Easy to use smarphone app?

[DannyCaffeine]

Ok so my Girlfriend wants to get into geocaching (I am a lucky fella ) and she has a droid. We got a free app called locus and it is a pain in the butt.

 

Are there any easy free apps?

Or can someone explain how to use this locus thingy?

 

Thanks,

DC

[+K13]

The Official Groundspeak App for droid is only $9.99, waaay cheaper than a GPSr and WAAAYY better than a free app.

[Andronicus]

I use NeonGeo. It works great. There is a free demo, and it only costs $5 for the full version (I think).

[+chillypenguin]

Locus is good, but its learning curve is steep. You will either need to load caches up via PQ's and "Geocaching Live". Or try the "Geocaching4Locus" add on.

 

You could also try c:geo which is a great free app to get you started. But its not officially supported.

[jthurle2]

Ok so my Girlfriend wants to get into geocaching (I am a lucky fella ) and she has a droid. We got a free app called locus and it is a pain in the butt.

 

Are there any easy free apps?

Or can someone explain how to use this locus thingy?

 

Thanks,

DC

 

I downloaded 2 official apps free tonight on my windows phone I believe the program is still droid thru Verizon

[jthurle2]

Ok so my Girlfriend wants to get into geocaching (I am a lucky fella ) and she has a droid. We got a free app called locus and it is a pain in the butt.

 

Are there any easy free apps?

Or can someone explain how to use this locus thingy?

 

Thanks,

DC

 

I downloaded 2 official apps free tonight on my windows phone I believe the program is still droid thru Verizon

[Eugenejones]

Ok so my Girlfriend wants to get into geocaching (I am a lucky fella ) and she has a droid. We got a free app called locus and it is a pain in the butt.

 

Are there any easy free apps?

Or can someone explain how led to use this locus thingy?

 

Thanks,

DC

Even I am searching for free apps. There are some available but they are not nice. I am searching deep now

Edited February 14, 2013 by Eugenejones

[+Team Bostradamus]

I used the free Geocaching Intro app for the first week and it worked pretty good for quick grabs but it only gives three at a time, even if you've already found them.. Today my wife upgraded my membership on here and downloaded the full app for my phone for Valentine's Day (awwww) and it's definitely worth it!

[Saw_Bones]

C:Geo..free and works with GC.com

[the3gmen]

I think I tried all of the free demos when I got my android tablet. They all take a while to get used to.

 

Since I already have a dedicated gpsr, I finally settled on GDAK.

[+Buzzy204]

I used C:geo w my Samsung SCH 1500 yesterday and honestly something was messed up. From minute to minute the compass would point one direction and then another and give from 1 meter to 70 meters to target. Was this the program or the GPS in the phone? I'd like to stay with the phone if I can but not if it won't get me where I need to go.

[+J Grouchy]

I used C:geo w my Samsung SCH 1500 yesterday and honestly something was messed up. From minute to minute the compass would point one direction and then another and give from 1 meter to 70 meters to target. Was this the program or the GPS in the phone? I'd like to stay with the phone if I can but not if it won't get me where I need to go.

 

I'm 99% sure it's the phone. Phone GPS, while perfectly adequate, does not have the reliability of a standalone GPS. I've used several of the geocaching apps and this occurs in all of them. For me, c:geo is a little less buggy in compass mode than the 'official' geocaching app...but only a little. I don't have a standalone GPS device (I can't really justify spending the money on one of those at this time), but I gather they have greater accuracy and stability.

 

What I tend to do is just get close and if I need that compass, I'll get within ten feet...then back away about 30 or 40 feet and come at the location from a different angle. Sometimes I have to do that a couple times to zero in on the hide if it's not obvious where I should be looking.

[+Buzzy204]

I used C:geo w my Samsung SCH 1500 yesterday and honestly something was messed up. From minute to minute the compass would point one direction and then another and give from 1 meter to 70 meters to target. Was this the program or the GPS in the phone? I'd like to stay with the phone if I can but not if it won't get me where I need to go.

 

I'm 99% sure it's the phone. Phone GPS, while perfectly adequate, does not have the reliability of a standalone GPS. I've used several of the geocaching apps and this occurs in all of them. For me, c:geo is a little less buggy in compass mode than the 'official' geocaching app...but only a little. I don't have a standalone GPS device (I can't really justify spending the money on one of those at this time), but I gather they have greater accuracy and stability.

 

What I tend to do is just get close and if I need that compass, I'll get within ten feet...then back away about 30 or 40 feet and come at the location from a different angle. Sometimes I have to do that a couple times to zero in on the hide if it's not obvious where I should be looking.

Probably a very good way to hunt them. Thanks

[Andronicus]

I used C:geo w my Samsung SCH 1500 yesterday and honestly something was messed up. From minute to minute the compass would point one direction and then another and give from 1 meter to 70 meters to target. Was this the program or the GPS in the phone? I'd like to stay with the phone if I can but not if it won't get me where I need to go.

This is likely due to an un-understanding of how your hardware works. Once your phone's GPS has a satallite lock, it should give you good numbers. The bouncing you described is likely due to location estimates based on other hardware (cell tower triangulation/wifi locations). Most phones, in their default settings, will do this untill it has a GPS satallite lock. The compass depends on your phone. Does your phone have a magnetic compass? If not, it is relying on GPS data for direction. This will require a solid satallite lock, and require you to be moving. If your phone does have a compass, make sure that you have calibrated it.

 

Edited for more information

Edited February 26, 2013 by Andronicus

[+JohnCNA]

I used C:geo w my Samsung SCH 1500 yesterday and honestly something was messed up. From minute to minute the compass would point one direction and then another and give from 1 meter to 70 meters to target. Was this the program or the GPS in the phone? I'd like to stay with the phone if I can but not if it won't get me where I need to go.

I go caching with both a smartphone and a dedicated GPS unit. And I have used 3 different smartphones. It is the nature of GPS technology to get the occasional spurious reading and have the compass and distance/direction jump around a little. Even my dedicated handheld does this. The most accurate smartphone operation will come when turning OFF A-GPS or 'use network' settings as well as turning off WiFi before going caching. Those features are nowhere near accurate enough for geocaching and will actually contribute to your problem.

 

Some of the smartphone apps have a 'radar' screen to switch to when you get close to your cache. I actually prefer that to the compass/arrow/distance display when getting within 50 feet or so. Give that a try if your app has that.

[+J Grouchy]

This app actually gives me great readings and better accuracy: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.eclipsim.gpsstatus2&feature=more_from_developer#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEwMiwiY29tLmVjbGlwc2ltLmdwc3N0YXR1czIiXQ..

 

It serves as the "radar" for c:geo and I also use it for getting coordinates when placing a cache.

 

There's also a Pro version that allows you to add and store waypoints.

[ground control 1]

C:geo worked well for me on a Samsung galaxy tablet. I recommend it and it's free.