GPS vs Android App

[+AlfT & Co]

Hi, I have about 10 finds so far and have been using the paid version of the Android App. I have noticed that the best accuracy I can get on my phone is within 3m. Sometimes this makes it difficult to find the cache. I am wondering if I should buy a cheap GPS and if it is any more accurate than the phone.

[+kunarion]

Hi, I have about 10 finds so far and have been using the paid version of the Android App. I have noticed that the best accuracy I can get on my phone is within 3m. Sometimes this makes it difficult to find the cache. I am wondering if I should buy a cheap GPS and if it is any more accurate than the phone.

That's about as good as it gets. The cache hider also didn't necessarily have perfect coords. Once you're within 3m, the GPSr has done its job. Now the hard part begins, finding the cache.

 

There are apps for "Waypoint Averaging" that can help, but they're best used for hiding a cache, not so useful for finding.

 

If you zoom in on the satellite view, the icon is on the cache's coordinates. Look for info in the cache description, and look for a hint.

Edited December 22, 2014 by kunarion

[+cerberus1]

Three meters is very good, really.

Other than military/commercial grade, few gps' will put you within inches...

No need to spring for the bucks, as a "cheap" GPSr won't be any better.

[+AlfT & Co]

Thanks for the fast replies. Really appreciate your help. I guess I need to do a few more and will improve my skills over time

[+luvvinbird]

I agree that your actual distance from the cache is often the result of an inaccuracy in the cache owner's posted coordinates. Using the hint and reading the logs will help you find the prize. I've seen a lot worse than a few meters off using either a smartphone or a GPS receiver. But, you may actually like and even prefer using a GPS receiver over your phone. Do you have a friend you could cache with who uses a GPS device? I use my phone only when I don't have my Garmin with me. I like the feel of my eTrex 30 and I have no problem, at any time, seeing the screen (which others will argue, no doubt).

[+Manville Possum]

Three meters is not bad, but I can get within seven feet with Google Earth. I average the coordinates with my Garmin then tweek as needed. Three meters is about average for my android.

[+niraD]

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.

[+cerberus1]

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.

+1

We often see logs from some saying the CO's posted coordinates are inaccurate.

Guess it's human nature, can't believe they have a role in it.

[+thebruce0]

Geosense. That's what it's all about these days.

 

The more accurate our devices get, the more we expect accurate coordinates, and the larger the margin for error in the actual searching we do. We have no guarantee, really, whether our devices or the CO's readings are more accurate, so the best strategy is to get as close to the posted coordinates as you're comfortable with, then kick into geosense mode. (you might be accurate to the posted coords to 1m, but the CO was off by 15m from the container, for eg)

 

I've also often been with friends caching, watching as people wander around the vicinity calling out their distance numbers, essentially all over the place... especially if I'm standing next to the cache

You can spend a lot of time trying to pin down gz.

 

You also can't fully rely on satellite imagery all the time; there are ways to see how accurate the tile alignments are, but in various places they can either be too low resolution or not quite in line with the gps reading.

 

Ultimately, geosense is always your safest bet, once it's honed to an acceptable degree.

Edited December 23, 2014 by thebruce0

[+K13]

Geosense,... Is that for iPhone or Android?