Which Came First, Your Gps Or Geocaching?

[+Cherokeecacher]

First I will say that if this is one of those topics that has been “beaten to death”, I apologize. I did a search for “GPS or Geocaching” and “which came first” and nothing came up.

 

For absolutely no reason what so ever, I am curious which one lead to the other for you. Did you own a GPS first for other uses, and then found out about Geocaching? Or, did Geocaching lead you to purchase your first GPS?

 

Second (if applicable) how quickly did you out grow/get board with your first unit, and upgrade to one with more “bells and whistles”, and are they worth it, or just fun to have?

 

I will admit, that Geocaching and Mountain Biking were my motivators, but like most of my other “gadgets”, now that I have one I have found other uses for it and wonder “how did I get this far in life with out one” .

 

I have not outgrown my GPS yet, and it will probably be a few years before I do. Unless I wake up one morning and decide there is just no way I can live another day without a color screen. Which could happen and I could get a doctors note for the family CFO

[+Halden]

Geocaching came first. My dad has been caching for a while, he took me out once and then lent me his old Garmin 45 which I found my first 4 caches with but quickly upgraded to my Legend.

 

I am very satisfied with my current GPS and although I would love a 60 C I have no plans to upgrade anytime soon.

[+Tiwica]

My GPSr came about a year before geocaching. Used it for kayaking and fishing.

[+dhenninger]

GPS came first, but of course i had to get a new gps to go geocaching.

 

dave (dhenning25)

[+radioscout]

I bough my GPS about 6 years ago.

[Deego]

GPS came first. I got it because I was walking further and further. Some of the better hills in England have trig points (Like US benchmarks but a 4ft high stone pillar) on them and I got interested in what they were for. The site that had the most info on was called www.trigpointinguk.com/ and is linked to www.GeocacheUK.com/ so I started doing the odd cache here and there till last August when I got more hooked on caching.

[uperdooper]

with me it was the caching first. both of my older brothers are into it and they got me started. my oldest brother has a garmin GPSmap 76S. i used his to get my first 4 caches, then i bought one just like his. i figured that if i had a problem learning how to use mine, he would be able to help me. i was right. it took a couple of days but i finally got it. hooked ever since.

[+clearpath]

For me, the GPSr came first as a christmas present. It came as a E-Trex (the yellow model) and I didn't open it as I knew I wanted more features, eventually was told about geocaching from my kids Cub Master and returned the E-trex yellow for the Vista. Now, I would really like a GPSr with a color display but can't justify the expense right now ...

 

edit: spelling

Edited February 24, 2004 by clearpath

[+rusty_tlc]

It happened at the same time for me. I was researching GPS units to us while offroading and found this site. I got my GPS for Christmas in '03 and found my first cache the same day.

[+leatherman]

I bought my first GPSr a couple of years before Geocaching, for hunting and hiking.

I bought my second GPSr a week before seeing Buxley on The Screen Savers. I went out for my first cache a couple of days later.

[+beejay&esskay]

I had toyed with the idea of getting a GPS for years....

 

But it wasn't until I found this site that I decided to order one.

[+wimseyguy]

Geocaching begat the need for a unit. Before caching, a walk in the woods was searching for a sliced drive. We got my dad a GPSr a few years back for his boating and biking, but it didn't really get much use. I read about caching in a newspaper article, lurked around here for a bit and dove in when I saw the yellow Etrex on sale for $100.

It still works just fine, but an upcoming trip abroad and birthday have me thinking about an upgrade.

[+The Cheeseheads]

They came about the same time. I read about geocaching, thought it looked fun, went out and bought a Legend the next day (I had always wanted a GPSr anyway) and got my first DNF the following day...

[+Renegade Knight]

Geocaching came first. The GPS later. Before geocaching there was topo maps and I sure as heck wasn't going to spend the money for a GPS that couldn't put me on a map any more accurate than I could already figure out.

[+Jamie Z]

GPS came first for me.. but only by a slight margin.

 

I'd wanted to get a GPS since I first heard about them way back. A few years went by but I never had the ambition to get one. My uncle had one, and although I've never seen it, he told me some of the features and I decided I'd get one.

 

In my research to figure out which one I wanted to buy, I found geocaching. So.. I bought the GPS knowing about geocaching, but it wasn't my main motivation.

 

Although the night I got my GPS in the mail, I searched for and logged my first two DNFs!

 

Jamie

[+OurWoods]

Geocaching came first. I read about it in another forum and thought "WOW!" I signed up on GC.com and read different posts on which GpS was best, decided on an ST Map. Watched Ebay for a deal and picked one up for $130 last feb, and picked up a copy of Topo from the GC Garage Sale Forums. In Sept I got a Geko 201 on Ebay for family and friends to use when caching with me. This past Christmas I recieved a Meriplat from my family along with Direct Route Software. So in less then a year I discovered caching and added 2 more GpS's along with tons of stuff for caching.

[+Mopar]

GPS came way first. Actually, LORAN came before the GPS.

[+Butano]

I always wanted a receiver, but couldn't justify getting one. It didn't help that some of the data that we use at work comes from GPS satellites. So as I was cruising around the internet, I ran across GC.com and had my reason to get a receiver. As an added bonus, it was something that I could do with my son as well. No more reasons why I shouldn't get one. In the process, I have gotten my cousins, my mom, my brother and another friend into caching as well. I think Garmin owes me some sales commision I have upgraded from a yellow eTrex to the Legend now. Don't plan to upgraded in the near future. (Though I have been thinking about upgrading my PDA to hold more pocket queries).

[dead_white_man]

I bagan geocaching first when my son heard about it at college. I have for years been an orienteer so I bagan geocaching without a GPSr. I later bought a used etrex for a very small amount of money ($35.00) This is what I use... if I use a GPSr at all. I still like tradcaching (caching without a gps.) I bought it in hopes of using it to hide a cache, but as yet have not done so, although I have several good ideas in mind.

[+3 Blondes & Me]

Caching! My brother, cache name - Honupohaku, introduced us over the Thankgiving holiday.

[+cache_us_if_you_can]

Geocaching came first. We started caching in March of 2003 and found 80 some caches sometimes using my dad's GPS, sometimes without one. We didn't get one of our own untill just a week ago, almost a year later.

[+GEO*Trailblazer 1]

GPS 1st.

I have had one for about 9 years now.

Got the Very 1st one that the Public was allowed to have,

I have updated 5 times since then.

The very 1st one took a lot of time and effort to work with but it makes these newer one a piece of cake and a bunch more goodies like hooking it up to your computer.WAAS..ect....

[+boulist44]

Whilst in Florida I went with a friend to check his cache, (Makinson Island) after an explanation of what it was all about I bought a GPS. I've never looked back.

Thanks is all I can say.

[ckhd]

Well, I actually didn't buy a GPS until after I did some geocaching, but I've been using GPS units for a long time, so my use of GPS came way before geocaching.

 

I did buy a GPS unit, but not for geocaching. I bought it for a different project, and as a fringe benefit, I get to do geocaching with it (and use it a little for benchmark finding).

Edited February 24, 2004 by ckhd

[+Naefearjustbeer]

GPs first by about 3 days.

I bought the gps, well my wife did after strong hints for my birthday. I thought right I can use this for walking and fishing but I wonder how to use it properly so I did a few google searches for info and stumbled upon this site. Looked at it and discovered a cache about 10 miles away so off out I went and searched and searched and got bitten and sweaty and eventually found the cache after much cursing and swearing. And after getting over the disapointment that there was no gold in it I thought yip this could be fun and set about hiding some caches, The cache I found was the only one in the area and was hidden before the days of vacation caches not being allowed. So being the only cacher in over 100 miles I had my work cut out . Now there are about 40 caches in the surrounding 50 miles of which I own 12 and have found most of them apart from a couple that involve a 2 hour ferry journey which I intend to get around to soon, Now we have 2 regular cachers and possibly 2 other occaisional cachers in the area. The majority of finds are still by travelling cachers whilst on holidays in the north of Scotland.

 

Cheers

 

Donnie

[inventorjg]

For me it was geocaching. I had found out about geocaching, and found 1 cache without a GPS, that night I ordered one!!!

 

Will I upgrade? Probably not, because the one I have now gets the job done.

[+JMBella]

Geocaching came first. Saw an article in a local paper. Found my first cache the same day without a GPS. Bought one the next day.

[+The Weasel]

It was kinda a combo thing. My buddy bought a GPS for our trip to Montana, then he came upon the geocaching site. Since he already had the GPS, we tried a couple of caches. After about a week of caching, I bought my own GPS. I then introduced geocaching to my sister, who intern bought her own GPS as well.

[+garri]

GPS came 25 days before Geocaching for hiking, I heard about geocaching in the Magellan's homepage

[+Gazza&Girls]

Geocaching was another reason to get a gps. After investigating both for six months, I bought one. Within a day of playing with it, we all went out on our first geocaching adventure.

The other big reason for acquiring the gps was to help with the map and setup/take down work I do for orienteering. The o-club had been talking about getting one but it is too big of capital expense. I decided to just get one and use it as I see fit.

 

Still using the same unit.

[+wildearth2001]

I got my GPS first and had it for 3.5 years before I signed up for caching. Now, one year later, I just got a new GPSr. I used to have a Maggelan 310 now I have a Garmin Etrex Legend. The mapping and computer interface capability is definatly worth it.

[+GIDEON-X]

The GPSr first, in the summer of 1995 was doing some mapping work for the BLM. They got me and my crew (2 interns from Tuffs) a unit to plot / map the high water line of a local reservoir (Senators Wash). Then in 2001 caching came along ~~~~

Edited February 24, 2004 by Mzee & Associates

[+Imajika]

I learned about caching from some friends. I then went to the gc.com site and after browsing around for a while, I decided I HAD to start caching. The next day I went and bought my Legend.

 

I found my first cache on 01/01/04. I am still using my Legend and don't plan on upgrading any time real soon. My wedding anniversary is in August though...so maybe I will get a surprise GPS upgrade!

Edited February 24, 2004 by Imajika

[+Perrin]

Found 3 or 4 caches before my GPS ever arrived.

[+GPSKitty]

GPS came first by over a year. I got the Garmin emap (now discontinued) for work because I often need to know my location while driving and if I don't remember to check the street name every time I turn a corner, I can get pretty confused. Not to mention the fact that if you turn me around twice, I'm lost. No sense of direction. I heard a brief discussion of geocaching on the radio shortly after that and even though it sounded interesting, I didn't follow up.

I've been geocaching for less than two weeks and I'm very happy to have a new use for my emap. I have no idea how my unit compares to any others as this is the only one I've used. It suits me fine and I think I'm better off NOT checking out other models right now. ....GPS envy and all that.

Now I'm trying to figure out all the functions that I never used before. All I needed to do before was hit the button to tell me what my current location was.

 

GPSKitty

[+harleycache]

I got my Legend first. Always wanted a GPS. After all, it's a gadget, right? I had heard of Geocaching, but it wasn't until after I got my Legend that I really discovered it.

 

I am seriously considering the 60C, but it won't be anytime soon. I do wish I had more memory for more maps, so when the time comes, that will be the one.

[+briansnat]

My GPS came first because I heard of geocaching and thought it would be fun, and figured it would be a good idea to buy one so I can participate.

Edited February 25, 2004 by briansnat

[WH]

I was talking to a co-worker of mine and told him about my military survival training and we happen to get into the topic of geocaching. I had never heard of it before then but once he showed me the website and I browsed through it for about 30 min, I knew this was something I wanted to try. I then went and bought my Garmin Etrex Vista.

 

I found my very first cache the very next day. Thus began the obsession

[+Cache Viking]

GPS came first. Used it hiking and mountain biking. About a year later my wife read an article on Geocaching and thought it would be nice to combine with hikes and outings for the kids.

[+Stripes17]

We stumbled into the game as well. I learned of geocaching through the internet and remembered that my Dad had an old GPSr that he used for fishing and boating. I asked him to bring it to my house on a visit and together we found four caches with that one.

 

I immediately ordered a Legend for myself on eBay and received it in December, 2003. Since then Stripes Jr. and I have been getting our moneys worth out of it. We've cached in several states and already brought our "finds" count to over 200.

 

Guess you can say we're hooked! Enjoy...

 

Don R.

[bug and snake]

I needed some form of real and realtime input for a piece of navigation software I was writing. So, I bought the GPSr. It;s now been all over the world with me. I didn't find out about caching till a good while later.

[+EGMUNI]

I had the GPS first. I mainly used it on my motorcycle and mountain bike when I would be riding in unfamiliar areas...used it maybe, once a month. Then, I read about Geocaching in the local paper one weekend. Found my first cache that very day and was hooked! I went out and bought another GPS and now I use it several times a week. What a GREAT activity!!!

[+WaldenRun]

Did you own a GPS first for other uses, and then found out about Geocaching? Or, did Geocaching lead you to purchase your first GPS?

Uh, neither.

 

-WR

[+Warriorrider]

GPS first. Bought it after getting lost on my quad in the Tahoe National Forest. Very scary. Did some research and bought my MeriPlat. I knew this would be a very useful tool and decided to get one that I would not have to upgrade anytime in the near future.

Stumbled upon geocaching by pure accident while doing a search for something else on the net. That was about a year after getting the gps.

[+Blind Avocado]

I found my first cache by accident while my wife and I were taking a walk in a state park near my house. I bought my first GPSr (a 60c) less then two weeks later.

 

Second (if applicable) how quickly did you out grow/get board with your first unit, and upgrade to one with more “bells and whistles”, and are they worth it, or just fun to have?

 

That is why I bought a GPSMAP 60c. I wanted one I could grow into instead of growing out of it.

[+Big Tom]

GPS first by several years I had one before the govt. let us have better accuracy, I upgraded just this year.

Big Tom

[+BadAndy]

I got my first GPS in about 1996 for hunting and prospecting. With SA in full force I was lucky to get to within 300 feet. It was an Eagle...Accunav sport. I think it could track 4 sats at the same time, and it burned through AA batts like Bubba at a texas BBQ. It was about 3 times larger than my sportrak, but it was definately the coolest toy on the block.

[+sturgeongeneral]

I used my GPSr for a few years to navigate on the waterways and then for backpacking. I had heard rumors about geocaching for about a year. I searched for geocaching on the net, found Groundspeak, and got hooked immediately!

[+Team DaSH]

Geocaching came first for me. I had been thinking of purchasing a GPSr for a while, but learning about Geocaching was what made me do it. My first, and so far only GPSr is a Legend. I found it to be a good balance between the features I wanted and what my wife was willing to let me spend!

[GFource2004]

For us it was geocaching first!