Dave_W6DPS

On a recent canoe trip with our scout troop I researched a cache on our canoe route, and used it to introduce a number of the boys to geocaching. Would that be similar enough to including geocaching in a vacation? We are also planning a vacation in Washington, D.C., in a couple of weeks, and I plan to use some of the virtuals to make the museums and monuments more interesting for my son. Is that more like what you are looking for? Always happy to help... Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

You can chase numbers if you want, but pardon me for not being really impressed. Some of us have jobs and/or lives that allow a lot of time for geocaching, others don't. Some of us live in areas with hundreds of caches close to home, and some of us don't. Some of us are into travel bugs, and some of us are not. I don't see the point of tying a travel bug to found numbers, anyway. Now maybe "buy ten bugs get a gold colored one free", or something similar would be interesting. Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

On my first try at editing the previous post, I hit the quote button instead. I don't see any way to delete a post once made....

I have a great deal of professional and hobby experience with almost any type of battery you can name, from the tiny "hearing aid" batteries to 25,000 amp/hour lead acid cells. The worst ever are Nickel-Cadmium. They have only used so much because there were no economical alternatives until recently (say the last 6 or 7 years). Rechargable alkalines are slightly less problem prone than Ni-Cads, but cost a lot more. Nickel-Metal Hydride are coming down in price, and are very durable. Normally my choice for rechargables in items that use standard size cells. Lithium Ion are the best from a standpoint of density (more capacity in less space) and number of charge cycles. They are still very pricy, but usually the technology of choice for items using proprietary battery packs. (cell phones, ham radio HTs, etc.) Of course, for capacity and reliability, it is hard to beat regular, non-rechargeable, alkalines. They are costly (due to single use) and not very environmentally friendly, but work very well and have a long shelf life. Your mileage may vary... Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

quote:Originally posted by OUTSID4EVR:It seems that the poor caches (low quality) are a result of unclear requirements on the "hide a cache" page. I think that between the guidelines and the forums, there is more than enough guidance and many examples of how to plan a quality cache. I think that no matter how you write the "rules" you are going to get a wide variety of cache hiders and a wide variety of caches. Most cachers seem to agree that caches should be planned and placed in areas worth visiting, even if there weren't a cache to find there, and that the hide should provide a challenge and be done with some imagination and creativity. There are, however, some who seem to think that there should be a cache in every vacant lot and that the "quality" of the neighborhood and the hip deep trash are okay if you can build your found count. Half the people out there are below average, and the bottom ten percent is the bottom ten percent in any population.... Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

I am getting ready to hide my first traditional cache, probably sometime this weekend if I can get away from the computer.... Container: Something durable and waterproof. Ammo cans, and other military containers, and anything resembling a pipe-bomb are perhaps not the best--even if we recently downgraded to threat level yellow. Location: Like they say in real estate "location, location, location"!!!! I have been to caches and looked around and asked myself "WHY would someone think I should come HERE????". I have also looked around and thought that I was brought to a great place that I wouldn't have thought to come on my own. The Rating: This is an area of great subjectivity and inconsistency. I have found a cache with a difficulty rating of "2.5" that was visible 25 yards away, and there is a "1" that I have been to 3 times without finding. (Maybe today....) In general, I like that there are a good number of fairly easy caches to get started, and then there are many levels of increasing challenge and reward as (if) I get better at this. Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

Usually I just have my stuff in the car and will catch one or two on the way home--give or take a detour. Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

quote:Originally posted by Team GPSaxophone:You can look up the bugs on the cache page before your hunt unless they were placed after planning your day of caching. This week I found a bug in between the time that it was placed and logged. There was no way to look it up before taking it. My log entry for the site, noting that I picked up the bug, was in before his was saying he left it. No directions were left with the bug, but I picked it up in case I could move it where it wanted to go. Turns out it has no particular goals, just mileage. I've found three bugs, two without directions. It turned out I could move them the right way. If you don't put directions with your bug, you may see it move in unexpected ways. If you do put the directions with your bug, you may see it move in unexpected ways. Chances are better for it to meet a goal if the goal is attached, but this is not an exact science! I were on a long trip like that, I would think twice about taking a bug with no goals or directions attached. Locally, I figure I won't do much harm if it moves a few miles in a different direction. Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

I ordered four bugs from the travel bug page, using paypal. I don't remember the exact day, but it was the same week you ordered, so within a couple of days. They were in today's mail. Patience, it should be soon! Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

quote:Originally posted by Mr. Snazz:What if a person hadn't been logging their finds online, then one day decided to but forgot to enter the dates, leaving them as the default (the current date)? I think you are inventing doubt to give him the benefit of..... My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

quote:Originally posted by Cachetrotters:...and remember, it's only a decimal point because it's base ten. Base two would be a binary point, base eight would be an octal point, etc.... But in any base it is still the radix point. Dave_W6DPS Nuclear Geo-Nerd My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

quote:Originally posted by Faye Williamson:I thought i read that it had "worldwide city database." i am not sure what that is. I thought it was maps. All the city database does is put a dot on your map screen for larger cities. If you zoom way out to a wide view, it will show you where your waypoint is in relation to major cities. Not a really useful feature, for me. Don't get me wrong, I love my Etrex Venture. It has a better display than the basic yellow Etrex, and comes with the PC serial cable. I have used mine hiking and canoeing, in addition to geocaching, and it works just fine for me. I sometimes bring a (paper) topo map, but usually for geocaching the Venture works fine. Hope this helps, Dave_W6DPS (Still a newbie myself!) My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

quote:Originally posted by FullOn:It is indeed http://www.scgeocachers.org. And I have, indeed, signed up. Looks like a great site, and is a great idea. Thanks! Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

The animal that scares me most when out with the troop is the common domestic dog. You never know how a dog is going to react when you meet it on the trail--and usually the owner doesn't either. There is not animal native to North America that causes as many injuries and deaths every year! I work for an electric company, and we spend quite a bit on training for our meter readers each year on how to handle dog encounters. Our most common OSHA recordable injury is dog bite. Half the people out there are below median intelligence--and so are their dogs. The only bears that have caused me concerned are the ones accustomed to being fed by stupid people. They lose their natural distrust of all things human and actually come to associate humans with handouts. If you do encounter a bear in the San Bernardino or San Gabriel mountain in SoCal, be sure to keep all your hands in. Simple rules for wild animals, from an experiences hiker and scout leader: 1. Keep your eyes open; try to spot the animals around you, so you won't be surprised. 2. Make sure the animal knows you are there! Wild animals don't like surprises, either... 3. Never put an animal in a position that would make it feel cornered! 4. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, EVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES FEED A WILD ANIMAL!!! (Yes, I was shouting!) Animals that associate humans with food are in for trouble--and may cause humans a lot of trouble, too. 5. All wild animals are wild animals! Those with hooves are some of the most dangerous. Don't assume that it can only hurt you if it has big teeth and/or claws. Bites and scratches from squirrels and birds can be very nasty and prone to infection. I have had nothing but positive encouters with wild animals--not something I can say about dogs... My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

quote:Originally posted by georgeandmary:I'm here watching them look for this box. It's hidden 20 ft up in the tree, completly uncovered. And it took them 30 minutes. They'd suck at geocaching. Kind of reminds me of me on a couple of cache hunts. I still have two "did not finds" that I haven't found. Both 1/1 caches..... My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

I will be visiting the D.C. in a few weeks and staying in Fairfax, Va. I would like to drop a travel bug and see if it can get home to California. Any suggestions for caches to drop it in? Something easy for an out-of-town cache hunter to find would be great. (I am still a "newbie", so I need all the help I can get...) We will be flying out of BWI, so something around there, or in between, might work. (And, yes, I plan to bag some of the virtuals on the mall and around the monuments--it has my 11 year old son actually looking forward to that part of the trip!) Thanks for any help you give! Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

A heads up display. A displacement hull on the bottom so you can float it in water to verify sea level. A high quality metal detector that can pick up any ammo can within 30 feet. My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

I just posted a VC, at an Arizona petroglyph site on the Colorado River. http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=55065 I didn't realize what a terrible thing I was doing. I thought I clearly mentioned the sacred significance to the native American's heritage. I didn't realize that I needed permission to recommend a beautiful and historical location to my friends. I wonder if the outfitter who rented canoes to 400 boy scouts and leaders had permission to recommend stopping at such a delicate site???? I will immediately archive the cache if asked, but I am not happy with the response from the person in Phoenix. Dave_W6DPS Horrible, Terrible, Inconsiderate Geocriminal.... My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

I am going on a scout canoe trip this weekend, from near Needles to Lake Havasu. I just hope it isn't too wet as we are paddling. There is a cache on the river I plan to try. Otherwise I guess I would be slogging around, too. I commute the Ortega Highway, and can't wait to go after the caches on San Juan Loop trail--but it can be slick up there after a recent rain. My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

"To validate your finding this virtual cache, who is responsible for highway clean-up between milepost...." My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

Having found 8 caches, and "not found" three, I would suggest keeping at it for a while. One thing I thing which I gleaned from reading the forums here is to use your GPSr while walking briskly directly toward the cache, stop about 30 feet away and look at what is 30 feet in front of you. As you slow down when you near the cache your GPSr gets less accurate in heading, and the exact distance appears to shift when you are very near to a waypoint. After you get to the place where you estimate the GPSr said to go, just stop. Look around carefully for hiding places, then expand your search, slowly. Pacing back and forth with the GPSr will just keep you busy for a while. (At least it will if you are like me ...) Also, keep in mind that ratings are subjective. I spotted a "2.5" difficulty cache from 50 feet away, and have been skunked on "1"s. Good luck, and keep plugging. I think you'll get the knack of it (and I think I'll be getting better--I just hope it is soon....). My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

With any of the versions of the Etrex that comes with the serial cable, you can download waypoints from Geocaching.com to your computer and then to you Etrex. I don't know if the serial cable comes with the Basic Etrex. (I have the Venture.) Check out www.easygps.com for a freeware program that is incredibly easy to use. I am pretty new at geocaching also, and have been very impressed with how easy it is to find caches near me, and download them to my Etrex. You can put waypoints in manually by just making and editing one at a time. But, EasyGPS lets you download a group of points and a route. It also lets you upload your own waypoints and routes from your Etrex, and save them on your computer. I hope this helps. Welcome from another "newbie"! Dave_W6DPS My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

If you will actually use the map--and by that I mean will spring for the required software (~$100), then the Legend is great. I seem to do just fine with my Venture, and haven't really missed using on-screen mapping. Of course I grew up with paper topo maps and engineer's compass. (Walked miles and miles, uphill through the snow, to complete an orienteering course.....) My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

quote:Originally posted by Firefishe:People! I don't know where dementia sets in and common sense leaves off in this case. Let's look at the facts, shall we: 1. Hampsters are *LIVING CREATURES*! They need *OXYGEN AND NITROGEN TO BREATH*! In point of fact, I believe that it is only the oxegen that is needed, the nitrogen is optional and could be replaced with helium, as in mixed gas diving--to prevent nitrogen narcosis.... My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)

When I got a new computerized telescope I put my lat/lon in without the "-" on the longitude. After a night being told everything I wanted to look at was below the horizon, I checked their website and found out this is the number one set-up mistake. So, even astronomy nerds can do dumb things. My two cents worth, refunds available on request. (US funds only)