Recent issues with GPS accuracy

[+MadDog Cachers]

Recently, myself and one other cacher has had issues with GPS accuracy.

We are in the habit of approaching a cache to within 75 feet or so and then s-l-o-w-l-y approaching to zero in on the cache position.

This last weekend we both ended up 30 feet apart and then the GPS wandered us around from 2 feet from the cache to 50 feet.

During this time we were seeing mostly 6 or so overhead satellites and only 1 or 2 horizon sattellites.

 

Sunspots? Sasquatch? Alien/Government conspiracy?

 

Thanks,

 

-The Maddogs-

[+ThePropers]

Sounds like normal behavior to me. There's that whole "accuracy" thing with GPSrs, so if you have two, and they are both accurate to within 20 feet, you could end up 40 feet from each other.

[+briansnat]

Sounds like what I experience every time I'm with another geocacher, no matter what kinds of units we are using. Sometimes even the same unit.

[+StarBrand]

Recently, myself and one other cacher has had issues with GPS accuracy.

We are in the habit of approaching a cache to within 75 feet or so and then s-l-o-w-l-y approaching to zero in on the cache position.

This last weekend we both ended up 30 feet apart and then the GPS wandered us around from 2 feet from the cache to 50 feet.

During this time we were seeing mostly 6 or so overhead satellites and only 1 or 2 horizon sattellites.

 

Sunspots? Sasquatch? Alien/Government conspiracy?

 

Thanks,

 

-The Maddogs-

I was in Cheyenne last weekend as well and the GPS seemed to be working fine.

 

What you describe sounds like normal life when 2 or more receivers are involved. Each unit has a slightly different way of "correcting" and accounting for errors.

[+gtterhune]

GPS accuracy is not always real good.I like to give a hint to the cache location.

[+EraSeek]

Recently, myself and one other cacher has had issues with GPS accuracy.

We are in the habit of approaching a cache to within 75 feet or so and then s-l-o-w-l-y approaching to zero in on the cache position.

This last weekend we both ended up 30 feet apart and then the GPS wandered us around from 2 feet from the cache to 50 feet.

During this time we were seeing mostly 6 or so overhead satellites and only 1 or 2 horizon sattellites.

 

Sunspots? Sasquatch? Alien/Government conspiracy?

 

Thanks,

 

-The Maddogs-

 

 

8 sats, not good:

 

. .. . . .

. .

 

 

8 sats, good:

 

they . need .

. to .

be well .

. spread . ..

 

out .

Edited October 18, 2006 by EraSeek

[+Confucius' Cat]

Normal accuracy ratings are +-45 feet in just about all GPSr's I have looked at. This would be WITH WAAS enabled.

 

It amazes me how many in the Geocaching community seem to think that somehow the published rating does not apply to their particular unit. I guess it's kind of like how your son is the best in the school play, after all, he only forgot HALF his lines.

 

Yes, you will often get better than spec results, but the nature of specs is that they indicate the typical reading accuracy. What the specs are saying is: "If you get within (45 feet or whatever your unit's spec says) your unit is operating properly and you got what you paid for so don't complain if you didn't find the cache there".

[+GRANPA ALEX]

I would cache with rldill. He had a Venture, I had a Legend. We entered the woods, our paths would diverge until we got near the hide, then we would merge again.

 

Somehow, he was always on the left of me but we ended up at the same spot . . . weird.

 

Now, I have a 60CS and my path still pulls to the right . . . he has the x-series and goes in a straight line directly to the hide (gotta get one of those things!), no matter how bad the cover.

 

All I am saying is . . . it depends on the unit used, satellite selection & number, the tree cover, the original coords' accuracy and some strange mysteries that all add fun & flavor to the hunt!

[+MadDog Cachers]

Thanks for all of your input.

I guess I was perplexed because I usually am pretty darn close in accuracy. Luck, I guess.

We were checking out our own cache and I was off by almost 20ft. Lots of drift....

I think the sats were too close together in the sky. Thx EraSeek...

 

Thanks again!

 

MDC

Edited November 5, 2006 by MadDog Cachers