The Geocaching Thread - all (potential) GPS or SatNav owners look in [Archive]

blobberTHEjobber

07-07-2004, 20:13

If you've recently bought yourself a GPS recently (perhaps in the Bargain foru, :D ) you might like to get yourself involved in the Sport of geocaching, which I fully intend to launch into when my Geko 201 arrives.

Look at www.geocaching.com for more details. You don't even have to have a GPS if your map skills are good enough, but you can get a handheld for as little as £75 from www.expansys.com

The original post so it all makes sense
Two points to this thread. Firstly I wondered if anyone engaged in the sport/hobby of geocaching (www.geocaching.com) and what cool finds they have made. I'm strongly considering the purchase of a handheld GPS unit for walking and general outdoor use and would probably try to find a geocache or two if I did. On that point, anyone recommend a decent GPS? The Garmin eTrek seems to be a good one but I wondered if I was missing a better model.

anguk

07-07-2004, 22:16

I've done a couple that were near where I live, though I had to do it by map because I haven't got a GPS. I couldn't find the first one but got the second, it was actually an inscription etched into an old stone wall years ago.
I'd definately do more but it'll be easier with a GPS, my daughter came along with me so it was a bit like a treasure hunt!

Remains

07-07-2004, 22:28

First time I've ever heard of Geocaching but I've just taken a look around the website and it looks like great fun! I've done the whole hiking and rambling thing plenty, so took to other diversions to get me out and about (recently been hunting for abandoned buildings, mines, farmhouses, stone circles etc) but this sounds like a great idea!

Just need to pick up a cheap GPS first to dip a toe in the water but it looks like if could be great!

Anyone got any good tips for a suitable piece of GPS kit?

ben.bayliss

07-07-2004, 23:11

Looks like fun. Shame I don't have any GPS equipment, or the time to go for walks :(

Funny tho - found a couple of caches in the village my parents live. Might try to find them next time I'm there :D

B

GreyJackal

07-07-2004, 23:38

I came across this about a year ago and meant to try it out a couple of times. Never got round to it though and forgot all about it.

Think I might try again :)

Spooky_uk

08-07-2004, 00:15

(recently been hunting for abandoned buildings, mines, farmhouses, stone circles etc) but this sounds like a great idea!

find anywhere interesting round these parts ?

satin

08-07-2004, 06:52

MoonHerb (http://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=915e213a-431e-47c7-b22b-7905ec36d2e5) ;)

satin

08-07-2004, 06:56

On the points of suitable GPSr's, I use a Garmin Geko 201 (http://www.gpsw.co.uk/details/prod1166.html) which does everything I want it to.

Loads of people use the Etrex, and have no complaints . . . .

Check out GPSW (http://www.gpsw.co.uk/) for some good deals.

Be warned though, GC is way more addictive than the DVDForums !

Mister Chalk

08-07-2004, 08:41

My gf is a big geocaching fan and I've tagged along on a few of them. It gets you out and about, and I'm amazed at the number of places we've been to in the local area that I never would have found otherwise. The caches themselves rarely contain anything exciting, but that's not really the point.

It definitely helps if you have a GPS. Otherwise you can find yourself milling about aimlessly in the middle of a wood (the clues for these things are almost always "buried at the base of a tree").

maubp

08-07-2004, 11:28

I've got a Garmin etrex (the basic yellow one) and I'm happy with it, but startup time aquiring initial location could be faster - never tried geocaching though.

SeeWolfe

08-07-2004, 11:48

thanks to this thread, I've just spent £120 on a GPS unit. The gf loves 'going for a walk' which I like to a degree (pubs as waypoints) though she has to normally drag me out.

I was thinking of buying a GPS unit for my ipaq 5550 just for satnav but geocaching looks like the killer app to tip the balance. It actually gives hiking a fun reason (not that said pubs weren't reason enough)

The device should arrive tomorrow from expansys (emtec Bluetooth) so hopefully I'll be able to feed back after the weekend.

gary191265

08-07-2004, 11:55

My mate used to do it, it looked like quite good fun.

The best fun we had witht eh GPS unit though was when he put it in his pocket when we played golf. You really don't realise how crap you are at the game until you see your every movement mapped out !:)

roolku

08-07-2004, 12:01

I can echo all of satin's and Mister Chalk's sentiments. Great fun and highly addictive. You get outdoors and play with gadgets - what else can you ask for. ;)

Roolku

pkr

08-07-2004, 12:29

satin

08-07-2004, 12:30

All you need is the GPSr itself, nothing else . . . . .

Remains

08-07-2004, 14:43

Just bought myself a Garmin Etrex on Ebay for £60 plus a few extras (computer cable, car cradle etc.) which seems like a good price so it looks like I'll be joining the Geocaching fraternity pretty soon! There's something very interesting in the woods right next to my house by all accounts (hopefully not a mugger)...

Oh, Spooky_uk, yes, there's plenty around here to find. I'm happy with anything from old railway viaducts to abandoned mental hospitals or abandoned railway tunnels. Something about just finding places like this appeals to me. There's loads of old mills and warehouses to explore in Leeds, Bradford and around, but I'm never so keen on urban exploration if I'm on my own due to the risk of smackheads or other dodgy types lurking around!

pkr

08-07-2004, 16:20

All you need is the GPSr itself, nothing else . . . . .

So, something like this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3730&item=5106783453&rd=1 would do the job with the benefit that it could be used in the car as well with TT navigator?

Bluetooth appeals as the receiver can be kept in a pocket.

blobberTHEjobber

08-07-2004, 16:32

Maybe we should invest in a Travel Bug (or similar) and do a forums GPS cache? Anyone up for that?

Harold1066

08-07-2004, 17:53

Two points to this thread. Firstly I wondered if anyone engaged in the sport/hobby of geocaching (www.geocaching.com) and what cool finds they have made. I'm strongly considering the purchase of a handheld GPS unit for walking and general outdoor use and would probably try to find a geocache or two if I did. On that point, anyone recommend a decent GPS? The Garmin eTrek seems to be a good one but I wondered if I was missing a better model.

I just got back into the sport/hobby after a few years away :)

My first and so far best find was APE (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=6205a41f-667e-4a3e-a9c7-4630f1dd25b7) although never got the tickets for the premiere :mad:

I bought a garmin etrex on ebay, works Ok for geocaching.

Username is the same as here :)

SeeWolfe

08-07-2004, 18:16

This sounds interesting. A good excuse to walk around the countryside some more.

OK, my wife has an iPaq. Anybody know what we would need to use that for Geocaching? Presumably a GPS unit but what are the ups and downs of using an iPaq in terms of GPS add ons? Battery life? Portability? Obviously it's not as water resistant! Can the same units that are used for in car navigation be used in a portable manner or do they need significant amounts of 12v?

Don't forget that you can get cheap GPS only units for less than £100 - these are small, waterproof and battery lasts longer.

As for the Ipaq 'add-ons' - depends on your IPAQ model - Bluetooth is the preferred mode of communication (if you have a BT enabled Ipaq) but if you have an older model, you can go for a jacket.

I decided for a BT unit as I can use it for Sat Nav - if we get into geocaching a lot then I'll probably get a standalone to save the ipaq getting muddy/wet etc

rehe

08-07-2004, 18:21

I've had a bash at this in the past and it is great fun. Seen a lot of cool places I wouldn't have got to otherwise.

I used a eTrex I picked up new in the US for about £80. Can't fault it. It reports it's accuracy to 4m most times I have used it and I have never had cause to doubt it. Even without an altometer, the height reporting is good too - I've tried it on top of two peaks and got bang on the height one time, and only 1m off the other time.

I don't know if I would want to use a PDA though. Especially when you end up crawling around in bushes!

blobberTHEjobber

08-07-2004, 19:08

So many GPS handsets. Can anyone confirm if a USA sourced Garmin handset will be covered by Garmin in the UK under warranty? Ebay seems to be the best, fancying a Geko 301.

camaj

09-07-2004, 05:10

My gf is a big geocaching fan

Wow! Your gf is so cool! I wouldn't have thought many girls would have even heard about it let alone do it.

I looked into this a while ago, there was some company doing a geocaching game for a film I think

satin

09-07-2004, 07:07

Wow! Your gf is so cool! I wouldn't have thought many girls would have even heard about it let alone do it.

I looked into this a while ago, there was some company doing a geocaching game for a film I think

My wife is a avid GeoCacher !! But then she also watches Star Trex, X-Files, Dead Zone etc. etc. !

satin

09-07-2004, 07:10

So, something like this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3730&item=5106783453&rd=1 would do the job with the benefit that it could be used in the car as well with TT navigator?

Bluetooth appeals as the receiver can be kept in a pocket.

As far a I know Tomtom is designed for use incar so wouldn't be much use otherwise. Also, it's justr an addon for a pda isn't it ?? When Caching, just carrying a handheld GPSr sometimes gets in the way !!

I'd look for a handheld if I were you. Most will interface with a pda running memory-map then, hey-presto incar sat-nav . . .

satin

09-07-2004, 07:35

As far a I know Tomtom is designed for use incar so wouldn't be much use otherwise. Also, it's justr an addon for a pda isn't it ?? When Caching, just carrying a handheld GPSr sometimes gets in the way !!

I'd look for a handheld if I were you. Most will interface with a pda running memory-map then, hey-presto incar sat-nav . . .

Ooops, I lied !! Sorry !!

I've just talked to a person at work who has a pda with a tomtom attachment . . .

Basically it'll do the job just fine . . . .

The only thing is 1) battery life and 2) it's not exactely rugged is it ??

MetalGearAl

09-07-2004, 07:38

Just looking this up and it sounds like good fun, not sure I can afford to splash money out on a GPS device just yet though.

satin

09-07-2004, 07:42

If anyone can't afford a GPSr (yet), and there have been a few who can't, you have two options:

1. Use a map and compass - I found my first 4-5 this way . . . .
2. Put out a plea on the GeoCaching forums in the UK section, ask for a local to take you caching - you'll probably get a couple of offers . . .

pkr

09-07-2004, 07:54

Ooops, I lied !! Sorry !!

I've just talked to a person at work who has a pda with a tomtom attachment . . .

Basically it'll do the job just fine . . . .

The only thing is 1) battery life and 2) it's not exactely rugged is it ??

Thanks.

Battery life is a good point.

I agree about the ruggedness & water resistance, however, I had planned to do this as a family activity including the kids so we wouldn't really be looking for caches halfway up cliff faces! The way I'm looking at it is to get a system in the first instance that gets us better use of the wife's under utilised pda for both recreation and in-car satnav. Then later on, we get a dedicated gps unit if we continue with cacheing.

satin

09-07-2004, 08:02

http://www.moonspace.co.uk/pat/gekoView2.gif

This is the most important display needed for GeoCaching

How far it is to your destination and what direction it's in . .

Sam

09-07-2004, 08:25

I'd never heard of Geocaching before but I will definitely be giving it go. I have a Garmin eTrex legend which I use both walking and in the car occassionally.

MetalGearAl

09-07-2004, 09:00

satin

09-07-2004, 09:01

MetalGearAl

09-07-2004, 09:06

Yes I am...

satin

09-07-2004, 09:15

Yes I am...

In that case, go to This Website (http://stats.guk2.com/caches/), do a search, by postcode, town, whatever.

Under the column marked 'Grid Ref' is a link which takes you straight to a streetmap.co.uk map of the cache.

If you open the cache page proper, each lat/long will also have a link after it ( in [] brackets ) which also links to streetmap . . . .

MetalGearAl

09-07-2004, 10:14

But that's not what I said I'm trying to do, can I not convert the reference I had before into the long/lat that I can use on websites?

satin

09-07-2004, 10:55

You can but multimap/streetmap are very perculiar in the way they process lat/long. It's usually easier to use OS Grid refs.

They both have help files that detail how to enter lat/long etc.

MetalGearAl

09-07-2004, 11:02

So you don't know how I can convert the format I had before, like I originally asked?

Edit: From what I can see, "N50° 54.344 W1° 24.110" doesn't appear to be N50.54344,W1.24110 (in the Streetmap format), as that's in the middle of the sea!

satin

09-07-2004, 11:07

So you don't know how I can convert the format I had before, like I originally asked?

Try This (http://www.gps.gov.uk/additionalInfo/gpsSpreadsheet.asp) OS page . . . .

Or, This (http://www.sheps.clara.net/WW.htm) spreadsheet . . .

The other way to do it is to enter your original co-ords into your GPSr and then change the datum setting and re-read the co-ords back - if you've got a gps . . .

MetalGearAl

09-07-2004, 11:12

If I had a GPS, I wouldn't need to use these maps ;)

roolku

09-07-2004, 13:10

Can anyone give me advice on working with longitude / latitude?

For example I'd like to convert "N50° 54.344 W1° 24.110" into the long/lat (such as 50.xx, -1.xx) that I can use with Multimap to find where it is.

One degree has 60 minutes, so you devide the minutes by 60 to get the value in degrees and add the integer part to it: North and East are positive, South and West negative. Bingo.

54.344/60 = 0.9057333333333
24.110/60 = 0.40183333333333

hence:

55.9057333333333
-1.40183333333333

Roolku

MetalGearAl

09-07-2004, 13:32

Right, I don't have GPS, but I've made a little map of the places I need to go to.. with a little extrapolation of long/lats I should be able to estimate where the final part of this one (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?pf=&guid=90385ac3-9783-4c8d-be9d-2b65c862c02a&decrypt=y&log=) is!

I'm unusually excited.

blobberTHEjobber

09-07-2004, 16:31

Plumped for the Geko 201 which should arrive tomorrow. I'll be starting out soon and might consider placing a forums only cache.

embee

09-07-2004, 16:41

any potential geocacher's wanting to go the pda route there's a navman bluetooth gps thingie at CPW, see bargain forum :thumbs: not checked its suitability for this geocaching thing but at that price it seems a very good buy....looking forward to having a go at this :)

blobberTHEjobber

09-07-2004, 17:29

Bump for the changed thread title!

pkr

09-07-2004, 17:56

Rachel_M

09-07-2004, 17:59

Plumped for the Geko 201 which should arrive tomorrow. I'll be starting out soon and might consider placing a forums only cache.

What's the difference between the Geko 101 and 201? or the eTrex for that matter? :?:

Harold1066

09-07-2004, 18:10

What's the difference between the Geko 101 and 201? or the eTrex for that matter? :?:

The 101 can`t be connected to a PC, if you mean the etrex yellow the 201 has WAAS the etrex doesn`t the 201 takes AAA the etrex AA, the 201 is lighter.

I think thats about it :)

Geo

Harold1066

09-07-2004, 18:14

I thought it might also be a good idea if we have some DVD Forum exclusive moving geo caches so I might place one soon next week unless someone else decides to do so first.

The idea of that is someone drops a cache off, posts the location co-ordinates and then someone goes and picks it up and then relocates it, posting the new details.

If you fancy that idea and would like to post a cache yourself, put the details below and I'll post them here.

Do you mean the actual cache or a travel bug, I can`t see the point of moving the whole cache and what about the trinklets in it :)

DM72

09-07-2004, 18:23

I've got an ipaq 2210 and a globalsat cf gps receiver.
What else do I need to start geocaching?

pkr

09-07-2004, 18:47

Well, just done our first cache hunt even though we don't as yet have a GPSr. The geocache site showed that there is one in our village, so a gentle stroll and the absence of the GPSr wasn't critical as we know the area.

Looks like wifey & kid are hooked!

blobberTHEjobber

09-07-2004, 19:19

I've got an ipaq 2210 and a globalsat cf gps receiver.
What else do I need to start geocaching?

Nothing. Just go to www.geocaching.com and type your postcode in, find your nearest cache, get the co-ordinates, put them into your GPS setup and get your walking boots out.

Your GPS should take you within 10 feet of the cache. What you do with the cache depends on the type, but for a normal cache you usually write your visit in the log book and register it on www.geocaching.com

Most cache owners also put small items into their cache for visitors to take, provided you leave a similar item.

Of course, I'm an absolute beginner so you should read up on www.geocaching.com for the full picture.

SeeWolfe

09-07-2004, 19:25

My EMTAC bluetooth device arrived today from Expansys and its a little beaut. I've got it working with my 5550 and tomtom and everything seems ok.

Tomorrow the missus and I will try our first hunt

Now to find some Geocaching s/w - I've had a look at the usual suspects (sonar, gpstuner)) but has anyone got any recommendations?

blobberTHEjobber

09-07-2004, 19:27

Do you mean the actual cache or a travel bug, I can`t see the point of moving the whole cache and what about the trinklets in it :)

Moving the cache (in this case) would mean that everyone in the country gets a chance to play.

Harold1066

09-07-2004, 19:46

Moving the cache (in this case) would mean that everyone in the country gets a chance to play.

OK, A travel bug cache :thumbs:

MetalGearAl

10-07-2004, 13:19

Found my first today, was quite difficult device-less, but glad I found it! :)

http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~tennyson/al/geocache/geocache.jpg

blobberTHEjobber

10-07-2004, 17:05

Found my first today, was quite difficult device-less, but glad I found it! :)

http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~tennyson/al/geocache/geocache.jpg

Bit of a professional looking cache that. I was out walking in North Wales today and had the postman arrived 10 minutes early would have had my first out with the Geko he bought.

Hoping to bag a few tomorrow though and also deposit the Official DVD Forums Geocache!!

MetalGearAl

10-07-2004, 17:11

Just came back from trying to find another, failed miserably. Had a great cycle along a path, but with no GPS device it proved impossible to find. Had to turn back on path eventually (it kept getting smaller and wetter with no sign of coming out anywhere useful).. got a flat tire on the way home, got scratched lots and then it started raining :mad:

Harold1066

10-07-2004, 17:19

I`m off t0 Camber, Monday; and there are a few down in the area (42) in a 30 mile radius, so I`ve got them in my PDA and hopefully I`ll be able to grab a few in the week :)

PaulH

10-07-2004, 18:44

We have been geocaching for quite a while now and all the family likes doing it, after we had done a few geocaches we took my parents out on a hunt, they liked it that much that they bought a Garmin Geko 201 like us, after a while my parents took out my younger brother and his family on a cache hunt which got them hooked and they also bought a Geko 201.
I have used my Geko and Ipaq 2210 loaded up with Fugawi Uk O.S software to see what it would be like to use a moving map on a hunt on one occasion, it worked good but I won’t do it again as I had the Geko in one hand, the ipaq in the other and the conditions underfoot left a lot to be desired, it would have only taken one slip and I would have broken something.
We seem to do most of our hunts when we go off in the caravan, before we go I get a load of cache sites within about 20 mile radius of where we will be camped, then once we are there we have plenty to do and places to explore.

DM72

10-07-2004, 20:10

I've installed GPS Tuner on my ipaq 2210 ppc with cf gps receiver.
Where do I get maps for it though as I'm finding it really confusing :brickwall

maubp

10-07-2004, 23:10

Easiest way to get maps is to buy them! Try this thread (http://www.thedvdforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=300836).

blobberTHEjobber

11-07-2004, 15:56

Just bagged my first cache. Heavy tree cover made it damn difficult to pin point it in the end and I managed to get covered in bracken stains. Great fun though.

Still trying to think of a good location for a DVDF cache. I want somewhere nice, but near to a motorway or main road so making it nice and easy for someone to make the time to get hold of it.

satin

12-07-2004, 07:31

Do you mean the actual cache or a travel bug, I can`t see the point of moving the whole cache and what about the trinklets in it :)

Travelling caches are no longer allowed by GroundSpeak . . . .

But, you can create a small cache and attach it to a travel bug and send that around . . . .

paulsaz

13-07-2004, 17:34

Just seen the Maggelan Sportrak Map for £160 in Maplins, seems a very good price any one know any horror stories?

blobberTHEjobber

13-07-2004, 18:13

Was going to bump this myself. I've been looking for 4 caches so far, and managed to find 3.

I'm hooked I tell you.

Remains

13-07-2004, 18:32

My GPS is getting shipped tomorrow so I'm ready to get hooked myself!

Already got my home coordinates set into the Geocaching website and there is about 60 caches within a ten miles for me to start off with! They should keep me going for a while! :)

MetalGearAl

13-07-2004, 18:59

My dad has an iPaq with a TomTom Navigator. I know it's mainly used with map navigation software, but does anyknow know if you can use it as a lat/long coordinate finder, wherever you are?

blobberTHEjobber

13-07-2004, 19:18

My dad has an iPaq with a TomTom Navigator. I know it's mainly used with map navigation software, but does anyknow know if you can use it as a lat/long coordinate finder, wherever you are?

You should just be able to set a waypoint shouldn't you and head towards it?

satin

14-07-2004, 06:54

Harold1066

16-07-2004, 21:28

Now's the time for all you budding geocachers to log on to the Groundspeak forums (at geocaching.com) and start posting there.

It's a lot quieter than this forum, but, there are far more people with massive experience of the subject who will be able to answer all your questions. . . .

At the bottom of the forums list there is a UK specific forum . . . .

I`m over there as much as here :lol:

Just got back from Camber, managed 7 caches in 5 days, some great hiding places.

I think I`m starting to get addicted :nuts:

Geo

pkr

19-07-2004, 06:14

Found 3 yesterday ( 1st 2 provided the clues for the final one ).

It's good to go for a walk with a goal rather than just wondering around.

We did get some odd looks whilst walking around with an iPaq from other walkers!

BTW, the big benefit of using a pda is paperless caching - i.e. downloading the cache details onto the pda. No messing about with bits of paper.

Harold1066

19-07-2004, 18:05

Found 3 yesterday ( 1st 2 provided the clues for the final one ).

BTW, the big benefit of using a pda is paperless caching - i.e. downloading the cache details onto the pda. No messing about with bits of paper.

I agree, I bought a second-hand Palm Vx on Ebay for £25, downloaded all the caches details for the camber area so I was able to find more that I intended to, originally I was only going to look 3 but with the pda I managed 4 more.

I also take a map, I would like to get maps on a pda but I think that is going to get expensive :( . I have Anquet Maps on CD but I think that they can only be used on a Pocket PC.

Geo

DM72

19-07-2004, 18:12

Anyone know where you can get any free maps?

I have tomtom 3 running on my 2210, but don't think this will be any good for geocaching.

blobberTHEjobber

23-07-2004, 23:02

Up to 18 caches founds now, and I own 2 of my own.

Just bumping so any new GPS owners can see this,

Harold1066

25-07-2004, 17:15

I manged to grab 7 yesterday (Saturday) a record in one day for me.

Some interesting caches in some nice places.

If anyone is in the SE, this is one you should try to get, it`s certainly different.

GCJP2X

Geo

aliandtone

09-01-2005, 21:38

Just joined this sport of geocaching, and found three on our first outing. Did not know what to expect, but the looks on the kids face as we found the first one said it all! We all enjoyed ourselves, and to boot it is a great way of walking off all those christmas calories!

pkr

09-01-2005, 21:57

Hi, welcome to Geocaching.

For a UK orientated forum have a look here - http://www.geocacheuk.org/portalv3/forum/default.asp. Use the same id as you use on geocaching.com for simplicity. There is a UK forum attached to geocaching.com but it can be a bit unfriendly with US based 'super' mods recently butting in and censoring the UK forum - even on threads started by the UK mods!!!

Keep a look out for 'Event caches' in your area as well. They are a good opportunity to meet the other cachers in your area.

aliandtone

09-01-2005, 22:31

Thanks for that :)
We are also located in Bedfordshire, discovered new surrounding areas we never knew existed until today!

SpankySpanky

09-01-2005, 22:35

blobberTHEjobber

09-01-2005, 22:39

Sorry, know nowt about this, but sounds bloody interesting! I've got a Medial pocket pc sat nav atm (wired) so no good for this but may sell it and invest in this one:

stand alone Medion sat nav - only £235 at Makro!! (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump.php?url=http://www.awin1.com/awclick.php^QS^mid=993^QA^id=30372^QA^p=http://www.lowestonweb.com/Products/DisplayInfoMain.asp^QS^e=7382CF1C-3F5A-44E7-A191-73DAB6BBF3B8^QA^CMP=BAC-NAVPDA)

I take it that would be OK to take out with us?

TIA!

SS

Whoa!! A bump!

That PDA/Satnav will serve the purpose well. Just make sure you keep it nice and dry. I guess they are nowhere near as indestructable as my little Garmin Geko 201, which has been dropped onto concrete, into water and stamped on a few times during the more interesting caching trips.

DJWillis

09-01-2005, 22:57

I must get a GPS soon, I remember finding one of these caches while out for a walk near Bath over Christmas. Wondered what the hell it was all about then, now I have read up on it I just think it sounds like a great idea, there are 100's around Bath so that should keep me busy.

aliandtone

10-01-2005, 00:44

satin

10-01-2005, 07:17

It would probably be okay. But, you don't need to spend anywhere near that sort of money. Many(most) people use a basic handheld like this - http://www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk/viewprod.php?product_id=1&category_id=57&pp_id=0 - I use a Garmin Geko 201 and am quite happy with it !

pkr

10-01-2005, 07:27

Thanks for that :)
We are also located in Bedfordshire, discovered new surrounding areas we never knew existed until today!

We attended the Beds, Herts & Bucks Xmas event in Berkhampstead last month and met a lot of very friendly people. It was good to put faces to the caches we'd found. Maybe we'll bumb into each other sometime.

As to new areas, yes indeed. Yesterday we walked an area just a few miles from us which we've driven past countless times and never really looked at before.

pkr

10-01-2005, 07:40

We've got a Garmin Legend (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump.php?url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000C4G4Q/thedvdforums-21) and are very impressed with it so far. Easy to use, ready to except WAAS / EGNOS as and when available!

I've got a Legend C. Great bit of kit but realistically most of what it does over the basic models is unneccessary. It's main advantages though are USB and the colour screen ( with variable brightness ).

rickdean

21-03-2005, 19:43

blobber

was about to reply to your post in the bargain forums about my shiny new Garmin etrex, but its been closed.

Anyhow you mention a cable off ebay, care to point me in the right direction as to which one I'd need?? :help:

mburton2

22-03-2005, 09:39

I have SmartST Pro Navman software on my iPAQ.....dont think I can use that...

I also have a copy of TomTom GPS, but cant find a way of adding a way-point.....anyone help me out??......

I'm Trying to get a copy of TT3...is that useable geocaching?

binning

25-03-2005, 13:24

Newbie to Geocaching - Help required.
I want to try out geocaching and have registered at www.geocaching.com

As I'm new to it and don't know if I'll enjoy it I don't want to subscribe to their premium service ($30 a year). As I'm just a basic member I can only download LOC files.

This is where my problem starts. I have a pocket pc device with a bluetooth gps receiver.

There doesn't seem to be any software out there which allows me to use LOC files on a pocket pc device.

I've tried gpxsonar which states on it's website it's compatible with LOC but on geocaching.com it states it only works with gpx files. I've tried to get it to work with LOC files without any joy.

Anyway - is there anyone who can advise me on how to try out geocaching on a pocket pc without paying out for GPX files.

Your help would be appreciated.

binning

25-03-2005, 13:30

btw - I have tom tom 3 but there doesn't seem to be any facility on this to type in long/lat co-ordinates.

The only area I can see this is on the GPS set up screen. It doesn't allow me to type in some co-ordinates to search against though. It just shows my current position.

pkr

25-03-2005, 13:32

You can also subscribe to GC.com on a monthly basis. It's about £2 or £3. As you're unsure, why not just subscribe for 1 month and see how you get on?

The loc files will not give you much. They really are just the cache name and the Lat, Long. It is the gpx files that has the cache description, logs etc viewable on a pda.

Check out GSAK. With gpx files, GSAK you can create your own local database for caching puposes - applying filters etc as suits you.

pkr

25-03-2005, 13:35

re : TomTom, there is a goto co-ords facility on the map view ( I think ). But also, if you are a subscriber, you can d/l a file of all UK caches from geocache.uk.com for use with TomTom. Alternatively, if you use GSAK ( www.gsak.com ) as I mentioned in the earlier post, you can export the waypoints from GSAK in TomTom ov2 format ready to copy to your TomTom map directory.

binning

25-03-2005, 13:35

binning

25-03-2005, 13:41

pkr

25-03-2005, 13:43

Is there a program out there that allows me to type in the long/lat co-ordinates and gives me the direction/distance to it?

That would probably suit me for starters. I'd like to avoid subscribing to something if I can avoid it. If it's the only way to experience geocaching I guess I'll have to bite the bullet and subscribe for a month.

GPSTuner is available on a 30 day trial. This mimics a GPS receiver on your pda. It works OK with a BlueTooth receiver ( that's how I used to do caching ). Run GPSTuner, enter the co-ords and it'll give you distance & direction ( anongst other things ).

www.gpstuner.com

There are other pda programmes out there, but GPSTuner is the only one I have experience of.

Edit : The trial version of GPSTuner, IIRC, has some limitations. Like not being able to modify a waypoint I think. But nothing major that really interferes with it's operation.

binning

25-03-2005, 14:01

thanks again pkr.

I'll give the option in tom tom a go. If this is no good I'll try out gpstuner.

satin

25-03-2005, 14:21

binning

25-03-2005, 17:39

binning

25-03-2005, 17:56

For all types of waypoint formats have a look at - http://www.geocacheuk.com/

Specifically look here - http://stats.guk2.com/caches/download.php

There you can download UK only caches in many many formats . . . .

Satin - tried the link without any joy. I got a message telling me to register for the site. Tried but the registration page doesn't seem to work correctly.

Any chance of posting the links for the download of any free pocket pc s/w here?

satin

25-03-2005, 18:27

GeoCaching software - http://www.geocaching.com/waypoints/default.aspx

pkr

25-03-2005, 18:36

tom tom was a no goer really. It didn't allow you to put your complete co-ordinates in. You had to miss one digit of the lat/long so it didn't give very accurate results.

Had to use the gps status screen which wasn't very good really. Will give gpstuner and the downloads mentioned by satin a try.

TomTom needs degrees, minutes & seconds ( ddd mm ss ) whereas geocaching co-ords are in decimal minutes ( ddd mm.mmm ). To convert the GC dec minutes to the TomTom dms format just multiply the last 3 digits by 60 ( 60 * .nnn ) to give the seconds.

binning

29-03-2005, 11:59

thanks pkr.

Tried out the gps tuner program without any joy. It seems to use a completely different logic for entering co-ordinates. Anyway I used the LOC file from geocaching.com but the s/w was pointing me way off the spot that tom tom had from the overlay I downloaded.

I ended up using the gps status screen and trying to work out which way to move once TOM TOM got me close.

Anyway net result was I didn't find the cache. Might give it another try if I could really get some decent s/w to trial for free.

Any help would be appreciated.

On the plus side I did have a nice walk around.

Paul

17-05-2005, 12:45

Kicking this one back up to the top, any news on software that people are currently using? has there been any new updates or enhancements allowing you to import the LOC files into a pda and then basically just "run" it ;) :)

Just toying with the idea of getting out there whilst the weather's looking good and finally starting to get some local caches found....

Paul

liamail

28-12-2006, 01:31

I know this is a pretty old thread - is anyone still doing this? Just discovered the sport and like the idea. Any recommendations on a decent GPS unit to get me started?
Also I noticed that the price of new units is almost the same in US$ as sterling when bought in the USA. Are there any issues with regard to buying a US unit for use in the UK? It seems to make sense that the units would work worldwide but I can't seem to find a source that would prep me for any problems I'm likely to encounter if I go down that route (see what I did there? - I'll get me coat!).
Thanks :)

KennyVader

28-12-2006, 11:52

Only warranty issues if it's a "connect by bluetooth to something like a PDA" model of GPS receiver. I bought mine in the UK because the particular model I wanted (Holux GPS 238 or something like that) is known to be prone to the bluetooth chip failing. So, I paid maybe £10 more but if the BT fails I should get it replaced no argument.

If it is a "full" GPS unit that displays maps on its own screen, then you would probably get US maps on a unit bought in the US, and Euro maps on a Euro-sourced model. Chances are you can add the Euro maps to a US model, but it's all extra cost.

liamail

03-01-2007, 15:14

Thanks for the advice. I've gone for a Garmin mapping unit from the US. I figured I will want to get the GB topo anyway as I'll potentially be using it for walking and climbing as well as geocaching, and the basic level of detail on the Euro basemap doesn't look to be anything to shout about. The price difference is astonishing, and it means I can afford a much better unit than I would have purchased in the UK.

aliandtone

29-09-2007, 19:10

In typical fashion now the nights are drawing in and it's getting colder we have decided to get out and about looking for caches! Our GPS works a lot better because of reduced tree coverage and we also find that at this time of year the nettles are not so violent! :lol:

We were so close to getting out 1st FTF (First to Find) the other day but it was not meant to be. Pipped to the post by about 10 minutes.

We have also had to replace one of our ammo box caches as it was destroyed by some local yobos, which is so annoying. Currently in the process of creating a new cache, just have to work out the details. But our proudest moment is becoming parents of our 1st Travelbug. Which is now grown up so we are going to send it out into the big world of geocaching. Are there any other forum members who like to create their own caches?

MrBoombastic

14-08-2008, 10:36

Resurrecting this one. I'm looking for recommendations for a handheld GPS receiver that is suitable for geocaching. Any suggestions?

Cheers!

satin

14-08-2008, 10:49

Mines probably so out of date it's laughable but . .

I've got a Garmin Geko 201.

It's a simple beast, plug in the co-ords and it points to them - all you need really !

£85 buy it now from eBay or you can bid . . . Link (http://www.thedvdforums.com/affiliatelink.php?localaffiliateid=44&url=http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Garmin-Geko-201_W0QQitemZ200245074711QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item200245074711&_trkparms=72%3A12|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A12&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14.l1318)

Please remember to affiliate links.

Harold1066

14-08-2008, 13:17

Or a Garmin eTrex yellow

Harsin

14-08-2008, 17:58

Moving.

hongkong_uk

16-08-2008, 15:53

I have just got myself a Garmin etrex off ebay. Not too unreasonable at £37 I reckon. Looking forward to it coming so I can have an excuse to get out there finding caches! I already have gps on my mobile phone but didn't fancy using that for the job as it would have been expensive it if got dropped while out and about.

Anyone have any useful tips to make it easier, what to take etc? Also, is there any software I should know about? (preferably Linux based but Windows is fine too)

aliandtone

16-08-2008, 20:41

Anyone have any useful tips to make it easier, what to take etc? Also, is there any software I should know about? (preferably Linux based but Windows is fine too)

A pen
A notebook/scribble pad
A compass
Gloves (to handle nettles/thistles etc)
Torch

A garmin data lead so you can download co-ordinates straight from the site rather than manually entering them in.

If you have a smatphone then I would recommend that you download GPX Sonar or GPX view which downloads all the latest info you want to your phone. Just remember to refresh it weekly for any cache updates!

We also have a garmin satnav which takes us to the nearest road/parking area rather than trying to guess the best road route.

hongkong_uk

16-08-2008, 20:55

Thanks for that. Much appreciated. :)

The Grateful Ghoul

17-01-2009, 20:50

I have just been introduced to this, and must admit to being hooked.
Especially as you can do it on your phone if it has GPS.

I was in Birmingham the other day opened Geo Navigator on my Nokia N95 and ran a quick search for any nearby cache and there was bloody loads! lol

It's very addictive.

The Grateful Ghoul

17-01-2009, 20:55

It might be worth adding the Mobile Phone Apps to the first page of this thread too if possible.

****Geocaching Mobile****

Trimble's Geocache Navigator and Groundspeak's Geocaching iPhone Application retrieve data directly from Geocaching.com's database for real-time searches.

http://www.geocaching.com/mobile/default.aspx

Tempest

01-08-2009, 00:03

Bit of a bump here.

I have a Dell Pocket PC and a bluetooth GPS device.

What's my best option to get this stuff running and (ideally) without costing anything?

Tempest

01-08-2009, 22:10

So no-one on the forums uses a pocket PC with any Geocaching software?

pkr

02-08-2009, 09:50

I used to briefly.

I've been trying to remember what the app was called...

However, the version I was using at the time was not great and the licencing was on an annual basis. New version or not, you paid to use it every year.

Even searching I can't find the thing I was using but there does seem to be more choice now.

One of the problems with using the app I did try : It made paperless caching very difficult by needing to constantly switch the foreground app. Oh! And the Pocket PC was tied to the person with the bluetooth receiver! Get out of BT range and the app had to be re-started - it wouldn't recover the signal. Overall, I found it very frustrating.

For peperless, I used gpxsonar.