[ThatGuy]

@Team Hemisphere Dancer wrote:

I kind of look at it as reading the last chapter of a mystery first.

By the same token, as PCFrog states, it is a personal choice. You don’t like skipping to the end, I don’t like skipping to the end, some people do. The photos are reasonably concealed from accidental finding, you must take the effort to do it yourself. If a particular cacher wants the thrill of discovery spoiled, then they can go ahead and read the hints and look at the pictures first.

[ThatGuy]

@Team Deejay wrote:

I don’t know if you frequent other online message boards normally, but you will find the GC.com boards to on the “snippy” side. Be sure to have a thick skin when you post.

My experience with these kinds of boards is that the best way to handle a suggestion like this would be to come up with a consise post with a few examples and reasons, post it, and let others get into the heated discussion about the ups and downs of it.

[ThatGuy]

I always try to take at least one picture of every cache, showing its location and the container. I also try to take a few other pics if I remember, showing something nearby or anything interesting found on the hunt.

I’m of two minds about posting a true spoiler picture to the log. One is that a given cacher really shouldn’t be looking at the pictures unless they’ve at least put in a good faith effort to find that particular cache. The other is that true spoiler photos are not a good idea.

A true spoiler would be one that gives the details of where the cache was hidden, and any other details that aren’t apparent from the description/hint. The container may or may not be a spoiler, depending. I mean, if you know you’re looking for an ammo box, then what’s the big deal about showing an ammo box? If you know the location may be in the woods, then showing some spot in the woods isn’t a big deal. The difference comes with a truly unique container, and showing it in its unique position for the hide. If it’s a generic light pole cache, then it doesn’t matter. Of course, the more unique the container and hide, the more you want to share pictures.

I think most of the photos I’ve posted so far might be considered hints, but not true spoilers.

Perhaps a spoiler flag could be added to photos? It might be a pain though. My opinion is that photos are fine, and cachers shouldn’t be looking at them until they’ve logged either a find or a DNF for that particular cache.

[ThatGuy]

I’ve got a pair of cheap FRS (free after rebate) units and a slightly better Motorla one that supports VOX and all that.

We’ve used the cheap ones a few times – they come in handy, and it’s easier to use them than our mobile phones in some circumstances. We also tend to use our mobiles for pictures, so it’s nice to be able to be on two different sides of a tangle or creek and be able to share pictures and chat if necessary.

We tend to take them but leave them off unless we’re separated for some reason.

[ThatGuy]

I was doing Covert Cache (GC3798) earlier today, and my coworker asked the bartender for the cache (“cash”).

… The bartender thought he was being robbed for a second.

I think using “geocache” is safer when having to ask….

[ThatGuy]

@Team Deejay wrote:

no one selling on Ebay is authorized.

Actually, fantasysailing states in their auctions that they are authorized. (i.e. item 170016344644)

[ThatGuy]

@Cache_boppin_BunnyFuFu wrote:

Pick another state to attempt the Delmore challenge in. I think there are 3 now

A keyword search for “DeLorme Challenge” brings back 20 states.

Illinois (GCREG1) or Minnesota (GCTVMK) seem closest.

I’m going to try for the KS one after I move (GCQ0XH) and then perhaps the MO one too (GCQA2X)

[ThatGuy]

@Team Honeybunnies wrote:

Here’s one for our geocaching tech support guys. I’m filtering out a bunch of caches for our big fall trip in GSAK, and I want to take the results and run it back through as a PQ to get updated information, as we’ll be going a month and a half from now. Do I have to go through and manually make a bookmark list? Or is there a better way? I’m talking about a list of roughly 750. I originally used the caches on a route function, but I removed all the queries after loading them into GSAK because it was kludging up my PQ queue. I know, bad idea… Help?

I believe PQs have a 500 limit, so that alone would say no. I’m interested in an easier way of creating bookmark lists, though. That would be an interesting way to go about it.

Is the route too difficult to recreate? Do you still have the kml for it?

[ThatGuy]

@jthorson wrote:

You’ve done better than the on line documentation.
You’ve covered all the basics and did a good job of identifing where other approaches could be used.

Thanks, I tried to go with my experience and some questions I’ve seen floating around.

@jthorson wrote:

One specific comment:
I find ActiveSync directly to a directory on the PDA the more efficient means of transfer from the PC GPX or GSAK files (as opposed to dragging and droping or memory cards).

It probably depends on your PDA usage. I don’t have mine docked very often, but my monitor at home has a card reader built in. I’ve got a portable 12-in-1 reader to use at work. I also have been trying out various software, so I keep a bunch of files on the SD card to test with.

@EnergySaver wrote:

I wish you did this sooner

Well, I had intended to but didn’t get to it until today really. I wanted to make sure I had screenshots and all that instead of just text.

@EnergySaver wrote:

Oh well, at least I know where to send people in the future.

Thanks

[ThatGuy]

Had there been a notice a reasonable time in advance, I would have been available for this.

[ThatGuy]

According to the site:
http://www.lowrance.com/Accessories/search.asp?SearchType=Unit&Unit=iFINDER+H2O

There are plenty of accessories available. Unforunately, I haven’t seen the specs of the cables.

Ah, wait the manual is available from the product page:
http://www.lowrance.com/Outdoor/Products/iFINDERH2O.asp

It states:

The PC-DI7 is a NMEA/serial communications cable. It has a standard
female DB-9 connector on one end to attach your unit to a computer’s
serial communications port.

And:

Other iFINDER accessories include MMC cards, MMC card readers and
MapCreateâ„¢ 6 custom mapping software for your computer.

And:

Throughout this manual, we will use the term MMC, but just remember
that your unit can use an MMC or SD card to store data.

If this is the case, then any MMC or SD card and reader will work fine.

Note that the manual does specify capacity:

As this manual went to press, MMCs were available in storage capacities of 8 MB, 16 MB, 32 MB, 64 MB and 128 MB. SD cards were available in capacities of 8 MB, 16 MB, 32 MB, 64 MB, 128 MB, 256 MB and up. We have successfully tested SD cards up to 512 MB.

Personally, I just cruise http://www.techbargains.com until a sale comes up on media cards and readers. I have a 12-in-1 type of reader that had worked well so far.

[ThatGuy]

I saw (but did not take) a $50 in one of the caches I did today.

[ThatGuy]

@otdoorsman wrote:

thanks that helps a little that’s the same thing i read in the manual too.it is just not working lol i don’t know if it is me or the unit lol. but i will keep plugging along another question i noticed alot of people use laptops do you really need a laptop for geocaching or can you get along without one.

I use my Dell Axim X50v and an Earthmate BLueLogger GPSr. This combination works great for me. I can’t imagine lugging around my 17″ laptop through the woods for several miles.

[ThatGuy]

@Buy_The_Tie wrote:

The best way to handle a “full logbook” would be to first include that information in your “found it” log. The owner would then have a chance to go out and replace the logbook.

Ok, just making sure I didn’t need to make a separate ‘needs maintenance’ log.

@Buy_The_Tie wrote:

In the case of this cache, I will probably have a chance this Sunday to go out and put in a new log book.

Thanks for the heads up.

Glad to know. Thanks.

@Jeremy wrote:

Sounds like you did the right thing. You could have also made a “Needs Maintenance” log in addition to logging it as a find, which would be a stronger alert to the owner that they need to check on their cache. But I’m sure Brian will get this one fixed up ASAP. 🙂

That’s the part I wasn’t sure of… If the putting it in the Found log was okay, or if ‘Needs Maintenance’ was necessary.

@Jeremy wrote:

Some people carry a “geocache first aid kit” with them so they can make repairs to caches they find that are in need of it. You may want to carry a couple notebooks, ziploc bags, pens/pencils (especially pencils in the winter), paper towels for drying a cache, the handyman’s secret weapon (duct tape)… and maybe even spare containers like a 35mm film canister and small tupperware containers.

I just picked up 3 notebooks for $1 from the Dollar Tree just in case this happens again. I do have extra ziplocs and cut-down pencils in my gear as well.

[ThatGuy]

I tried GPX sonar, but it doesn’t do a thing for me. Maybe there’s something I’m missing?

If I open it up on my PPC, it sits there for 5-10 minutes, then might show a file select dialog. That’s all I’ve been able to get it to do. I’ve been using CM instead due to this.

[Author]

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