MRB3N

Well said. +1

No sane person would stick a log sticker to something like this (which I find regular)...

Interesting, that's a relatively new addition, and previously it's never been clearly stated. Its extra interesting because there is no provision for a damaged, wet or full log book. So you travel many miles to a location you will probably never visit again in your lifetime, find the Cache, but the log book is damp and un-useable. You are therefore not entitled to getting a smiley and the find for that Cache and your log can be deleted? Never heard so much rubbish to be honest. A huge % of my finds are caches that are either badly maintained or the owners no longer actually play the game. Both of which are really annoying and are pet hates of mine. But should I lose all my smileys because of that? Seems ridiculous doesn't it? Think about how many of your total finds have been in bad condition or you could not physically write your name (for whatever reason) on the log book/sheet. Would you accept that all of those particular finds should be erased from your account? I very much doubt it. I think this issue that a Cache must have a written name or stamp on paper is deeply flawed. Just because you haven't been able to sign your name doesn't make you a cheat and that is how it is being portrayed. You have to remember that Geocaching is played by people from all backgrounds... ...Some people cant even write their own name due to poor education or physical disability! So how far do you draw this out? The rule book would become a bible just on the tiny section of signing a log book. Seems totally stupid to even have a rule about signing your name, its like having rules on how to breathe, but that's just my opinion.

I have never signed a signed a Nano yet. I cannot stand the things! I cannot get log out, or back in, there is never any space on the log, then it takes an hour to roll it up, then realise its too fat, unroll, re-roll, still to fat, unroll re-roll... You get the idea. Worst excuse for a Cache ever. A 35mm Film Canister should be the minimum size allowed in my opinion. MICRO (Film Canister) is the lowest size that Groundspeak even let you specify anyway, but don't get me started. Although I know I am far from alone on this Nano hating view of the game. Haha. Anyway, to answer your question, NO you do not have to sign the log. If you want the smilie for finding one of my caches, your name must be on the log. Whether it is a nano, or a large cache container. So you go and check the logs of your caches regulary do you? One to check up on everyones name and also to make sure its not wet or full.

I have never signed a signed a Nano yet. I cannot stand the things! I cannot get log out, or back in, there is never any space on the log, then it takes an hour to roll it up, then realise its too fat, unroll, re-roll, still to fat, unroll re-roll... You get the idea. Worst excuse for a Cache ever. A 35mm Film Canister should be the minimum size allowed in my opinion. MICRO (Film Canister) is the lowest size that Groundspeak even let you specify anyway, but don't get me started. Although I know I am far from alone on this Nano hating view of the game. Haha. Anyway, to answer your question, NO you do not have to sign the log. I find it rather funny that he says the nano is the "worst excuse for a cache ever"...and in the same breath used a film canister as a model cache. That entire post really just goes to show that LIFE IS SO HARD Excuse me? I am talking about the tiny black magnetic NANO Caches. A 35mm film cannister is a MICRO Cache. Can you tell the difference between NANO and MICRO? I suppose its not easy, so I do apologise. I'll help you out to make things a bit easier... NANO has 4 letters. - MICRO has 5 letters. A NANO is considerably smaller than a MICRO. So thanks for your opinion, I appreciate it as you are a fellow Geocacher and you had a try. So points there for effort and better luck next time as I am sure you'll get it soon. But please dont be down-hearted. You just need to practice a bit more and you'll get there champ. Wishing you all the best!

I am giving constructive feedback. This is to help the guy. A .com domain will only cost you 99p for your first year and then its less than £10 a year after that. {Content removed by mod}

Okay, I'll bite. Groundspeak seems to disagree with you. From "What does a geocache look like?" in Geocaching 101 (emphasis added): Yeah its a sub-type. An add on in the small print that isn't properly incorporated into the Cache listing process. So as I said earlier, when you list a Cache, NANO is not an option. I quote myself: "MICRO (Film Canister is the lowest size that Groundspeak let you specify". Let's try this again. Yes, micro is the smallest size rating currently supported on the geocaching.com site. Groundspeak has been promising a separate nano size rating, but for now, nano is a sub-type of micro. But micro is not the size of a film canister. Micro is anything less than 100ml. Since a film canister is about 35-40ml, it is a micro. But so are smaller containers like bison tubes, centrifuge tubes, and even blinkers. Okay.

Okay, I'll bite. Groundspeak seems to disagree with you. From "What does a geocache look like?" in Geocaching 101 (emphasis added): Yeah its a sub-type. An add on in the small print that isn't properly incorporated into the Cache listing process. So as I said earlier, when you list a Cache, NANO is not an option. I quote myself: "MICRO (Film Canister is the lowest size that Groundspeak let you specify". Try reading things properly rather than blindly see an opportunity just to release your stress on someone to feel like a big boy.

Because its professional and also gives off a professional image (even if you are only a starter idea/company). Its like Geocaching having www.Geocaching.freesitebuilder.com its just not professional is it?

I have never signed a signed a Nano yet. I cannot stand the things! I cannot get log out, or back in, there is never any space on the log, then it takes an hour to roll it up, then realise its too fat, unroll, re-roll, still to fat, unroll re-roll... You get the idea. Worst excuse for a Cache ever. A 35mm Film Canister should be the minimum size allowed in my opinion. MICRO (Film Canister) is the lowest size that Groundspeak even let you specify anyway, but don't get me started. Although I know I am far from alone on this Nano hating view of the game. Haha. Anyway, to answer your question, NO you do not have to sign the log.

There must be an official amount of time before you can launch a copy? In my opinion, your suggestion of a year is far too long. If you spend your hard earned money on trackables, you should not have to wait a year to enjoy that item again. Any time after 2 weeks and with no response to emails etc should be suffice. If its stolen then its stolen, it doesn't need a year to confirm it.

Brilliant idea, but needs a far better website design. Also a better address such as adoptacache.com? or .co.uk?

Contact Groundspeak directly. It's the easiest way.

I know the feeling. I'm about to give up myself. The thing is I've released not one geocoin but a number of them and so far not even one has been moved to another cache. I don't really care so much about the loss of the coin. It's just that I don't like feeling that I'm being played for a fool. All I want is for a single coin to be moved just once, that's all I ask for, and it will restore my faith in people. If you were closer, I would help, we are on opposite sides of the coin. I know which coin you are talking about that the 12 year old has. I picked it up a cache and dropped it off at Groundspeak HQ where I figured it would be safe. He grabbed it from me before I could drop it into the headquarters cache. I sent him emails asking him first to dip the coin so it would get credit for being in the cache, then explaining how to log a trackable and some trackable etiquette. He did write me back, but the response was something like "why don't you just log it yourself" which I couldn't do without the tracking number because he grabbed it from me. He has someone else's coin too that he picked up at the same time from HQ. For clarity, I was referring to the coins that Little Hiawatha owns and was talking about. This would not be something I would get into unless it was befriending a young geocacher and giving them guidance. How about we all start up a "Young Geocacher's Adoption Program" in our local areas. The idea would be the more experianced geocachers would "adopt" a new cacher to show them the ropes and proper logging of caches and trackables, etc. It would be like the big brother/sister mentor programs out there. We already have that in the UK. See on the UK section of the Geocaching Forums. You can look for a buddy in your area.

You can ask your local councils land registry dept. Or just submit your cords and let the reviewer decide. That is the easiest way to be honest as they have all the resources and they are quick with it too.

Well sorry, but there is no way I would let my daughter (who is currently 11) bugger off within a 5 mile radius. She is not allowed away from the street we live on and for good reason. Plenty of adults or teens (16+) are taken by weirdos. So although I am not having a personal dig at your parents, I stick by what I said previously, that is bad parenting. No 12 year old child should be able to wander within a 5 mile radius of their house, that is just crazy. I'm sure you'll tell me you're 50 years old so things were different back then etc, but we are talking about now. Fact is, it wasn't safer years ago. There have always been pervs and weirdos and there was no such thing as a mobile phone for safety. Anyway, that is a completely different topic and a small part that you have chosen to pick out of my previous post. Either way, my point is still very valid and no child of 12 should be out roaming, Geocaching etc without an appropriate adult (16 or 18+). NOW BACK TO TOPIC...

Its a shame its not free like all the others are. Even the Official App is free.

Yes, but... ...2 weeks is the recommended time to hold a TB without any action. If you require more time you are supposed to contact the TB Owner. He has had that TB since July and its now October! That is unacceptable and I fully understand why the TB Owner is upset.

Wow! I can see how the 12 year old situation could be very aggravating. His parents should be ashamed of him and themselves. I do not think there is any way he can be forced to hand it back. He is no better than a "Muggle" basically. Y'know, one of them mindless idiots that see a Cache full of trackables and swaps and take it? Them idiots that see it clearly says "Official Geocache" or "Official Gamepiece" and "Please Do Not Disturb" on it? Your trackable has gone and you may as well consider it missing as if the Cache was Muggled. The aggravating factor is that this shameful excuse for a human being bothered to write a log stating he's muggling your item. Okay so I have done a little research on this person: * Name: CJCaching. * Age: 12 (Apparently). * No. of Finds: 147. * Trackables Logged: 14. The first thing which amazes me is how parents would allow a 12 year old to go out and log 147 finds ALONE. There are not going to be 147 Caches within the boundaries of a 12 year olds playing area (his street or neighbourhood etc). So that tells me he is Caching with grownups. No matter if its his parents or not. He is with an appropiate adult. Failing that, then he is a 12 year old kid who isnt being looked after correctly and thats a case for child services. Or am I the only one who thinks 12 is very young to be out in the wilderness Caching with no appropriate adult? So perhaps its worth looking at his logs (I havent delved that far) and seeing if he is logging these finds alongside an adult Cacher. If so, then an email to that adult might give him the kick up the backside to place your TB back into a Cache. I have emailed CJCaching myself and politely asked that he play by the rules, play fair and think about if things were the other way round. I did also mention that constant bad feedback about his game playing can be reported to Groundspeak who can ban him from the game. I thought this may hit a nerve as he obviously enjoys the game with 147 finds and he is doing this regulary and recently too (30th September). He even has his own trackables! And he has released new ones as recently as 30th September! So perhaps he could relate to one of his being stolen? Only time will tell, I have had no email reply yet. He has logged a lot of trackables recently and moved them to new Caches so why he's picked on yours I really don't know. Best of luck on this one and I think a show of support from other people here sending a polite email to this guy would be good. No need to be aggressive, just re-enforce the rules and general etiquette set by Groundspeak and worry him a little with being banned. Ps. This is the trackable in question: http://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?guid=cf1f117d-bd4e-4a00-8700-e72cf3da3929

I'll just quote your latest offensive, insulting comment. I'm glad you're happy with the system you use. However, it's not the perfect system for everyone. I don't own, and have no intention of owning, a smartphone or a cellphone or whatever. I'm quite happy with my landline. As for geocaching, you're going a bit overboard in your uneducated assumption that those of us who own gps's are stupid, which is what you are proclaiming. How dare you assume that my purchase of 3 different gps' over the years was "uneducated" and without research? I would strongly urge you to take your vitriolic tendencies down a few notches. You might also like to carefully read the Forum Guidelines: http://forums.Ground...tion=boardrules B. I was "attacked" first if you scroll up. I was the first to answer the O.P with valid points and personal experience. I am called a liar and made out to be stupid saying my phone lies? Hahahahahah! Feeble attempt at making a point. Yet saying "uneducated" is such a taboo. Think before you type. Im done with this topic. It was doomed to be aggro from the start. Hence why I mentioned in my "helpful" original post that here will come the GPS crowd...

To be honest why should I even bother? This isn't a topic about my smartphone. I was trying to give the O.P a truthful and honest answer from another "newbies" point of view. So being jumped upon by the vast technophobe crowd who like their Garmin Etrex is uncalled for. I do not think ANY newbie Cacher should go and blow loads of money on a GPS device. Use your phone, find out how much you like the game first AT LEAST. I LOVE the game, I play it daily and still I use my phone. Its perfection. No reason whatsoever for me to WASTE hard earned money on another item to carry that does LESS than what my phone can. Really it just all boils down to one thing which some have and others haven't... ...Common sense.

If that were an accurate statement, EVERY Registered Public Surveyor would sell their $thousands worth of equipment and buy cell phones. The military (you know the ones who own the satellites) would never allow civilians to have that type of accuracy. 10 meters is as good as it gets. I have yet to see a cell phone that more accurate than my 6 year old Magellan 300 GPSr. You are crazy! ALL modern smartphones are within 5 metres or less. If I switch to compass I can actually follow it as it counts down in feet! So long as the coordinates are spot on for the Cache I am at ZERO metres/feet when I am at GZ. Why is this so hard to understand? Its irritating to be presumed I'm telling fairy tales? Just because you blew hundreds of £'s on GPS devices isn't my problem. I looked at ALL options. I used a lot of different GPS devices off family and friends. I have also gone and Cached with iPhone and Android users. My Samsung Ativ S (Galaxy S4) with Windows Phone OS is a remarkable piece of equipment. And I would gladly prove this to anyone out in the field by handing over my phone and saying "Try It". That's exactly what I have done with various phones and GPS devices. I made a huge point of trying as much as possible and reading as many review and watching as many videos as possible. Why?... Because I didn't want to spend a penny, let alone £500 on a device if I didn't have to. Turns out that the FREE Official Geocaching App for Windows Phone has nailed it hands down. And I havent spent a penny so i dont have a burning need to back up my uneducated and expensive purchase of a Garmin Etrex or Magellan GC etc.

Wow! I can see how the 12 year old situation could be very aggravating. His parents should be ashamed of him and themselves. I do not think there is any way he can be forced to hand it back. He is no better than a "Muggle" basically. Y'know, one of them mindless idiots that see a Cache full of trackables and swaps and take it? Them idiots that see it clearly says "Official Geocache" or "Official Gamepiece" and "Please Do Not Disturb" on it? Your trackable has gone and you may as well consider it missing as if the Cache was Muggled. The aggravating factor is that this shameful excuse for a human being bothered to write a log stating he's muggling your item.

The official geocaching app is not reliable, at least not on my phone. When it does work, it can find simple traditional caches out in the open. It's pretty straight forward in this case. For anything else, a dedicated gpsr works better for me. That being said, i might see it differently if i had started caching with a phone and didn't know any better. Some issues with cellphones: 1. Most of our phones are not very water resisistant. They are also not as sturdy as a dedicated gpsr. You need to protect them when you're out using them to find caches. 2. Most of them have mediocre satellite reception. Again, they work ok in the open, but get some tree cover overhead and the accuracy goes away pretty quickly. 3. Battery life is not good on just about all phones when used with the app. 4. You will use data so you need to make sure you have a phone plan that this isn't an issue with. Most dedicated handheld gpsrs are just the opposite of the above. 1. - Not true: You can buy protective cases for a mobile phone which are more than adequate for less than £1! Although if you want to you can actually get special cases with are 100% water and shock proof if you're that paranoid. Also, answer this... If a handheld GPS is so rugged, why do the companies sell protective cases for them in their accessories store? Yeah exactly. You drop it, it smashes. So a handheld GPS will need a case. And don't even try to make out its to avoid scratches because that's bull-whistle. Check eBay and see how many of these so called "rugged, outdoor" GPS systems are smashed on eBay. And there are just as many which have water damage. That's odd... Thought they were waterproof? I have dropped my Samsung down the stairs and out on the trail countless times without issue. It has a 99p rubber case on it and a 99p screen protector film. Job done. 2. - Not true: Satellite reception is perfection and is a lot more accurate than 90% of handheld GPS devices. Best GPS I have heard of has within 3 meters accuracy and that costs a fortune!!! My Samsung is within a metre and my Nokia was within 1 to 2 metres. An iPhone is within 5 metres. 3. - Not true: I can run the app on my phone for an entire day's Caching of 10 hours+ and I barely reach 25% battery remaining. Also for a fiver you can buy a backup battery or usb charge device for another full charge. So that's a full 24 hours Caching at least. 4. - Not true: You can use your smartphone offline so you dont have to use any data whatsoever. You can save Caches, photos, logs, everything to work offline. Ive done it and its flawless. It's always the same story with handheld GPS users. They have to back up their devices as theyve wasted all their money on them. Basically if you want to go and waste £100, £200 or even £500 on a Garmin system then go ahead. But any smartphone is highly likely to beat you on accurancy and will always win on userbility hands down. You know how your phone works inside out right? Well there you go. Not to mention faster processor, more memory and better high definnition maps than the GPS. With Google Maps, if you zoom in, its so detailed you can pick out a person walking on the street. Can a GPS device do that? Oh and if your phone is a Windows Phone the Official App is 100% FREE. Although even on iPhone and Android its only £7. Far cheaper than those hundreds of £'s mentioned earlier for a GPS.

Excellent, thanks! I'm off to hunt for some virtual trackables.