The Basic member D/T limit and how it works in specific detail

[+Mysterion604]

Apologies if this was posted elsewhere already; my attempts to search for this specific answer proved fruitless.

 

I have a question regarding how the Difficulty & Terrain limit for Basic members works. It says (somewhere) Basic members can only see caches that are "2.0 or less".

 

But it either of Difficulty OR Terrain, or Difficulty AND Terrain (both must be above the limit) ?

 

Or does it work like D/T stars for some Challenges, where the combination of D & T rating must not be more than 4 or 5 etc. ?  

 

The reason I raise this issue is I have some geocaches I am placing in a park that is in forest & mountain terrain. 

None of them will be designated "Premium Only". The difficulty is relatively simple (like 1.5 or 2), but despite being right on a marked trail, if I am being truthful about the T rating, it should be considered T3 or T3.5, if only because of the 1 hour+ hike to get to it.  

 

Is there a way to keep them visible to Basic members if the T is medium-high (3 or 3.5) but the D is low?

 

(One reason why I am hoping for it is because the authorities in this Park - from whom I must ask permission to place caches - have a Basic membership, but currently cannot see most of the caches on their own territory, due primarily to the terrain issue.)

Edited June 9, 2024 by Mysterion604

[+barefootjeff]

4 minutes ago, Mysterion604 said:

Is there a way to keep them visible to Basic members if the T is medium-high (3 or 3.5) but the D is low?

 

No, both D and T must be 2.0 or lower for basic members to access the cache on the official app (they can still access them on the website, though, and on some other partner apps). This page in the Help Centre details all the basic member restrictions in the app.

[Moun10Bike]

It's either or - if EITHER the D rating OR the T rating is above the limit, then the cache is unavailable to a basic member.

[Keystone]

59 minutes ago, Mysterion604 said:

One reason why I am hoping for it is because the authorities in this Park - from whom I must ask permission to place caches - have a Basic membership, but currently cannot see most of the caches on their own territory, due primarily to the terrain issue.

 

Have the land manager contact Geocaching HQ to arrange for a free premium membership for their account.  See this Help Center article for details.

[+GeoElmo6000]

Remember that this is just a restriction for using the app.  You can use the website and see all basic member caches, and you can use the website on your phone as well to see them.

[+kunarion]

23 minutes ago, GeoElmo6000 said:

Remember that this is just a restriction for using the app.  You can use the website and see all basic member caches, and you can use the website on your phone as well to see them.

 

+1

 

On some of my easier caches, I mention other nearby caches to try, along with some info on how to use the web site with The App.

[+funkymunkyzone]

The annoying thing about this feature is that even if the basic member knows the GC code, they still can't access the cache details on the app.

 

Example:

I was trying to another person into geocaching.  They were out on a hike, standing on a mountain top and they rang me.  I told them there was a cache very near by to them.  They couldn't see it on the map on the basic app, so I told them the GC code.  It was a D1.5 T3 (I think).  They tried to bring it up on the app and it wouldn't work, they got annoyed and gave up.  Opportunity lost to get a new geocacher into the game.

 

And before anyone says good riddance, it was about another year or so later that I finally got them into the game and since then they have hidden some excellent caches getting good numbers of FPs.

 

I firmly believe that entering a GC code for a cache that is outside of the basic member restrictions should bring up the cache details.

 

[+SW00P]

They could of gone to geocaching.com website typed in the GC number and got the coordinates. Then create a waypoint in the app put in the coordinates and found the container.  Pretty easy to do.

[+funkymunkyzone]

Or the app could *have* just not been needlessly crippled to put them off.  You know, like sell the game as something that doesn't have a bunch of unnecessary hassle involved to find a cache.  Utterly illogical.

[+kunarion]

5 hours ago, funkymunkyzone said:

Or the app could *have* just not been needlessly crippled to put them off.  You know, like sell the game as something that doesn't have a bunch of unnecessary hassle involved to find a cache.  Utterly illogical.

 

Don't tell people that.  Many Geocaches require "unnecessary hassle".  Being familiarized with the web site, researching coordinates and typing them in the field is a necessary skill.  Regardless of App.

 

Edited June 12, 2024 by kunarion

[+kunarion]

On 6/9/2024 at 6:27 PM, Mysterion604 said:

One reason why I am hoping for it is because the authorities in this Park - from whom I must ask permission to place caches - have a Basic membership, but currently cannot see most of the caches on their own territory, due primarily to the terrain issue.

 

As mentioned, Park managers should be given info about Geocaching membership plans.  One manager of parks where I placed caches maintains a map, to keep track of where caches are, using the web site.  Cache Owners rarely return to land managers to in inform them when a cache is archived.

 

Wait a minute.  You say you got permission from landowners who don't know where the cache is?  I never treat them that way.  I show them where the cache is, I don't require them to attempt to find it after placement.

 

Edited June 12, 2024 by kunarion

[+cerberus1]

5 hours ago, kunarion said:

Wait a minute.  You say you got permission from landowners who don't know where the cache is?  I never treat them that way.  I show them where the cache is, I don't require them to attempt to find it after placement.

 

Yep.  When we ask for permission, we usually have a rough Idea where we want to place it.

  -  Telling the landowner the spot and a few examples of caches makes them more comfortable with the idea.

Sometimes the landowner tells us where we can place it and what cache can be placed (had that in a few small and state parks).

I want them to be comfortable with me there.  Even landscaping crews knew where our caches were located...

[+Mysterion604]

Well, thanks to everyone for the information about special arrangements for Land Managers / park rangers. I believe that was the info they were looking for in regard to geocache visibility, and I have forwarded it to them. They will hopefully negotiate those arrangements for their parks organization so that their park rangers can use it efficiently in the field. 

 

As for the visibility of my own caches to basic members, it's a shame to hear it is either of D or T on the app, but that confirms what I suspected. 

The caches will get placed anyways, and the parks staff still get detailed descriptions or where and what they are from me in any case.

 

 

Edited June 12, 2024 by Mysterion604