Geocaching?
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Lost some where in the middle of the Ozark Mountains!
Alright, I dont know anything about GPS other than it tells you where you are on the globe.
I would like a cheap but good nav system for trips, but I would like to beable to take it from one vehicle to the other... or take it out.
Is there anything like that? Tom Tom or something?
Second is there a monthly fee for a service or do you just need the equipment?
I would like a cheap but good nav system for trips, but I would like to beable to take it from one vehicle to the other... or take it out.
Is there anything like that? Tom Tom or something?
Second is there a monthly fee for a service or do you just need the equipment?
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From: The Bluegrass State
It's TOTALLY addictive. Any time I go on a work trip, I always check into the area to determine if there caches nearby that I can hit.
There's not much to it honestly... it's a glorified scavenger hunt for very few 'pots of gold'. Most caches contain 'trinkets' of some sort that you can trade for... many of us just sign the log book and move on though (I have enough booklets of matches, rubber *****, golf *****, and GI JOE figures).
PSS -- there's no fee for a GPS receiver. It's a buy and use thing. Most Geocachers utilize a handheld GPS receiver as there are very few caches located immediately on a street thus, you'll have to drive to a close area and then hoof it in to find the cache.
A Tom Tom isn't a 'mobile' unit per sey. It's more of a 'use it in the vehicle' type. I'd recommend using a unit like a Garmin eTrex . This is the exact unit that I utilize and I'm able to download 'waypoints' (which are the points for the exact lat and long for the cache -- just a bit of jargon) directly to the handheld unit and let the unit guide me in to the cache.
More so than anything, geocaching is about getting out and enjoying the outdoors. It's not a search for 'treasure' but more of a great way to discover places that you may have never known about. I maintain 3 caches in a Nature Preserve here in Oldham County, Kentucky that I discovered because someone else had placed a cache in the area. After spending a little bit of time in the area, I discovered that it was a place that I loved spending time. In an effort to share my love for this area, I've placed caches out there to, hopefully, draw more people in to this preserve so that they may enjoy it as well.
Similarly, when I'm on the road, I've found places that only the 'locals' would ever know about... small parks, preserves, road side attractions, etc. It's really a cool thing in my opinion... Give it a whirl if you get a chance.
RP
There's not much to it honestly... it's a glorified scavenger hunt for very few 'pots of gold'. Most caches contain 'trinkets' of some sort that you can trade for... many of us just sign the log book and move on though (I have enough booklets of matches, rubber *****, golf *****, and GI JOE figures).
PSS -- there's no fee for a GPS receiver. It's a buy and use thing. Most Geocachers utilize a handheld GPS receiver as there are very few caches located immediately on a street thus, you'll have to drive to a close area and then hoof it in to find the cache.
A Tom Tom isn't a 'mobile' unit per sey. It's more of a 'use it in the vehicle' type. I'd recommend using a unit like a Garmin eTrex . This is the exact unit that I utilize and I'm able to download 'waypoints' (which are the points for the exact lat and long for the cache -- just a bit of jargon) directly to the handheld unit and let the unit guide me in to the cache.
More so than anything, geocaching is about getting out and enjoying the outdoors. It's not a search for 'treasure' but more of a great way to discover places that you may have never known about. I maintain 3 caches in a Nature Preserve here in Oldham County, Kentucky that I discovered because someone else had placed a cache in the area. After spending a little bit of time in the area, I discovered that it was a place that I loved spending time. In an effort to share my love for this area, I've placed caches out there to, hopefully, draw more people in to this preserve so that they may enjoy it as well.
Similarly, when I'm on the road, I've found places that only the 'locals' would ever know about... small parks, preserves, road side attractions, etc. It's really a cool thing in my opinion... Give it a whirl if you get a chance.
RP
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Joined: Jun 2005
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From: 34.509°N & 114.326°W
Originally Posted by RockPick
It's TOTALLY addictive. Any time I go on a work trip, I always check into the area to determine if there caches nearby that I can hit.
There's not much to it honestly... it's a glorified scavenger hunt for very few 'pots of gold'. Most caches contain 'trinkets' of some sort that you can trade for... many of us just sign the log book and move on though (I have enough booklets of matches, rubber *****, golf *****, and GI JOE figures).
PSS -- there's no fee for a GPS receiver. It's a buy and use thing. Most Geocachers utilize a handheld GPS receiver as there are very few caches located immediately on a street thus, you'll have to drive to a close area and then hoof it in to find the cache.
A Tom Tom isn't a 'mobile' unit per sey. It's more of a 'use it in the vehicle' type. I'd recommend using a unit like a Garmin eTrex . This is the exact unit that I utilize and I'm able to download 'waypoints' (which are the points for the exact lat and long for the cache -- just a bit of jargon) directly to the handheld unit and let the unit guide me in to the cache.
More so than anything, geocaching is about getting out and enjoying the outdoors. It's not a search for 'treasure' but more of a great way to discover places that you may have never known about. I maintain 3 caches in a Nature Preserve here in Oldham County, Kentucky that I discovered because someone else had placed a cache in the area. After spending a little bit of time in the area, I discovered that it was a place that I loved spending time. In an effort to share my love for this area, I've placed caches out there to, hopefully, draw more people in to this preserve so that they may enjoy it as well.
Similarly, when I'm on the road, I've found places that only the 'locals' would ever know about... small parks, preserves, road side attractions, etc. It's really a cool thing in my opinion... Give it a whirl if you get a chance.
RP
There's not much to it honestly... it's a glorified scavenger hunt for very few 'pots of gold'. Most caches contain 'trinkets' of some sort that you can trade for... many of us just sign the log book and move on though (I have enough booklets of matches, rubber *****, golf *****, and GI JOE figures).
PSS -- there's no fee for a GPS receiver. It's a buy and use thing. Most Geocachers utilize a handheld GPS receiver as there are very few caches located immediately on a street thus, you'll have to drive to a close area and then hoof it in to find the cache.
A Tom Tom isn't a 'mobile' unit per sey. It's more of a 'use it in the vehicle' type. I'd recommend using a unit like a Garmin eTrex . This is the exact unit that I utilize and I'm able to download 'waypoints' (which are the points for the exact lat and long for the cache -- just a bit of jargon) directly to the handheld unit and let the unit guide me in to the cache.
More so than anything, geocaching is about getting out and enjoying the outdoors. It's not a search for 'treasure' but more of a great way to discover places that you may have never known about. I maintain 3 caches in a Nature Preserve here in Oldham County, Kentucky that I discovered because someone else had placed a cache in the area. After spending a little bit of time in the area, I discovered that it was a place that I loved spending time. In an effort to share my love for this area, I've placed caches out there to, hopefully, draw more people in to this preserve so that they may enjoy it as well.
Similarly, when I'm on the road, I've found places that only the 'locals' would ever know about... small parks, preserves, road side attractions, etc. It's really a cool thing in my opinion... Give it a whirl if you get a chance.
RP
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Joined: Jun 2005
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From: 34.509°N & 114.326°W
Originally Posted by RockPick
Never heard of it... have a linky?
I use so few utils... In fact, I think the only one I'm using is EasyGPS to download waypoints.
I use so few utils... In fact, I think the only one I'm using is EasyGPS to download waypoints.
Geocaching Swiss Army Knife (GSAK)
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Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Terry, Mississippi
Another good unit to get is the Garmin GPS V. We have these in our office to locate our soil borings throughout the state. My father in law has one, and I've been geocaching with him a few times. I really enjoy it, but am too cheap to buy one myself! 
http://www.garmin.com/products/gps5/
http://www.garmin.com/products/gps5/
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 891
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From: Lost some where in the middle of the Ozark Mountains!
That Gamin V looks like the ticket. Would have been perfect like the weekend before last, when I drove my brothers truck 1100 miles from MO to NC. My dad was behind me in a uhaul and my mom behind him in a rental car. Then when we got there Dad and I jumped in with my mom in the rental car and I drove us back. Something that I could just plug into the ciggerette lighter and stuck to the windshild with suction cups would have been perfect.
As it was I had step by step instructions printed off from mapquest. I was trying to drive and read the instructions. We got there "luckily" and only missed one exit. But when I did miss it then I had to pull over and look at the atlas to try and find the right series of exits to take to get our convoy back on track. When I missed my exit it could have been a really bad mistake because it landed us all in a really bad part of town. It would have eben so nice if I'd had something to say "Hey dummy, you missed your exit!" Then given me direction on what series of exits to take to get back on track.
About this Garmin cities CD...
Does it have maps of all towns and cities on it, or just the major ones?
How many city maps can you have on it at once?
I'll keep looking and maybe the site will tell me. But if anyone knows I'd like to hear first hand experince too.
As it was I had step by step instructions printed off from mapquest. I was trying to drive and read the instructions. We got there "luckily" and only missed one exit. But when I did miss it then I had to pull over and look at the atlas to try and find the right series of exits to take to get our convoy back on track. When I missed my exit it could have been a really bad mistake because it landed us all in a really bad part of town. It would have eben so nice if I'd had something to say "Hey dummy, you missed your exit!" Then given me direction on what series of exits to take to get back on track.
About this Garmin cities CD...
Does it have maps of all towns and cities on it, or just the major ones?
How many city maps can you have on it at once?
I'll keep looking and maybe the site will tell me. But if anyone knows I'd like to hear first hand experince too.
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From: The Bluegrass State
Originally Posted by msugeotech
Another good unit to get is the Garmin GPS V. We have these in our office to locate our soil borings throughout the state. My father in law has one, and I've been geocaching with him a few times. I really enjoy it, but am too cheap to buy one myself!
http://www.garmin.com/products/gps5/
http://www.garmin.com/products/gps5/
)... or maybe a manhole or stand pipe in the vicinity of your lat/longs. 15' of accuracy is about as good as it gets unless you start stepping up to a nice Trimble GeoXH or similar. I've mapped numerous sites with the Trimble units and they are nearly precise...