GPS and altimeters

Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 10:13 am

Do all GPS's and phones with geocaching apps have altimeters on them? I want to set up an Earthcache, but to log it you would need to send me the elevation. Thank you! Very Happy

Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 10:24 am

Mine (neither GPS nor phone) doesn't but I use the elevation from maps every time I do one like this.

Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 10:32 am

Hmmm, I wonder what I could do instead then for the "perform an action"
portion of my cache.... Rolling Eyes

I just figured most if not all would have that feature.

Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 12:04 pm

most garmins have the elevation on them, some units its harder to find, might get the phone users to get a GPS unit.

WGA Member Joined: 2007-02-03 Posts: 2182

We have done at least a half dozen EC's that required you to calculatethe height of the feature using elevation readings. We have the lowest model garmins and have no problems with this. It will get published for you.

Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 3:30 pm

Ditto what Mr. Greenthumb stated....though we've only done 3 or 4. Always had it in the Garmin's we've used (etrex Vista and Oregon), which can determine the difference between being on the ground and being held over your head. And if you have a smart phone, 'there's an app for that'......which is likely based on elevation data that accompanies Google map data, or other map you are using.

That said, we did find out the hard way that out eTrex can spit our erroneous readings, as it did at a Crater Lake EC, and the very attentive and prideful CO called us on it while on the verge of deleting our log. We had to do a bit of 'splainin' to get our log to stick..........so, to this day, we always double-check with the CJ route, and consult a reliable topomap before submitting our final answer. Smile

Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 5:17 pm

I have the eTrex Legend with a free topomap. It does give me elevation readings, but not based on a true altimeter. The elevation reading is based on the map data at the location I'm currently at. Not perfectly exact but it does work OK for most of these EC's.

Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 7:29 pm

My Dakota 20 does elevation.

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 4:46 am

Thanks everyone, seems like it will be okay to do it with an elevation reading. I did find a nearby sign that explained that areas elevation so I could use that as a backup for those that don't have the capability. I appreciate everyone's suggestions and answers! Very Happy

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 7:36 am

The Magellan Explorist's give elevation as well, not sure if this is from an altimeter or from GPS data. I know my Garmin Nuvi also does elevation and it is pretty close as we checked it stopping at some elevation signs as we were driving out west.