Not A Lot Of People Seem To Know About This So...

February 1, 2004

http://www.texasgeocaching.com/selector.asp

It's pretty neat to use on your placed caches. Just thought I'd make a note...

5.3k · February 1, 2004

Not to be negative, but I find this very annoying on cache pages. It doesn't translate well to the Palm. But if people want to use it, they are certainly welcome to.

1.8k · February 1, 2004

Seen it.

Haven't used it yet.

Really wish something similar could be officially incorporated into the cache descriptions.

2k · February 1, 2004

Seen it.

Haven't used it yet.

Really wish something similar could be officially incorporated into the cache descriptions.

Seen it.

Used it .

Roger that about GC.com

February 1, 2004

There's two ways to look at this.

On the one hand, its really neat. Everyone going into the cache knows what to expect. There are few surprises. It could really help someone rule out certain caches based on their individual criteria or abilities.

On the other hand it takes away some of the adventure and discovery. Some folks like the unkown, the adventure, and the unexpected.

1.8k · February 1, 2004

On the other hand it takes away some of the adventure and discovery. Some folks like the unkown, the adventure, and the unexpected.

It's kind of like parking coordinates. Shouldn't be required, but in some cases they may be helpful to prevent cachers from parking illegally/unsafely.

If I had a dog, it would be nice to be able to easily see whether I can bring Rover or not.

If I'm bringing my kids, it would be nice to know if everyone had to go potty before we left home or if there are bathrooms there.

Disclaimer: By using the words "parking coordinates" I do not mean to dredge up that topic again. It was only used here as an example. Please! No more dead equines!

1.3k · February 1, 2004

I like what it's there for. It's nice to have that information on a cache page.

What it looks like on a cache page is another matter entirely. It looks like it was designed for some other site entirely. The end result is just messy and unattractive.

Sorry.

3.8k · February 1, 2004

On the other hand it takes away some of the adventure and discovery. Some folks like the unkown, the adventure, and the unexpected.

I think it's pretty slick and a nice way to spice up a cache page. Have to remember there are not as many "die hards" out there as some might think. Lots of folks just out there to have a good time so providing them that info is nice. Besides, who wants to drive out to a cache and realize it requires climbing and is surrounded by cactus? :mad:

1.4k · February 1, 2004

I've seen it before, but have neer thought to add it to my cahe pages. I guess if you read the cache pages before you get to the cache site it would come in handy. It sorta takes the whole idea of geocaching and sanitizes it though.

February 1, 2004

It can really mess up the cache pages on a PDA if they select to many choices.

I just don't see a need for it. You're going outside. It will be muddy. There will be real nature out there. Expect it. Deal with it.

February 1, 2004

Yeah - I don't really like them either, but hey - that doesn't mean people shouldn't use them...

February 1, 2004

i like it :mad:

February 1, 2004

I like it too! Just put it on some caches I put out yesterday.

February 1, 2004

I like it and have tried but since removed it. I had problems with the GC.com cache pages getting messed up. End result just was not consistant enough. I too would like to see something of this nature added as a part of the GC.com.

6.5k · February 1, 2004

I just don't use them. I suppose at a glance they are helpful, but most of those things can put be put in the text if needed.

The Texas ones are nice, but there are several 'sets' out there, If people are going to have to have a legend to fingure out what they mean each time anyways, I might as well just put whatever images I like on the page.

February 1, 2004

I like it.

February 1, 2004

Cool but -

Just the text please. The KISS principle...

Edited February 1, 2004 by maleki

February 1, 2004

The only "surprises" the selector takes from the cache experience, as far as I can tell, are the potentially bad ones. Most of the local cachers I've met like challenges and adventure, but some of them get quite testy about bad surprises - things that should have been mentioned on the cache page.

I use this and I think it's great. Most of the caches in the DFW area where I live are urban caches. Many of these caches you could do wearing a suit on your lunch hour. Some of them are not appropriate for this - really not appropriate! It's nice to know if the cache is going to be OK for a lunch hour. It's not pleasant to go back to your 2 o'clock meeting smelling like creek water!

I like to night cache. The crime rate in the city of Dallas is pretty horrendous. It's nice to know if a cache is suitable for night caching or not. (There is a selector icon for this too.)

1.2k · February 2, 2004

I like it alot and have used it on my cache page. Good for quick deatils without having to write out boring details (ie Dog Friendly, winter friendly etc..)

1.8k · February 2, 2004

Cool but -
Just the text please. The KISS principle...

I agree that slapping the big Texas Table on your cache page makes it look a little unruly, but if it were incorporated into the site, the caches pages could be redesigned slightly so they don't look so out-of-place. Perhaps add a narrow table column down the right side to hold the icons.

Is for screwing up pages downloaded to a handheld, the attributes could be incorporated into the GPX standard so your PDA software could then take advantage of it and display it in its own way.

3.1k · February 2, 2004

I've seen it on plenty of cache pages but never knew where they got it.

Now I have it too.

5.9k · February 2, 2004

Seems like a good idea. I tried it and just got a bunch of html code on the page. I guess it's more for people who know how t opaste it in, cause it didn't work for me.

Yes, I know about the HTML checkbox. I tried to paste to the HTML I'm already using.

38.2k · February 2, 2004

I use it for all my cache pages. The only thing is that they keep adding new icons and I have to keep going back and re-doing my pages when a new, appropriate icon comes along.

It is a great tool though.

1.7k · February 2, 2004

It sure would be nice if it output something resembling legal HTML.

<IMAGE> is not a legal HTML tag. IE might not care about such trivialities, but the HTML parser I'm trying to shoehorn into GPSBabel sure does.

1.2k · February 2, 2004

I never noticed. I wonder if you edit the code and use the proper tags?

6.5k · February 2, 2004

Seen it. Like it. Have just added it to all of my caches. Will use it in the future on all new hides. I don't see how some of this simple info takes away from any of the seeking experience/suspense. It's a great tool for those of us who are still lo-tech.

3.5k · February 12, 2004

It sure would be nice if it output something resembling legal HTML.

<IMAGE> is not a legal HTML tag. IE might not care about such trivialities, but the HTML parser I'm trying to shoehorn into GPSBabel sure does.

Sorry about that! One of those things on the ToDo list that I keetp forgetting about. Its fixed now. In the Dot Com Dayz I used to teach HTML ~ I'm getting lazy or dumb in my old age.

If you're interested, I added a Trailhead icon that is similar to the Parking coordinates thing but Trailhead shows a link to Topozone instead of Mapquest.

Topozone only has maps for the US, so keep that in mind.

February 12, 2004

Personally I think 9key has come out with a great little program for those interested. For those of you who says it gives away the surprise of the hunt I really don't understand. I dress accordingly for all caches I go for and to know there is poison ivy (I'm highly allergic apparently) or ravaging thorns I'd rather know about it before hand. I use it on caches I need to give specific warnings or parking coords for and then don't use it when its not necessary. Its a great geocaching app to have on hand though no doubt!

I know more than a few of us don't read the entire cache description when browsing potential caches to hit next and having the park fee right there in easy sight is very helpful as well.

Edited February 12, 2004 by pnew

2k · February 12, 2004

I like it and use it.

I think it's a helpful tool

February 13, 2004

I like these, but for a different reason. I think they are a good checklist for folks hiding caches. I agree that not every cache should have a description that tells you every single detail to expect. The mystery is part of the fun. However I recently did a cache with terrain rated 1, which, although it was mostly flat, had a steep grass hill to exit the parking area, was very muddy, and was set back 100 feet in very thick bamboo. If I had been with someone in a wheelchair are even with a walker or cane it would not have been possible. This is a cache that most people would be driving a while to reach, not just popping over to at lunchtime. The checklist can help cache hiders to remember to think of people who aren't like them. A checklist that says "yes" or "no" about physical limitations, children, dogs, and other safety concerns are not the sorts of things that ruin a cache. But they can do a lot to prevent disappointment or injury.

3.8k · February 15, 2004

A perfect example of why using this is helpful for those that need it.

February 15, 2004

do not kike it :unsure:

February 15, 2004

i do not like it :unsure:

3.8k · February 15, 2004

February 15, 2004

I should have made this a poll...

February 15, 2004

COOL!

Should be linked from the "Hide a Cache" page! (oh, Jeremy....)

February 16, 2004

It is cool. but all the images are on site outside of geocaching.com. Each time a cache page is accessed with these images, they must be loaded from the texas geocaching website which in turn lowers GC.COM's bandwidth. :blink:

If anything, this generator needs to be incorporated into GC.COM for everyone to use, who wants it. <_<

Edited February 16, 2004 by Hogarth

3.8k · February 16, 2004

It is cool. but all the images are on site outside of geocaching.com. Each time a cache page is accessed with these images, they must be loaded from the texas geocaching website which in turn lowers GC.COM's bandwidth. If anything, this generator needs to be incorporated into GC.COM for everyone to use, who wants it.

Excellent idea. :blink:

Of course this would happen with the Texas group's permission. :blink:

February 16, 2004

Like it or not. I think a big "THANK YOU" should go out to 9key for the I'm sure countless hours he spends making this sport more enjoyable to alot of people. If it was'nt for him Texas geocaching would'nt be the same.

Thanks for your time and efforts 9key!!!!!!!!!!!! <_<

February 16, 2004

It is cool. but all the images are on site outside of geocaching.com. Each time a cache page is accessed with these images, they must be loaded from the texas geocaching website which in turn lowers GC.COM's bandwidth. If anything, this generator needs to be incorporated into GC.COM for everyone to use, who wants it.

I'm not an internet expert, but I am pretty sure that pictures from other servers won't effect gc.com bandwidth. Primarily because your browswer sees the image link from a separate server and asks that server for the image. The server that contains the picture will be bandwidth impacted, but gc.com is better off not having images stored and transfered from it's server(s).

4.5k · February 16, 2004

I like it and have used it on my caches to help others out. It makes my cache more informative. When I go caching it's nice to know if dogs are allowed and out-of-towners are allowed in. There are many areas outside of NYC where you have to be a resident to park or enter. Info like that saves a wasted trip.

It would be nice for gc com to have something similar. A checklist would remind many to add this kind of info before they post their caches.

Alan

1.3k · February 16, 2004

To clairfy: the pictures outside of geocaching.com do not pass through the geocaching.com server. Having outside images lightens the load on the server and connections. Your browser chooses how to render the img tag in the HTML and if it wants it can send a request to the texas site for the images. That request will probably never been seen by geocaching.com.

For purposes of bandwith and server load, outside images are a "good thing".

Edited February 16, 2004 by bons

1.8k · February 16, 2004

It is cool. but all the images are on site outside of geocaching.com. Each time a cache page is accessed with these images, they must be loaded from the texas geocaching website which in turn lowers GC.COM's bandwidth. If anything, this generator needs to be incorporated into GC.COM for everyone to use, who wants it.

I'm not an internet expert, but I am pretty sure that pictures from other servers won't effect gc.com bandwidth. Primarily because your browswer sees the image link from a separate server and asks that server for the image. The server that contains the picture will be bandwidth impacted, but gc.com is better off not having images stored and transfered from it's server(s).

The only impact it might have is that if the Texas server is under heavy load and it takes awhile for those images to load, it might delay the loading of the rest of a cache page which will in turn, make it seem as though the GC.com server is slow, when in fact it is just waiting...

1.8k · February 16, 2004

Many Scandanavian caches I have looked at use something similar - but this is mainly about practivle things - is it wheelchair friendly, will you be able to find the cache following heavy snow etc.

I think a limited range of symbols is a good idea.

February 16, 2004

The Cheeseheads Posted: Feb 16 2004, 06:14 AM
(jfegel @ Feb 15 2004, 10:12 PM)
(Hogarth @ Feb 15 2004, 05:04 PM)
It is cool. but all the images are on site outside of geocaching.com. Each time a cache page is accessed with these images, they must be loaded from the texas geocaching website which in turn lowers GC.COM's bandwidth. If anything, this generator needs to be incorporated into GC.COM for everyone to use, who wants it.

I'm not an internet expert, but I am pretty sure that pictures from other servers won't effect gc.com bandwidth. Primarily because your browswer sees the image link from a separate server and asks that server for the image. The server that contains the picture will be bandwidth impacted, but gc.com is better off not having images stored and transfered from it's server(s).

The only impact it might have is that if the Texas server is under heavy load and it takes awhile for those images to load, it might delay the loading of the rest of a cache page which will in turn, make it seem as though the GC.com server is slow, when in fact it is just waiting...

<_< I think you're right... It would impact the Texas server and not GC.Com... What was I thinking? Roses are red violets are blue, if you touch my gps, I'll have to hurt you..

Edited February 16, 2004 by Hogarth

February 17, 2004

I've used it and I like it for the very reason that I can publish a handicap accessible site without fear that it will be "lost in the words". It's also given me some ideas for other caches that without the pictures I might not have considered.

February 18, 2004

i have a set of images on my own server that i use. i don't like the idea of linking other people's images.

3.5k · February 18, 2004

If you think of an icon that isn't on the page, one that would appear to other cachers, feel free to email me. Many of the icons are from cacher suggestions.

Thanks for the kind comments!

genoist:

i have a set of images on my own server that i use. i don't like the idea of linking other people's images.

Each to his own I guess.

1.4k · February 18, 2004

I use it and like it. I think it's really cool. I know several other people who do here as well (MI). I find that it translates really well into my spun iSilo files...

Not A Lot Of People Seem To Know About This So...

Recommended Posts

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment