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[+MonkeyWrenchSamurai]

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Edited January 31, 2021 by MonkeyWrenchSamurai

[+Gitchee-Gummee]

OK, you bought a phone that had an app. Did you read anything at all about geocaching? It might help.

[Pup Patrol]

I bought a phone a few days ago with geocaching apps on it.. I went looking for three today and couldnt find any of them. Either theyre missing or I suck at this.

 

You registered a year ago, and are only just now trying it? Oh, wait, no you've previously found caches.

 

Is the main problem now with the phone apps?

 

Which phone? Which app?

 

 

B.

[+cerberus1]

I bought a phone a few days ago with geocaching apps on it.. I went looking for three today and couldnt find any of them. Either theyre missing or I suck at this.

How did you find the fifteen prior to using a phone with apps?

[+niraD]

Here's some advice for beginners that I've posted before. It's worth noting the point about the accuracy of GPS devices. My phone app sometimes claims that I'm a foot or two from the cache too. That doesn't mean that I am.

 

A common recommendation for beginners is to stick with small size, regular size, and large size caches. Until you're more experienced, avoid micro 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 . 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 caches, which will be at the published coordinates. Multi-caches or mystery/puzzle caches 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.

[+Bear and Ragged]

i was alledgedly one metre away from it and still couldnt find it.

 

Depending on the phones accuracy and the apps accuracy, you could still be around 20 feet from the cache. (Maybe even 30 feet!)

[+Ed_S]

I have c:geo in my (Android) phone, and I've had it and my Garmin Venture HC side by side. By and large, the Garmin is more accurate, but not always. It depends on which device is having a better day, satellite-viewing-wise. And, some geo-programs require calibrating the GPS in the phone. I've found if I rotate my phone through all three axes (axisses?) that allows it to better figure out where it is.

[+Gitchee-Gummee]

Something to think about.... the phone (GPS) takes you to the COORDINATES, but you need to look for the CACHE which may or may not be exactly at those coordinates (varying reasons as to why not).

 

So your statement of being only a metre away doesn't hold too much water.

Edited July 10, 2014 by Gitchee-Gummee

[bellafoxy]

My daughter and i have just joined. We went to 2locations and can't find them. We picked easy ones and were within the area close. The phone said you are close. I realize it could be out of whack by some metres but we looked all around. I know the cache is there because previous ppl have logged recently saying they found them. We are getting frustrated. Is it possible to find someone in our area to go out with us on our first hunt?

[+Touchstone]

My daughter and i have just joined. We went to 2locations and can't find them. We picked easy ones and were within the area close. The phone said you are close. I realize it could be out of whack by some metres but we looked all around. I know the cache is there because previous ppl have logged recently saying they found them. We are getting frustrated. Is it possible to find someone in our area to go out with us on our first hunt?

 

Attending an Event is the easiest way to link up with people and go out caching for an hour or more. Link for reference:

 

Geocaching Event Calender

[+The_Incredibles_]

My daughter and i have just joined. We went to 2locations and can't find them. We picked easy ones and were within the area close. The phone said you are close. I realize it could be out of whack by some metres but we looked all around. I know the cache is there because previous ppl have logged recently saying they found them. We are getting frustrated. Is it possible to find someone in our area to go out with us on our first hunt?

 

You can check and see if there's a Facebook group in your area. If not, you can also just email previous finders. Cachers are a friendly bunch.

[+Chief301]

My daughter and i have just joined. We went to 2locations and can't find them. We picked easy ones and were within the area close. The phone said you are close. I realize it could be out of whack by some metres but we looked all around. I know the cache is there because previous ppl have logged recently saying they found them. We are getting frustrated. Is it possible to find someone in our area to go out with us on our first hunt?

 

You need to remember that sometimes you have to do more than just look for the cache. They won't always be out in the open to be seen. Sometimes they are very well camouflaged. You may have to feel around inside, under, behind, and on top of things that are there. Try things that don't look like they should move and see if they move (fence post caps, etc). Look closely at everything there and see if something looks like it doesn't belong there.

 

Stick with it, it will come to you !

Edited July 12, 2014 by Chief301

[+niraD]

Here are some additional beginner tips that I've posted before:

 

A common recommendation for beginners is to stick with small size, regular size, and large size caches. Until you're more experienced, avoid micro 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 . 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 caches, which will be at the published coordinates. Multi-caches or mystery/puzzle caches 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.

[+Trotter17]

Sometimes you just have to try looking for a cache a different day with a different mindset. I went looking for a cache yesterday with no luck. I was really looking for something hanging in a tree or tucked into the base of a tree. Nothing. My wife and I were close to the area (in a park) this evening and decided to try again. This time I tried getting on the ground, walking in different areas, and picking up stuff. Boom. Found the nanocache hidden in what the day before I assumed was a piece of litter.

[+Sealand Rovers]

Have to agree with a majority of other responses on here.

 

You don't suck, you're just new. I also have logged DNF's on caches I was sure would be a cakewalk. I have also founds caches in seconds when I was expecting to be there for hours.

 

It just takes time and patience.

[+Sycamore5]

My daughter and i have just joined. We went to 2locations and can't find them. We picked easy ones and were within the area close. The phone said you are close. I realize it could be out of whack by some metres but we looked all around. I know the cache is there because previous ppl have logged recently saying they found them. We are getting frustrated. Is it possible to find someone in our area to go out with us on our first hunt?

 

Agree, some of the "hints" are just awful. Some of these Caches must have been moved or removed.

[+K13]

2 finds, one DNF and one tag from some other game recorded as a find, and you have the gall to deride hints or determine that caches have been moved? Experience finding some caches before you expound on the problems of Geocaching. Maybe this isn't the game for you.

[+T.D.M.22]

My daughter and i have just joined. We went to 2locations and can't find them. We picked easy ones and were within the area close. The phone said you are close. I realize it could be out of whack by some metres but we looked all around. I know the cache is there because previous ppl have logged recently saying they found them. We are getting frustrated. Is it possible to find someone in our area to go out with us on our first hunt?

 

Agree, some of the "hints" are just awful. Some of these Caches must have been moved or removed.

 

I agree with K13. Because you can't find it doesn't mean it's not there. I can't go mountain climbing, so it must be impossible for everyone right?

 

A cache can be as small as the eraser on a pencil, and camo'd so good that even experienced cachers can have it in their hands and not realize it's the cache.

 

Or maybe your GPS is off? There's many reasons why you can't find it that don't include the cache not being there.

[+wmpastor]

Seriously? writing down the clues and looking around. But now I've got this phone and its actually HARDER.

Your experience is interesting and it may help me. I've got a phone too and it sounds like I'll have an easier time without it.

 

Actually at the very beginning I tried using only satellite photos and that was so-so. It worked for one parking lot lamppost cache, worked poorly elsewhere, & was worthless in the woods.