Waypoints? What's the text at the end of the name of a cache and what's it mean

[+JRTTeam]

At the end of a cache name, are some letters and numbers. What is that and what does it represent?

 

are they the waypoint name:

 

Geocaching uses a suggested waypoint for a cache, created automatically when a cache has been created. We generate a waypoint "GC Code" based on the ID of the cache. It is optional, but makes it easier to locate a cache on the geocaching web site.

 

and does that mean anything? Are they assigned sequentially? Or geographically?

 

Thanks!

[+tabulator32]

At the end of a cache name, are some letters and numbers. What is that and what does it represent?

 

are they the waypoint name:

 

Geocaching uses a suggested waypoint for a cache, created automatically when a cache has been created. We generate a waypoint "GC Code" based on the ID of the cache. It is optional, but makes it easier to locate a cache on the geocaching web site.

 

and does that mean anything? Are they assigned sequentially? Or geographically?

 

Thanks!

 

Yes, that is the waypoint name.

 

It is a great way to definitively identify a specific cache as opposed to doing a regular name search where there may be several caches with the same given name, such as "cache-a-lot" or some similar cache name.

 

Also, it allows the naming of waypoints on your GPSr without having to come up with bizarre and contrived abbreviations.

 

[Motorcycle_Mama]

http://www.markwell.us/geofaq.htm#Hexadec

[Keystone]

Waypoint names are assigned sequentially and automatically at the time when a cache page is created, using a Base 31 numbering system (numbers 0 through 9 and letters A through Z, skipping letters like O and I that can be confused with numerals, and skipping letters that would generate a lot more potty language in waypoint codes.

[knowschad]

and skipping letters that would generate a lot more potty language in waypoint codes.

 

Awwwwwwwwwww!!! Do you HAVE to do that?

 

(actually that would be a very cool algorithm to check out!)

[+tabulator32]

ooh! Extra income potential for Groundspeak:

 

Sell off the unique "custom" Waypoint names for those willing to pay an extra $10.00 at the time they get their cache submitted and approved..

 

GCROCKS - for a hide-a-key rock cache among a pile of regular rocks.

 

GCWALMRT - the ultimate Wal-Mart parking lot cache.

 

GCLPC - guess where THIS one is hidden!

 

GCDEDRAT, GCFAKPOO - spoilers in a Waypoint Name?

 

GCHARD1 - a level 5/5 cache

 

[+StarBrand]

Just a unique identifier for the cache. Only one cache can have any one number. Unlike the "friendly" names. There are many dozen "Walk in the park" caches.

 

Assigned sequentially via the base-31 that keystone talks about.

[+Markwell]

ooh! Extra income potential for Groundspeak:

 

Sell off the unique "custom" Waypoint names for those willing to pay an extra $10.00 at the time they get their cache submitted and approved..

 

GCROCKS - for a hide-a-key rock cache among a pile of regular rocks.

 

GCWALMRT - the ultimate Wal-Mart parking lot cache.

 

GCLPC - guess where THIS one is hidden!

 

GCDEDRAT, GCFAKPOO - spoilers in a Waypoint Name?

 

GCHARD1 - a level 5/5 cache

 

 

I konw you're joking with this, but you'd be surprised...

 

Many have requested this in the past. Try skimming through the cache pages with GCZZZ* and see how many of the 31 possible last digits are unpublished caches. I'm guessing that tons of folks were sitting there trying to submit cache pages so they could be either GCZZZZ or GC10000.

 

It's a random set of codes set sequentially.

 

OK - back to the thread.