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Phone Apps To Help Me Cache?


amyvits

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Hi everyone! Today I found my first geocache. I attempted to find two others but because of the app on my phone, the coordinates weren't exact and I couldn't find them. Are there any apps out there that will help me find caches? Thanks!

 

You don't specify what phone or what app you are using now.

 

Have you tried Groundspeak's free app?

 

http://support.Groundspeak.com/index.php?pg=kb.book&id=12

 

B.

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Yours new, so some things you should know.

 

First is that no app or GPS will take you to the cache. They take you to the coordinates. That means if your GPS is off, the hiders GPS was off, or the cache wasn't put back in the exact same spot then the cache will not be at the coordinates. Nothing you can do about it. Also a different app probably won't help. They get the information from the same GPS chip in your phone, and the same satellites in space.

 

Second is that these are notnoerfect devices. They're not made to have 1 inch accuracy. So this, combined with the first point, means you need to expand your search. When you get within 5-10 feet start looking. And look around, about a 30 foot circle. You can narrow it down by reading the cache page for clues. If its magnetic, it will probably be on the metal sign, not a tree.

 

Third is that caches can be very hard to find. They might be very, very well camo'd. They'll blend right in. Or look like something that should be there. They can also be very tiny. Like the size of an eraser on the end of a pencil. Or very tiny and well hidden. I once found a cache on a tree that looked like a berry.

 

Each cache has a difficulty rating and a size listed. Look for larger caches and caches with a lower difficulty rating. Don't give up on Geocaching. But if you can't find a cache, that's fine. There's more than 2 million geocacher. Just move on to the next one. Also attend geocache events. Talk to other cachers, maybe go with one to find a few caches.

Edited by T.D.M.22
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A common recommendation for beginners is to stick with small small.gif size, regular regular.gif size, and large large.gif size caches. Until you're more experienced, avoid micro micro.gif 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 stars2.gif. 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 2.gif caches, which will be at the published coordinates. Multi-caches 3.gif or mystery/puzzle caches 8.gif 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.

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Hi,

 

What is the best way to search for GPS co-ordinates on an iPhone? I have the app which I find good but haven't managed to do any finds other than traditional as the app doesn't seem to allow a search on coordinates that are part of solving a multi or mystery cache.

 

I've tried putting coordinates into google but always comes up blank. Does anyone know the best way to do this?

 

PS - I don't have a GPS device, just my iPhone

 

Cheers

 

Geo__Kev

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Hi,

 

What is the best way to search for GPS co-ordinates on an iPhone? I have the app which I find good but haven't managed to do any finds other than traditional as the app doesn't seem to allow a search on coordinates that are part of solving a multi or mystery cache.

 

I've tried putting coordinates into google but always comes up blank. Does anyone know the best way to do this?

 

PS - I don't have a GPS device, just my iPhone

 

Cheers

 

Geo__Kev

 

Assuming that you are using the Groundspeak app:

 

Help Center → Apps → iPhone Geocaching® app

1.5. How Do I Add a Waypoint?

http://support.Groundspeak.com/index.php?pg=kb.page&id=721

 

B.

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