Jump to content

Garmin Chirp- Geocaching Beacon


G & C

Recommended Posts

Dear Reviewers: This is crazy.
It's not. The huge difference to a Wherigo, boat, T5, whatever cache is that you have to buy a product of a certain brand to find a Chirp-cache. It's basically the same thing as placing a cache in an amusement park where you have to pay to get to GZ.

 

As soon as someone provides a solution for the iPhone or any other non-garmin device, it would be a just another special equipment cache.

 

nowhere in the guidelines is there anything that mentions "certain brands", if that's the intention GS should change the wording in the guidelines

 

I think the biggest problem may be that Groundspeak didn't invent it and hasn't figured out how to make money off it yet. Or else they are just waiting to pleasently surprise us all on Monday - like they often do.
I heard there is something in the pipeline which should replace Wherigo ... just a rumor.

 

so they're going to make me buy yet another device that supports whatever replacement they come up with?

 

how is that not a issue when it comes to commercial caches?

Link to comment

so what about all those caches in certain conservation areas, national parks and such, that require you to pay an entrance fee?

Indeed. See above there about 999 posts. I've always wanted to know why or even if placing caches in public spaces that require pay-for-play are a violation of the Groundspeak 'guidelines' or not. I've certainly run across my share.
Link to comment
I've always wanted to know why or even if placing caches in public spaces that require pay-for-play are a violation of the Groundspeak 'guidelines' or not.

i'd say the sole existence of fee-yes.gif means that it isn't.

Edited by dfx
Link to comment

There is nothing preventing other companies from using ANT in order to support the Chirp. Why should people be penalized because Garmin just happens to be first to the plate with something like this?

 

There's increasing support for ANT protocol use in smartphones. There's no reason aside from potential licensing issues that there can't be a smartphone app or a few that could communicate with the Chirp. I could even see room for a device whose only purpose is to program Chirps and receive communication from Chirps that could be used in conjunction with any GPS receiver.

 

I have two on order, and I will use them. For now, I will figure out one way or another to get a cache approved that is capable of using them.

 

An attribute for caches that use this makes complete sense (though I think I'm the only person in my area that uses the actual cache attributes that can be filtered in a PQ). A new cache type is overkill.

Link to comment

As mentioned we (reviewers) have discussed the topic, and have received some instruction (I am sure more will follow).

 

It is a commercial product, not related to Groundspeak. In order to complete a cache you would be required to purchase a Garmin unit. Free advertising for anyone, especially on cache pages, is not normally given.

 

You can use a chirp device, but (at the present time) you would need an additional solution to find the cache: tags at the location, puzzle to find a final, or some other method that you would need to work out with your reviewer. The chirp device is also not a final container, and you would need to have one to be listed on GC.com.

 

I do not know if the protocols, or the communication with the Garmin devices are patented, copyrighted, or proprietary. I would be surprised if the product is not protected in some manner by Garmin. Time will tell if they will allow/license alternative devices that we can use to find them. It is owned by a company owned by Garmin, they would need to give some ok before anything else happens.

 

At this point everything, on both sides is preliminary. We will have to wait and see how things play out.

Link to comment

It is a commercial product, not related to Groundspeak. In order to complete a cache you would be required to purchase a Garmin unit. Free advertising for anyone, especially on cache pages, is not normally given.

Please assist us with just a very small bit of additional clarification. As I suggested much earlier, the problem appears to be that the Chirp receiver side "solution" is currently sole sourced by Garmin, and that caches that require the use of "special equipment" that could be purchased from multiple sources remains acceptable? Do I understand that distinction in your decision correctly?
Link to comment

Well what about Wherigo Caches - I cant´t find them with my Garmin Dakota. Must there be an alternative method to find those caches...?

 

Good point. And what's the difference with the new UV Light Required attribute ?

1. Groundspeak can make exceptions to the Commercial Cache guideline. You think they're going to block their own product idea? B)

 

2. Is there only one single manufacturer of UV Lights? If yes, then there's a commercialism issue.

Link to comment

Well what about Wherigo Caches - I cant´t find them with my Garmin Dakota. Must there be an alternative method to find those caches...?

 

Good point. And what's the difference with the new UV Light Required attribute ?

The difference is that there are several brands supporting Wherigo and (I believe) emitting UV light.

Link to comment

The ANT Wireless protocol is available here...

 

http://www.thisisant.com/products/data-sheets-brochures

 

I fear that this will no be sufficient !!!

 

Because the ANT protocol specifies the "physical" layer of the communication between the GPS and the chirp.

 

What we need is the "messaging" protocol that GARMIN has implemented in the GPS and in the chirp that allows:

 

- chirp identification

- chirp message programmation (with the secure ID code, ....)

- chirp messages reception and display (by the GPS)

- and so on

 

If GARMIN want these chirps used and accepted by the Geocaching community, the DETAILED specifications have to be given as OPEN SOURCE. B)

 

This will allow alternative GPS manufacturers and geek programmers to use and implement it ! and give a little chance of success (to avoid the Wherigo example), using these products :

 

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_i...roducts_id=8840

Edited by courdi95
Link to comment

There is nothing preventing other companies from using ANT in order to support the Chirp. Why should people be penalized because Garmin just happens to be first to the plate with something like this?

 

There's increasing support for ANT protocol use in smartphones. There's no reason aside from potential licensing issues that there can't be a smartphone app or a few that could communicate with the Chirp. I could even see room for a device whose only purpose is to program Chirps and receive communication from Chirps that could be used in conjunction with any GPS receiver.

 

I have two on order, and I will use them. For now, I will figure out one way or another to get a cache approved that is capable of using them.

 

An attribute for caches that use this makes complete sense (though I think I'm the only person in my area that uses the actual cache attributes that can be filtered in a PQ). A new cache type is overkill.

 

Your feebacks will we be interesting ! If you ANT receiver in your phone, it would be also interesting to see if you can access to the chirps ...

Link to comment

The ANT Wireless protocol is available here...

 

http://www.thisisant.com/products/data-sheets-brochures

 

I fear that this will no be sufficient !!!

 

Because the ANT protocol specifies the "physical" layer of the communication between the GPS and the chirp.

 

What we need is the "messaging" protocol that GARMIN has implemented in the GPS and in the chirp that allows:

 

- chirp identification

- chirp message programmation (with the secure ID code, ....)

- chirp messages reception and display (by the GPS)

- and so on

 

If GARMIN want these chirps used and accepted by the Geocaching community, the DETAILED specifications have to be given as OPEN SOURCE. B)

 

This will allow alternative GPS manufacturers and geek programmers to use and implement it ! and give a little chance of success (to avoid the Wherigo example), using these products :

 

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_i...roducts_id=8840

 

This may be a good place to ask those questions...

 

https://forums.garmin.com/forumdisplay.php?f=56

Link to comment
It is hard, but not impossible, to imagine that Garmin would have developed this product without ever having consulted the single largest enabler of the product, Groundspeak.

maybe they did consult GS and it was turned down, but they still rolled out the product and instead changed the geocache icon away from the GS icon? B)

 

I think that this is the real interesting part of this debate. My sense is there's much more going on here than just chirp approval. More like a growing rift between Garmin and Groundspeak. The question is how bad and what will that mean to geocachers?

Link to comment

 

 

and one major disadvantage: you can play and complete wherigos at home, without ever doing the real thing.

 

 

That "disadvantage" is not unique to Wherigo.

 

Cheaters will always find a way to get around completing a cache the way it was designed.

 

They will get around chirp by simply sharing the location of the final cache.

 

So chirp is on the same footing as Wherigo and other multis.

Link to comment

The ANT Wireless protocol is available here...

 

http://www.thisisant.com/products/data-sheets-brochures

 

I fear that this will no be sufficient !!!

 

Because the ANT protocol specifies the "physical" layer of the communication between the GPS and the chirp.

 

What we need is the "messaging" protocol that GARMIN has implemented in the GPS and in the chirp that allows:

 

- chirp identification

- chirp message programmation (with the secure ID code, ....)

- chirp messages reception and display (by the GPS)

- and so on

 

If GARMIN want these chirps used and accepted by the Geocaching community, the DETAILED specifications have to be given as OPEN SOURCE. B)

 

This will allow alternative GPS manufacturers and geek programmers to use and implement it ! and give a little chance of success (to avoid the Wherigo example), using these products :

 

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_i...roducts_id=8840

 

This may be a good place to ask those questions...

 

https://forums.garmin.com/forumdisplay.php?f=56

 

Done : https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?p=60311#post60311

Link to comment

 

 

I think that this is the real interesting part of this debate. My sense is there's much more going on here than just chirp approval. More like a growing rift between Garmin and Groundspeak. The question is how bad and what will that mean to geocachers?

 

 

I agree.

 

I think there is much more to this than meets the eye.

 

If there is a rift, and the signs are certainly there, would Garmin have the intestinal fortitude to set up a competitive listing service???? Or create a different style of caching?

Link to comment

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.

 

Yeah right they haven't put out an update to make their app multicache friendly. B)

 

(Android) that is.

Edited by mty55
Link to comment
It is hard, but not impossible, to imagine that Garmin would have developed this product without ever having consulted the single largest enabler of the product, Groundspeak.

maybe they did consult GS and it was turned down, but they still rolled out the product and instead changed the geocache icon away from the GS icon? B)

 

I think that this is the real interesting part of this debate. My sense is there's much more going on here than just chirp approval. More like a growing rift between Garmin and Groundspeak. The question is how bad and what will that mean to geocachers?

 

unfortunately corporate disagreements always affect the end user and remains to be seen if they are willing to settle their arguments for the good the consumer

 

 

its interesting though, i just noticed that a certain post in this thread has been removed...

Edited by t4e
Link to comment

 

..... there's still (AFAIK) only one brand of GPS receiver that can manage a Wherigo cache, .......

 

 

Many smart phones have the capability of playing a Wherigo, including the iPhone. So you are not restricted to purchasing a Garmin product in order to complete Wherigo cartridges.

 

Yes the Smartphones do play Wherigos very well. I used my Droid X using the whereyougo app a couple weeks ago for the first time. It went through all 5 stages without a hitch. Until!!! I tried to upload the completed cartridge to Wherigo.com. Using WhereYou Go it saves the completed cartridge a an .ows file instead of a .gws file. Not a recognizable file on Wherigo.com. Fortunately I have a good memory for an old guy and remembered the clues and answer and fired up my Oregon and replayed the game on the emulator and was able to upload the completed cartridge that way.

 

I guess the perfect device for every application does not exist.

Link to comment
unfortunately corporate disagreements always affect the end user and remains to be seen if they are willing to settle their arguments for the good the consumer

 

I hate it when Mommy and Daddy fight. Not everything is a conspiracy. Of course I don't run through the forums to much. Where is this great rift? I can't see using anything other than Garmin products for geocaching. I have tried others but they just don't live up to my expectations like actually finding the cache.

Link to comment

Perhaps this concept would work better over on the Waymarking site, where Commercial conflicts are not such an issue. Ultimately a Groundspeak decision to allow such a Category on the other site, but it doesn't seem likely that an entirely Chirp type cache will get approved.

 

Due to Garmin's dismall record of support and product cycling, I'm not entirely comfortable with that corporation having exclusive control over this technology. Probably end up being a cute paperweight in a couple of years when they realize that they're not making money hand over fist with the device.

Link to comment

Jeremy's comment in the Feedback forum:

 

"

For it to be supported on Geocaching.com there will have to be a new type created since it definitely requires a proprietary device and special equipment. I'd suggest keeping it more generic as a Beacon Cache so other wireless concepts can be supported. I know some wifi and bluetooth caches that have been created in the past that would fit this new type, for example, and the concept of "fox hunting" has been around for years."

 

Here is a link: http://feedback.geocaching.com/forums/7577...chirp?ref=title

 

.

Link to comment
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.
Yeah right they haven't put out an update to make their app multicache friendly. B)

 

(Android) that is.

Glad you specified you were talking about Android, because the posts you quote were talking about Garmin and/or iPhone. Dunno about the iPhone app, but the latest Oregon update has multi-cache support, which I am very happy about.

 

Since they are marketing this product exclusively for geocaching, it would seem they will eventually listen to their customers. If they now have multi-cache support for a product that customers were buying anyways, why wouldn't they figure out a way to make the Chirp readable on other platforms, turning it from a product that is relatively useless into one that people would buy? It's not like they don't own the company that developed ANT. They could start producing iPhone dongles, etc. There are already the USB ANT gizmos out there, it's probably just a matter of writing a program to do what you want & you'd have folks running around with their GPS and their netbooks loaded with the program & equipped with a USB ANT stick finding these things. Presto, changeo, it's no longer exclusive to people who have the right Garmin GPS!

 

Until then, Garmin will be sitting on whatever's left of the Chirps they didn't already sell to REI, AND they're a lot more likely to get a skeptical look next time they come to the buyers for REI saying "Look at this great gadget we made! Your customers will LOVE them!"

Link to comment
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.
Yeah right they haven't put out an update to make their app multicache friendly. B)

 

(Android) that is.

Glad you specified you were talking about Android, because the posts you quote were talking about Garmin and/or iPhone. Dunno about the iPhone app, but the latest Oregon update has multi-cache support, which I am very happy about.

 

Since they are marketing this product exclusively for geocaching, it would seem they will eventually listen to their customers. If they now have multi-cache support for a product that customers were buying anyways, why wouldn't they figure out a way to make the Chirp readable on other platforms, turning it from a product that is relatively useless into one that people would buy? It's not like they don't own the company that developed ANT. They could start producing iPhone dongles, etc. There are already the USB ANT gizmos out there, it's probably just a matter of writing a program to do what you want & you'd have folks running around with their GPS and their netbooks loaded with the program & equipped with a USB ANT stick finding these things. Presto, changeo, it's no longer exclusive to people who have the right Garmin GPS!

 

Until then, Garmin will be sitting on whatever's left of the Chirps they didn't already sell to REI, AND they're a lot more likely to get a skeptical look next time they come to the buyers for REI saying "Look at this great gadget we made! Your customers will LOVE them!"

 

But with "iPhone dongles" you run into a whole nother kind of exclusivity. Apple is notorious for not letting anyone play in their sandbox. Darth Jobs controls with an iron fist. BUT I LIKE THE WAY YOU THINK!

 

I have my ideas for the chirp. I'll see if they work out or not.

Link to comment
Well I just submitted three chirp caches with a fourth bonus cache for review. All four have puzzles which serve as an alternative, so the caches do not require a chirp compatible gpsr, but if you have one you can do it that way rather than solve the puzzles. We'll see. Any bets on my chances?
As long as the puzzle difficulty isn't absurd, and based upon a fellow reviewer's very quotable comments in a previous message #80 here, you shouldn't encounter any resistance that can't be dealt with. Edited by ecanderson
Link to comment
... with "iPhone dongles" you run into a whole nother kind of exclusivity...
Actually, you don't even need a dongle for an iPhone 3GS, 4,or the current generation of iPod Touch to pick up ANT devices. These models already have the ANT receiver built in. The Nike sport kit that includes the dongle is for iPod nano and a few other older iDevices that lack the built in receiver.
...Apple is notorious for not letting anyone play in their sandbox. Darth Jobs controls with an iron fist....
And yet, there are over 250,000 apps that play in Apple's sandbox. Including some that use ANT...

 

http://www.apple.com/ipod/nike/

http://itunes.apple.com/app/digifit/id314841648

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/App_Store

Edited by lee_rimar
Link to comment
... with "iPhone dongles" you run into a whole nother kind of exclusivity...
Actually, you don't even need a dongle for an iPhone 3GS, 4,or the current generation of iPod Touch to pick up ANT devices. These models already have the ANT receiver built in. The Nike sport kit that includes the dongle is for iPod nano and a few other older iDevices that lack the built in receiver.
...Apple is notorious for not letting anyone play in their sandbox. Darth Jobs controls with an iron fist....
And yet, there are over 250,000 apps that play in Apple's sandbox. Including some that use ANT...

 

http://www.apple.com/ipod/nike/

ttp://itunes.apple.com/app/digifit/id314841648

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/App_Store

WELL WRITE THAT APP THAT'S GOING TO MAKE YOU LOVED THE CACHING WORLD OVER! B)

 

BTW are you an Engineer?

Link to comment
... WRITE THAT APP THAT'S GOING TO MAKE YOU LOVED THE CACHING WORLD OVER! B)
You may be overestimating the appeal and potential of the Chirp. While an interesting gadget, I think it's gonna be a pretty small piece of geocaching -- even if/when Groundspeak and Garmin can agree exactly where it fits. A "Chirp compatible GPS required" attribute is all that would be needed to settle most of the arguments, and the number of such caches might be so small that there wouldn't be much of a market for apps on other platforms.

 

But ask me again if/when Chirps are < $5 retail, instead of around $20. Then I'd be looking at a lot of other uses, not just geocaching.

 

BTW are you an Engineer?
Not in the way you might think from my avatar. I just hang out with a bunch of them during the work week. I work for Lockheed Martin, on contract to US Army Corps of Engineers to provide computer support.

 

Standard disclaimer: Opinions expressed in my writing do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of my employers.

Edited by lee_rimar
Link to comment
... WRITE THAT APP THAT'S GOING TO MAKE YOU LOVED THE CACHING WORLD OVER! B)
You may be overestimating the appeal and potential of the Chirp. While an interesting gadget, I think it's gonna be a pretty small piece of geocachig -- even if/when Groundspeak and Garmin can agree exactly where it fits. A "Chirp compatible GPS required" attribute is all that would be needed to settle most of the arguments, and the number of such caches might be so small that there wouldn't be much of a market for apps on other platforms.

 

But ask me again if/when Chirps are < $5 retail, instead of around $20. Then I'd be looking at a lot of other uses, not just geocaching.

 

BTW are you an Engineer?
Not in the way you might think from my avatar. I just hang out with a bunch of them during the work week. I work for Lockheed Martin, on contract to US Army Corps of Engineers to provide computer support.

 

Standard disclaimer: Opinions expressed in my writing do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of my employers.

 

Nah, I just like to see anything that warms my geekness!

 

I am/was a CE in the Army.

Link to comment
Not EVERY GPS-owning geocacher has a new, high-end Garmin.
yeah, so what? not every geocacher has a boat to find island caches either.
Those island caches don't require that you use a specific BRAND of boat.

so again, what about caches in conservation areas or national parks that you need to pay entrance fee to get into? you can only buy those tickets from a single entity (the one managing the area), yet those caches are allowed.

I suspect the difference with this portion of the guideline is how it is applied to products made by for profit corporations or sites run by them vs. government departments or not for profit land management agencies.

I don't see how this issue really applies to the discussion of the Chirp though.

Link to comment

Maybe drifting slightly off topic... looking for various ANT things, I came across PedalBrain, a cycling computer for iPhone users. Looking through some of the info on their website, I noticed they claim

...Pedal Brain is a member of the ANT+ Alliance and works with your existing ANT+ sensors such as power meters, speed & cadence sensors and heart rate monitors. We actively test using sensors from SRM, Powertap, Garmin, Bontrager and others. ...
How does this relate to Chirp? It makes it clear that just because a company makes a specific ANT gadget, they don't HAVE to be the sole company able to use signals from their own gadget. Open devices are a lot more marketable. If others can make gadgets to read Chirp data, Garmin will have a better chance of selling lots of them. Edited by lee_rimar
Link to comment
You may be overestimating the appeal and potential of the Chirp. While an interesting gadget, I think it's gonna be a pretty small piece of geocaching

 

I'm not so sure about this. I don't know what percentage of geocachers use Garmins, but that aside today I hid a Chirp-enaled cache and basically PROGRAMMED A TREE to respond when a human is nearby. This is very cool IMO. It is adding digital content to the physical world. It has fairly large import well beyond geocaching.

 

I'm convinced that geocaching is going to dramatically change in the future as technology develops. Imagine how geocaching would change if the accuracy was +/- inches in 3 dimension. Tech will eventually get there, and the sport will evolve. I think the Chirp is a really neat step along the way.

Link to comment
...adding digital content to the physical world. It has fairly large import well beyond geocaching...
Granted. But going back to my last few posts, the wider scenarios are a lot more likely if/when the chirps get a lot cheaper, and work with more than just Garmin GPSRs. Edited by lee_rimar
Link to comment

I think you are talking about Virtual or Earthcaches and those are all now grandfathered and no longer able to be created as new caches, but remain to still be found

 

so again, what about caches in conservation areas or national parks that you need to pay entrance fee to get into? you can only buy those tickets from a single entity (the one managing the area), yet those caches are allowed.

Link to comment
I think you are talking about Virtual or Earthcaches and those are all now grandfathered and no longer able to be created as new caches, but remain to still be found

 

so again, what about caches in conservation areas or national parks that you need to pay entrance fee to get into? you can only buy those tickets from a single entity (the one managing the area), yet those caches are allowed.

To the contrary -- there are any number of caches in my area that are physical, "traditional" caches that require an entrance fee to the public area in order to reach them. Not at all uncommon in Colorado.

 

An example: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...52-9988e43c4b94

 

...and the cache description makes no bones about it, and it didn't phase the reviewer:

 

"Colorado State Parks daily or annual vehicle pass is required on all vehicles entering the park at all times."

Link to comment

Well, seeing it is only $20 at the local REI, I decided to get one and play with it. I have an Oregon 300.

 

It's small. You can get the dimensions online. My measurement shows it to be a little thicker than 7mm as stated by Garmin, but 8.5mm is not that much of a difference.

 

The manual that comes with it is quite useless.

 

It appears that it can be programmed with 3 sets of information:

 

1. Name, 9 characters.

 

2. Coordinates

 

3. Text, 50 characters.

 

To program it, I went to Setup, Geocache, and enabled Chirp scanning. Then I waited for it to detect the Chirp. I had to remove and re-insert the battery on the Chirp a few times before it detected it. Chirp detection for programming seems kind of flaky. After I erased the Chirp, it couldn't seem to detect it until I restarted my Oregon.

 

Programming takes a significant amount of time. I did not time it, but it feels like about 20 seconds, even when you're just setting the name. It sends data over every time you change one of the above. You cannot set them all and send it over all at once.

 

There was no "password" option. Perhaps it recognizes its programmer?

 

If you send a geocache to it, the hints get entered into the text area, cache name to the name area, and coordinates to the coordinates (shown as "next stage").

 

I have no plans to hide a cache with it for now. I'll bear Groundspeak's restriction - that there has to be an alternative to using the Chirp - if I do use it.

Link to comment

There was no "password" option. Perhaps it recognizes its programmer?

Once programmed the first time, its "locked" to the gps that programmed it. That gps can factory default the chirp (its a menu option on the gps) if the owner wants to redeploy or give/sell it, but it does not appear at this time that there is any other way to default or clear the chirp.

 

Since the unit has an expected life of a year off a cr2032 battery, its probably safe to assume it has some type of non-volatile memory, so pulling the battery for an extended time won't clear it. I didn't see any indication of a reset button or method (unless I missed it?).

 

I would think that Garmin would make these things un-appealing to steal or tamper with (changing the data stored in them), and eliminating any way to reset them or change the stored data would fit that agenda.

Link to comment

I believe it can be cleared by another Garmin device if you have the serial number of the original owner device. So if your GPSR breaks, you can reprogram with your new one, as long as you keep the old one or write down the serial number. I only have one compatible Garmin so I haven't tried it, but I saw a post describing how it works.

Link to comment

I'm wondering if I could use the Chirp as an alternative to the hint? Hiding the cache (which I have a few evil designs created already) and then place the Chirp a significant ways away from the cache, with the hint programmed in it. The dilemna becomes, do I stay and hit my head against the wall of go and find the chirp? The cache is still findable by all, but Chirp users get a leg up...

 

Plus as we all have found walking away and coming back later is often enough to get fresh eyes and find the cache.

 

Worth 20 some-odd bucks to give it a try.

Link to comment

To program it, I went to Setup, Geocache, and enabled Chirp scanning. Then I waited for it to detect the Chirp. I had to remove and re-insert the battery on the Chirp a few times before it detected it. Chirp detection for programming seems kind of flaky. After I erased the Chirp, it couldn't seem to detect it until I restarted my Oregon.

Under Setup>Geocaches you can disable/enable chirp and that will usually be enough to get the GPS to recognize the chirp.

 

There was no "password" option. Perhaps it recognizes its programmer?

 

It is locked the Unit ID of the GPS which programs it.

 

I believe it can be cleared by another Garmin device if you have the serial number of the original owner device. So if your GPSR breaks, you can reprogram with your new one, as long as you keep the old one or write down the serial number. I only have one compatible Garmin so I haven't tried it, but I saw a post describing how it works.

 

That's correct. As long as you know the unit ID of the last device to program the chirp you can reprogram or erase it. If you erase the chirp any compatible GPS can reprogram it.

 

Question: Has anyone gotten a cache using the Chirp approved yet by Groundspeak yet?

 

Still waiting on mine.

 

I'm wondering if I could use the Chirp as an alternative to the hint?

 

Technically you could. It doesn't seem like it should be an approval issue either. Since you don't need the hint to find the cache.

Link to comment

I was actually just thinking about other uses for this chirp device.

 

1. Does it need to be part of the find? It certainly is a nice way to let searchers know they are close and that the cache is still intact. Which might keep some looking or egg some on to come back. A note on the cache page could simply explain if they get the chirp the cache is active? It certainly would keep me looking and coming back as I would know I was just......not smart enough to find it.

 

My second Idea was more simple. I ordered a Chirp device and I am going to put it with my personal trackable that I carry with me on the trail. When you meet me....you will definitely know it if your carrying a garmin.

Congrats! You have found Nimrodblack he is close by probably looking for the same cache you are!

 

Likely someone will figure out a way to sew this into a TB as well and have it chip along its path.

 

I think this device has uses far beyond just dropping it in a cache or using it in a puzzle.

Link to comment
I think there is much more to this than meets the eye.

 

If there is a rift, and the signs are certainly there, would Garmin have the intestinal fortitude to set up a competitive listing service???? Or create a different style of caching?

You say that like it's a bad thing.

 

Less-preferential treatment for one particular GPSr brand may turn out to be beneficial for all cachers.

Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...