SearchRescueDog

quote:Originally posted by Chris&Cindy:Found a cache in a urine collection cup the other day. Hey, I have 3 urine cups in front of me right now waiting to be used in a multi.

Cache Listing Requirements/Guidelines quote:Caches will be quickly archived if we see the following (which is not inclusive):.... Caches hidden by active railroad tracks .... I know when they are in town in Baltimore the railyard that they are in is pretty active

The FCC has a history of creating regulations that drive consumer communications into the ground... They did it with CB, they did it with GMRS, and they are even moving that direction with amateur. While I am a strong believer in FRS and the low power, low cost, license free service; I cant tell you how many buisness users I see using FRS (no they never will enforce it). I think that it is kind of funny that they allow mass consumer sales of GMRS equipment at the same time they pull the ability to get non-individual licenses. I can't even get a GMRS license for our search & rescue team (for comms with possible lost subject). I have been a ham for 10 years, managed commercial for 5 years, and been using FRS for about 2 years. I dont think I would ever go for a GMRS license. Besides if you look at the FCC's history I'm sure you will agree it will only be a matter of time before the band is so far gone that they drop license requirements anyway (just look at CB and the DOT (now called MURS) bands).

quote:Originally posted by Criminal:Here's the poop: FRS is limited to one half watt, GMRS can use, like a million watts or something. You would have a hard time finding a handheld GMRS with more than two watts, some are around with five. Some folks will modify a radio that was not designed to operate on GMRS, and will be operating illegally on FRS as well. FRS radios must have a fixed antenna; GMRS can use a detatchable antenna. Great for use in the car because you can add a higher gain antenna. Gain does more than watts for your signal. All the GMRS/FRS combo radios are going to be limited by the more restrictive rule, and have a fixed antenna. I was just becoming interested in getting a GMRS licence when I started seeing them in every wal/K mart. Shame. 95.135 Transmitter power limits. (a) No station may transmit with more than 50 watts output power. ( [Reserved.] © A small control station at a point north of Line A or east of Line C must transmit with no more than 5 watts ERP. (d) A fixed station must transmit with no more than 15 watts output power. (e) A small base station must transmit with no more than 5 watts ERP. ---------------------------------------------

I have had pretty good luch with my caches. I started the caches out wil dollar store or better items and they so far have stayed that way. Caches with a theme do seem to help. I really wanted keep nice contents in my new cache so I have started it with about $50 worth of stuff on a theme and located it at the end of a 1.5 mile hike.

Ok, after reading the arguments I can understand having a compass built into the GPS. I still would never give up my baseplate compass. I do alot more map/compass work in the field then GPS use. I think the ability to point to a waypoint while stationary may be worth a few extra dollars but still couldn't give up my regular compass.

quote:Originally posted by The Falcon:Minnesota DNR states on their site that geocaching is not allowed. To find your DNR, try changing XX to your state: http://www.dnr.state.XX.us The position of the state DNR office shouldn't matter when it comes to USFS land. While I could be off here, the state does not have the ability to regulate use of federal land.

quote:Why is it that the cities with the strictest gun control also has the higest crime rates? This is so true. I live in the land of firearms regulation... If you are not active or retired law enforcement, armed security, or show proof of making large cash depostits regularly from a buisness you dont carry (open or concealed). Yet I work in a Baltimore trauma center. I watch the gunshot wounds roll in one after the other. We have a murder rate that tops the charts. Tell me what's wrong here. Perhaps we need to pass a law requiring that anytime a criminal buys a gun on a street corner he must sign a pledge that he will not harm anyone...

I use the Brunton Eclipse as my primary compass both for Caching & Search & Rescue. The main reason that I stick with it is because it has a UTM corner ruler built in for several map scales. I must say though that I have never used the GPS circles however, it is nive to not have to reach for a seperate UTM reader.

There was a similar story (non-cacher) that took place in California recently. While this story was inflated by the media the moral is still good. I have always had a problem with the thought of heading into the woods with no map, compass, or the knowledge to make both work together. A GPS is great, spare batteries are great but what about when the GPS fails? If you plot your coords on a topo map before you leave you should know if you are off course gps or no gps. I'm not taking a shot at these individuals. Just adding a thought.

quote:Originally posted by great dane:I'm an emergency physican. The best snake bite kit out there is a pair of car keys and a cell phone. Save your money...don't get a kit. I would have to agree. Most states have even taken snakebite kits out of ambulances. Also, please keep in mind that while you look at the time required to get to the hospital there is also the time required to get Antivenin. In most areas it is not stocked at community hospitals and has to be transported (or the patient transfered) to a facility that houses it. I do a good bit of field work and remote area EMS and have NEVER carried a snake bite kit. We move in and rapidly transport. Even if that requires a helicopter hoist operation.

MapTech as well as other sources offer computer based marine charts. This may cost you a little cash though. Your best bet (if you know how to plot lat/long) may be to buy a paper marine chart for the region.

A premium member only cache will have the premium membership logo next to the cache listing.

I would also vote to forget about the compass on the GPS and go for a regular baseplate compass. The Brunton Eclipse fits the bill nice.

Team 5 is correct. If you want to upload the map into your GPS you are stuck with Garmin Mapsource products. I could be wrong but I am pretty sure that the Mapsource topos are 1:100k scale. As far as having maps to workwith and print from the PC Delorme TOPO will do the trick. While Topo is ok and will give you 1:24k like the USGS I am partial to MapTech Terrain Navigator. MapTech is a digital version of the current USGS quads. In fact if you have access to a large printer you can print the Full USGS Quad of a given area. Both MapTech & Delorme with interface with the GPS for downloading waypoints, routes, and live tracking.

quote:Originally posted by Renegade Knight:It looks like when the child is first abducted is when you need it most and you can't use it then until the police verify the child is missing. Still 24 hours later is better than nothing and memory is still kinda fresh. I dont think any part of the country still has a law requiring that 24hrs pass before considered missing. Even the areas that had that law (like here in Maryland) it did not apply to children.

quote:Oh great, that was a let-down to read. I didn't realize the 3plus had helix antenna. Here I thought I was upgrading by getting the Magellan. I'm glad the 3plus works for some people. I spend at least 40 hrs/wk in the woods in a work capacity, and I can vouch that it has given us poor coordinates, dropped signals, and is basically unreliable in some forested locations, included ridgetops and highpoints that have no line-of-sight blockage except for the trees. I was hoping the SporTrak Pro would eliminate the reliability problem.... You can have the best antenna in the world and you still will have a hard time with signal under cover. The signals travel a long way and the transmiters are pretty low power. When there is heavy cloud cover and heavy rain I lose reception on my directv. The concept is the same.

quote:Originally posted by scontapay:Just browsed through the forums, faq, and glossary and trying to find out what a person is called who goes geocaching would it be "_geocacher_r"? If you are hunting for why there is a strange use of the letter "r" (ie:GPSr) it is to denote GPS Reciever. the "R" would not carry over to terms like "_geocacher_r"

You may even find that it is more enjoyable not to use a GPS. I find that when using a GPS you walk looking down all the time. Get a level of comfort with the map & compass and you will find yourelf looking at all the things around you. You can always use the GPS if you get stumped. The best type of map to use would be a current USGS 1:24k topo map. Keep in mind that these maps may not be up to date (revised in the 70's around here). A decent compass will run you about $35. In addition you will want to invest about $5 in a UTM grid reader. It is personal pref but I think that UTM is the easiest system to work with and learn. If you invest in a program like TOPO or MapTech it will convert Lat/Long to UTM and convert WGS84 datum to NAD27 automatically and then print a USGS 1:24k topo. Good Luck

Howie- I am sure you will find a good bit of info in the Markell'ed threads but just as a note I consider the following as a must for myself: -Small personal firstaid kit -1:24,000 topo map of the search area -compass -(If your not familiar with finding your way around w/o the GPS) a LandNav pocket reference -Whistle -CellPhone / 2-way radio -Water (more than you think you need_ -Snacks -Disposable poncho -Extra GPS batteries -small flashlight -1 extra "warm" layer (ie: fleece pull-over) -A few large trash bags (millions of uses)

I have always used Garmin myself (currently a GPS72). I can tell you that the Quad Helix antenna does make all the difference over a patch antenna. Much better when signal is weak.

quote:Originally posted by TresOkies:When I lived in Austin, TX there was a local cacher who was proud of the fact that he had a large number of finds (and some of them hard finds) using nothing more than an accurate topo map and his wits. You may actually find that you learn more by starting with a GPS without all the bells & whistles. I started with a map & compass and still start every cache that way before pulling out the GPS.

quote:Originally posted by Searching_ut:When I do need or desire a map, I generally pull out a paper TOPO. I'm with you on this one. I have used GPSr with mapping and think they are a joke. The resolution is not there and they are normally scaled to 1:100,000. I find myself ploting the coords on a 1:24,000 topo and heading out. I use terrain and compass to find my way and pull out the GPS to spot check when I am there.

The best suggestion of all I have read is the use of TinyTrackII with a MURS transiever. I have used this application for tracking Search & Rescue units in the field. MURS transievers are really cheap right now. I saw RadioShack had some on clearance for about $35 not too long ago. You will also find that you will get better performance out of a MURS tranciever anyway since MURS operates around 154Mhz and FRS operates at around 462Mhz. The lower frequency VHF signals offer better penetration in wilderness settings then UHF. You will not have any luck with hooking the GPS directly to the radio as others have pointed out. The TinyTrackII will serve this function.

I used to use the camelback but have made the jump to Platypus. The bladders are MUCH cheaper (I think about $15). I keep mine filled at all times in my SAR pack and change the water every week or so. It has never given me any problems. The Platypus also has a small opening that can be capped with a 2L soda cap. We use BlackHawk medical backpacks at work for providing EMS at a NFL statium. These bags include camelback systems and we have since started to convert to Platypus as the camelbacks come up for replacement.