Electronic Gizmo Caches

[+CachePix]

Hello

 

Thank you for reading this…. I wonder if anyone else has a facination and interest n electronics / Microprocessors

 

I have built and deployed a couple of interesting caches and was wondering if others would be interested in sharing ideas.

 

My first was where the finder had to enter a number in binary using push buttons to obtain the final cache location

 

My second is using RFID tags as TB's ...the user must find … before taking to the cache and swiping to obtain the final cache location.

 

I have other ideas involving magnets, more RFID, ice and RTC's…. Solar !

 

But was really wondering if enough people were interested and maybe could share ideas

 

BR

Andy

[+redsox_mark]

I don't have the skills to build them, but I love finding them and others do too.

There is one owner in my area who as done several. I can't tell you how they work but I've found:

 

1. A cache where you needed 2 people, one in the UK and one in Canada, to each to go a location and press a button on a "Gizmo" at the same time to get the final coordinates.

 

2. A cache where you needed to travel to 4 locations programmed on the Gizmo. All you were given is the distance to the closest one. Once you take the gizmo to all 4 locations you get information to find the cache.

 

3. A cache where the gizmo had 100 locations (stone circles) programmed. The gizmo simply gives you the location to the nearest one. Go there.

 

4. A cache where you needed to take the gizmo to a location and follow a route (in the story you were following a phantom. If you don't keep up you need to go back to start. If you stick with him, he leads you to the cache. If you lose him, you need to start over.

 

Then by a different owner:

 

5. A cache where you had to knock on the door in a secret knock pattern to open the door (to reveal the cache).

[+nosynellies]

I, too lack the skills but love the gizmos. I have several using magnets, springs, and motors in various stages of development but none seem to work consistently enough to attempt to place them.

[+spirothebudgie]

I recently just placed one, very simple just a worm gear drive to lower a bison tube when you touch a 9v battery to the terminals

http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC58ZMZ_bring-a-battery?guid=15890c64-730e-4e6e-badd-59a00cb0ffc5

I only ever found one electronic cache, it was awesome and inspired me to make my own. It did take a lot of testing though and trying different designs, the biggest problem for me has been rain, gets into the motors and destroys stuff

In the end though you just have to try it out

 

Also hid a different type about a year ago, won't give it away but it utilises an old CD drive, some batteries and a switch http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC4967K_the-loaded-log?guid=08f92ede-4451-4c23-b01a-4f5fccf6ed53

 

Also had alot of trouble trying to find good quality mechanisms, VCR players are full of great stuff though, so if I get a broken one I take it to pieces

Would like to hear about some more though, for me I get a lot of enjoyment just reading the online logs so it's worth all the trouble!

[+Danielphunt]

Wow! I want to find these caches! They sound amazing

[+CachePix]

Some good Ideas here…….

[+ngrrfan]

Some good Ideas here…….

All good ideas but I'm not going to use up my GPS batteries trying to get a defective electronic cache to work.

 

In my area, there was a cache that hinted that "batteries not included". It lasted all of a week because somebody used a small 12 volt battery on it and fried it good.

 

There is another one, in my area, that is a multi, and at one point you pick up a switch, at another you get a power device, and at the third you get the electronic device. Put it all together and you get a result. Nice fine and dandy, as the CO provided everything you needed including instructions to make it work.

[+BBWolf+3Pigs]

Two caches I put together:

 

Cache 9 From Outer Space - Cache goes to specified location and listens for alien message to get to the final.

 

Easy as Pie - Stage 1 is a hacked "EASY" button that gives you the coords to the final.

[+CachePix]

I just found this in the forums:--

 

Clicky Here

 

Really useful info !!!

[+bflentje]

My most recent gadget creation..

 

Fire and Ice (GC4TXB2)

[+CachePix]

My most recent gadget creation..

 

Fire and Ice (GC4TXB2)

 

I have come close with "Ice cold in Wallasey" GC5AQWS Just gone live !!

[+CachePix]

I found this useful blog

 

Linky

Edited August 16, 2014 by CachePix

[+The_Incredibles_]

My most recent gadget creation..

 

Fire and Ice (GC4TXB2)

 

This sounds really neat. Care to elaborate?

[+bflentje]

My most recent gadget creation..

 

Fire and Ice (GC4TXB2)

 

This sounds really neat. Care to elaborate?

 

I'll create a posting on my site with pictures. I'll PM you when I get it up. I'd rather not post too much information here publicly.

[+The_Incredibles_]

My most recent gadget creation..

 

Fire and Ice (GC4TXB2)

 

This sounds really neat. Care to elaborate?

 

I'll create a posting on my site with pictures. I'll PM you when I get it up. I'd rather not post too much information here publicly.

 

I understand. Look forward to the pics.

[+CachePix]

My most recent gadget creation..

 

Fire and Ice (GC4TXB2)

 

I also am interested…. Fire and Ice ????

[+TheAlabamaRambler]

A fellow geocacher gave me a remote control electric airplane he found in a tree in the woods. It's pretty big, with a foam fuselage that's about 30" long and plenty big enough to carve out space for a cache. I've been pondering how to build some sort of box hanger to put somewhere high with a wire that runs at an angle to the ground. The cacher would have to find and press a button to activate the motor and 'fly' the plane down the wire to access the cache. I haven't figured out how to rig it to get the plane back up to its hanger, nor how to keep the batteries charged. I am open to suggestions, surely there is some way to make an interesting cache out of this airplane.

[+niraD]

A fellow geocacher gave me a remote control electric airplane he found in a tree in the woods. It's pretty big, with a foam fuselage that's about 30" long and plenty big enough to carve out space for a cache. I've been pondering how to build some sort of box hanger to put somewhere high with a wire that runs at an angle to the ground. The cacher would have to find and press a button to activate the motor and 'fly' the plane down the wire to access the cache. I haven't figured out how to rig it to get the plane back up to its hanger, nor how to keep the batteries charged. I am open to suggestions, surely there is some way to make an interesting cache out of this airplane.

Does it have to be electrically operated? I've found caches that used a pulley system to lower the cache. That seems pretty reliable, except for the finders who "forget" to put the cache back the way it belongs.

[etarace]

except for the finders who "forget" to put the cache back the way it belongs.

That's what I always wonder about the caches which have different objects you obtain from Waypoint A, B, and use at C ... who are these amazing cachers who actually return the objects? Certainly all of us on the forums... but... the first person who neglects to replace the objects messes up a really cool cache for everyone.

Strangely, many of the Most Amazing Cache Ever videos and/or photos I have seen (and agree are super amazing) have "items" and these caches are out for a while.

For example GC1VZY8 with not a lot of maintenance needed while it was in play. It is now archived, here is a video of parts of it:

[+bflentje]

My most recent gadget creation..

 

Fire and Ice (GC4TXB2)

 

This sounds really neat. Care to elaborate?

 

I'll create a posting on my site with pictures. I'll PM you when I get it up. I'd rather not post too much information here publicly.

 

I understand. Look forward to the pics.

 

Sent PM.

[+Spire67]

Once of mine

Knock cache