Android GPS Changing Distance

[+idance2002]

Hi Everyone,

 

We are brand new to geocaching. We are using an Android phone and have downloaded the right application. A big problem we are having is that a lot of the time when we are standing still to get our bearing, not turning around, the gps will keep changing the distance we have to go, for example, 7 feet, 19 feet, 34 feet, every several seconds. We can't figure out what this means and it's making it pretty hard to figure out where we should be heading.

 

Also, once I noticed that underneath the "4 feet" it said +/- 30 feet !!!! Is that for real?

 

We are starting with beginner caches. We tried a level one, but could not find it because of the fluctuating problem with the distance. Thank you in advance for any help and advice!!!

 

Julie

[+Bear and Ragged]

Please dont start multiple threads on the same topic...

 

It makes it difficult to respond!

Edited July 19, 2015 by Bear and Ragged

[+idance2002]

I actually reposted here and removed the content from the other post but did not know how to delete it.

[+and1969]

Hiya Julie,

 

Welcome to caching.

 

It is normal for GPS receivers to have to 'settle down', which can take a few minutes. This generally involves the receiver picking up more satellites. The more satellites, the greater the potential accuracy. The 'GPS Test' app is well worth downloading - it shows what satellites are being received and what the estimated accuracy is. Also it will give you an idea how long it takes your phone to get a decent fix.

 

See below, the same position two minutes apart, these are from that app.

 

 

 

Another thing, GPS (and Glonass, the Russian equivalent) signals are affected by reflections from tall buildings, and dispersion of the signal from leaves, which both have an impact on the accuracy of the signal. This could explain your phone reporting a 30 foot error - and it would be quite a reasonable explanation too.

 

As regards beginner caches I never found the beginner cache setting much use. My first find was a 35mm film pot in a hollowed out log (since archived, after it disappeared) and the second was a magnetic nano.

 

Cheers

And

[+niraD]

Welcome to geocaching. And welcome to the "drunken bee dance". That's the random wandering a geocacher might do, chasing the arrow first one way and then another, in pursuit of ground zero.

 

As others have indicated, the behavior you describe isn't that unusual. The GPS system just isn't that accurate. And some devices/apps confuse things by reporting more accuracy than the GPS system can really deliver. Your example isn't unusual. It is perfectly possible for a device/app to think that you are probably within 4 feet of the coordinates, but with an accuracy of ±30 feet. In practice, that kind of reading means that the device has done its job. It's time for you to put down the device and start looking for hiding spots.

 

And here are some other beginner tips that I've posted to the forums before:

 

A common recommendation for beginners is to stick with small size, regular size, and large size caches. Until you're more experienced, avoid micro size caches, some of which are smaller than most beginners can imagine (sometimes called "nanos"). Save those for later, after you have some experience.

 

Also, stick with caches that have a difficulty rating of no more than 2 stars . Save the more difficult ones for later. You may also want to choose caches with easy terrain ratings. (The difficulty rating tells you how hard it is to find the cache once you get there. The terrain rating tells you how hard it is to get there.) And it is often best to start with traditional caches, which will be at the published coordinates. Multi-caches or mystery/puzzle caches or other cache types can require more work just to figure out where the container is located.

 

Under ideal conditions, a consumer GPSr will be accurate to about 3m (10ft). That applies both to your device, and to the cache owner’s device, so you may find the container 5-6m (16-20ft) from ground zero under ideal conditions. Under less than ideal conditions, both GPSr readings can be much less accurate. Once you get within that distance of ground zero, put your device away and look around for places where a container could be hidden.

 

Where would you hide something? Do you notice anything unusual? Is anything too new, too old, too organized (e.g., UPS: an Unnatural Pile of Sticks/Stones), too symmetrical, not quite the right color or shape, etc.? Don’t look only on the ground; the cache may be knee-level, waist-level, eye-level, or overhead. How might the container be secured in place? With magnets? With a hook? With string? With fishing line? With something else? Does anything move when you touch it? (Be careful when touching things though.)

 

Go ahead and read the cache's additional hints (if provided), and read the past logs and look at any photos in the cache's image gallery. They may help you understand what you're looking for, and how/where it may be hidden. It may also help to look at some of the cache containers available online. For example, check out the cache containers sold by Groundspeak. Also, take a look at the Pictures - Cool Cache Containers (CCC's) thread in the forums, and check out some geocaching videos on YouTube.

[+colleda]

I rarely use a phone but it has been my understanding that they use cell tower signals unless they have been set to receive GPS satellite signals. That said, there can still be fluctuation but the signal source is different.

As others have said, you may need to let your phone settle for a few minutes. As you become more experienced you will become more adept at recognizing potential hiding places and learn to put your phone away and start hunting. Good luck.

[+idance2002]

This is really helpful. I think we did not realize at what point we were supposed to just start looking! We have picked out a few level 1 caches that are size regular or large, so they will hopefully be easy to spot. We are going to try again this week. NiraD, your description of when to look around and how to look for where things might be hidden is perfect! This is great help. Now we'll try to work with the phone a little more! Thanks everyone!

[+niraD]

I rarely use a phone but it has been my understanding that they use cell tower signals unless they have been set to receive GPS satellite signals.

Yeah, the last couple phones I've used have come with GPS disabled by default. That makes sense, because other location services (cell tower triangulation and wifi networks) are fine for most purposes (e.g., driving directions, checking in on social networks), and because the GPS antenna is such a power hog and phone vendors want new users to experience better battery life.

 

But when I've tried geocaching with GPS disabled, the other location services are much worse than described by the OP. Using only cell tower triangulation and wifi networks, my reported location is often hundreds of feet from my actual location, and when it jumps, it jumps by hundreds of feet and is still wildly inaccurate.