Zeroing in on Cache with new Oregon 550

[+s2kdude]

So as my topic says I noticed that with my GPS I have been "off" the cache anywhere from 5 to 20 feet. I'm thinking it is either a problem with GPS, or the cache cords are off? Is this normal for a GPS? Am I expecting too much from my device?

 

Thanks for helping a newbie out..

[+mty55]

I'd say its combination of a geocaching and a GPS thing. Remember your at the mercy of the cache owner that placed it and generated the coords to it whereabouts. There are always going to be a slight variations between units. The bigger the groups you cache with you'll always hear a couple people say wow the coords were way off, while others say they read 2 ft.

[+RonFisk]

So as my topic says I noticed that with my GPS I have been "off" the cache anywhere from 5 to 20 feet. I'm thinking it is either a problem with GPS, or the cache cords are off? Is this normal for a GPS? Am I expecting too much from my device?

 

Thanks for helping a newbie out..

 

5 to 20 feet is well within the normal range. You have to also take into consideration the coordinates as obtained by the cache hider. Don't forget those birds are a long ways off and those signals have to travel through all sorts of obstructions such as clouds, dust, bushes etc. My rule of thumb is when I get within 20 to 30 feet I quit looking at the GPS and concentrate on finding the cache...

[+PokerLuck]

For me, the most fun comes when I put the GPS in my pocket and have to hunt for the cache visually. If the GPS took me right to the spot, I'd probably have lost interest in the hobby long ago.