New Toy Garmin Chirp

Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2010 9:51 pm

Here is one for the garmin owners a new toy

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=74811&pvID=75243&ref=nf&ra=true#specsTab

Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2010 11:28 pm

Hey, now that is pretty cool!

Here's a little better explaination...

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 6:37 am

I get a good discount on Garmin products...(and CR2032 batteries) I think I might buy one or two of these and see what they are all about. I look at these as if they are simplified Wherigo beacons.

I have a few ideas to make some interesting caches but I have to wonder about the fact that 90% of the Geocaching public will not be able to use the technology...maybe these need to be a special cache type like a Wherigo as otherwise folks will attempt to do caches with the devise and will be disappointed when their old-school GPS will not work with the technology.

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 7:58 am

It looks like the Chirp may not be allowed to be used in geocaches (at least not as source of stand alone information retrieval)...or that the use of it is still be looked into. Below is a reviewer commentary from a forums poster.

Quote:

I’m afraid the new Chirp device is something very exclusive to Garmin, which brings it into conflict with our commercial guidelines. To be publishable, the cache needs to be findable with any type of GPS device, and the Chirp method must be optional. Please come up with an alternative option to do this cache which does not require a Chirp compatible device. After you have done this, please enable your cache and I will look at it again.
Thank you for your understanding,
Geocaching.com Volunteer Reviewer

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 8:32 am

That is really cool. I may have to get one soon to try it out.

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 10:19 am

We can just see the log now:"Took Chirp/left McDonald's happy meal toy. TFTC!"

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 12:57 pm

Captain and Mate wrote:

We can just see the log now:"Took Chirp/left McDonald's happy meal toy. TFTC!"

Hahaaa nice.

"took black thingy with Garmin printed on it"

"took black Garmin pedometer, thanks!"

"sorry, dropped cache in water, all is lost, Garmin thingy making strange buzz sound...oh, nevermind, it stopped now as it has opened up into two pieces."

Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 4:40 pm

I started a thread over in the GC feedback forums...

http://feedback.geocaching.com/forums/75775-geocaching-com/suggestions/1142495-new-cache-type-for-garmin-chirp?ref=title

Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2010 11:46 am

News about this from Jeremy in the Feedback forums:

Quote:

I'm going to go back on my original comment about making this a type. Instead, we'll be creating a new attribute called "wireless beacon" that will be used to support the Chirp or any other wireless beacon device. You can use this attribute for a Traditional Cache if it can also be found with a GPS device that does not support a wireless beacon, or as an "Unknown" (puzzle) type if you need a supporting receiver to find it. If this ever takes off as a new "type" we can reconsider it as a new cache type.

There will shortly be one or more "Chirp" caches in/near Oconomowoc. You will be able to find these with Garmin Dakotas, Oregons, and the new map62series.

Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2010 2:57 pm

A new attribute has been born...

We have added a "wireless beacon" attribute for the Garmin Chirp. If it can be found by traditional means you can use the Traditional or Multi-cache type. Otherwise use the Unknown (Mystery) cache type for your listing.

Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2010 6:03 pm

ok being a little bit of a devils advocate here...the quote said

Quote:

To be publishable, the cache needs to be findable with any type of GPS device, and the Chirp method must be optional.

wouldnt Wherigo fall under that?

Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2010 6:08 pm

team kamper wrote:

ok being a little bit of a devils advocate here...the quote said

Quote:

To be publishable, the cache needs to be findable with any type of GPS device, and the Chirp method must be optional.

wouldnt Wherigo fall under that?

That information is no longer accurate. See my last post.

I hope to have my chirp cache published this weekend.

Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2010 7:23 pm

We will be going thru your area Halloween weekend, and will have to try it.

Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 5:36 am

very cool idea.

Too soon for me to get an upgraded gps, but I hope the idea catchs on anyway as I can envision some really cool ways to use this.

zuma

Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 2:00 pm

Submitted one an hour ago....and it is too close to a multi...looks like this one may not be ready to go this weekend after all.