Anyone here do Geocaching?

[XabbaRus]

I got a GPS for Xmas and am looking at geocaching.

Looks fun. Also I was wondering if GPS folks here could answer one thing? Sometimes when I am standing stock still my GPS receiver will show some velocity usually bouncing from 0 mph to .4 sometimes as much as 1.4mph. I am guessing that this is due to satellite movement and in built up areas reflected signals being picked up and misinterpreted. Either way I love my GPS.

[porphy]

I don't have a GPS, but I have been looking into geocaching as it seems fun. Of course it would also be a reason to get myself a GPS.
I really could use one on the hiking and climbing stuff I do, but so far I have managed well enough with map and compass. Needs no batteries and is lightwehigt, and one still need to bring the "old stuff" as backup. But yes I'm tempted to get one!

[XabbaRus]

They are fun, mine is a Garmin Nuvi 200W which is quite impressive for a small GPS.

Oh one more thing any decent satellite tracking software that will show me which GPS sats are visible above the horizon from my location. I tried a plugin for google earth but it was rubbish, what I need is a 2d map of the earth and something that clearly shows which are visible.

[Pioneer]

I geocache - almost daily, currently approaching a milestone 1000 finds.

Answer to the Q: GPS satelitte navigation is based on accuracy. The satelittes "fix" your point and then recalculate the point. The variance of velocity even when standing still is attributable to the satelitte "inaccuracy" in reading your real position.

The real answer to the Q: I also use a set of Garmin's. I have also tested a few other units for the local geocaching community and back home. The solution to "jumping" (as geocachers refer to it" is to stand still anything up to three or four minutes. Once an accurate fix is obtained the accuracy will diminsh. Anything under 15 feet is good, anything under 8 feet in excellant. The smaller the area the satelitte has to work with, the less jumping it will do.

I geocache whenever I can! It is definetly fun, just dont get fustrated at first if you dont find one. But once you do you will eventually get the sense of what to look for.

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by Urspankd

I geocache whenever I can! It is definetly fun, just dont get fustrated at first if you dont find one. But once you do you will eventually get the sense of what to look for.

Well what do you look for? I drove my Land Rover in a not too hospitable environment for many miles (Hit a nice big rock on the brush gaurd - got a good dent on it, but since its on the bottom, you can't see that portion of the brush guard anyway), and when I couldn't go any further, I hiked an additional 10 miles on foot, only to find thorn (blackberry I think) bushes and nothing. I believe I was being stocked by a rather large animal for a good part of the way too since I heard the occasional branch break, and you could tell whatever it was was heavy.

The point is - I obviously have no idea what I am looking for!

Oh - I forgot to mention the weirdo too - I hiked past this cabin that could only be reached by foot. No problem on the way towards my goal, but on the way back, some guy is standing on the balcony butt naked! Probably figured no crazy person would be that deep in the woods! He took one look at me and I don't think I've ever seen a naked guy move that fast back inside! Matter of fact, I don't think I've ever seen a naked guy standing out in the open before either! Weirdo.

-S

Well truely it all depends on what type of cache it is. Some are micro caches so look for a small container of some sort, some are large or medium caches so you are looking for a bigger container. Inside the container will be trinkets and a log book to sign marking you being there. If you take a trinket you MUST leave one in its place. That is the way it works.

Most the caches have clues and what not to help you find the cache. Do a filter for ones in your area and then find the easiest ones to start with to build up your geocache skills, then progress to harder ones.

You have to kind of think outside of the box when geocaching. It is helpful to have the clues with you to refer to also.

Hopefully this helps. I still remember my first. I was in the this forest found a coke can convertered into a storage container with lid. The owner of the cache cut the top off a soda can, and shoved a plastic bottle into it, and then formed the top of the soda can over the top of the plastic bottle lid and it looked just like a soda can again.

[bookworm_020]

My Parents have done some goecaching with some friends. They have a ball and often bring things along to leve in place of anything they find!