter what?

To the previous poster, it's not 'finders keepers' if you legitimately know who something belongs to at the time... and everything larger than a micro is legitimately labeled, typically. It's not like letterboxing where nothing is labeled. Did anyone forget to mention that, compared to many hobbies, Geocaching is pennies on the cache, literally? The economy is currently eating me alive, and I still find the $30 for a year. Even so, three months is $10. I spend more than that on lunch these days! It's not a scam if millions of people like it the way it is.

Thanks everyone! Lots of great information here! I appreciate that so far nobody has gotten significantly butt hurt over the GPS/Smartphone debate, except to inform me that there are more exceptions to the "everyone caches with phones now and then" statement, which I recognize and withdraw in response. I'd be willing to say most cachers do, for at least two or three of every fifty or so caches, especially the park and grabs, but unless we made a poll of every cacher on GC, I guess the numbers are impossible to know. It sounds to me as though three things are evident and agreed upon: - Never rely solely on a smartphone. Always bring your GPSr anyway. - Most phones are accurate enough to get you within 20 feet of the cache. Once there, use your geosense anyway. That part never changes. - Purchase the phone that is right for you regardless of Geocaching, download the app that is right for you, and just go at it. One thing I think I've figured out: My old Windows Phone cheats and requires data connection for the best GPS navigation. I might go with an HTC Windows Phone next time or whichever phone I can be sure has a dedicated GPS chip. I think I will go with another Windows Phone as I miss it terribly. I will keep my still-properly-working Android in case I have trouble with Geocaching Live on Windows Phone, but I think I've figured it out. Again, thanks everyone for such great feedback! I will still be using my GPSr for most caches, especially in the woods, so it probably isn't a big deal overall.

My apologies, Walts. You do seem to be the exception and I applaud you for your resistance to the cell phone geocaching frenzy. At least around here, most geocachers I know have a dedicated GPSr and also use their cell phones, especially for the early morning FTF race after receiving the alert from the reviewer of a newly published cache nearby. (i.e. There isn't time for a PQ to the GPSr when you know someone else has already received the e-mail and left the house.) In any case, I think we can establish that most do use their phones for caching. Again, congratulations though for being able to resist it. I did, however, mention that to turn away the trolls that would come in going, "Does Garmin make a phone?" or something like that, not to offend. I primarily use my phone for the urban caches (think LPC, guard rail, numbers runs, etc), not for caches out in the woods, although I do much more hiking than biking. I primarily want my phone to be accurate for urban caches. 20 feet off is within the acceptable range. I'm not saying it's bad in any way. I just want to increase accuracy even further if possible. Well, see, I use my Android to cache with because I had it when I started caching. Had I been caching two years ago or earlier when I had my Windows Phone, I might have started on my Windows Phone. I like that better. Unfortunately, Sprint didn't have a comparable Windows Phone when I switched to their service, or I wouldn't have ever gotten an Android. I want to switch back to Windows Phone when they come out with that new line Sprint keeps promising. I just want to know if anyone has tried caching on a Windows Phone and if the GPS is accurate at all. Lieblweb, you are absolutely right. No cell phone has the accuracy of a GPSr. Before I bought one, I tried placing my first cache. The coordinates the phone pulled, as they don't settle well on such a short effort, were around 38 feet off, and my local "mentor", so to speak, nicely and sweetly ripped me a new one for that, as he rightly should have. I didn't place a cache again until I had purchased a GPSr. That being said, I don't plan to buy my new phone strictly for geocaching purposes. I want to keep it in mind and make the purchase with that as a factor. See, I like Windows Phone BETTER, but I currently have an Android because that is all Sprint was offering that I could use. (I don't do iPhone. It's a personal preference. I would choose Android over iPhone any day.) I desperately want to go back to Windows Phone, but if that means being 50 feet off of every cache I do with my phone, that might alter my decision. That's all I mean by that. I like and am familiar with Android and Windows Phone, and overall, I like Windows Phone better and want another when the new ones come out. I just want to know if anyone has a comment on their accuracy geocaching. Thanks for the comments though! Walts, I hope I didn't offend. I might have stated my "assumption" a little better.

Before I get into this, I already own and am happy with a legit GPSr. However, you would be kidding yourself if you think that even the best Geocachers with the best technology don't use their cell phone to go caching now and then. I do it and I think we all do. That being said, this is not where I want to be arguing the fact that a standalone GPSr is better than a cell phone. It clearly is. I am asking for information only about cell phones. I own and cache with an LG Viper Android phone (along with my Magellan GPSr). However, I have noticed that sometimes my connection can be up to 20 feet off. I use Geobeagle and C:Geo. Especially when doing puzzles, if I do not go back to the car and yank out my Magellan, I am often stuck with Geobeagle. I used to use a Windows phone before I started caching. I broke it out, inactivated, and downloaded Geocaching Live. I stored all the caches I planned to get the other day and compared the results to my Android and my Magellan. The Windows phone was awful. I will be up for a phone upgrade soon, and I want to get one with Geocaching in mind. I miss my Windows phone terribly and want a new one when Sprint comes out with their new line of Windows phones, but not at the cost of Geocaching with it. If a phone is not activated on a carrier, does that impact the accuracy, or lack thereof, of the GPS signal? Lastly, for those who have tried Geocaching on multiple phones/apps, what have you found to be the most accurate? Any tips before I make the upgrade this fall?