Plotting a GPS Coordinate using iPhone or App

[KerraLynn]

I have been using the compass app that is on the iPhone 5 to record the coordinates of my geocache, however, the coordinates seem to always be wrong when I update the geocache information. Does anyone have an idea on how to accuratly plot the coordinates?

[+Chief301]

What exactly do you mean when you say the coordinates always seem to be wrong? What's wrong about them? Not showing up where you expect on the map? Please elaborate.

 

To get the most accurate coordinates you will have to do more than take a single, momentary reading. You should place the phone down exactly where you want to place the cache and step back....give it a good two or three minutes just sitting there for it to get a good read on the satellites. Then, plan on returning to the site two or three more times, on different days, to get more readings. Then you will take these multiple readings and calculate the average, and use that as your coordinates. That's how to get the best possible coordinates.

 

For the iPhone, there is a free app called Perfect Mark that will do the averaging for you. The more samples you add, the more accurate your coordinates should be.

[KerraLynn]

Thank you for your feedback. When I say they are always wrong, i mean exactly that. I record the coordinates, i put them into the system and it marks the geocache as being in someone front yard down the road. I have taken the coordinates 5 times now, each time it sets it in someones front yard.

 

I will try that Perfect mark app and see if that solves the issue. Thank you!

Edited April 24, 2014 by KerraLynn

[+niraD]

Are you sure you're getting the format of the coordinates right, and not just the digits? For example, these locations:

N 37° 25.502 W 122° 06.834

N 37.25502° W 122.06834°

use the same digits, but they are miles away from each other.