GPS accuracie to GZ

[+Jet@GZ]

Hey guys how accurate does gps to gz need to be are there any rules .. if getting mix distances from different gps devices  one device is 6 meters from GZ and another devices says 2 meters from GZ is this acceptable. The cache in question is in an open park with very obvious hide area 

thanks Jet

Edited June 17, 2019 by Jet@GZ

[+lee737]

As accurate as you can get it.... What you've described sounds ok. I try and visit the site at least twice (more is better), and take a good averaged coordinate both times, then average those. We never get complaints of bad coordinates doing this....

[+IceColdUK]

Just in case you didn’t know...

 

Most GPSr devices allow waypoint averaging.  (You can find apps for smartphones that do the same.)

 

You lay down the device, and leave it for a few minutes.  It will take 10s or even 100s of readings and automatically average them for you.  In theory this should give a better result than a single reading or even a manual average of two or three.

 

It’s still a good idea to go back and do this again on another day (or days), for confirmation.  Assuming any variations are only small, you can then manually average them out for your final coords.

[+cerberus1]

6 hours ago, Jet@GZ said:

Hey guys how accurate does gps to gz need to be are there any rules .. if getting mix distances from different gps devices  one device is 6 meters from GZ and another devices says 2 meters from GZ is this acceptable. The cache in question is in an open park with very obvious hide area 

thanks Jet

 

You're not saying that because a cache's location is in an "obvious hide area",  you'd rather pick the further, right ?

But both seem okay to me.  

You don't say what you're using, but we use waypoint averaging with a GPSr.  We'll return later or even another day,  to see how close we are.

 -  "Accuracy" for civilian GPS around 3 meters,  while still walking to GZ and hit 20 feet I've already got the GPSr put away.   

 

 

[+funkymunkyzone]

When hiding a cache, typical GPS accuracy might be within around 4m, or more under tree/bush cover.  Depending on device of course.

 

When searching for a cache, typical GPS accuracy will be within the same kind of tolerance.

 

That means when finding a cache, if the GPS is saying anything less than about 8m you're ok (kind of worst case with the potential errors of both hider and finder being additive), and within about 5 or 6 metres as pretty good.  0 metres, do a happy dance.

 

Just don't complain on a cache page that the GPS coords were 3 metres out - that just shows a complete lack of understanding of the capabilities of the technology.

 

 

[+alain4s]

Official U.S. government information about the Global Positioning System (GPS)

https://www.gps.gov/systems/gps/performance/accuracy/#how-accurate

 

Quote

How accurate is GPS?

It depends. GPS satellites broadcast their signals in space with a certain accuracy, but what you receive depends on additional factors, including satellite geometry, signal blockage, atmospheric conditions, and receiver design features/quality.

For example, GPS-enabled smartphones are typically accurate to within a 4.9 m (16 ft.) radius under open sky. However, their accuracy worsens near buildings, bridges, and trees.