Co-ordinate puzzle

[The2ems]

Hi, I am really new to geocaching, with 3 finds to my name so far. Whilst browsing the cache map I found a few Puzzle caches. I know it's probably a bit soon for me to be looking at these, but as I was browsing anyway I decided to have a look. Part of the description was a puzzle to find the co-ordinates, using a phone keypad. This is the puzzle:

 

Then using the keypad of a mobile phone the cache can be found at

N51 2 (3rd) .(1st-6th) (2nd) (1st-2nd) W3 1 (4th) . (8th) (4th) (7th-6th)

 

I do know about co-ordinates, but I have absolutely no idea how to work them out from that.To me, the third key is 3, the first is 1, and the sixth is 6. But if that were the case, then the northerly co-ordinate would be N51 23. (one minus six) 2 (one minus 2) which makes no sense at all. I also have the iGCT app, but can't find anything on there to help decrypt.

For future reference (maybe) it would be interesting to know how this works.

[+Panther&Pine]

Generally it is poor form to ask in the forums, actually it is against the terms of use of the site.

You probably want to look for puzzles that have interesting to you themes and easier ones to start with.

 

Really the person to ask is the cache owner, not the forums.

[+Bear and Ragged]

Actually, it's against the terms of use to give solutions...

 

Well worth reading the FULL cache description...

You certainly have the WRONG solution at the moment.

 

Solved!

Not too difficult.

 

Just need to get over there sometime.

Edited June 10, 2014 by Bear and Ragged

[The2ems]

Ok. My bad.

[+Bear and Ragged]

Ok. My bad.

 

Not a major problem, at least you know now.

 

PM sent.

[+niraD]

According to section 2-D of the geocaching.com terms of use, "You agree not to: [...] xxiii. Publish on our websites the solutions, hints, spoilers, or any hidden coordinates for any geocache without consent from the geocache owner.” However, here are some general puzzle tips (based in part on a puzzle-solving class event presented by The Rat a while ago):

 

Identify the theme. Check the cache title, the hint, the HTML source, the graphics (including names/URLs), any links (including URLs), whatever is at the posted coordinates, etc. If you can figure out the theme, then you should look for numbering systems that are associated with that theme (zip codes, athletes’ jersey numbers, episode numbers, product codes, etc.).

 

Around here, coordinates will have 15 digits, and will look like "N 37° xx.xxx W 122° xx.xxx". So when I'm solving a nearby puzzle, I look for a group of 15 things, and then I look for ways to get the digits 37xxxxx122xxxxx from them. In general, I look for ways to get the number 37 (or the digits 3 and 7) from something near the beginning of the puzzle, and the number 122 (or the digits 1, 2, and 2) from something near the middle of the puzzle. (Of course, you'll need to adjust this for the coordinates near you.)

 

Other useful resources include:

Puzzle Solving 101 Series (bookmark list)

Puzzle Shortcuts Series (bookmark list)

Solving Puzzle Caches (online article)

How Do I Solve All These $@! Puzzle Caches? (tutorial-style puzzle cache)

Puzzle FUNdamentals (archived event cache) and the Puzzle FUNdamentals resources on the GeocacheAlaska! education page

The GBA's Puzzle Cache FAQ (for puzzle designers, but useful for understanding how puzzle caches work)

 

If you’re interested in extremely challenging puzzles, then consider the online discussions of Venona’s ACTIVITIES in the GBA forums. The puzzles for this annual event are very challenging, intended to be solved by multiple people working together online. (You'll need to register on the GBA site to view these forum threads.)

Overview: Venona's 2011 ACTIVITIES

Overview: Venona's 2012 ACTIVITIES