Dave_W6DPS

quote:Originally posted by Bilder:How about email notification whenever a cache in our county/state is listed? Actually, it would have to be a bit more limited to be useful for some of us. The county I live in has about three times the population (and number of caches) as Alaska. And, some of the counties around us make us look small! I like Skydiver's notification, but set the radius to 10 miles. So I usually only get two or three emails a day. I would hate to try to keep up with an email for every new cache in California.... Otherwise a good idea. Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

quote:Originally posted by Team Kender:Backing what BrianSnat said: I definately use previous finders logs as to know when the last time the cache was found, the condition, etc. I usually use watcher, and just glance at the list to see if there are finds or DNFs, as little yellow happy faces or purple sad faces. Most of the time I don't read all the previous logs on a cache, just look for recent finds. I have also noticed people logging finds on their own caches, or multiple finds on a cache if they re-visit to pick up or drop off a bug. I guess if the numbers meant very much ot me I would be more concerned. As it is, I just think it is rather pathetic. Kind of like cheating at soletaire.... Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

You don't log them out on the cache page, you do that on the bug's page, so that is only one visit per bug. Just why would you log them in and then grab them back out, anyway? I have always left them in the cache I logged them into.... Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

I like the metal ones. It makes it easy to have one design to look for when you want to check through a cache's contents fast. I would like to see the wording changed to provide a bit of instruction on where to go to log them. The stuff currently printed on them could be replaced by "Please ensure you log this bug at:", or something along those lines. Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

Check out this cache.It requires you post to include an original poem on a subject chosen from a list in the cache. I liked it! Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

There are data blocks on a cache log for just this purpose. If you feel that the coordinates are off, put your coordinates in your log, and explain why you think yours are better. Of course, just because your GPSr says the coordinates are off doesn't mean they actually are. I recently had one of my caches relocate a few dozen yards from where it started, and finder sent me the new coordinates to my cache. I went and moved it back where it belonged. Caches do get moved by finders, for whatever reason. There is also significant amount of difference between GPSr reading for the same spot, sometimes with the same GPSr and a different set of satellites up. Cache coordinates should be averaged over several sets of reading taken over several days. Some hiders do this, others don't spend as much time. I've also noticed that some finders will post coordinates with out putting much effort into verifying them. I am really skeptical of someone who states in a DNF log that the coordinates should be re-checked and properly averaged. Just because you dont find it doesn't mean the coordiantes are at fault. If you find an occasional cache 50 feet off, be sure to post your coordinates with your log and email the owner. If you find a lot of caches 50 feet off, you might want to check the accuracy of your GPSr. Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

quote:Originally posted by AuntGiGi:I hope so! I get lost going home sometimes, so this is a good challenge for me Just set a waypoint before leaving home, and then you can search for it on the way back. But be sure to log it as a note, not a find.... Seriously, good luck! Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

I am a big fan of EasyGPS. I also think it is important to be able to enter a waypoint in the field. On the Etrex Vista it is actually pretty simple, and after you do a couple it will be pretty easy. Start by adding a new waypoint: just push straight in on the click stick for about 3 seconds, until you see the screen come up with a little man planting a flag. Click down to get to the data fields you want to edit. You can change symbols, name, coordinates, etc., by simply highlighting the data you want to change and clicking. If you do any multi's or caches with recommended parking coordinates, this is a very useful skill. Helps anyway, since you may want to set a waypoint when out searching, like maybe where you parked your car.... I use EasyGPS all the time, but frequently find myself manually adding waypoints fairly often. Good luck! Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

This is very much like the "great debate" over virtuals. If you don't like micros, don't do 'em. If you or your caching crew prefer to trade stuff, by all means pick caches that work for you. My son likes to trade, so when he is with me I usually pick traditional caches of normal size. I do prefer to see micros in settings where a larger cache would be too conspicuous, but wouldn't want to see someone try to draft that into a rule. A well placed micro cache is a well placed cache. Just like an ammo box tossed in a field of trash is not the best of caches. I think that there is plenty of room in geocaching for various types of caches. If I don't like 'em, I just move down to the next one on the list and don't spend time worrying about it. Can't we all just get along? Dave_W6DPS (And yes, I like virtuals, too!) My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

I think the reason you had an elevation issue is that the site doesn't include elevation data. All waypoints you download from here have nothing in the elevation. As a result, the point being indicated by the GPS may be off by a bit if the cache is elevated. This is one of the reasons for descriptions and hints.... Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

I'll be up that way in a couple of weeks and plan to find out. I've been looking at some of your local caches up there. The main thing you need for WAAS anywhere, is a good open sky, either to the South/East or South/West from California. There are two WAAS satellites, identified as 35 and 47 on Etrex models. If you have a signal from one of them, you will get updates. If you don't have a signal from either of them, try moving around until you do. It will take several minutes for the WAAS signal to get around to all the satellites you are seeing. As each is updated, a "D" will show up on or above the signal strength bar for it on the satellite page. If you watch the satellite page and move to where you can get either satellite 35 or 47, you should see the "D"s start showing up within 3 to 5 minutes, and all satellites have them within about 40 minutes, based on my experience. Down here in the flatlands of Riverside county and surrounding area, I rarely have trouble getting WAAS updates, and often see both WAAS birds. I have an Etrex Venture, and all the Etrex, except the basic yellow and camo models, should perform the same. They all have the same type of antenna and receiver circuitry. Good luck! Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

Sorry, but when I see a dead horse i just have to beat it a little! Perhaps when you are downloading the nearest 100, you could look at the cache list enough to tell what type of cache it is? Don't check the box beside a virtual, or multi, or "?", or anything that would require you to have the cache page. Nearest 100 would be five pages. That should take you about two minutes to screen through, or a bit longer on dial-up. Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

quote:Originally posted by Baloo&bd:I got a question here, sorry if it takes this off topic, how does a cache suck? Either it was real easy (which brought up YOUR stats), it was real hard (which helped hone YOUR skills) or it didn't have 'cool' items (which means your doing this for the wrong reasons). How about the ones that bring you to a field of trash knee-deep, or through the bedroom of a half-dozen homeless folks, or just ouside the fence of a sewage treatment plant? I have seen some caches where I have to stop and wonder why someone thought that was a good place for one. Did some effort go into it? Yes. Does that minimal effort of tossing a gladware container with a logbook and McToys qualify as enough that the cache can never be criticized? That is something each of us has to decide. Is a cache placed for the sole purpose of placing a cache a good idea? Hopefully cache hiders will put some effort into planning and locating a cache. Sometimes it doesn't show. Can you really be saying that there is no way any cache can ever suck? Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

The electromagnetic field around power lines can cause some local disturbance, and the physical characteristics of transmission lines can cause some interesting effects, as well. These usually show up only directly under the lines, or within the footprint--the area they could hit if they fell over. The multiple reflections of the lines can cause the GPSr to jump around as described. So can the reflections and/or shielding from the concrete wall, due to the steel reinforcing inside it. Adding the effects of both in the same area may be what really did your GPSr in. Most modern GPSr units have anti-falsing and interference rejection features, but they can only do so much. If you have false (reflected) signals and a high ambient noise level, it can confuse event he best of GPSr units. You might want to back off a 100 to 150 feet from the power lines and see if you can get a fix on what your GPSr is pointing at. Most localized disturbances won't reach that far. Speaking as a fellow Angels fan, and employee of the company the field is now named for, I hope you won't find too many places where the lines cause problems. Of course, having the wall and/or other propagation problem causing structures around our lines doesn't help. Good luck! Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

Here are a couple of examples: Out of the Darkness, into Yosemite Valley A Bridge in Yosemite National Park Some places, particularly including national parks, do not allow physical caches. They are available for virtuals. The normal preference is for a traditional cache over a virtual. The physical logbook is the preferred method of validating a find. Some of us do enjoy a good virtual when you can't put a physical cache. Hope this answers you question. Welcome to the hobby! Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

That is a nice unit. I have the Venture, a less-feature (and less expensive) member of the Etrex line. I would suggest getting to know EasyGPS also. It makes download of waypoints from geocaching.com to your computer, and then from your computer to your Legend, very easy. Manual entry of waypoints can be pretty tedious. Check it out at this web site. Good luck, and welcome! Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

A cache can be active for a long time. Many older caches are still very active. Starting out I would suggest looking for caches with recent finds. It may be an old cache, or new, but if it has been found successfully a couple of times in the previous month it will be available. If it hasn't been found in weeks or months, or has recent "did not find" logs it might not be there. Good luck, and welcome to the hobby! Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

That is a nice little part 15 system--no license required. For those who pass the written only (no morse code) test to get a Technician class ham license, you get equipment with even more capabilities, like from these folks. If you ever get out to Lucerne Valley California, like if we host LDRS again, check out the Lost Rocket Cache. (Had to get a geocache tie-in somewhere.) By the way, I am NAR level two, and would love to set up a live video feed with GPS overlay. I am building the rocket that will likely carry it, a scratchbuilt for the Hypertech hybrid system Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

I use html pretty extensively on my cache and TB pages. Wel written html is really pretty small, as files go. I think if it was a problem then the pages would have a fixed format and no box to check for html. If you have a photo (.jpg) file already uploaded, it doesn't take much more to add it to the page. Good luck, and have fun! Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

quote:Originally posted by John Goggan:Again, this is one of those negative attitudes that really sucks. I didn't rip into the existing system. I didn't say that I could do better. I asked a question about a specific feature and wanted to discuss why and how it might be implemented to improve on the existing system. Other users freely admit that the existing system of stored PQs isn't perfect -- so what is wrong with discussion possible changes for the future?? Sorry, I must have missed the questions. It seemed like you were whining about how things were. See my previous post for the paragraph that set the tone of this thread. Dave_W6DPS [This message was edited by Dave_W6DPS on July 22, 2003 at 10:43 AM.]

This paragraph set the tone of this thread: quote:Originally posted by John Goggan: In any case, all I know is that RIGHT NOW, I want a new GPX file for updated data for my area. THAT is why I pay to subscribe to this site -- and yet I sit here whining in the forum instead of being out with my wife driving to the next closest cache! Very frustrating -- both that I can't do an on-the-fly one -- and because the emailed ones sometimes seem to take 2 minutes -- and sometimes seem to never come at all... - John... For most of the thread your theme was pretty consistent. The points you made were pretty clear: 1. YOU want what YOU want, without delay. After all, that is why YOU paid $30 for a subscription! 2. The current system is just plain wrong, as evidenced by the fact that it didn't give YOU what YOU wanted, without delay. 3. Based on whatever information and experience you have, you determined that the site should be able to give YOU what YOU want, without delay. 4. Anyone who didn't see the logic of giving YOU what YOU want, without delay, was hostile and defensive. It truely is terrible that we simple insist on not agreeing with you completely! 5. Those of us who use Pocket Queries as designed--to allow them to run when the system is not as busy rather than on demand--are wasting system resources that could be better used to give YOU what YOU want, without delay. Did I miss any significant points? My advice? Relax and just go geocaching for a while. Your "suggestions" are on record. There probably will be changes to Pocket Queries in the future. Most of the requests for changes deal with search cabilities. For now, I think the majority of geocachers would agree that there are other priorities for system changes. Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only) [This message was edited by Dave_W6DPS on July 22, 2003 at 10:44 AM.]

quote:Originally posted by John Goggan: Well, yes. I hadn't really considered those "archived" -- I simply wasn't familiar with that. I agree those shouldn't be shown. It would not be difficult to query ones that have been archived that had to exist (i.e. have at least one log or something). It shouldn't be a problem to NOT show those ones. And, almost maybe not show those closed by their owner. Basically, just "abandoned" or "lost" caches... quote:If you're eally wanting to clean up cache sites, talk to your local caching group and see what you can do as a group. Um, that's mainly my point. My local group has a list of dozens of caches with this abandoned/lost status that need to be checked. I was just thinking it would be convenient to try to locate ones near me -- since they currently are just a big list that is not easy to sort through... quote:Don't take this the wrong way, but I doubt TPTB will be opening up archived caches to a cacher with as few finds as your profile shows you to have. Ok, I'm obviously missing something here. I don't see why this is big, secret information. Please someone explain to me what the heck is so special about these archived caches if they had to be archived due to people not finding them repeatedly and/or people finding them as destroyed/lost/unknown. I mean, if they made it into the system and were active -- and they weren't closed by the owner -- I just don't understand why they wouldn't be available. Again, I'm probably missing something -- so hopefully someone will explain it (beyond the examples given so far -- which could easily not be shown, of course). quote:While I'm being negative, I'm also being realistic. I see it as mostly just negative at this point. But, hopefully, someone can show me some legitimate reasons to hide a once active cache that has suddenly disappeared that the owner never closed... - John... The purpose of archiving caches is to exclude them from the part of the database being actively searched. The reasons for archiving vary, but the purpose stays the same. In another post you think that those of us who periodically run PQs, as they are designed to run, are wasting bandwidth. Now you want to make active badnwidth and server time available to search through archived caches, which you would apparently like to have presorted based on the reason for archiving. That information would need to be added to the database to be searchable. You further make reference to lists of archived caches already available, that could be used to find the caches you want to check out. "My local group has a list of dozens of caches with this abandoned/lost status that need to be checked. I was just thinking it would be convenient to try to locate ones near me -- since they currently are just a big list that is not easy to sort through..." So, you want ot do the right thing, but there are limits on how much effort you want to put into it. You would prefer the site resources be realigned to help. I think there are higher priorities for search features. Particularly considering that you are asking for features to allow you to search for caches that were specifically removed from the searchable database. Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

quote:Originally posted by John Goggan:Sheesh! It was a suggestion and discussion! Your attitude just sucks! You're attacking and overly defensive when I simply was trying to discuss my views on the current implementation. I didn't ask for something to be customized just to my own desires. I now see that, apparently, making suggestions for this site and/or wanting to discuss why something is the way it is -- is not looked kindly upon by many of the users. Fine -- I'll stop. - John... Suggestions and comments are welcome. Your post started out critical and your responses seemed to go downhill. You complain about others "wasting bandwidth", but you expect to be able to use bandwidth on demand rather than when scheduled PQs have little or no impact on system resources. You state clearly that others scheduling a PQ to run twice a week is wasting bandwidth, but at the same time having a PQ file yourslf that is several days old makes it too out of date to use. All these constructive comments and suggestions about a system you apparently signed up on less than two weeks ago. And yet during this time you don't go geocaching every weekend. Which of the two weekends have you missed? As I said, I am less than sympathetic. You rail that the responses to your post hasn't been what you expected. Maybe you should re-read the posts you have made and consider how you would have responded..... "In any case, all I know is that RIGHT NOW, I want a new GPX file for updated data for my area." The only way to learn patience is by practice. The features on the GC.com website are designed to give the best service to the most geocachers. Odds are, it won't give everyone exactly what they want with no delay. Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only) [This message was edited by Dave_W6DPS on July 21, 2003 at 10:36 PM.]

I work at a nuclear power plant, and when I am looking for urban and suburban caches I tend to wear my company ID badge. It tends to help me blend in just about anywhere... I was looking for a benchmark, just after finding a cache, in a nearby town, when I was asked by some passers-by if I was checking for escaped radiation. I explained that I was looking for a surveyor's benchmark, which was about 100 feet up the block from where they stopped to watch me. They became visibly less interested when I put the benchmark page and my GPSr next to the benchmark and took a photo. As I walked back past them, toward my car, they commented on how they supposed I wasn't really chasing escaped radiation after all. I assured them that we didn't let any of our radiation escape. Just following a portable navigation device.... Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

quote:Originally posted by The 3 Hills:Ok - found part of the answer with mobipocket - if you don't register - "find" does not do a "full text search" which is why I did not find the cache I was looking for consistantly. The unregistered version seems to loop on a small subset of pages Still would like to see the link from the main page to the hint though... I have not seen this problem with Mobipocket since I started making each search from the top of the file. I go to page 1, then do a "find". I will consistently pick the waypoint out of the table of contents, which is the first few pages. Then tap on the link in the table of contents to go to the cache page. For the next "find" I go back to page 1 and do the same thing. No loops or other problems this way, and it it much faster. I have an old M105, and it can take a while to search through an entire file.... Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)