Caching Equipment

Lardy · 05-01-2013 2:37pm #1

What equipment do you use for caching? I'm currently using a combination of my Garmin e-Trex H and my Galaxy Note 2. I download all the caches that I want to find onto the Galaxy for offline use as I don't have the data cable for the Garmin. The Galaxy is also handy for finding nearby caches if I'm out and about and don't have any caches downloaded for that area.
I am thinking about changing my GPS for something like the Garmin e-Trex 10. Nice and cheap but packed full of great features.

So, what do you use?

Squeaky the Squirrel · 05-01-2013 4:37pm

Can you not do it all on your phone?

Feck Garmin and all their overpriced crap, big thanks to google maps for putting them in their place.

Lardy · 05-01-2013 4:52pm

Squeaky the Squirrel wrote: »

Can you not do it all on your phone?

Feck Garmin and all their overpriced crap, big thanks to google maps for putting them in their place.

You can, but there is no replacement for a dedicated gps to be honest. Not to mention the battery drain on the phone by using the phones gps.
Also, the garmin handheld gps devices are second to non and very cheap! No need for any maps either. You don't navigate by maps when geocaching.

Vaperus · 05-01-2013 5:00pm

I use my Iphone
Garmin Nuvi in the Bus
Garmin GPSMap 62SC Main Device

I started off using the Iphone and it was fine.
The Gps units are a bit more accurate and some like the one I use is geared up for Geocaching holds all the cache details etc.

Squeaky the Squirrel · 05-01-2013 7:23pm

Lardy wrote: »

You can, but there is no replacement for a dedicated gps to be honest. Not to mention the battery drain on the phone by using the phones gps.
Also, the garmin handheld gps devices are second to non and very cheap! No need for any maps either. You don't navigate by maps when geocaching.

so how does it work? Is it a dot you hone in on?

I really need to read up on it but the size of the wiki page is putting me off.:o

Vaperus · 05-01-2013 7:31pm

The Gps or App just gets you close, how close depends on the equipment.
Basically you will see your current location and the location the Cache was logged at.
You could be within a few feet or a few metres of it.

Then its just a case of looking, some caches will give a hint.

Start off with the easy ones until you get the hang of it, you soon get used to the type hiding places and types of cache

Some can be quite large about the size of a sandwich box or a bit bigger some are a lot smaller, Nano cache oftren magnetic around 5-6mm in diameter 10mm long, these only contain a log book.

Some are right sneaky
branch of a tree
A Rock
A Snail
Pine cone
Grass

these are some of the types ive found and can take a bit of finding

The one advantage of the phone app is it is live, so wherever you go you can do a live search for Caches. With a GPS you have to download the caches to it. So if you downloaded caches for Dublin for example and ended up in Belfast chances are you wont have all if any of the caches on your GPS device

GhostInTheRuins · 05-01-2013 10:09pm

I was using an etrex10 for a while, grand bit of kit. Someone was very nice any upgraded me to an etrex20. It's more or less identical to the 10 except with maps.

Using your phone on it's own is grand for a while, only problem is the gps function absolutely kills your battery, and of course it isn't as accurate. It should do okay for finding the odd few caches, but if you plan on putting any caches out then a phone will be useless because you won't get a good enough accuracy for decent co-ordinates. The phone app is good for logging on the go though.

Anyone looking for an etrex 10 give me a pm

Vaperus · 05-01-2013 10:34pm

Yes A dedicated GPS is more accurate but you have to keep it up to date.
For example if a new Cache gets published or one gets archived, the GPS may not show them
Thats why I use both.
Worst case is you can enter the cords shown on the app into the GPS at the time for more accuracy

PhotogTom · 06-01-2013 1:19pm

Just starting and have found a grand total of two caches. So, basically, I don't have a clue what I'm talking about! But, using an iPhone 5 so far and I don't really see what a dedicated GPS will do extra? I have had some past experience (marine) with GPS handhelds so I know a bit about them. But, what is the advantage beyond increased accuracy?

Vaperus · 06-01-2013 1:36pm

accuracy and battery life are the main advantages for me.
If you are placing your own caches you really need a GPS as the phone app isnt accurate enough
GPS are usually also more rugged and can be water proof
Dropping the iphone on the rocks or in water isnt good

Tabnabs · 06-01-2013 3:14pm

A reliable old Garmin eTrex and the iPhone for me. Being out routing around is as much part of the fun for me.

DaveNoCheese · 06-01-2013 3:40pm

How much would a handheld GPS set you back??

Vaperus · 06-01-2013 3:52pm

Depends on what you go for but a few examples are

GPSMap 62SC around 250
garmin etrex 20 around 190
etrex 10 around 110

A couple of good links
http://www.geocaching.com/about/buying.aspx
http://www.geocaching.com/reviews/gps

DaveNoCheese · 06-01-2013 4:06pm

Cheers mate, bit out of my price range at the moment, might just use the GPS on the phone and stick to finding some easy caches to start with.

Build on it from there

Vaperus · 06-01-2013 4:09pm

yes thats the best way to be honest
You can get on fine with the Phone App

Lardy · 06-01-2013 7:18pm

DaveNoCheese wrote: »

Cheers mate, bit out of my price range at the moment.

*cough* check me out on Adverts *cough*

frankie2shoes · 08-01-2013 8:35am

I've been using a samsung galaxy s2 and found it very effective. in the car I can just navigate to the cache site using the phone sat nav and then zone in on the cache. Really don't see the point in buying a garmin for just geo-caching.

Vaperus · 08-01-2013 6:30pm

Yeah the phone app can do just fine

But you can't use the phone to place caches its not accurate enough

Dedicated gps is more accurate has better battery life but is not real time

Phone app is real time but not as accurate and if you do a lot of caching it kills the battery

frankie2shoes wrote: »

I've been using a samsung galaxy s2 and found it very effective. in the car I can just navigate to the cache site using the phone sat nav and then zone in on the cache. Really don't see the point in buying a garmin for just geo-caching.

sarumite · 04-02-2013 4:47pm

I have a Samsung S2 and a Garmin Dakota 10. For the first year I relied solely on the Dakota 10 and it went fine.

Jackobyte · 04-02-2013 9:56pm

Started using a car sat nav which was very inaccurate. Tend to just use my phone at this stage, either c:geo or the official app. Has always brought me to within about 5-10ft of cache. Battery drain is an issue though.

brimal · 06-02-2013 8:19am

I just use my iPhone, with Google maps app.

It seems to work fine, I have found 3 caches in Jerusalem so far, going to Tel Aviv tonight and might have a quick look for some while I'm there.

One piece of equipment I now bring is plastic gloves, I tend to get very messy from mud, soil, or having to stick my hand in strange places while looking for the caches!

Sh1tbag OToole · 10-02-2013 1:47pm

Garmin foretrex 401. I use a free proggy called gpsbabel to convert them to .gpx and copy them over using the cable. Before I used a yellow eTrex which I still use the odd time.

MunsterGeo · 12-02-2013 1:05pm

Sh1tbag OToole wrote: »

Garmin foretrex 401. I use a free proggy called gpsbabel to convert them to .gpx and copy them over using the cable. Before I used a yellow eTrex which I still use the odd time.

Hello

Newbe to geocaching and delighted to find the forum here in Ireland that has a section for the hobby.

Been looking at the Garmin Foretrex 401 for a little while now for other outdoor activities and have been viewing various Youtube videos on it.

How do you find it in the "real world"? In terms of accuracy how does it compare to the eTrex you own? I know that accuracy is a combination of factors but typically how does it compare? The satnav I use in my vehicle typically reports an accuracy of between 3 and 5 mtrs. Is the eTrex or the Foretrex any different?

The Foretrex appears to be quite an affordable unit and the fact that its wearable I like.

Oh, forgot to mention that I'm also interest in the conversion program you have mentioned. Is it intuitive to use or is there a learning curve involved? Does software come with the Foretrex or will gpsbabel communicate with it? Will be using Windows Vista and / or Winows XP professional depending on what computer happens to be available at the time.

Sh1tbag OToole · 21-02-2013 10:49pm

MunsterGeo wrote: »

Hello

Newbe to geocaching and delighted to find the forum here in Ireland that has a section for the hobby.

Been looking at the Garmin Foretrex 401 for a little while now for other outdoor activities and have been viewing various Youtube videos on it.

How do you find it in the "real world"? In terms of accuracy how does it compare to the eTrex you own? I know that accuracy is a combination of factors but typically how does it compare? The satnav I use in my vehicle typically reports an accuracy of between 3 and 5 mtrs. Is the eTrex or the Foretrex any different?

The Foretrex appears to be quite an affordable unit and the fact that its wearable I like.

Oh, forgot to mention that I'm also interest in the conversion program you have mentioned. Is it intuitive to use or is there a learning curve involved? Does software come with the Foretrex or will gpsbabel communicate with it? Will be using Windows Vista and / or Winows XP professional depending on what computer happens to be available at the time.

Coverage is generally a fair bit better and it also has WAAS. If it can pick up the WAAS satellite it will say accurate to 3m as well. Lots of these GPS use the same SiRF chip and same antenna so the difference isn't that big anymore as t was in the days when only a select few companies made GPS receivers

The GPSbabel I use is the command line version but there is also graphical so should be easy. Once you convert the files you just horse them into the folder on the Foretrex (It appears as a 4MB usb stick with a few folders in it and also 1 big GPX file of where it's been, waypoints and all that).

It won't replace the car GPS and obviously it wouldn't be as good for caching as a colour screen geocaching friendly GPS but still a useful little gadget

Caching Equipment

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