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Garmin Chirp- Geocaching Beacon

G & C

By G & C
in GPS technology and devices

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G & C

+G & C

Posted
Posted

How useful do you think this thing's gonna be? I saw one of these for the first time today at REI. It's only $20, which ain't bad I guess. One of the websites likes the idea of putting it in a locked box, and have the beacon transmit the code to the lock. That's pretty cool I guess. Obviously only useful to Garmin Oregon, Dakota, and 62 users.

 

So, good idea? Bad idea? Any other creative uses ideas for me when I pick one up?

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ecanderson

+ecanderson

Posted
Posted

Giving it some thought, I don't see a use for a normal cache, but I could imagine some puzzle caches where it could be fun (puzzle allows for somewhat imprecise coordinates). The 1 year battery life is certainly a plus.

 

Only problem is, as you noted, not all Garmin devices incorporate the ANT technology, so would appeal to only a limited number of users. Kind of the same issues as with Wherigo from that standpoint.

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G & C

+G & C

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Even more strange that they haven't released any GPS software that works with the chirp. I'm guessing we'll seem something tomorrow from Garmin and REI just got ahead of themselves a little.

 

I'm not sure I understand what you mean. It works with Garmin GPSrs that have the ANT technology. I don't think any other software is necessary. At least, that's how I interpreted what I read on these Chirps.

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Janivanda

+Janivanda

Posted
Posted

My first impression was: completely useless? What are the advantages of this product? But I thought from a geocacher finder view, not a geocache creator. I think it is a nice little gadget for creative cache creators and event-organisators with a high range of applications for geocaching.

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Team GeoBesse

+Team GeoBesse

Posted
Posted

Not available to ship to Canada :mad:

Nor to Europe... :mad:

 

I am currrently preparing a wifi-cache. My router can do unencrypted wifi (I know, they all can do it :mad:), but on top of that, it can be configured to allow only access to one single domain. So I wanted to do a mystery/multi, where cachers had to solve some questions, finding coordinates in front of our apartment building, and had to enter the found webpage through my router. PHP would give the final coordinates only to people coming through my IP.

 

But, with this 'Chirp', this could be done much easier. For non-Garmin users, an automated reply on a certain email-address would be nice... :blink:

 

But I think I'll have to wait half a year before the Chirp will be available in Europe. :mad:

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ecanderson

+ecanderson

Posted
Posted

I'm not sure I understand what you mean. It works with Garmin GPSrs that have the ANT technology. I don't think any other software is necessary. At least, that's how I interpreted what I read on these Chirps.

Need to look much closer at the specs, but unless it's sending a *.gpx style record, the Garmin handhelds won't know what to do with the data. Just because the Chirp sends over the ANT system, it doesn't mean a Garmin handheld knows how to interpret what's coming across. Otherwise, your Oregon would be responding to anything using that technology.
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sseegars

+sseegars

Posted
Posted (edited)

Too limited an audience. I'd not want to limit finders to those who own a compatible GPS.

 

I thought about that. I also kayak and hide caches, but I don't feel bad about the ones who don't kayak finding my caches. :blink: It's a big old playground out there. And there is something for everyone. I might find something interesting to do with it maybe not caching related. Then again......

 

I can't pass up the chance to play with one of these. I'm am a big ole Geek! :mad:

Edited by Freekacher
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Avernar

+Avernar

Posted
Posted

One of the websites likes the idea of putting it in a locked box, and have the beacon transmit the code to the lock. That's pretty cool I guess.

The specs say not to put it in a metal box so you'd have to use a wooden or plastic one (no ammo cans).

 

Obviously only useful to Garmin Oregon, Dakota, and 62 users.

I'm still angry that they've dropped support for my Colorado.

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mtbikernate

mtbikernate

Posted
Posted

I got the blog posts in my RSS feed this morning from gpsfix and Garmin on this. It looks really cool, and I think I'm going to have to conceive myself a cache to use this in.

 

I don't think it will work in the cache I'm scouting a location for tomorrow, though. It's going to be a high difficulty/terrain cache in an area prone to extensive flooding in the springtime, and local regulations prohibit the cache from being submerged. I have a hard time envisioning a practical use for this device unless I turn this thing into a multi and put the chirp as a stage some distance away.

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ATXTracker

+ATXTracker

Posted
Posted

I like this idea. While I hope not every cache will have chirp, I certainly welcome something new.

 

How about a puzzle cache, that simply says, 'walk such-and-such path and wait for a chirp signal.' Just another variant of figuring out the final location while in the field. It would also be cool as a multi with instructions to, 'walk 300 paces due east, for the next chirp' for example.

 

Good work Garmin.

 

Someone write an iphone chirp app already (don't actually know if this is possible or not with the iphone hardware).

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mtbikernate

mtbikernate

Posted
Posted

Someone write an iphone chirp app already (don't actually know if this is possible or not with the iphone hardware).

 

It's a Garmin product, so that's probably unlikely. However, if anyone is going to release an iphone app that supports it, I would expect the official Geocaching app to offer support in an update.

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Dr Jeckyl and Mr Hide

Dr Jeckyl and Mr Hide

Posted
Posted

One of the websites likes the idea of putting it in a locked box, and have the beacon transmit the code to the lock. That's pretty cool I guess.

The specs say not to put it in a metal box so you'd have to use a wooden or plastic one (no ammo cans).

 

Around here we have a thief or thieves who are stealing all the ammo boxes anyway so people tend not to use them as much as they used to.

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G & C

+G & C

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Man - this little unit is wicked. Folks are gonna have Garmin envy. P

Nah. The range is ~10 feet. I'm happy with my PN-60/Spot combo.

 

First, the range is closer to 40 ft. Second, you're comparing apples to oranges. The two do not do even close to the same thing.

 

I bought one today. It's going in a cache next week, but how is what I'm not sure of just yet. It will be cool though. At least for anyone with a GPS with ANT...

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TotemLake

+TotemLake

Posted
Posted

Man - this little unit is wicked. Folks are gonna have Garmin envy. P

Nah. The range is ~10 feet. I'm happy with my PN-60/Spot combo.

 

First, the range is closer to 40 ft. Second, you're comparing apples to oranges. The two do not do even close to the same thing.

 

I bought one today. It's going in a cache next week, but how is what I'm not sure of just yet. It will be cool though. At least for anyone with a GPS with ANT...

Well the range was based on the review I read.

 

Second, I was responding to the garmin envy and the reason I wasn't going to be envious. Don't get pissy about it.

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user13371

+user13371

Posted
Posted (edited)
...no cellphone supports ANT wireless, ....
Not entirely accurate. http://www.thisisant.com/news/stories/ant-...phonetrade-apps and http://www.apple.com/ipod/nike/ are two examples. Although you could say ANT support isn't native. You need the vendors' ANT dongle connected to the iPhone's dock connector.

 

...so you will not see an iphone or android app that will use chirp
Conjecture. Best you could say is "not at the moment" -- and after that it would be up to Garmin and other partners. Edited by lee_rimar
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user13371

+user13371

Posted
Posted (edited)
...The range is ~10 feet ... based on the review I read. ...
That could be useful to know. I would expect range to vary with placement and conditions, and the one real review (not marketing blurb) I've read so far confirms that. GPSFIX.net http://www.gpsfix.net/garmin-chirp-review/ gives numbers well on either side of 10' ...
...When I placed the chirp on one side of a tree trunk I would consistently connect within about 20′-30′ if I was facing the chirp. However, approaching with the tree between me and chirp required be within 5′ to be receive the chirp alert.
Edited by lee_rimar
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g-o-cashers

+g-o-cashers

Posted
Posted

Seems like these things will probably have an innate ability to grow legs and hop out of the cache when you aren't looking.....

 

Unless someone figures out how to hack them they aren't of much value to anyone else other than the person who owns the GPS that programmed the chirp. After you program the chirp it becomes locked to that GPS.

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Triple Crown

+Triple Crown

Posted
Posted

Seems like these things will probably have an innate ability to grow legs and hop out of the cache when you aren't looking.....

 

Unless someone figures out how to hack them they aren't of much value to anyone else other than the person who owns the GPS that programmed the chirp. After you program the chirp it becomes locked to that GPS.

 

Sounds pretty cool. Maybe you could put it behind a gate or out of view so only users would know it was there. No one needs physical access to it.

 

Just ran the Oregon 300/400 update to 4.1 Looks like they changed the Geocaches logo too.

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NeverWalkAlone

+NeverWalkAlone

Posted
Posted (edited)

In the danish geocaching-forum one of the rewievers made this post yesterday:

 

Garmin Chirp has been discussed in the Rewiever Forum, Groundspeak has made a clear statement:

 

If a cache requires this device, it is commercial and therefore not publishable.

 

If there is an alternative to the Garmin Chirp (like a label with the same info) it is ok to use the Chirp transmitter.

 

(the quote is the original - the rest is translated from danish).

 

NeverWalkAlone

Edited by NeverWalkAlone
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towtrkdug

+towtrkdug

Posted
Posted

I'm afraid the new Chirp device is something very exclusive to Garmin, which brings it into conflict with our commercial guidelines. To be publishable, the cache needs to be findable with any type of GPS device, and the Chirp method must be optional. Please come up with an alternative option to do this cache which does not require a Chirp compatible device. After you have done this, please enable your cache and I will look at it again.

Thank you for your understanding,

XXXX XXXXXX

Geocaching.com Volunteer Reviewer

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