New Hiding Tool - Feedback Needed

[+bnelson333]

Hi all, new to the forums here, been geocaching almost a year. I really enjoy hiding more than finding but there doesn't seem to be a lot of tools out there that help with this aspect. I found myself needing a way to scope out locations prior to visiting sites, then recording them and pulling up my notes from the field. I just decided to make one. I think it's built enough to the point that I'm comfortable with others using it now. I would like your feedback, those of you who find it useful.

 

The concept is a little weird to explain, but basically the idea is that you pre-scope out locations using maps, GIS data, etc. When you feel that you have a place that might work, you can record the coordinates (decimal coordinates work best for this app) with various notes (i.e. don't go near the x, or stay close to the trail). This is primarily done on a desktop computer. Then from the field, you log into the same website and you can retrieve your notes with links to maps (provided you have a data connection). It works really well in urban areas.

 

Anyway, feel free to give it a shot. Not sure you want to trust a newbie with real data first? Feel free to log in to the test account: username: test@test.com, password: test.

 

Unfortunately I don't have a host right now and I can't afford to buy one, so I had to use a free host. It's a bit annoying, they sometimes show a popup. However, I use this personally and it works great.

 

The location is: http://gclocator.comyr.com

[+Team Microdot]

I must be missing something but it just doesn't seem all that useful to me.

 

If I wanted to scope a location at home I'd use push pins on Google Earth to plot all the nearby caches - the coordinates would be in the WGS84 degrees-and-decimal-minutes form that I'm used to and I'd jot down the salient points in my notebook before heading out to check the real world...

[+The_Incredibles_]

Try freehostia. They don't have ads and the service is pretty good. I've used them for a while.

 

Can you explain a bit more about how this would be used?

 

If I want to investigate locations ahead of time, I will turn on proximity circles on my phone, then mark waypoints in any areas that seem free. Then I will go out into the field to narrow down the hiding spot, again with proximity circles turned on.

 

If a hint is needed for the cache, I will either take a photo or just use my memory. Usually I don't hide too many at a time and can remember what hint to put on the cache page, if any.

Edited August 11, 2014 by The_Incredibles_

[+wmpastor]

Low tech works well too. Drive and walk areas where you already walk, & (from seeking caches) where you already know the taken spots. I don't have a high-tech "war room" like you pros do.

[+briansnat]

I simply use my GPS. If I find a nice spot I check my unit for nearby caches and if the nearest is over .1 mile away I'm good to go. I looked at your website and I can't imagine how it would be useful me, but if it helps you or someone else that's great.

[+bnelson333]

Thanks for the feedback. The gist I'm getting so far is that it works, if you need that kind of thing, which is a fair point.

 

The reason I built it is because I only get a couple days a week to really do much. So one day of the week I will spend scoping out maps, GIS data, etc, to find potential places. I'll literally find 20 locations in one sitting. Then I can record them all, coordinates, notes, and maps in one central location. My account already has like 50 potential locations at the ready, that's difficult to keep track of on paper notes, at least for me.

 

Then when I get a free day to place caches, I can just pull up my site from mobile and have at it. Since I already have the caches ready to go in the back of the van, it only takes me a few minutes to place one. Trying to remember what I was thinking about a specific location a week or month ago is made much easier by having it all in front of me. I do also check proximity circles while in the field, this doesn't intend to replace that.

 

I guess you could say it's a high tech notebook that gives me quick links to maps and notes when I'm in the field.

[+BlackRose67]

Does your tool take into consideration that there might be redirect tags for a multi or mystery cache finals within the proximity of your chosen areas?

[+Team Microdot]

Thanks for the feedback. The gist I'm getting so far is that it works, if you need that kind of thing, which is a fair point.

 

I'm not sure it does work - quite. The fact the coordinate format differs from the standard used generally for geocaching - WGS84 degrees and decimal minutes (I think) and thus requires coordinate conversion is a bit of a sticking point for me.

 

The reason I built it is because I only get a couple days a week to really do much. So one day of the week I will spend scoping out maps, GIS data, etc, to find potential places. I'll literally find 20 locations in one sitting. Then I can record them all, coordinates, notes, and maps in one central location. My account already has like 50 potential locations at the ready, that's difficult to keep track of on paper notes, at least for me.

 

That's a lot of potential locations. Do they all have real potential or is it just that they are outside proximity (as far as you know)?

 

Then when I get a free day to place caches, I can just pull up my site from mobile and have at it.

 

Assuming you have adequate mobile data signal to access the information - and your phone battery lasts long enough. A notebook and pen doesn't suffer those problems

 

I guess you could say it's a high tech notebook that gives me quick links to maps and notes when I'm in the field.

 

I prefer the low tech notebook and the maps on my not-so-battery hungry GPSr - KISS principle works for me

[+bnelson333]

I don't know how to use this editor, so I'll just reply here:

>>>I'm not sure it does work - quite. The fact the coordinate format differs from the standard used generally for geocaching - WGS84 degrees and decimal minutes (I think) and thus requires coordinate conversion is a bit of a sticking point for me.

 

The thing is, it can take anything you throw at it, it just uses Google maps. So you can use whatever format you like and google figures it out. If you want to use the geocaching.com map, however, it needs to be in the decimal format because that's how their map works. You can use any format, however, if you don't want that. I often just do something like "abc park" and it resolves correctly.

 

>>>That's a lot of potential locations. Do they all have real potential or is it just that they are outside proximity (as far as you know)?

I've used this tool for at least 50 published hides, it works well. I find a LOT of potential places, then when I'm free, I scope them out in the real world. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. If they do, I place one, if they don't, I delete the entry and move on.

 

>>>Assuming you have adequate mobile data signal to access the information - and your phone battery lasts long enough. A notebook and pen doesn't suffer those problems

I've yet to experience this problem. Obviously, if I did, I would utilize a different method. I never said this replaces all methods, it's just one more tool to try.

 

A previous poster asked about waypoints for multis/puzzles? I don't understand, but if I want to use this for a puzzle, I just load a location like any other. If I need multiples, I load multiple records.

[+bnelson333]

It seems that I can't edit my initial post, so the reason I stopped by was to change the URL, in case anybody is still interested. This one doesn't seem to give the popups.

 

http://bnelson333.byethost15.com/gh

[+Seaglass Pirates]

Sounds interesting. For us one bugbear is picking and area we would like to place a cache.

 

Then (uk only) ...

 

Looking at magic map and fussing with all the layers. To make sure some group or rule I've never heard of prevents us from placing it there. And obviously the proximity rule.

 

Now if there was an app that let me open it at the location I wanted and I pressed "yes?" And it fizzed and clicked and buzzed and had a little think then said - yes or no. That would be great. So it did all that nauseating searching for me. Even if it said yes but first contact this bloke that woman. It would be cool.

 

But instead I have to trawl that myself. It's not hard but we see a place and go WOW.

 

home and search proximity. No problem. Then magic map. SSSI or some other place. I mean iits not hard. Just time consuming and sometimes you think pfffff meh life is too short lol.

[+BAMBOOZLE]

I simply use my GPS. If I find a nice spot I check my unit for nearby caches and if the nearest is over .1 mile away I'm good to go. I looked at your website and I can't imagine how it would be useful me, but if it helps you or someone else that's great.

 

+1.....I usually know before leaving home if I'm going to hide a cache....I'll load my ALL CACHES pq so my unit will show all existing cache locations. I will occasionally hide one on the fly but I have to be careful as the pq I usually have loaded is HUNT showing only caches I haven't found.

[+BlackRose67]

I simply use my GPS. If I find a nice spot I check my unit for nearby caches and if the nearest is over .1 mile away I'm good to go. I looked at your website and I can't imagine how it would be useful me, but if it helps you or someone else that's great.

 

+1.....I usually know before leaving home if I'm going to hide a cache....I'll load my ALL CACHES pq so my unit will show all existing cache locations. I will occasionally hide one on the fly but I have to be careful as the pq I usually have loaded is HUNT showing only caches I haven't found.

I load all of my found and placed caches as POIs, that way they take up very little space, but still show as a smiley or star on the map.