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Author Topic: What is the best way to do a Cache Trails  (Read 563 times)

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Offline scuba_2

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Re: What is the best way to do a Cache Trails
« Reply #15 on: February 13, 2012, 09:12:25 PM »
What external gps? is it good and where do i get one?
cheers paul

Offline Bobbinz

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Offline The Tares Clan

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Re: What is the best way to do a Cache Trails
« Reply #17 on: February 14, 2012, 09:14:00 AM »
I have a GlobalSat BT338.  It is SiRF III based. See here and here for details.

Search on ebay - got mine for about £10 plus postage.

The use of external GPS certainly helps but also the custom ROM.  The ROM (operating system) of the phone is normally loaded with a lot of junk from the phone provider and is doing a lot of background stuff (email sync; weather updates; facebook etc) which drains the battery.

I use a util called Tasker which automates a lot of things.  It means that when external GPS is in use, I automatically switch things off which are not required. 

I also have a Tasker profile which checks the signal strength of the mobile network and automatically puts it into airplane mode.  It waits 10 minutes and then checks the signal strength again and if strong enough reconnects to the mobile network.  This helps a lot when you are way out in a field and no signal - it stops the phone continually searching for a mast and burning the battery - and it does it all without any intervention from me.

Offline OMUK

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Re: What is the best way to do a Cache Trails
« Reply #18 on: February 14, 2012, 10:19:46 AM »
I have a GlobalSat BT338.  It is SiRF III based. See here and here for details.

Search on ebay - got mine for about £10 plus postage.

The use of external GPS certainly helps but also the custom ROM.  The ROM (operating system) of the phone is normally loaded with a lot of junk from the phone provider and is doing a lot of background stuff (email sync; weather updates; facebook etc) which drains the battery.

I use a util called Tasker which automates a lot of things.  It means that when external GPS is in use, I automatically switch things off which are not required. 

I also have a Tasker profile which checks the signal strength of the mobile network and automatically puts it into airplane mode.  It waits 10 minutes and then checks the signal strength again and if strong enough reconnects to the mobile network.  This helps a lot when you are way out in a field and no signal - it stops the phone continually searching for a mast and burning the battery - and it does it all without any intervention from me.

 :-X
« Last Edit: February 19, 2012, 09:26:30 PM by OMUK »

Offline The Tares Clan

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Re: What is the best way to do a Cache Trails
« Reply #19 on: February 14, 2012, 01:47:13 PM »
That's a really impressive bit of kit Stu, well thought through. You could never go wrong with that!  :-X  ;)

Unless, of course, you forget it at events and end up going on the wrong side of the street but then that also happened to a dedicated GPS as well!  ;D

Online Happy Humphrey

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Re: What is the best way to do a Cache Trails
« Reply #20 on: February 14, 2012, 02:29:59 PM »
I use a mixture of electronic and paper, because I believe that nothing beats paper when you just have to read stuff outdoors!

So I check the series using Memory Map and GSAK, to find out the best parking spot and start point and to see the general line of the route. Then I sort the caches in GSAK so they're in the best order (they aren't always numbered in the optimum way) and print out a grid with the key details (cache size, last 4 logs, hint, D/T, last found date). I'll also print a map, although it won't get used a lot if the caches are close together. I then stick the paper list and map in a clear file pocket (just one of these cheap thin ones) and fold it into quarter size so it's easy to stick in a pocket.

Obviously I have the caches loaded onto the GPSr, and off I go. I try and manage without the paper as much as possible, but a quick glance will often be taken, to confirm which cache is next and to check the hint (which I generally look at before searching!). As the sheet is in the plastic wallet it doesn't matter how much it rains.

Any notes (trackables dropped, for instance) can be scribbled at the side of the relevant line on the grid.

Offline scuba_2

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Re: What is the best way to do a Cache Trails
« Reply #21 on: February 14, 2012, 10:53:03 PM »
The Tares Clan, thanks for that ,food for thought .
It is nice to see how different people approach caching, there seems to be lots of useful tips here cheers everyone.

Offline Border Caz

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Re: What is the best way to do a Cache Trails
« Reply #22 on: February 15, 2012, 08:34:47 AM »
Yes, a real map!

I load the caches on to my GPS, print off a map showing the caches and note down the hints on it.

Boo Hoo - GC.com latest update has messed up the greasemonkey script for OS maps. So I'll have to find another way of getting caches on an OS map.

Offline The Tares Clan

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Re: What is the best way to do a Cache Trails
« Reply #23 on: February 15, 2012, 09:01:18 AM »
Sorry I have to say it  ;)

Use Neongeo - it has offline maps and has the ability to use OS Maps.

If the OSM maps were complete, then I would probably use them as well but they do not show what is actually allowed only that people have walked/riden/drove there - you could still be going over land which you should not.

Offline Border Caz

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Re: What is the best way to do a Cache Trails
« Reply #24 on: February 15, 2012, 01:22:52 PM »
Isn't Neongeo something to do with magic phones?

No good to us lesser mortals with GPS units and an ordinary phone.  ;D

Offline The Tares Clan

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Re: What is the best way to do a Cache Trails
« Reply #25 on: February 15, 2012, 01:25:46 PM »
Agreed - depends on what you mean by an ordinary phone though ;)

It works on any android phone and they are pretty cheap these days.  Certainly cheaper than a dedicated GPS unit.

I was going to purchase a dedicated GPS unit when I first really starting caching (April last year) but have not had to as I have found enough caches without it - remember a dedicated GPS is only as good as the satellite signal and will only get you within 0-10ft of GZ.

Online Guiding Nutter

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Re: What is the best way to do a Cache Trails
« Reply #26 on: February 29, 2012, 10:55:04 PM »
I've been reading this thread with interest, and am now wondering whether my plans are a bit ambitious!
I'm planning meeting a friend and doing a large loop (which I think is made from a couple of different series which link up nicely)
It's about 35 caches over 8 miles, and we'll be walking..

Offline JustAlan

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Re: What is the best way to do a Cache Trails
« Reply #27 on: March 01, 2012, 07:00:01 AM »
It's possible. It will be a long day, and the numbers will depend on the difficulty of the caches. Which loop are you thinking of doing?
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Offline Spire67

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Re: What is the best way to do a Cache Trails
« Reply #28 on: March 01, 2012, 10:51:11 AM »
GN Sounds like a good plan to me.  Just consider what you will do if you run out of time and are say only 3/4 of the way round.
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Online Guiding Nutter

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Re: What is the best way to do a Cache Trails
« Reply #29 on: March 01, 2012, 05:50:19 PM »
We reckon we have at least 2 drivers, so will have a car half way round...
My friend lives in Stoke so has also offered me her floor.
The link is to one of the caches in the series, then we'll be doing the loop to the north!
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=GC3BHE6
The puzzle cache part way round is certainly different.