Letters and GPS

[WORZELLS]

Hi all we are new to this and need some gps advice please , When finding/answering clues they often relate to letters and not numbers for Gps coordinates. How do you translate them to numbers is it as simple as A=1 B=2 C=3 or another system ,thanks in advance for any help given ,,,Andy

[+Bear and Ragged]

Depends on the cache...

 

It could be as you say, or it could be "Find the date the person died" eg they died 1892, and the numbers are = ABCD to get a=1 b=8 c=9 d=2

 

If this is the type, ALWAYS check the letter order, as it could be A C D B, or any other combination!

[+niraD]

Ditto what Bear and Ragged said.

 

Multi-caches will generally tell you how to get the number for each letter, but there is no single way that works. As examples, you might get the numbers from...

 

Dates:

• The building was erected on November AB, 18CD.
  
• The factory closed in 19EF.
  
• The heirs donated the land to the open space district in 20GH.
  

Counting things:

• The number of words on the plaque is JK.
  
• The number of plaques showing fruit is L; the number of plaques showing vegetables is M.
  
• The number of decorative roof supports (painted yellow and green) is NP.
  

Something else:

• The foundation paid QR million dollars for the land for this wildlife preserve.
  
• This historic locomotive was No. STU while owned by the Reading RR, but the B&O RR renumbered it as No. VWXY.
  
• Looking down, you'll see a garden. The path with the yellow pavement forms the shape of a number, which is Z.
  

 

Mystery/puzzle caches may or may not tell you how to get the number for each letter. Sometimes, figuring that out is part of the puzzle. But still, there is no single way that works.

[WORZELLS]

Thank you so much for the help,(had to explain it to the wife a few times) but she got there in the end.

Edited December 26, 2011 by hambledonseekers

[+Bear and Ragged]

Church micro series cache?

 

Easy enough, find the seat/plaque/sign and get the numbers.

Replace the letter in the equation with the number. Work out any maths A+B C-D etc., that's the new coordinates... Go and find the cache!

[+Bear and Ragged]

Drat!

Double post.

Edited December 26, 2011 by Bear and Ragged

[+randco]

As others have said, it can be as easy as ABC=123 or it may have a twist. This coding is called a cypher. Sometime the numbers are offset cyphers where L=1, M=2, N=3, etc. There are 26 letters in the alphabet that usually correspond to 26 numbers. Some puzzle creators will use an offset cypher for letters, much like the code/decrypt on the cache listing page. The twist is that the use a cypher to create a jumble of senseless alpha characters that are cyphered to offset numbers.

 

These puzzles can be very frustrating. I happen to like the challenge of the puzzle and the reward for solving the puzzle plus the bonus of finding the cache.