Geocaching

[emiller]

I just bought the Garmin Etrex 20 just for geocaching but it is also nice to have for receational. It is the first GPSr to use US and Russian satelites. It is also paperless geocaching and I like that.

[goramsey]

I found four more today with a cool stop off for lunch at this local hangout. Groovy!
http://www.ramseystravels.com/blog/

[emiller]

Gary hope your having a good time and tell the girls (sisters on the Fly) I said hello. A few of us will be there Feburary 4th weekend for the Rock and Roll Cars show with our trailers.
Eddie

[Zollinger]

This thread was started just about the time Scott and I started caching. We learned about it at a TT&T rally. We plan camping trips based on area's that we need to get a few caches at. It can be a very addicting hobby. What we like is the fact that it takes you to places that you never knew existed.

[campmaster-k]

I have a cache planted across the street from my house so I can yell hot and cold to the cachers, its fun. Geocaching has taken us to many awesome place we would have never gone to .

[Larry C]

This sport/hobby sounds interesting! For many years my 'Geocaching" was pursuing the North East 111. This is climbing all the mountains above 4000ft. that are in NY,VT,NH,and ME. It took a lot of time and effort, but was a lot of fun.
This sounds a whole lot more interesting for my old body. It sounds like a great retirement pursuit! (when I retire) Hitch up the TD and head out Geocaching. Come home when the mood changes. I love it. Sign me up!!

I don't have a smart phone to get apps, can I just use a hand held GPS?
Which one is best??

Larry C

[Redgloves]

Larry,

To answer your questions: I don't have a smart phone to get apps, can I just use a hand held GPS?
Which one is best??

Smart phone can be used, the GPS is not as accurate as a traditional hand held unit.

GPS units are of two main types: push buttons and electronic features similiar to smart phones.

First determine your budget. GPS unit prices vary from $100 to $600.
Nuvie's have been used, again have similiar issues like using smart phones.

Hand held GPS units are designed specifically for rugged use, while smart phones and Nuves do not have the same built in terrain safety features.

I can guarantee that the smart phone will be dropped on the trails, resulting in scratched and or broken phones. They are not meant to be wet, well should say, manufacutres know they will get wet, and have to be replaced. Added expense to you.

Hand held GPS units are designed for abuse. PLastic cases that should not break when dropped, are water proff upto 30 feet, contain seals to keep internal components dry. Screens should be more resistent to rocks and various mishaps.

My opinion: use Garmin only, most cachers use Garmin. Etrex units are good basic units to begin with. I have two Garmins. A GPS MAP 60 CSX and Oregon. Favorite is the 60 CSX. Depends upon if you prefer navigation buttons or electronic touch screen platforms.

Electronic platform units support the idea of paperless caching. Essentially and PDA and GPS is one unit. Very useful to have the cache page info while out in the woods. Some units do support added electronic caching options such as CHIRP and Where I Go's.
Able to download GPX files via pocket querries into unit with additional steps. Down loading the PQ's involves extra steps compared to the GPS Map units.

The antennas are internal, slower to respond, and decreased accuracy compared to the GPS Map units.

CSX units have an external, rugged antenna which does improve satellite reception compared to the Oregon. GPS Map units do not have the CHIRP and Where I go applications. Very easy to load GPX pocket querries either directly from geocaching.com or GSAK data base.

60 csx navigation buttons are fairly straight forward to understand the navigation process.

Most sales people do not understand the major pro's and con's of the hand held units and geocaching. Geocachers will be able to provide the most information on the various brands and models in relation to geocaching.

Word of advice: big box retailers will attempt to include warrenty programs, which appear to be a good idea.

From personal experience, the warrenties will not cover: broken screens from being dropped on rocks and water damage from prolonged submersion. GPS units will be dropped on rocks and streams. Been there done that. Broke one screen somehow.

Jean

[MikeyLikesIt]

I have been using my Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx for 4 and half years. It's never failed me once.

Mikey

[hotrod]

used garmin and lowrance/eagle in my fishing guide biz, much preferred the garmin.. simpler for some reason...

[droid_ca]

Went out with a friend the other day and took the puppy with us super fun had by all she was using a free App on her Iphone and it would give you hints and buzz when you got close

[Woodstramp]

What we like is the fact that it takes you to places that you never knew existed.

Could not agree more. That is the reason I still do this.

I would have to say that the majority of caches (lame film can in a Walmart parking lot lampskirt) is something I got over real quick. But if you study and sift through different cache descriptions you will find some really good ones. Those make it really worthwhile. Some are brilliant with fun, education and getting you somewhere you would have never heard of without geocaching. I call it "The world's greatest, local tourguide".

[Woodstramp]

This sport/hobby sounds interesting! For many years my 'Geocaching" was pursuing the North East 111. This is climbing all the mountains above 4000ft. that are in NY,VT,NH,and ME. It took a lot of time and effort, but was a lot of fun.
This sounds a whole lot more interesting for my old body. It sounds like a great retirement pursuit! (when I retire) Hitch up the TD and head out Geocaching. Come home when the mood changes. I love it. Sign me up!!

I don't have a smart phone to get apps, can I just use a hand held GPS?
Which one is best??

Larry C

I agree with what Redgloves and other advise.....Garmin. I have used a few different brands of handhelds...Garmin, Delorme and Magellan. All will work, but the reason Garmins are more costly is because it is quality.

Depending on what kind of budget, I would make sure you get a more modern handheld. Make sure it has a USB computer interface The older ones had serial port communication (or no ports at all).

Again, depending on what you can spend, see if you can purchase what is called a "paperless" unit. You can load and find caches without the paperless option, but it real handy to have all cache description information handy, and loaded on the unit in the field. A a non paperless unit will have only the cache name and coordinates. A paperless unit will have full description, hints and finders notes.

I currently use a Garmin 60csx (not paperless) but I hope to purchase a new Etrex 20 (which is paperless). Etrex 20 runs about $200. My 60csx I got used for $150 last year. I also use an Android phone and a free app called c:geo sometimes. That works great inside of cell phone range.

[Woodstramp]

This sport/hobby sounds interesting! For many years my 'Geocaching" was pursuing the North East 111. This is climbing all the mountains above 4000ft. that are in NY,VT,NH,and ME. It took a lot of time and effort, but was a lot of fun.
This sounds a whole lot more interesting for my old body. It sounds like a great retirement pursuit! (when I retire) Hitch up the TD and head out Geocaching. Come home when the mood changes. I love it. Sign me up!!

I don't have a smart phone to get apps, can I just use a hand held GPS?
Which one is best??

Larry C

I agree with what Redgloves and other advise.....Garmin. I have used a few different brands of handhelds...Garmin, Delorme and Magellan. All will work, but the reason Garmins are more costly is because it is quality.

Depending on what kind of budget, I would make sure you get a more modern handheld. Make sure it has a USB computer interface The older ones had serial port communication (or no ports at all).

Again, depending on what you can spend, see if you can purchase what is called a "paperless" unit. You can load and find caches without the paperless option, but it real handy to have all cache description information handy, and loaded on the unit in the field. A a non paperless unit will have only the cache name and coordinates. A paperless unit will have full description, hints and finders notes.

I currently use a Garmin 60csx (not paperless) but I hope to purchase a new Etrex 20 (which is paperless). Etrex 20 runs about $200. My 60csx I got used for $150 last year. I also use an Android phone and a free app called c:geo sometimes. That works great inside of cell phone range.

[SmokeyBob]

Judith and I started geocaching. We got a Garnin etrex 20. So far I like it. We have found four caches, having trouble finding number 5. I like a bit of a challenge in finding something but some people hide a cache so well that only God could find it. I just don't understand their reasoning for doing that. We plan on hiding some caches that people in wheelchairs can find.

[Redgloves]

In the geocaching world, today is a very important date: finding a cache on Feb 29 comes around every four years, so go find at least one cache.

Finders will receive a special icon! It's all about the numbers and icons.

Cache on.