Being the FTF

[Two Of The Texas Vikings]

Okay guys...we have been doing this about a year with my dad and without my dad..he has logged in some FTF..and now I WANT ONE ..my question is..Is there a way to pull up all the latest geocaches so you can see which ones have just been placed so that I have a chance to be FTF..I can search in my area..I can filter out the ones I found and so forth..but how do I get the list of the newly listed...I do get the email that has the ones for the week, but by that time they have been FTFed..sooooo..HELP..thanks in advance for any help..

[+bigdog999]

First become a premium member. Then set up a pocket query for finds not yet found and set out within 7 days. There's also a program that helps be the first to see a new listing called ftf.exe. I don't think it scrapes the site, which would be illegal, but it does poll your query listing. Here's the url: http://factsfacts.com/geocachingsoft/FirstToFind.htm

[Keystone]

See this post in the Frequently Asked Questions thread that's pinned at the top of this forum. Thanks for reminding me that I needed to update that post, in order to describe the "insta-notify" feature that was just introduced for beta testing.

[+Bear Paughs]

Instant notification for premium members rocks. That's how I got my first FTF.

[+briansnat]

You can just search on your state and it will list the caches in the order they were placed. You can check the latest placements.

 

Better yet, there is an "Insta notify" feature for premium members. You set it up to get an e-mail the instant a new cache is published in your area.

[+Chuy!]

Instant notification for premium members rocks.  That's how I got my first FTF.

I'm an FTF hound (150 FTFs), but have yet to grab one under the new notification system. I don't expect to either 'cause I first check the GC website for new caches before I check my Email.

 

When you set up your PQ, you can bookmark the link. When you turn on your computer, clicking on the bookmark brings up the login link. Once you log in, the "FTF" PQ will come right up; this saves a couple steps.

 

If you're not a member, you'll have to scroll the website for new ones. Here, you can also set up a bookmark. Bookmark the webpage after you run a query by zip code. This will save a couple steps as well.

 

The best way yet to nab FTFs is to anticipate their listing. Your admin approvals tend to have a routine. Maybe after work and/or dinner. Once you figure out their routine, you can log in and wait for the caches to be listed.

 

In my area, most caches were listing at 10:30p and 6A, give or take 15 minutes. But now the times have changed to 9A and 2P. That hurts me 'cause those are my work hours. These hours favor the retirees .

Edited August 10, 2005 by Chuy

[+Old Bill]

Instant notification for premium members rocks. That's how I got my first FTF.

x2. Got THREE ftf in one day that way. I had the email notice about them before they were even pulling up on the "newest caches" page.

[+Rosco Bookbinder]

Just do like some of the people here that have no lives do.

 

Sit with your finger on the refresh button all day and keep hitting it until a new one shows up, then hall butt and hope you beat them.

 

It's more luck and being ready than anything else. Premium or not you have to be fast on the trigger.......

 

FTF's are ok but some people build their whole game plan around them. It takes the fun out of planting them sometimes. Why not just take it to their house, let them sign the log then put it out for the others. FTF prizes are not worth putting in a cache for the same people over and over........

[SCP-173]

I imagine that the instant notify feature would be helpful, but working at night helps, too. That may not be an option for you, though. Being free during the day means I have a lot of opportunities to be first. Let me warn you though, it got to the point where I had so many FTF's that the novelty wore off and I started to make a point of never even mentioning that I was first. Too much of a "good" thing, if you will. Now it's gotten to the point where I'll only really try to be first if it's a hard cache or there's a prize that I would like to have (a trail book, in one case). Thanks again to the kind fellow who supplied that.

[+JohnnyVegas]

Besides the instant notification feature (for primium members), depending on were you are located, being ready to go 24/7 Rain or Shine may also be a requirement for a FTF.

[+gwalt3]

Just do like some of the people here that have no lives do. 

 

Sit with your finger on the refresh button all day and keep hitting it until a new one shows up, then hall butt and hope you beat them. 

There are a few programs out there that will do this automatically for your internet browser. You can set them to refresh at whatever interval you want.

 

And no, I haven't used them for anything geocaching related. We have a few FTF and they were mostly just luck of seeing a new cache published near by and having the chance and desire to run right out the door to grab it.

[+JohnnyVegas]

Lets not forget that trying for a FTF can also mean you are the first one to find out that the coordinates are not correct

Edited August 13, 2005 by JohnnyVegas

[+Miragee]

The other way to be FTF is to head out to a cache located at the end of a long hike. That is how I got my first FTF on a day when Chuy (see post above) didn't feel like hiking.

[+Navarone]

Huh the thought of being first never really crossed my mine. Since I've only been at it at week just finding the site is reward enuf at this point.

[+welch]

Okay guys...we have been doing this about a year with my dad and without my dad..he has logged in some FTF..and now I WANT ONE ..my question is..Is there a way to pull up all the latest geocaches so you can see which ones have just been placed so that I have a chance to be FTF..I can search in my area..I can filter out the ones I found and so forth..but how do I get the list of the newly listed...I do get the email that has the ones for the week, but by that time they have been FTFed..sooooo..HELP..thanks in advance for any help..

You may want to watch this page

 

How often depends on how active others are in your area. If they're very active, you may need to check that page every 15? minutes, and have a ready launch kit (what you use for caching) standing by. If you want till 'early tommorrow morning' or 'this weekend' someone else who has nothing else to do may get their first.