ATXTracker

If a CO encrypts a log, can anyone dencrypt it, like with a hint?

This is a good idea. Encrypting is helpful, but it is a tool mostly for the cacher, not the cache owner, since it is the cacher who decides if they want to decrypt. I have a few caches where I think some of the logs spoil aspects of the caches that I had intended to be pleasant surprises. For example, after one cacher posted that a night cache was find-able during the day, many have started visiting in daylight, rather than after dark. I went to some trouble to make it especially cool after dark, so I'd rather they experience the full adventure. I wouldn't go so far as to delete the log, because that does more than just remove the spoiler. Maybe I'd like a way to hide a log. Given Groundspeak's move away from owner moderated logs when the built challenges, I don't really expect them to build more owner moderation tools for geocaching. But I think hiding a log by marking it as a spoiler, would be nice. Can a CO edit the text of a log of a finder?

in my experience capped pvc, even the kind with threads can let in water/moisture. However, you can buy stoppers with a gasket that expands as you tighten a wing-nut. These can be very effective if cachers close it properly.

I my experience there is no one reason that multis get less traffic, but I think that many people are into geocaching because they enjoy finding caches, for a number of reasons, not always about counting finds, but because of the sense of accomplishment which comes with a successful find. With multis the time/effort/risk to find ratio is lower - meaning I don't know how much time it will take or what my chances of success are. If it is a hard ten stage cache, then I could have to abandon the search at any stage. If you are trying to attract seekers, you could advertise that it is easy, which is not always desirable, but will liekly entice more people. Another common method is to make a cache series rather than a multi. A series rewards the seekers with many finds, not just one. I myself, enjoy a good multi, but I appreciate it if I know upfront how much time it will take, so I can plan accordingly.

Anti favorites: Just look for caches logged with only "TFTC" : ) jjk. I think you could do something based only on the positives. Like Apple Genius recommends music. 1) What caches have I favorited? 2) What are the attributes of caches I favorited (type, s/d/t, attributes, owner, etc.) 3) Who are cachers that have favorited similar caches as I. 4) Score other caches I have not found using an algorithm that takes the above into consideration. This is the hard part to tune and get right. 5) Provide the personalized score (Recommendation Index) throughout the site, anywhere I'm looking at caches. Pocket Queries, Maps, Cache Pages. Let me order lists by this score. 6) Advanced features: Make caching trip/outing suggestions, connect me with fellow cachers who like the same sort of caches, etc.

Many sites have recommendation engines to recommend products, or songs, or videos to users. Geocaching should have build an engine to recommend geocaches to cachers. It could be a simple list of caches ranked by a recommendation score determined by an algorithm that Groundspeak invents. It could take many things into consideration, and even allow the user to tweak the query a little by suggesting a distance or location. Favorites could be used to create a weighting framework for the types of things you like. It could consider s/d/t, but also more advanced things like favorite count, people who favorited the cache and other caches you favorited in common with those people; sort-of like a social graph of favorites. It could consider attributes, and compare those attributes to caches you favorited to determine how frequently you like caches with those attributes. It could look at favorites of your friends, or even determine who your likely caching buddies are based on common finds in the same day. It could even try to suggest a clump of good caches to go find in a caching excursion. So many options. Many times I find my self searching the map for a good caches to god out and find. This is not the same as a pocket query. Pocket queries have to be manually set up, whereas this would score many different attributes, that are customized to the user by considering their favorite caches and other caching behaviors, and provide a composite score/ranking.

This is a fantastic suggestion! I think a VERY interesting social idea for geocaching.com. Favorite points could be used in this way to present users with a list of "other caches you might like" based on which caches you favorited, and who else favorited those caches, and which other caches those people favorited that you have not found. It could have filters for time, and also location/distance. Size, Difficulty, and Attributes could be considered as well. Even without any new kind of rating or having to do anything other than favorite caches you like, GS could build a custom/changing list of recommended caches for each user based on favorite points and caching behaviors. Have you suggested this in the feedback section?

Good topic. I'm not sure what to do. Personally, I have more points then I can use, but if I were out, I wouldn't mind reclaiming them from archived caches. The point of favorites, IMO, is to help other cachers discover great caches, and not so much to preserve a history of best caches of all time. I see no good reason that old caches need to keep their favorites.

It appears that checking a variable for True/False is not working on an iphone. It works in a simulator. Has anyone else had this issue?

I use it.

sometimes i like to gently shake the fence and listen for a jingle of the bison hitting the chain link. This sometimes works on posts too, if the container is inside hanging from a string. It doesn't always work, but when it does, it's a great feeling.

It sounds like any change is going to be imperfect and invoke an outcry in the forums I personally like the favorite point approach. It allows for positive/neutral voting, and is limited so you have to decide between caches. It also weights the opinions of avid cachers over those who have only found a few, since you have to earn points by caching. I do think it would help if people made an attempt to use more of their favorite points. It seems like many of us (myself included) have lots of points sitting unused.

Yes, I am mostly thinking of the iPhone app. I think it's a good idea for any device, but obviously you can already do this with something like a Garmin. You can do it on the iphone by using other apps, but I'm thinking the feature inside the Groundspeak app, when combined with the concept of a parking waypoint, could be really useful.

In my experience they do, especially when it's heavily favourited. I'm not saying percentage weighting should replace raw count, there's just been a few times when i've thought i'd like to search that way. +1 - well said.

haha ... isn't that exactly what a GPSr does? but seriously, this is a good point. I think it would not be a change, just a new feature/option for those who wanted it.

If a cache has a "Parking Area" waypoint (and maybe if it does not), add a navigate option to "Turn-By-Turn to Parking." When Parking spot is reached (some near proximity), then automatically switch back to direct navigation, perhaps with a popup notification. The waypoints page could be enhanced to encourage people to add parking waypoints to assist navigation. iOS6 is coming soon and supposedly has support for apps to use the turn-by-turn maps. In addition to a great feature, this is a safety concern as well, I think. This should be done from a high level menu somewhere, and please NOT in a round-about way such as: Navigate to cache -> view additional waypoints -> select each waypoint to see which one is labeled 'Parking' -> select 'Set as Target' -> then toggle some kind of turn-by-turn setting.

Here is a controversial suggestion, just to spice it up, I have mixed feelings my self but for the sake of discussion ... I think #7 is ok, if that is the point of the series. Some power trails seem to be set up with brute tactics like this in mind. The goal really is not for every team member to be the first to spot and individually sign every cache log with their own pen, but rather to complete the series as a whole by working together to get their team name on all the logs. thoughts?

I respectfully disagree. I think a negative rating could create animosity in an otherwise friendly community.

I see you have a lot on your caches. Good work!

Where do you get them? I've always wondered that... online. Google "soda preform" I agree with the poster that cheap cache containers are often associated with low-quality caches; but not always. Be creative, find awesome places to hide them, create interesting themes, puzzles, and stories. Cheap is not necessarily bad.

I've found preforms at about that price. I like them for lots of reasons as micros: 1) They stay dry, and don't require a o-ring gasket. 2) The lids can usually be replaced from liter bottle if the are damaged or lost 3) the are very strong 4) Logs slide in and out easily. 5) very cheap (even cheaper than the Walmart $0.89 matchsticks) Obviously larger caches are better (IMO) than small caches, but when you just gotta hid a micro, preforms are my favorite.

I hope they make it into the PQs soon. The percentage favorite-ed is needed too, and I think this stat is actually more important as time goes on. You can PREVIEW a PQ and sort that preview by favorites, which is a great way to look for good caches.

I love wherigos as well. They take a lot more effort than hiding a regular, but can be worth it. The Garmin devices aren't well supported, but There are apps for iPhones and Android phones that work well.

Agreed. I think the more data in the system, the more useful it becomes, at least while the ratio is kept low (1-10).

I do think Groundspeak has a good thing going with favorite points. I think it's a good rating system. I'm starting to think that the rating data will be better the more favorite points are used by the community.