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Waypoints help/question


Kiwilady66

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Hi all, I'm at 39(!) finds.. Enough to to know I have a new addiction. My question is regarding the use of waypoints. I signed up as a premium member ( enabling my addiction ). However I only use the GC app to find caches. I'm reading a lot about waypoints, should I use those instead? I assume they are more accurate that my 30 feet " you're close" notification my phone gives me? All replies appreciated, I'm doing this on my own ..... Don't have any GC buddies yet.

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Hi all, I'm at 39(!) finds.. Enough to to know I have a new addiction. My question is regarding the use of waypoints. I signed up as a premium member ( enabling my addiction ). However I only use the GC app to find caches. I'm reading a lot about waypoints, should I use those instead? I assume they are more accurate that my 30 feet " you're close" notification my phone gives me? All replies appreciated, I'm doing this on my own ..... Don't have any GC buddies yet.

 

Love your avatar!

 

If you are using the coordinates for a cache, you are using "waypoints".

 

Help Center → Other → Miscellaneous

4.4. Glossary of Geocaching Terms

http://support.Groundspeak.com/index.php?pg=kb.page&id=635

 

Waypoint - A waypoint is a reference point for a physical location on Earth. Waypoints are defined by a set of coordinates that typically include longitude, latitude and sometimes altitude. Every geocache listed on our website is a waypoint. Geocaching.com generates a unique GC Code associated with every geocache listing.

 

Which app/platform are you using? Maybe some folks who use the same app could give you some tips.

 

B.

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A waypoint is simply any place on the planet that can be referenced by coordinates, which means everywere. Your home is a waypoint. Where you are standing right now is a waypoint. The cache location is a waypoint. Geocaching apps use waypoints, so you are already using waypoints whether you know it or not.

 

Your "30 feet and you are there" is normal. All GPS units, whether a handheld GPS or a smart phone will put you "in the neighborhood". Most are accurate to about 10 to 30 feet. Consider that the GPS of the hider had a similar accuracy (or inaccuracy), that means that the cache can be anywhere in that 30 ft (and sometimes more) radius. So don't rely so much on what your phone is telling you. It will rarely put you right on the cache (how much fun would that be?). You need to develop a "geo sense". Consider where you would hide a cache of the described size in that area if you were going to hide one. For micros think magnetic (where is something metal that a micro could be attached to?) or knotholes in trees. For larger caches look for something that might be a bit out of place. An unnatural looking pile of rocks or sticks. A rock that looks slightly different than others in the area. After a good number of finds you will have developed that "geo sense" and find the cache in seconds, often well away from where your unit says it should be.

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Hi all, I'm at 39(!) finds.. Enough to to know I have a new addiction. My question is regarding the use of waypoints. I signed up as a premium member ( enabling my addiction ). However I only use the GC app to find caches. I'm reading a lot about waypoints, should I use those instead? I assume they are more accurate that my 30 feet " you're close" notification my phone gives me? All replies appreciated, I'm doing this on my own ..... Don't have any GC buddies yet.

 

Love your avatar!

 

If you are using the coordinates for a cache, you are using "waypoints".

 

Help Center → Other → Miscellaneous

4.4. Glossary of Geocaching Terms

http://support.Groundspeak.com/index.php?pg=kb.page&id=635

 

Waypoint - A waypoint is a reference point for a physical location on Earth. Waypoints are defined by a set of coordinates that typically include longitude, latitude and sometimes altitude. Every geocache listed on our website is a waypoint. Geocaching.com generates a unique GC Code associated with every geocache listing.

 

Which app/platform are you using? Maybe some folks who use the same app could give you some tips.

 

B.

 

Thanks so much for your reply, I'm learning more every day! I am using the Geocaching app from ITunes on my Iphone.

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A waypoint is simply any place on the planet that can be referenced by coordinates, which means everywere. Your home is a waypoint. Where you are standing right now is a waypoint. The cache location is a waypoint. Geocaching apps use waypoints, so you are already using waypoints whether you know it or not.

 

Your "30 feet and you are there" is normal. All GPS units, whether a handheld GPS or a smart phone will put you "in the neighborhood". Most are accurate to about 10 to 30 feet. Consider that the GPS of the hider had a similar accuracy (or inaccuracy), that means that the cache can be anywhere in that 30 ft (and sometimes more) radius. So don't rely so much on what your phone is telling you. It will rarely put you right on the cache (how much fun would that be?). You need to develop a "geo sense". Consider where you would hide a cache of the described size in that area if you were going to hide one. For micros think magnetic (where is something metal that a micro could be attached to?) or knotholes in trees. For larger caches look for something that might be a bit out of place. An unnatural looking pile of rocks or sticks. A rock that looks slightly different than others in the area. After a good number of finds you will have developed that "geo sense" and find the cache in seconds, often well away from where your unit says it should be.

 

So kind of you to reply! Thank you for your help :) I am working on the "geo senses", sure it will come in time!

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