The limits of smartphone GPS ?

[+furet74]

Hello,

I'm a french man and I use to do geocaching with my Iphone 5 and the official geocaching app (I do mainly traditional caches).

Today I tried for the first time to find a mystery cache while there was no network (it was in the mountains) and I wasn't able to find it.

Because it was impossible to find it with gps coordinates.

So do I have to buy a real GPS device or could you explain me how to find a mystery cache (only with GPS coordinates) with an Iphone ?

Thank you for your advices and sorry for my bad english

[+splashy]

Maybe the cache is in the wrong place or you where seeking in the wrong place.

It might also be a wrong interpretation of the given coordinates.

Can you find normal caches without Network?

[+TriciaG]

Did you look at the cache page before going out? Around here, many of the mystery caches are NOT at the posted coordinates. You have to solve the puzzle on the cache page to find the correct coordinates.

[+Chief301]

I'm not sure what your question is.....do you need to know how to hunt caches in areas with no cell signal or how to enter additional coordinates for a mystery cache?

[+furet74]

Sorry, I wasn't clear enough... :

I had a GPS signal but no cell signal.

My question is : how to find a cache using gps coordinates with no cell signal.

(and how to enter gps coordinates in the smartphone app to go to the cache offline with no cell signal).

Thank you !

Edited September 2, 2013 by furet74

[+splashy]

Most newer model smartphones are able to geocache without a network cell signal.

How to input the coordinates depends of the app used.

[+Walts Hunting]

You can't enter coords in the app. Get another app and use it for that.

[+furet74]

The thing is... That I have tried with the official geocaching app => It was impossible to enter gps coordinates to find the cache offline...

The same with few other app.

[+Chief301]

You CAN use the app in the absence of data service, but it takes a little advance planning. When you are in an area of coverage (better yet, WiFi), on the info page of the cache in question, tap the little button in the upper right with the three dots on it. Here you can select Save For Offline Use. That cache info (and maps if you specify) will be saved in the app. Now, when you are out in the field, and you have no data service, go to the Saved tab at the bottom and select the cache you want to hunt.

 

You can also download whole Pocket Queries to the app instead of picking them one at a time.

 

For mystery and multi caches, while navigating to the cache, again tap the button with the three dots. This time you will get the menu to add waypoints. Input the new coordinates and hit "Done". When you go back to the Navigate screen there will be a little flag at the new coordinates. Tap that and select "Set as Target"

 

Hope that's clear enough, it's really a lot simpler than I make it sound once you know how to do it.

[+furet74]

Thank you for your answer

[+Lieblweb]

You can't enter coords in the app. Get another app and use it for that.

 

You can..... if you know or have the coordinates.

 

Hit 'Navigate to Geocache'

At top right, hit the three dots.

ADD WAYPOINT

 

With puzzle caches, you have to solve the puzzle in order to get the coordinates for the find.

 

(sorry, just noticed this was already mentioned)

Edited September 3, 2013 by Lieblweb

[bergliebe]

Thank you for your answer

I am not sure if I am in the right forum, so sorry if not. But thanks for your help:

I want to introduce newbie's to Geocaching, so I give them coordinates to look for on ther smartphone.

For example 47 23.333 9 23.333.

Android users can type loc:47 23.333 9 23.333 and get to the correct tree but not iPhone users. Neither with apple maps nor with google maps.

What can I do that it works both for Android and iPhone users?

[+Walts Hunting]

Page 24 of the manual (can't see how you missed it if you,read it) tells how to load POIs there appears to be no way on screen. If you can find out the structure of the file )is it GPX) then you can move to the next step. Let us know.

[+coggins]

I am not sure if I am in the right forum, so sorry if not. But thanks for your help:

I want to introduce newbie's to Geocaching, so I give them coordinates to look for on ther smartphone.

For example 47 23.333 9 23.333.

Android users can type loc:47 23.333 9 23.333 and get to the correct tree but not iPhone users. Neither with apple maps nor with google maps.

What can I do that it works both for Android and iPhone users?

Google Earth works on both IOS and Android and 47 23.333 9 23.333 works out just dandy on an iPhone with Google Earth.

 

Google Earth for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.earth&hl=en

Google Earth for IOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google-earth/id293622097?mt=8

[+StopTheWorld]

If you're trying to get them enthusiastic about geocaching, why not make then a free acount, download the free app into their smart phone and get them hunting? Nothing like getting someone addicted than the first find!