+lolynn Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 Hi I am new to Geocaching. I got my GPS unit for Christmas and I am just getting to grips with it. I have got to say that if I realised how much fun I would have 'going geocaching' I would have got into it sooner. I went out New Years Eve and found my first cache and I was really pleased and got quite a buzz. I have so far looked for 3 caches and found 2. The one I didn't find I have tried to find twice, a fortnight apart and I was quite frustrated, but I am going to try again - I will not be beaten. I have been out today found a geocache and placed my own. I am quite excited to see how many people find it. What a great pastime and a good way of keeping fit. It is also nice to get out during the winter months as although it is quite cold; you can wrap up against the weather but you get lovely bright crisp days. Looking forward to speaking to fellow 'cachers' and picking up some helpful hints. LoLynn (a newbie) Quote Link to comment
FlagFinder Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 Hi I am new to Geocaching. I got my GPS unit for Christmas and I am just getting to grips with it. I have got to say that if I realised how much fun I would have 'going geocaching' I would have got into it sooner. I went out New Years Eve and found my first cache and I was really pleased and got quite a buzz. I have so far looked for 3 caches and found 2. The one I didn't find I have tried to find twice, a fortnight apart and I was quite frustrated, but I am going to try again - I will not be beaten. I have been out today found a geocache and placed my own. I am quite excited to see how many people find it. What a great pastime and a good way of keeping fit. It is also nice to get out during the winter months as although it is quite cold; you can wrap up against the weather but you get lovely bright crisp days. Looking forward to speaking to fellow 'cachers' and picking up some helpful hints. LoLynn (a newbie) when you say you will not fail, thats how many say they get addicted Quote Link to comment
+Trucker Lee Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 And don't forget to bookmark that cache, and any others, that you miss. This way, you will automatically be notified if someone else finds it, and you can easily go back to it by using the bookmarks link on your profile page. Quote Link to comment
+RoyalRed Posted January 29, 2007 Share Posted January 29, 2007 Just make sure you took the time to give accurate coordinates on your first hide. I just spent 7+ hours this weekend trying to find a 6-part multi-cache that I later found out was a 14-year old's first attempt at a multi. His first stage coordinates were 319-feet off! Only found this out after he reposted the coordinates after my first two attempts. Went out again today and finally located the 1st stage but then gave up on 2nd stage when his coordinates sent me off into heavily posted private property. Quite frustrating! Quote Link to comment
+StarBrand Posted January 29, 2007 Share Posted January 29, 2007 Welcome to our obsession!! My wife and I log a DNF (Did not Find) for about each 4 caches that we do find. Keep looking!! You will surprised how often you were looking right at it. Quote Link to comment
MelN2LilMen Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 We just started after Christmas as well.... and how I wish I had gotten the GPS for my birthday last summer. It's gotten too cold now to take the kids out for regular outings! Argh! So far, we've found 2 of the 5 we went for. THe other three were surrounded by people! I can't wait to place one either. I know the perfect spot. Quote Link to comment
Clan Riffster Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 Welcome to the obsession, uh.... Game! Quote Link to comment
chuckr30 Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 I think part of my problem was my GPS software didn't work too well. I would stop, yet the lat and long would keep changing. Another problem was microcaches. You could be right next to it but you would never see it. So I stick with regular sized caches, or larger. Quote Link to comment
+nekom Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 just a month or two ago I avenged my very first DNF. It was a forehead slapping moment. I can't BELIEVE I didn't find it the first time. I believe this is normal. Welcome to the insanity. Quote Link to comment
+Fuchsiamagic Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 I too have just been introduced to this after I confided my long bout of depression to a friend. Now I look forward to every day when I can get out there searching and I feel much better mentally and physically than I have for ages. I enjoy moving TB's around and updating the geocache website pages as well. So far, 17 searched for and 17 found, even if I had to visit some three times! Quote Link to comment
+lolynn Posted February 4, 2007 Author Share Posted February 4, 2007 (edited) Thanks for all your replies and helpful hints. I have since found a few more caches and placed another one. I placed my first cache on the afternoon of the 28/02 and up until now I have had 4 visitors. When I placed it I thought I would have to wait ages before somone came to log it, but the 1st one was the next day. I was well chuffed. I am in the process of doing some labels up to stick on the front of my notebooks for my caches. I am even considering hiding some microcaches (although probably not for a while yet) I keep dragging my husband out on the weekend (who enjoys going walking, but is not particularly mad on geocaching) but I don't think he minds to much as he can see how much I enjoy it and it is getting us both fit!! I am definately addicted Edited February 4, 2007 by lolynn Quote Link to comment
+Team Dubbin Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 You need to make the caches a but tougher by not giving so much information on the cache page. There is no need to tell the exact location as that takes the hunt completely out of it. Quote Link to comment
Clan Riffster Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 I think part of my problem was my GPS software didn't work too well. I would stop, yet the lat and long would keep changing. Chuck, this is normal. Inherent inaccuracies in handheld GPSr units create a realistic range of accuracy of about 30', although most manufacturers advertise about a 9' accuracy. Under perfect conditions, most units could probably obtain that 9' goal, but lots of caches are not hidden in areas which would qualify as perfect. Tree cover, buildings, even weather, can degrade the satalite signals. This signal degridation shows up as your reciever "moving". A higher end GPSr will be less affected than a low end, although all are affected to some degree. Quote Link to comment
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