QR codes: Are they allowed – Wisconsin Geocaching Association

This topic has 16 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 5 months ago by CodeJunkie.

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08/02/2011 at 1:45 pm #1732237
Lostby7
OK at one point I was told by “someone” that you could not use QR codes as stand alone waypoints….can you?

Also could you just post an image of a QR code on a cache page with no text and get it published.

I wanted to use this technology some time ago and was under the impression I could not do the above mentioned things.
08/02/2011 at 2:18 pm #1951055
Muggle B
Ive seen both. They can’t expect people to own cameras for ALR’s but smartphones must be cheaper because they accept them?
08/02/2011 at 2:20 pm #1951056
Lostby7
Have the rules changed as more folks have gained the ability to use them? Perhaps I was misinformed or misunderstood. I think the technology is really cool.
08/02/2011 at 2:28 pm #1951057
cheezehead
Sorta like WhereIgo’s. I don’t have a smart phone and neither of my GPSs do Whereigos, and one is brand new.
08/02/2011 at 3:03 pm #1951058
CodeJunkie
I think the same argument could be made for “Chirp”.

Anything in the field that requires “decoding” (yes I’m being very general here to accomdate chirp, QR, Tag format, whereigo, etc) should be “Requires Special Equipment”. I do consider the need for a smartphone or camera to be “additional equipment” because it’s beyond the ability of a standard GPSr.

The difference to me is a QR code posted on the cache page. There are many free QR decoders available online that can be used to decode these without anything “special” required.
08/02/2011 at 3:16 pm #1951059
Lostby7
Yep I get the special equipment icon would be needed to be used. I wonder if I looked into this before that icon existed…my guess is that policy on this type of cache has evolved.
08/02/2011 at 3:45 pm #1951060
uws22
GC2TCR5 here in Madison uses it. I just happened to find it this week.
08/02/2011 at 4:13 pm #1951061
BigJim
Participant
GC28W63 is the first cache that I saw using a QR code. It was published over a year ago.

All opinions, comments, and useless drivel I post are mine alone and do not reflect the opinions of the WGA BOD.
08/02/2011 at 4:33 pm #1951062
Captain and Mate
@BigJim60 wrote:

GC28W63 is the first cache that I saw using a QR code. It was published over a year ago.

It took about 5 minutes to solve-first one we’ve done like that. As codejunkie said, no special equipment needed. It was kind of cool!
08/02/2011 at 5:11 pm #1951063
CodeJunkie
I do have a somewhat evil thought for QR codes though. 2 thoughts actually. I’ll have to think about implementing these into a puzzle.
08/02/2011 at 8:15 pm #1951064
sandlanders
We couldn’t solve a QR puzzle until we found an online decoder site. Now it’s easy. We have only found WhereIGo caches when in the company of equipped caching friends. We have not found a Chirp cache.

We have completed countless ALR caches that required taking photos.

We have a dumb phone and a dumb receiver.
08/02/2011 at 9:13 pm #1951065
rcflyer2242
I have a cache with 3 QR codes. Find all 3 to help solve the puzzle.
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=01584f36-f20f-4f50-9c50-4f5ffd1bc65a
08/02/2011 at 9:19 pm #1951066
CodeJunkie
@rcflyer2242 wrote:

I have a cache with 3 QR codes. Find all 3 to help solve the puzzle.
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=01584f36-f20f-4f50-9c50-4f5ffd1bc65a

I’m confused – This looks like an origami puzzle. Or maybe there’s intermediate waypoints that I’m not aware of yet.
08/02/2011 at 9:43 pm #1951067
rcflyer2242
It is an oragami. The QR codes will lead you to how to fold it and tell you why the cache is called Charlie. Good Luck 😈
08/02/2011 at 9:47 pm #1951068
Trekkin and Birdin
I encountered one of these caches in another state that could not be decoded with the online thingie that’s worked before. You just can’t get them all, and there are plenty of other caches to find. Put them out and some folks will be happy to have something a bit unique to puzzle over and find.
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