Team Tate Posted August 28, 2002 Share Posted August 28, 2002 The Question... Would anybody be interested in taking part in a geocache fox hunt? The Background... Many years ago my friends and I took part in fox hunts using our CB radios. The idea of the game is that one person becomes the fox, and continually transmits a radio signal. Using the power meters on their radios, and some basic triangulation, the hunters would track the fox down to it's location. Could this game be adapted to use a GPS receiver? The technology now exists to allow anyone with a mobile phone to send a text message to a specialised GPS receiver, which in turn will automatically text back its location including latitude and longitude. How would the game be played? The fox would be a vehicle driving around in a specific area. The Lat/Long published on Geocaching.com would be the centre of the vehicles radius with a maximum pre-set distance of, say, 10 miles. Over a period of a few hours, the fox would move within it's boundary, and would be tracked by the hunters sending and receiving text messages, the lat/longs of which can be entered into their GPSr. To make it fair, the fox would probably make several stops within its boundary allowing the hunters to eventually catch it. The usual caching rules could apply, making the final destination a pub or local beauty spot! The only equipment you would need in addition to your normal caching equipment (GPS, etc.) would be a mobile phone capable of sending and receiving text messages. The game could be expanded so that teams of cachers could try to head-off the fox, by collaborating with the information received. Moreover, why not have two foxes? The game play variations and limitless! Why hasn't this been done before? Ok, everything I have suggested so far COULD be done using mobile phones and LOTS of manual intervention. In the game I am proposing, the fox is fully automated, and requires no manual intervention other than driving the vehicle around. Interested? I have the technology in my grasp, and I would be more than happy to set up a cache hunt of this type. I just need to know if anyone would be interested, as I don't want to end up driving around for six or seven hours only for no one to take part. Initially, it would probably be in the south coast area (as this is where I live!), but if the game is successful, I will make all the information available to allow people everywhere else set up their own games in other parts of the country. What do you think? Are you interested? Your feedback and additional ideas would be greatly appreciated. Bob (Team) Tate Team Tate Remember - if it's moving, it's not dead... Quote Link to comment
el10t Posted August 29, 2002 Share Posted August 29, 2002 Bob, As I am also based in the South Coast area, how could I possibly refuse? I'll give you a hand if you like, of if you want to test the theory. ----------------- el10t mobilis in mobili Quote Link to comment
+jeremyp Posted August 29, 2002 Share Posted August 29, 2002 My old physics teacher told me of a similar game played by radio hams. I'm definitely in for giving it a try. When we catch you, will we be allowed to set real dogs on you? ------- jeremyp The second ten million caches were the worst too. http://www.jeremyp.net/geocaching Quote Link to comment
+jeremyp Posted August 29, 2002 Share Posted August 29, 2002 My old physics teacher told me of a similar game played by radio hams. I'm definitely in for giving it a try. When we catch you, will we be allowed to set real dogs on you? ------- jeremyp The second ten million caches were the worst too. http://www.jeremyp.net/geocaching Quote Link to comment
+paul.blitz Posted August 29, 2002 Share Posted August 29, 2002 We'd probably play but I have one worry, the cost of the SMSs. If the game is set to last for say 4 hours, and your sending a SMS every 10 mins @ 10p per message then that equals... 2pound 40p, ok, maybye it isn't that bad but I for one am fast running out of credit! Otherwise, a great idea! Michael aka 1/2 of Team Blitz Ok, we've found it, now where did we put the car? Quote Link to comment
+SimonG Posted August 29, 2002 Share Posted August 29, 2002 Sounds like a good idea. I'm up for it. Quote Link to comment
AndyBiker Posted August 29, 2002 Share Posted August 29, 2002 Don't really understand the way the technology would be used but I'm up for it Quote Link to comment
Rangers of Ithilien Posted August 29, 2002 Share Posted August 29, 2002 Sounds like it could be a bit of manic fun! Would it be in an area which the fox knows pretty well or the hounds know? Or, in an area which nobody knows?? I personally would prefer the last scenario but only because advantage would be taken away from either the hunter or the hunted Tiffany Quote Link to comment
Rangers of Ithilien Posted August 29, 2002 Share Posted August 29, 2002 Sounds like it could be a bit of manic fun! Would it be in an area which the fox knows pretty well or the hounds know? Or, in an area which nobody knows?? I personally would prefer the last scenario but only because advantage would be taken away from either the hunter or the hunted Tiffany Quote Link to comment
+cone_dxf & family Posted August 29, 2002 Share Posted August 29, 2002 South Coast, could be fun, depending on the date/time I'm up for that. Mark Quote Link to comment
+djh Posted August 29, 2002 Share Posted August 29, 2002 Dependent on dates and location, this seems like a great idea, count us in!!!! Quote Link to comment
+Subarite Posted August 29, 2002 Share Posted August 29, 2002 I used to do the Amateur Radio version using a direction finding radio (which I still have!). We even used to do it at night! It will depend on dates/times of course. Andy. Quote Link to comment
+Subarite Posted August 29, 2002 Share Posted August 29, 2002 I used to do the Amateur Radio version using a direction finding radio (which I still have!). We even used to do it at night! It will depend on dates/times of course. Andy. Quote Link to comment
+kennamatic Posted August 29, 2002 Share Posted August 29, 2002 I'm not entirely convinced I understand how it all works but it sounds like fun so I'm interested subject to etc.... Finding your caches - Losing my marbles. Quote Link to comment
+Rocky Balboa Posted August 29, 2002 Share Posted August 29, 2002 Doesn't anyone have free Genie.co.uk SMS texts like me? Dan Wilson - www.Buckscaching.co.uk Quote Link to comment
+1pilot Posted August 29, 2002 Share Posted August 29, 2002 quote:Originally posted by Team Tate:The Question... Would anybody be interested in taking part in a geocache fox hunt? We just had a fox-hunt like cache- get togeather, here in Portland Oregon U.S.A. we used cell phones and light rail trains check out the post The Game Quote Link to comment
+1pilot Posted August 29, 2002 Share Posted August 29, 2002 quote:Originally posted by Team Tate:The Question... Would anybody be interested in taking part in a geocache fox hunt? We just had a fox-hunt like cache- get togeather, here in Portland Oregon U.S.A. we used cell phones and light rail trains check out the post The Game Quote Link to comment
+jeremyp Posted August 30, 2002 Share Posted August 30, 2002 quote:Originally posted by Geo Badger:Doesn't anyone have free Genie.co.uk SMS texts like me? How does that work when you're out in the field not near your PC? How do they finance the operation bearing in mind that the telcos do charge for SMS messages. ------- jeremyp The second ten million caches were the worst too. http://www.jeremyp.net/geocaching Quote Link to comment
+Richard & Beth Posted August 30, 2002 Share Posted August 30, 2002 quote:Originally posted by 1pilot:We just had a fox-hunt like cache- get togeather, here in Portland Oregon U.S.A. we used cell phones and light rail trains check out the post http://opentopic.Groundspeak.com/0/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=1750973553&f=3000973683&m=2790978925 Having read the description of what went on in Portland (about halfway down the second page of the topic if you don't want to read the rest of the discussion), it doesn't seem quite the same as the foxhunt idea, more an interactive multi-cache, (imagine the Quantum Leap caches where you actually find the time traveller at the end, and you're recieving messages from him whilst solving the cache) It certainly seemed a great way to spend an evening, a geocachers meet with a difference! I can't see why something very similar couldn't be done over here using the London Underground, or anywhere else with a good public transport system - would probably work with buses as well. It might not be quite the same with cars, as one of the big things people enjoyed there was the fact that they were all solving it in a big group. The main obstacle would be organising it, and having the manpower to run it I guess. Reading about that one has set my mind thinking about variations... Richard Quote Link to comment
+Richard & Beth Posted August 30, 2002 Share Posted August 30, 2002 quote:Originally posted by 1pilot:We just had a fox-hunt like cache- get togeather, here in Portland Oregon U.S.A. we used cell phones and light rail trains check out the post http://opentopic.Groundspeak.com/0/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=1750973553&f=3000973683&m=2790978925 Having read the description of what went on in Portland (about halfway down the second page of the topic if you don't want to read the rest of the discussion), it doesn't seem quite the same as the foxhunt idea, more an interactive multi-cache, (imagine the Quantum Leap caches where you actually find the time traveller at the end, and you're recieving messages from him whilst solving the cache) It certainly seemed a great way to spend an evening, a geocachers meet with a difference! I can't see why something very similar couldn't be done over here using the London Underground, or anywhere else with a good public transport system - would probably work with buses as well. It might not be quite the same with cars, as one of the big things people enjoyed there was the fact that they were all solving it in a big group. The main obstacle would be organising it, and having the manpower to run it I guess. Reading about that one has set my mind thinking about variations... Richard Quote Link to comment
Ben Pid Posted August 30, 2002 Share Posted August 30, 2002 With BTGenie you get 600 free texts a month on Contract and half that on Pay as you go... Its just common knowledge that that is the case....Well it is among the younger generation anyway! ha Pid Ben Piddington http://www.buckscaching.co.uk Quote Link to comment
el10t Posted August 30, 2002 Share Posted August 30, 2002 Wow Pid, I never knew you were called Ben. Rich mobilis in mobili Quote Link to comment
+paul.blitz Posted August 30, 2002 Share Posted August 30, 2002 I see that you got rid of Jar Jar... yay, lets all have a party!! Team Blitz Ok, we've found it, now where did we put the car? Quote Link to comment
+paul.blitz Posted August 30, 2002 Share Posted August 30, 2002 I see that you got rid of Jar Jar... yay, lets all have a party!! Team Blitz Ok, we've found it, now where did we put the car? Quote Link to comment
Team Tate Posted August 30, 2002 Author Share Posted August 30, 2002 Keep your eyes peeled for the new cache. Team Tate Remember - if it's moving, it's not dead... Quote Link to comment
Team Tate Posted September 13, 2002 Author Share Posted September 13, 2002 The technology is in place and tested, and the game rules have been published on the cache page. If you are planning to take part, I would really appreciate an E-Mail from you to get an idea of who will be out there with me. I would very much like to make this a social event. The final coordinates will be published in the cheat section of the cache page. Even if you dont want to take part in the chase, you will be more than welcome to join us for a drink afterwards. To not break the rules of cache self-promotion, I will not publish the cache page details here. All I want to do at this time is get an idea of who is coming. Many thanks, Bob Team Tate Remember - if it's moving, it's not dead... Quote Link to comment
+Rocky Balboa Posted September 14, 2002 Share Posted September 14, 2002 Yes indeed Pid is called Ben. Quote Link to comment
Ben Pid Posted September 14, 2002 Share Posted September 14, 2002 EL10T I am indeed called Ben...its my more professional name that I only get called at work....so its Pid to everyone else! LoL I didnt get rid of Jar Jar he got lost in a stargate somewhere in the galaxy and dispersed ;o) So the Weasel takes his place as my Avatar. He a good man. Pid Ben Piddington http://www.buckscaching.co.uk Quote Link to comment
Team Tate Posted September 16, 2002 Author Share Posted September 16, 2002 ...details of this event cache can be found at: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.asp?ID=34556 We look forward to seeing you there. Bob Team Tate Remember - if it's moving, it's not dead... Quote Link to comment
Team Tate Posted September 20, 2002 Author Share Posted September 20, 2002 With a little under two days to go, we have up to 15 teams that have said they are going to take part in this event. Please check the cache page for some additional information (including the telephone numbers!), and please note the final co-ordinates have now been published. We look forward to seeing you! Team Tate Remember - if it's moving, it's not dead... Quote Link to comment
+djh Posted September 22, 2002 Share Posted September 22, 2002 Thanks for todays event, we all enjoyed it, great to see all the other cachers. Look forward to doing it again. DJH Quote Link to comment
+cone_dxf & family Posted September 22, 2002 Share Posted September 22, 2002 Just wanted to say a public Thank You to Team Tate for organising todays event, which was excellent. We had a really good time, and from the conversation afterwoods, so did everyone else. Thanks again Mark and family Quote Link to comment
el10t Posted September 22, 2002 Share Posted September 22, 2002 Just to echo everyone else's sentiments - a great day out and very much fun. Thanks a lot Team Tate! Rich mobilis in mobili Quote Link to comment
Team Tate Posted October 2, 2002 Author Share Posted October 2, 2002 before I archive this cache in the next couple of days. Team Tate Remember - if it's moving, it's not dead... Quote Link to comment
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