need info about GC571F

[RobertLG]

First post to the site.

The pages with information about a cache will give

lat and long AND something beginning with GC.

I clicked on the "What's this" link, but

was taken to a page that did not tell me what it

is. Is there a good web site that clearly explains

this string's importance?

 

Thanks

 

RobertLG

[+yrium]

RobertLG,

 

The string of characters starting with GC is called a waypoint and its sole purpose for being is to give each cache a unique identifier. Its like a social security number for the cache.

 

--- yrium ---

[+Gloom]

If you know the waypoint (GCXXXX) of a cache but don't know the name or anything else, or just want a quick way to find it, on the search page you can enter the waypoint and be taken to that cache.

 

Gloom

[RobertLG]

Thank you for your replies. I am prepared to accept that these waypoints simply identify the cache.

 

IF THERE ARE HIDDEN MEANINGS IN IT:

How is it created?

Who creates it?

How do I use it?

 

It looks a bit like a hexadecimal number (less the CG)

 

Sorry to keep at this, but my tiny mind wants to stretch out and become bigger. I need to feed it.

 

RobertLG

[+Absolut&KittyKat]

Its just a computer gernerated number, like a license plate.

 

They are 6 digits cause most GPSr's allow a 6 char name for a waypoint.

The GC stands for GeoCache, a TravelBug would have a TBxxxx identifier.

Just think of them as license plates.

 

N34°34.834/W118°08.548

[+Byron & Anne]

Each cache page is numbered. i.e. http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.asp?ID=22303

 

22303 is the number assigned to a cache page. If you change the number from decimal to hexadecimal(HEX) that number then looks like this -- 571F.

As stated earlier GC stands for GeoCache.

 

As you can see 22303 requires 5 characters while 571F only requires four characters. The largest number in HEX is FFFF using 4 characters or 65535 decimal. The largest number is decimal is 9999 using four characters. Because you can get a much bigger number in a 4 character space and there are lots of software routines already written to convert between the two it makes a nice clean way to number waypoints for your GPS.

 

If this is all geek to you, you're right. Hexadecimal(HEX) is used by us computer programers(geeks).

 

A quick search on hexadecimal brought this site. http://www.intuitor.com/hex/

 

I hope this helps.

 

Byron

[RobertLG]

I got it that time.

 

Thanks to all who helped.

 

I had a bit of struggle seeing the number as anything less than some alternate form of map co-ordinates.

 

Cache identifier it is.

 

RobertLG

[+The GeoGadgets Team]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Byron & Anne:

I hope this helps.

---

 

Wow, thanks Byron! I've always wondered about that but thought I'd be a 'geek' for asking!

----------

Lori aka: RedwoodRed

KF6VFI

"I don't get lost, I investigate alternative destinations."

GeoGadgets Team Website

Comics, Video Games and Movie Fansite

 

It's not whether or not you pick your nose that matters, but where you put the booger...

[+Markwell]

Click Here for even more detail.

 

Markwell

My Geocaching Page

[Atilla the Pun]

The Windows Calculator (Start | Run and type in "calc" and hit Enter) will convert between Decimal, Hexidecimal, Binary and Octal. When the calculator is running click on View | Scientific and you'll see buttons to change the base. Select the base to start with (Hex for the raw Geocache number) and type in the number, then click on the base you want to convert to.

 

AtP