Turnstones

There are types of smartphones that are dustproof, shockproof and waterproof. Just google on ip67 certified smartphones. Some examples: the Motorola Defy can be kept 1 meter underwater for 30 minutes. And on youtube you will find videoclips shot underwater with an Xperia smartphone. These phones are resistant against rain. I recently replaced my smartphone and now have one that happens to be waterproof - it's GPS capabilty is also much better that it's predecessor so I tend to use the phone now as my primary geocaching tool - however - have you ever tried useing a smartphone when it's raining? I've talked to a number of people who use smart phones and like mine they all seem to suffer from the same problem - when the screen gets wet the touch screen is activated by rain drops and you cannot select anything without drying the screen first.

I also received the same message today but it showed on the message centre as being from Danial6974

As per the earlier reply - the one with the colon in it - c:geo. I've used this for a couple of years and it does all that I need. I run it on an old Android phone and I rarely get my handheld GPS out now unless its raining or I want to double check coordinates. I've tried several other Android apps and settled on c:geo not because it's free but because it works really well and has lots of useful easy to use functions.

I've never felt the need to sign up for Premium membership as I found that using c:geo (Free download) for my HTC Android and EasyGPS (also free download) for my eTrex give me all I require without having to key any data into either device. I simply use a WiFi connection to download caches directly into my phone with c:geo and use the same app to log my finds. EasyGPS allows me to download 19 caches at a time to my eTrex which is fine and I've not hit any limit downloading batches of caches with c:geo although I assume there must be an upper limit. The only minor drawback for me in staying as a basic member is not having access to PM only caches but I can live with that as there's more than enough all member access caches available to keep me busy. I looked at the 'benefits' of PM and none of them are 'must haves' for me so why pay for additional features if you don't need them? If you must have PQ then PM is for you otherwise I see no real benefit.

I also use c:geo and really can't fault it now I've got used to finding my way around the various options. Before I settled on c:geo I tried most of the free App's and in my view c:geo was head and shoulders above the others. I also use an eTrex Legend Hcx which I find better when searching under tree cover but I have to say I like being able to log the cache on the spot so I'm increasing using the phone (An HTC Desire S so not latest technology)but I found that I'd be lucky to get half a day's caching before the battery died. Solution? I just bought a couple of used phone batteries on eBay for a couple of £££'s each so the only thing I worry about now is getting the phone wet so now carry a small clip-lock box and when the weather turns foul I put the phone in the box and revert to the weatherproof eTrex (bought on eBay for £20!). I can also use the eTrex when navigating by road as it's got full UK mapping and gives me routes much quicker than the phone and does not need a phone signal either. This gives me a perfect combination for the sort of caching I do and I've also found it useful having two devices so I can double check coordinates.

I've always used the search by Post Code facility which until recently worked fine, but now it does not even recognise my home Post Code. There were problems with this function some years ago when it gave German locations for UK Post Codes and that was eventually fixed. This current problem means there is no quick and convenient way of searching for caches in the area I expect to be visiting as the suggested workarounds are very long winded compared to just inputting the local Post Code. I am mindful that as a basic member I'm not really in a position to complain about a free service, but I am surprised that members who pay for the privilege of Premium membership can accept that dependance on external third parties providing this data makes this an acceptable situation which may or may not get fixed at some future point in time. The best solution for me is to use the excellent(and free!) c:geo application on my Android device as it seems to me to have much better functionalty than the Geocaching.com website and app when out in the field although I would prefer to use my desktop PC when planning trips if only the search facilities worked better.

Have you ever tried using a Smartphone when it's tipping down with rain? I usually carry a Smartphone for looking up cache details and logging finds as I go but always use the eTrex for navigating in adverse weather conditions. If I happen to be somewhere without the eTrex and wonder if there's any geocaches in the area the Smartphone is usually fine. I also find the Smartphone useful if looking for caches which have been set using a Smartphone as I've found coordinates often differ from those given by the eTrex by as much as 50'. In short - it's horses for courses. If you only cache in favourable weather conditions a Smartphone is fine. If you are worried about getting your Smartphone wet then uses a proper GPS.